Retail

CARLISLE, Pa. — Ahold USA has appointed former Jewel-Osco executive Nick Bertram as its SVP store strategy and execution.

At Jewel-Osco, Bertram oversaw operations across Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. He was also SVP 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. 

Bethesda, Md. — Max Brenner has opened a Chocolate Bar in Bethesda, Md., along Bethesda Row. It is the first location for the chocolate retailer in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

The interior of the shop features vats of swirling chocolate and chocolate pipes running the length of the ceiling.
 

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.

Houston — Transwestern’s Houston office has announced that it will take on leasing responsibilities for a 50,000-sq.-ft, mixed-use development in Houston’s museum district. The development will contain a mix of high-end retail, medical and office space.

New York – American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. is launching “Rock Your Walk,” a series of consumer-created videos showing them wearing American Eagle jeans the retailer says will create a “virtual denim runway” stretching across the U.S. Consumers can upload videos via Instagram or Vine on PC or mobile device and have them added to the virtual runway displayed online.

ATLANTA, Ga. — Vir2o, a new social media platform by East Coast Diversified Corporation, has announced that its online, interactive e-commerce engine is open for business and powered by Amazon. 

Members of the aStore will be able to browse through a wide range of products and shop online with friends in their network in real time, thanks to ECDC's nVite technology. ECDC's proprietary nVite technology also lets Vir2o members watch movies together and share photos in real time.

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.

LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix has raised its private stock from $26.90 per share to $27.55 per share following a 5% sales increase for the first half of 2013 to $14.5 billion, compared to the first half of 2013. Comparable-store sales for the first half of 2013 increased 3%.