Large Chains

Stater Bros. has promoted CFO David Harris to EVP finance.

Harris began working for the chain in 2009 as VP finance and was promoted to SVP finance in 2011. A year later, he was promoted to CFO and principal accounting officer. Before working for Stater Bros., he was a partner with Ernst & Young in Riverside and Irvine, both cities near San Bernardino, Calif., where Stater Bros. is headquartered.

Antonio Urcelay has replaced Gerald Storch as chairman of Toys “R” Us and the retailer also named Richard Markee to its board.

San Bernardino, Calif. -- Stater Bros. Markets has announced the promotion of David Harris to the position of executive VP finance, CFO and principal accounting officer of Stater Bros. Markets, effective Nov. 25.
 
Harris joined Stater Bros. in 2009 as VP finance. In June 2011 he was promoted to senior VP finance, and in 2012 he was promoted to senior VP finance, CFO and principal accounting officer.

Harris reports to Jack H. Brown, chairman of the board and CEO.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. - Sears Holdings chairman Eddie Lampert is reportedly considering selling the company’s Sears Canada stores. According to the New York Post, Lampert has been quietly consulting banks including Goldman Sachs and reaching out to prospective buyers.

Glendenning, New South Wales, Australia – McAlpine Hussmann Pty. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hussmann Corporation, has acquired the assets of the former Austral Refrigeration case equipment manufacturing and distribution operations from Retail FM (a wholly owned subsidiary of Woolworths Limited). At the same time, McAlpine Hussmann Australia Pty. Ltd. has acquired the Suzhou China case equipment manufacturing and distribution business from Retail FM.
 

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores said Mike Duke will retire as president and CEO, effective Feb. 1, 2014, and will be replaced by veteran company executive Doug McMillon. McMillon, 47, president and CEO of Walmart International, was also named to Wal-Mart’s board, effective immediately.

Atlanta — Jones Lang LaSalle has closed the sale of a portfolio of four grocery-anchored centers on behalf of Regency Partners II. Publix Supermarkets acquired the properties for $37.5 million.

The portfolio of shopping center includes:

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. announced its succession plan for secretary and general counsel.

Paul W. Heldman, 62, a 31-year Kroger veteran who has been serving as the company's general counsel since 1989, secretary since 1992, and executive VP since 2006, will retire in the spring of 2014.

Phoenix -- Sprouts Farmers Market has commenced an underwritten public offering of 22.5 million shares of its common stock by affiliates of Apollo Global Management and certain other stockholders of the company. The underwriters of the offering will have the option to purchase up to an additional 3.375 million shares of common stock from the selling stockholders.

Kroger announced its succession plan for secretary and general counsel. Paul Heldman, 62, a 31-year Kroger veteran who has been serving as the company's general counsel since 1989, secretary since 1992 and EVP since 2006, plans to retire in spring of 2014.