Sales & Marketing

Sidney, Neb. -- With last year’s strong first quarter fueled by a firearms and ammunition sales surge, outdoor retailer Cabela’s Inc. saw this year’s quarter end on a less stellar note.

Revenue in the first quarter fell 9.6% to $725.8 million; retail store revenue decreased 9.4% to $440.9 million. Same-store sales plunged 21.7%, compared to the same period last year.

Net income was $25.7 million, compared to $49.8 million in the year-ago quarter.

Jelly Belly Candy Co. will celebrate its American heritage with the introduction of two new patriotic bags of Jelly Belly jelly beans.

The All American mix, which consists of Very Cherry (red), Coconut (white) and Blueberry (blue), is now available in a 3.5-oz. bag that features Mr. Jelly Belly waving the American flag. The 3.5-oz bag of Very Cherry — the top-selling jelly bean flavor, according to the company — now features an updated design with a white gingham pattern and a graphic of ripe cherries that bring to mind summer picnics.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe’s Cos. has named Joseph M. (Mike) Mabry as strategy and experience design executive, replacing Robert J. Gfeller who left the company last month.

Michael P. McDermott has been promoted to chief merchandising officer, replacing Michael A. Jones, who will assume the role of chief customer officer, effective April 30.

Supervalu has elected Frank (Terry) Savage and Mathew Pendo to its board of directors.

Savage and Pendo were both appointed to the board as designees of Symphony Investors, a Cerberus Capital Management-led investor consortium, under the terms of the tender offer agreement entered into with Symphony Investors and Cerberus in connection with Supervalu’s sale of five banners to an affiliate of Symphony Investors. Symphony Investors owns approximately 20.9% of Supervalu’s outstanding common stock.

Baltimore - Under Armour opens its newest specialty retail location in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City on April 24. The SoHo Brand House is Under Armour's largest retail store to date and is the first store to feature Under Armour's Rowhouse Basement shop, where staff will provide private consultations to athletes, celebrities and VIP clientele in an intimate setting.

Lowe's has promoted Michael P. McDermott to chief merchandising officer, replacing Michael A. Jones, who will assume the role of chief customer officer, effective April 30. The company also named Joseph M. (Mike) Mabry as strategy and experience design executive, replacing Robert J. Gfeller, who left the company last month.

Both Mabry and McDermott will report to Jones.

Washington, D.C. – U.S. consumers spent more than $21 billion on video game content, hardware and accessories in 2013. According to a new report from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the trade association representing the U.S. video game industry, called “2014 Essential Facts about the Computer and Video Game Industry,” 181.3 million Americans play video games.

Other findings from the report include:

• 51% of U.S. households own a game console, and those that do own an average of two;

With net revenues soaring 36% in the first quarter to $642 million from $472 million in the prior year's period, Under Armour is off to a strong start in 2014. In conjunction with its financial results, the company also opened its newest specialty retail location in SoHo, in New York.