Target, Inc.

NORWOOD, Mass. — Hot Wheels has entered into a licensing agreement with Toy State, a leading manufacturer of licensed and highly stylized lights-and-sound toy vehicles. 

The agreement, which runs through 2016, gives Toy State the green light to design and build a new line of high-octane custom versions of Hot Wheels remote-controlled and lights-and-sound toys. 

Minneapolis -- The Target board of directors demonstrated confidence in the company’s cash generating capabilities on Wednesday and agreed to up the company’s quarterly dividend 19% to 43 cents a share.
 
The hefty increase ups the annual payout to $1.72 and moves the company closer to a long-term commitment to increase the full-year dividend amount to $3 by 2017. In addition, the company has established a target of growing earnings per share to $8 over the same time frame, up from $4.26 last year.

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Target announced that its first 24 store locations in Ontario (Canada) have been awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification. As previously announced, the discounter is seeking LEED certification for all 124 stores scheduled to open in Canada this year.

The Target board of directors demonstrated its faith in the company’s cash generating capabilities on Wednesday and agreed to up the company’s quarterly dividend 19% to 43 cents a share.
 
The hefty increase ups the annual payout to $1.72 and moves the company closer to a long-term commitment to increase the full-year dividend amount to $3 by 2017. In addition, the company has established a target of growing earnings per share to $8 over the same time frame, up from $4.26 last year.

NEW YORK — Target has set its sights on consumers who want organic, natural products, with a new organic and natural store brand called Simply Balanced, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Target told the AP that it will begin to roll out drinks and snacks like corn chips on Sunday, June 9. According to the report, the line is an outgrowth of similar products within its existing Archer Farms store brand, which is positioned as a premium alternative to national name brands.

Corpus Christie, Texas -- Susser Holdings Corporation announced that its Striples LLL brand has Sid Keswani as senior VP store operations. Keswani brings to Stripes more than 18 years of retail operations experience with Target, most recently as senior VP for the Southeast region of the United States.

Stripes announced that company veteran Richard Sebastian has taken on the role of senior VP of facilities, construction and will be responsible for the company's maintenance, new store and capital expenditure programs.   

CHICAGO, Ill. — Mercent, a leading technology company that enables retailers to reach and convert more shoppers online, has signed a strategic partnership with Shop.com, the e-commerce arm of Market America. 

This latest partnership expands Mercent’s portfolio of online shopping destinations supported by its SaaS platform and offers leading retailers the ability to market and sell to millions of consumers on the Shop.com third-party marketplace.

Dallas -- CBRE’s National Retail Investment Group arranged the sale of Bryan Towne Center to Lamar Cos. for an undisclosed amount. The 52,268-sq.-ft. retail center serves the Bryan-College Station metropolitan area in Texas.

Shadow-anchored by an adjacent Target store, the five-year-old center includes six acres of undeveloped land that can accommodate an additional 230,225-sq.-ft. of retail space, said CBRE.

The center is 66% occupied. Key tenants include Dollar Tree, Rack Room Shoes, Maurice’s and rue21.