Sales & Marketing

The Modesto, Ca.-based Save Mart chain of 217 supermarkets has embarked on a major rebranding effort in the Bay Area where a new 61,000-sq.-ft. protoype bears a reimagined Lucky California banner.

McLean, Va. – German discount grocer Lidl continues to lay the foundation for its store debut in the United States.

The company which is establishing a U.S. corporate headquarters, in Arlington County, Virginia, announced it will also open a regional headquarters and distribution center facility in Alamance County, North Carolina. The moves are part of Lidl’s early preparations to expand into the U.S. http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/german-grocer-lidl-prepares-us-expansion-open-headquarters-virginia

The Men's Wearhouse is bringing in a PetSmart executive to serve as chief operating officer.

Men's Wearhouse said that Bruce K. Thorn, 48, has been named executive vice president, chief operating officer, effective immediately.

New York – Most consumers base their grocery purchase decisions on very basic information. According to new research from data analytics solution provider Precima, 80% of U.S. shoppers choose their primary grocery store based on everyday prices, with two-thirds (65%) stating that the everyday (regular/non-sale) prices of staple items such as milk and eggs most influence their price perception of a grocery retailer.

Minneapolis – Best Buy is putting a spotlight on the way technology is impacting home appliances.

The retailer is partnering with Samsung on a new in-store concept, “Samsung Open House,” a 20-sq.-ft. area inside Best Buy stores that feature the largest dedicated in-store branded display of Samsung appliances anywhere.

Fremont, Calif. - The Men's Wearhouse has named Bruce K. Thorn, 48, executive VP and COO. Prior to joining Men's Wearhouse, Thorn served as executive VP, store operations, services and supply chain at PetSmart Inc.

Thorn had been employed by PetSmart since 2007 in various positions, assuming his most recent post in April 2014.  Prior to joining PetSmart, Thorn served in various leadership roles with Gap, Cintas Corp., LESCO, Inc. and the U.S. Army.

The parent company of Winn-Dixie, BI-LO and Harveys said all profits generated at its nearly 800 stores on July 4 will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.

The project’s Independence Program is designed to help warriors who need to rely on their families and friends for support due to injuries they have suffered, such as brain injury, spinal-cord injury, or other neurological conditions. Individualized plans are created with goals to provide a future with purpose at no cost to the warriors or their support teams.

Most retailers are reducing their footprints, but not Nebraska Furniture Mart (NFM). In fact, the retailer is doing just the opposite and has opened the nation’s largest home furnishings store. Located in the new 433-acre mixed-use development, Grandscape in The Colony, Texas, the two-level NFM has a whopping 560,000 sq. ft. of selling space. Including an on-site warehouse, the space totals more than 1.8 million sq. ft.

The store sells 100,000 products, ranging from very high-end items to value offerings, with another 500,000 items in stock in the warehouse.