Convenience Stores

Los Angeles -- The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has named Karen Cate as CFO and Jeff Schroeder as VP operations.

Cate most recently served as the VP controller of Trader Joe's Company, where she was responsible for the integrity of financial processes and reporting for the retail grocery store, warehouses, and distribution operations.

Schroeder brings more than 30 years of experience with large multi-unit operations in the restaurant industry. He most recently served as VP brewery restaurants for Karl Strauss Brewing Company.

Coach has appointed David Denton, EVP and CFO of CVS, to its board.

The company also appointed William Nuti, who was named chairman, CEO and president of NCR Corp., to the board. The appointments of Nuti and Denton brings to 11 the number of board members.

Phoenix - DM Analytics, a provider of retail-focused software solutions, has added a Tag and Sign system to a comprehensive application suite that also incorporates ordering, receiving, shelf price audit and inventory modules. The system is aimed at supermarkets, drug stores, dollar stores, hardware, consumer electronics/appliances, furniture/home furnishings, liquor, auto parts, hobby/crafts, pool supply, and other hardlines retailers.

Atlanta - Consumer year-over-year spending growth of 4.1% gained momentum in April 2014 compared to the prior month’s growth of 3.1%, driven by warmer weather as well as the Easter shift into April this year, according to First Data SpendTrend analysis. The report, which tracks same-store point-of-sale data by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT, closed-loop prepaid cards and checks from nearly four million merchant locations serviced by First Data, shows transaction growth of 3.5% in April,  compared to March’s 2.7% growth.

Cambridge, Mass. -- An ongoing debate in retail is whether it’s a better strategy to use markdowns or everyday low prices. Research by MIT Sloan School of Management visiting professor Özalp Özer and his colleague Karen Zheng at MIT Sloan supports basing pricing strategy on consumer behavior compared to a one-size-fits-all approach.

Costco Wholesale Corp. has opened the doors to its second location in Louisiana, in the city of Baton Rouge. (The warehouse club giant made its Louisiana debut last fall, in New Orleans.) The store includes a bakery, fresh deli, food court, gas station, pharmacy and independent optometrist.

Milford, Ohio — Slate Properties has acquired Mulberry Square in Milford, Ohio, part of the greater Cincinnati metropolitan area. Slate paid $15.6 million for the 146,730-sq.-ft. community center, which is anchored by Kroger, Petco and Planet Fitness. Inline tenants include Steak and Shake, Hallmark, H&R Block, GNC and The UPS Store.

Mid-America Real Estate Corp. in cooperation with NAI Bergman represented the seller, a private real estate investment firm, in the transaction.

Bentonville, Ark. - At an event with President Barack Obama, Walmart announced that it will double the number of on-site solar energy projects at its U.S. stores, Sam’s Clubs and distribution centers by 2020. The commitment is part of Walmart’s global initiative to drive the production or procurement of 7 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of renewable energy by the end of 2020.

Boise, Idaho - Associated Grocers of Florida is adopting recall process management technology from Recall InfoLink. Recall InfoLink offers a Web-based product recall management platform that protects brand image and reduces liability for businesses involved in processing recalls.

It improves efficiency by providing standardized messages, automated communications, inventory tracking and reports for compliance efforts.

New York – Barnes & Noble Inc. reportedly plans to open about 300 new stores on college and university campuses in the next five years. According to Reuters, Barnes & Noble wants to expand its college bookstore footprint from the current 696 locations to 1,000.