Retail

Publix Super Markets’ VP of distribution Richard Schuler is retiring May 2, after 40 years of service. Succeeding Schuler is Publix veteran Casey Suarez, who will assume the role May 3.

Smaller format stores are all the rage these days. Dollar General, which already operates nearly 12,000 stores, plans to open 700 more units this year. Walmart recently announced plans to accelerate growth of its smaller format stores by opening between 270 and 300 small stores, more than double the 120 to 150 store range it projected last fall. Even Target has gotten in on the action with plans to open its first Target Express store near downtown Minneapolis this summer.

A little more than a month ago, Robert Hanson resigned as CEO of American Eagle Outfitters, following disappointing holiday sales, and caused shares to drop 10%. Shares dropped again, nearly 7% this time, following what the company called “highly disappointing” fourth-quarter results.

The phrase “game-changing” is arguably the most overused in business, but a strategic alliance that IRI president and CEO Andrew Appel announced this week actually fits the bill.

During introductory remarks at IRI’s annual summit, Appel shared with the more than 1,000 attendees gathered in Orland details of a huge data sharing partnership between IRI, comScore and Rentrak.

“Far and away, this is the biggest innovation IRI has done in the past 15 years,” Appel said.

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores has enlisted four craft bloggers from around the country to create the 2014 Spring LookBook, a collection of inspiration based on five spring trends.

Following disappointing fourth-quarter sales, the Bon-Ton Stores president and CEO Brendan L. Hoffman has notified the company’s board of directors that he will not renew his employment agreement with the company when it expires Feb. 7, 2015.

Hoffman also plans to resign as a director of the company.

Inclement weather has hurt some retailers’ quarterly sales results, but it has been no match for Dick’s Sporting Goods. The company’s fourth-quarter results exceeded the upper end of guidance range it provided in its third quarter press release.

Kmart and Sears are among a group of companies identified as “the least engaging brands of 2014,” in a recently released index of customer loyalty.

"A brand can't do well in today's marketplace if it can't engage consumers, no matter how many ads are run, and no matter how much social networking one does," said Robert Passikoff, founder and president of Brand Keys, a New York-based brand loyalty and emotional engagement research consultancy.