Mass Merchant

CARLISLE, Pa. — Ahold USA has appointed Nick Bertram as its senior VP store strategy and execution, the supermarket operator said Thursday.

Bertram previoulsy worked for Jewel-Osco, where he oversaw operations across Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. He was also senior VP of Supervalu and worked in executive positions at Walmart in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. His new position at Ahold USA will be based out of the company's Carlisle, Pa., headquarters.

New York — The Feil Organization has named industry veteran Nicholas Forelli Director of Retail Leasing.

In his new role, Forelli will focus on Feil’s leasing efforts throughout the metropolitan area, including New York City, Long Island and New Jersey. Chief among his projects will be Glen Oaks Shopping Center in Queens, working with Briskin on the redevelopment of Concourse Plaza in the Bronx, smaller retail projects around the metro area, as well as One & Olney Square in Philadelphia.

New York -- Cache Inc. announced that Anthony DiPippa (“Tony”) will join the company as executive VP, CFO, on Aug. 7. He succeeds Margaret Feeney (“Maggie”), who has resigned from Cache, effective Aug. 1.

DiPippa most recently was CFO of W. B. Mason, a $1.2 billion office products and furniture company.

New York -- HH Gregg saw a significant improvement in its financial results for the three-month period ended June 30. Despite a net loss of $1.3 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, the specialty retailer narrowed the gap from a net loss of $5.7 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the comparable prior-year period.

The decrease in net loss for the three month period ended June 30, 2013 was due, in part, to a comparable-store sales increase of 0.8%, offset by a decrease in gross profit as a percentage of net sales.

Less than a year after Walmart International named Lev Khasis to the role of president and CEO of new formats, the former Russian retail executive is heading back to his homeland to lead a financial institution.

New York -- J.C. Penney on Thursday said that reports claiming CIT Group Inc., the largest lender in the apparel industry, had stopped funding some shipments to Penney were untrue. The retailer said it has plenty of cash on hand and all major suppliers were still shipping.

“J.C. Penney continues to have the support of all of its key vendors, who have maintained their shipments to the company," the company said in a statement on Thursday.

Back-to-school season is underway in Canada and for Target, which opened its first stores in Canada earlier this year, the stakes could not be higher.