Retail

Phoenix -- Leslie’s Poolmart said Monday it will grand-open 15 Leslie’s Swimming Pool Supplies stores across 10 states on April 5, as part of the company’s plan to open 48 new stores this spring.

The new stores opening on April 5 include: Tucson, Ariz.; Pleasanton, Calif.; Rohnert Park, Calif.; Cockeysville, Md.; Gastonia, N.C.; Las Vegas; New Hyde Park, N.Y.; West Chester, Ohio; Spartanburg, S.C.; Harlingen, Texas; Lake Jackson, Texas; Sherman, Texas; Wylie, Texas; Manassas, Va.; and Virginia Beach.

New York -- Whole Foods Market announced that Gotham Greens will be its operating partner in the nation’s first commercial- scale greenhouse farm integrated within a supermarket. The 20,000-sq.-ft. greenhouse, which is currently under construction on the roof of the forthcoming Whole Foods Market store in Gowanus, Brooklyn, is scheduled to open in late 2013.

Oak Brook, Ill. -- Ace Hardware Corp. announced that John Venhuizen has been named president and CEO of the hardware cooperative. The appointment is part of a strategic leadership transition that was announced last fall.

In September, Venhuizen was named president and COO of Ace Hardware, while Ace’s outgoing leader Ray Griffith maintained the title of CEO.

Venhuizen is a 20+-year veteran of Ace Hardware, having served in a variety of capacities.

Atlanta -- Rental chain Aaron's announced at its 2013 National Managers Meeting in Nashville that the company plans to open 125 stores in 2013 and hire 750 new employees.

Aarons added 950 new jobs across the U.S. and Canada last year.

San Jose, Calif. -- Forty percent of retailers have no online fraud prevention in place, despite the fact that 85% consider online fraud prevention a high priority, according to a survey by ThreatMetrix, a provider of integrated cybercrime prevention solutions.

The study, “The ThreatMetrix 2012 State of Cybercrime Study,” was conducted by Info-Tech Research Group and surveyed U.S. business managers and IT executives within retail and financial services organizations on the level of cybersecurity solutions they have in place.

Carlisle, Pa. -- Ahold USA announced Friday it has appointed Paul Scorza as chief information officer for the company, effective April 1.

Scorza, a 30-year veteran of IBM, will oversee Ahold USA information management functions, with a focus on systems and business processes to improve efficiency, effectiveness, controls and operations.

The U.S. subsidiary of Netherlands-based Royal Ahold, operates the Stop & Shop, Giant-Carlisle and Giant-Landover supermarket banners and the Peapod online grocery service.
 

New York -- British grocery giant Tesco is moving closer to selling off its U.S. Fresh & Easy division, with Tesco CEO Philip Clarke traveling to the United States next week to try and strike a deal, according to a report in the British newspaper, The Telegraph.

Tesco has held discussions with Trader Joe’s and others about selling Fresh & Easy, but a break-up of the business is considered the most likely option, the report said. Other options include closing the business and selling off assets.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Regency Centers announced Thursday that, through its 2012 “greengenuity” program, it increased annual energy savings by 75%, achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for three projects, and tripled the amount of construction and demolition material recycled during the year.