Retail

Austin, Texas - Whole Foods Market and Pivot, Participant Media’s TV network targeting Millennials, are launching the television series "Dark Rye.” The first episode, hosted by Kirk Lombard, a Bay Area fisherman and forager, airs Jan. 22.

Dark Rye was created as an online magazine by Whole Foods Market in 2012 and explores the realms of food, health, sustainability, design, technology and social enterprise.

New York -- Chute Gerdeman, a global strategic brand and design firm, has opened an office in New York City.

“Our clients increasingly have sought our presence in New York,” said Chute Gerdeman chairman Denny Gerdeman. “As our business and client base have grown and evolved, having a base in this retail hub became a clear necessity.”

PassBee Media is rolling out a new iBeacon location-based marketing solution. The application is aimed at allowing retailers to target indoor or in-store consumers for increasing foot traffic, engagement, and sales.

PassBee’s iBeacon solution delivers in-store push notifications designed to create a more personalized experience and increase same-customer and same-store sales. For example; a customer checking out a particular outfit, could be served up customized suggestions for accessories to compliment it elsewhere in the store.

Seattle – Amazon.com has reportedly obtained a patent for “anticipatory shipping,” or a logistics technique using customer behavior and history to prepare items for shipping before they are actually ordered. According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon received the patent in December 2013.

New York -- Why do dark horse companies win -- and how do they win?

That topic is the focus of a new book by sales strategist and Elevation Forum founder Dan Mack: “Dark Horse: How Challenger Companies Rise to Prominence.” 

The best leaders and companies bring more than unique products or services to the market -- they consistently tap into the 10 key growth enablers Mack outlines in his book.

New York -- Mexico's Grupo Gigante expects to raise up to 4.954 billion pesos ($374.14 million) in its initial public offering of Office Depot de Mexico shares, Reuters reported.

The company plans to sell up to 291 million shares, local filings revealed.

The listing is provisionally set to price on Feb. 5, the report said.

In June, Grupo Gigante, acquired the 50% stake in the office supplies chain that it did not already own.
 

Upland, Calif. — NewMark Merrill Companies has announced that Waba Grill will open in February at Upland Town Square in Upland, Calif. The restaurant signed a 10-year lease for approximately 2,008 sq. ft. of space near O’Reilly’s Auto Parts. Voit Real Estate Services represented Waba Grill.

NewMark Merrill manages Upland Town Square, which is owned by the company’s president and CEO Sandy Sigal.

Stater Bros. Markets, has promoted John Ciraulo to the position of VP of the meat division. He replaces Kevin Schubert, who will retire in March after 39 years of service.  

Ciraulo has been at Stater Bros. for 28 years and has progressed through a range of both retail and marketing positions. In his new position, he will oversee the marketing and retail operations of the company's meat and seafood divisions.

Ciraulo will report to EVP of marketing Dennis McIntyre.