Unilever Co.

Unilever has sold its Slim-Fast brand to Kainos Capital. The supplier of food, home and personal care products will retain a minority stake in the business. Terms of the transaction, which was completed late this week, were not disclosed.

The transaction includes the Slim-Fast trademark and the global Slim-Fast business portfolio. Slim-Fast is sold throughout North America and in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

While Walmart and the Walton family were taking heat, again, on the national stage over worker pay and alleged stinginess, it was a different situation in Northwest Arkansas where generosity was in plain view.

The Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G is underway at the Pinnacle Country Club and as has been the case in years past the LPGA golf tournament is accompanied by numerous charitable donations.

Newell Rubbermaid president and CEO Michael Polk has joined the board of directors of Colgate-Palmolive. The move comes a little more than a month after the CPG company’s shareholders elected a slate of 10 directors.

Unilever has signed an agreement for the sale of its North America pasta sauces business under the Ragu and Bertolli brands to Mizkan Group for a total cash consideration of approximately $2.15 billion. The annual turnover for Ragu and Bertolli is more than $600 million.

The transaction includes two production facilities — a sauce processing and packaging facility in Owensboro, Ky., and a tomato processing facility in Stockton, Calif.

H-E-B and men's grooming brand Axe have partnered with the X Games to launch an innovative shopper marketing promotion that will reward consumers with an exclusive performance by X Games athletes at local H-E-B stores.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said he was reluctant to hit send on an email inviting CEOs from top global companies to attend the retailer’s Sustainable Product Expo because he knows how busy everyone is. However, when an email from the top executive from the world’s largest company offers an opportunity to “be part of what’s next,” it’s not surprising so many CEOs found time to visit Northwest Arkansas this week.
 

Walmart may not operate stores in New York but it managed to enlist the aid of the city’s top trash executive to reinforce the importance of accelerating recycling efforts.

Walmart has gathered CEOs from more than a dozen global companies to sign new commitments that accelerate innovation in sustainable agriculture and recycling. The pledges kicked off Walmart’s inaugural Sustainable Product Expo, a three-day collaboration to expand the availability of products that sustain people and the environment.

Together, the participating suppliers represent more than $100 billion in sales at Walmart.

Indianapolis - The Finish Line Inc. Gart Capital Partners (GCP) have agreed to Finish Line increasing its ownership in Running Specialty Group (RSG). GCP will retain an ownership position in RSG, maintain two positions on the RSG board of directors and will continue to provide leadership in ongoing business development opportunities.

Michael Howe was named CEO at Minneapolis-based Verify Corp., a software provider with solutions focused on supply chain security and brand protection and consumer engagement and loyalty promotions.

Howe has served in various executive leadership positions with Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, Unilever, Arby’s and MinuteClinic. As CEO of MinuteClinic, Howe facilitated the national expansion of the business from 19 clinics in two markets to more than 525 clinics in 27 states. Most recently, he has served as chairman at Smart Receipt and DRX.