Human Resources

Fred's Super Dollar has turned to a former Family Dollar and CVS executive to become its next president and chief operating officer.

Michael Bloom brings to Fred's more than 30 years of experience in small-box general merchandising, supply chain management and store operations, the company said. Most recently, he served as the president and COO of Family Dollar Stores. 

Memphis -- Discount general merchandise chain Fred’s has named Michael K. Bloom as its president and COO, effective immediately. Until recently, Bloom held the same position at Family Dollar Stores Inc.; he resigned in early January after just over two years in the position and could be owed as much as $4.8 million in severance by Family Dollar, according to an SEC filing.

A Maryland real estate investing executive has been elected to Macy's Inc.'s board of directors.

Leslie Hale, executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of RLJ Lodging Trust, is Macy's 12th director.

Dallas -- Corner Bakery Café has named Salil Bapat as CFO, effective immediately. Bapat previously was CFO for YUM Brands' Latin America and Caribbean region.

While there were some reported ups and downs over the course of last year’s holiday shopping season, the early takeaway is that the season was, in the end, positive. While we’ll have to wait for hard numbers for more detailed insight, and while definitive conclusions might be a bit much to draw at this point, it does seem to me like the increased length of the ever-expanding holiday shopping season didn’t have any appreciable negative impact.

The Fresh Market is heading into the new year with fresh leadership changes at the top.

The specialty grocery retailer announced that Craig Carlk, president and CEO, and a member of the board of directors, has left the company and has resigned as a member of the board.

The board has appointed Sean Crane, executive VP and COO, as interim CEO while the company evaluates candidates to replace Carlock.

Apparently closing all of your stores and firing all of your employees is among the actions a retailer can take when it is “exploring strategic alternatives.”

Body Central Inc., which announced early this month that it was $18 million in debt and exploring strategic alternatives, has shuttered all 265 of its stores and fired 2,500 employees.

Oklahoma City -- Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt announced the appointment of Geoff Goodman as its new president. Goodman most recently served as VP of brand excellence for Dallas-based CiCi's Pizza.

In his new position, Goodman will oversee operations, product development, brand management and franchise development. Reese Travis will remain CEO and focus on the company's strategic growth.