Sales & Marketing

Seattle -– Starbucks Corp. is planning to launch a coffee delivery service in select U.S cities in 2015, the company said during its quarterly investors’ conference call on Oct. 30. The new service will be available to loyalty program members using the chain’s new mobile app.    Starbucks gave few specific details about the service, but the new app, allowing users to order and pay for items, will launch in Portland in December and in other U.S. markets in 2015. 

San Francisco -- Ben & Jerry’s has opened its largest flagship to date, a 3,000-sq.-ft., two-story location in São Paulo, Brazil.     Designed by Tesser, a San Francisco strategic branding and design firm, the property showcases the company's social mission along with its iconic ice cream treats.   

Memphis, Tenn. -- Fred's Inc. named Jerry Shore as its next CEO. Shore has served as the company's executive VP and CFO for more than 14 years. He assumed the additional title of COO in Jan. 2014.   Shore's promotion follows follows notification by current CEO Bruce A. Efird of his intention to leave Fred’s upon the expiration of his contract.   

Whole Foods has a tendency to zig when other retailers zag and it is doing just that with a new line PBS Kids branded toys this holiday season.

No bright shiny plastic toys will be found on Whole Foods shelves. Instead, the natural grocer struck a deal with PBS Kids to offer a line of educational and sustainable wooden toys and plush products for kids ages six months to three years. Each item in the PBS Kids line is made with safe, non-toxic materials and inks, and all packaging is made from recycled materials, according to the companies.

ABF Freight has done something no other company in the trucking industry has done before.

The Fort Smith, Ark.-based national carrier was awarded the American Trucking Association’s President’s Trophy for the seventh time during the group’s annual safety and human resources conference in Orlando. ABF Freight also received the trucking industry’s most prestigious award in 1984, 1989, 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2010. No other national carrier has earned the award more than five times.

Westport, Conn. -- Charter Realty & Development said that it has leased space in Parker Harding Plaza in Westport, Conn., to The Shade Store. The Shade Store took 1,600 sq. ft., joining area tenants Patagonia, Nike, J Crew, GAP, Vineyard Vines, Pottery Barn, Coach, Talbots, Williams-Sonoma, Brooks Brothers, Sunglass Hut, Starbucks and many more.    

General Mills has partnered  with GRAMMY Award-winning group Camila for the company's 2014-2015 Musica y Sabor campaign focused on connecting with customers in the Hispanic markets.