Sales & Marketing

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. said that its Fry's Marketplace store in Phoenix marks the 500th Kroger location to earn the Energy Star designation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy.

Phoenix – TV personality and fashion designer Kelly Osbourne is joining the omni-channel marketing campaign to promote PetSmart’s new “Pet Expressions” line of grooming services. Osbourne will serve as a “trend spotter” and also offer tips and advice on pet grooming.

The Pet Expressions campaign will include videos and postings on social media sites including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Washington, D.C. -- The American Postal Workers Union will stage a protest in Staples stores across 27 states on Thursday, in objection to the office supply retailer’s opening of in-store postal counters staffed by Staples employees.

In 2013, Staples launched its postal pilot program, introducing in-store postal services that today includes about 80 stores. According to a report by the Associated Press, the union objects because the program replaces well-paid union workers with low-wage nonunion workers.

Minneapolis – SuperValu Inc. swung to a profit in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 from a net loss in the fourth quarter of the prior fiscal year. Net earnings were a better-than-expected $26 million, compared to a net loss of $1.41 billion a year earlier.

In addition, net sales rose 1.4% to $3.95 billion from $3.9 billion and same-store sales increased 3.5%. The substantial improvement in profits partially resulted from a significant decrease in charges and costs.

As retail executives, our people come first: finding, training, mentoring, helping them grow to get to the next level and realize a fulfilling career in an industry we love. Our people are absolutely crucial to delivering on customer expectations. And, as we all know, those expectations only continue to rise.

Beatrice Lafon was named CEO at specialty retailer Claire’s Stores following the release of fourth quarter results and a steep slide in same store sales.

Dublin, Ireland – Discount fast-fashion retailer Primark, the Dublin-based subsidiary of U.K. retail and consumer group Associated British Foods, plans to enter the United States, opening a location in Boston. The 70,000-sq.-ft. store will open at the end of 2015 and be on the site of the former Filene's department store in the city’s downtown area.

Canadian Tire plans to manufacture digital innovation at a new “App Factory,” that is part of the retailer’s recently open Cloud Nine Digital Innovation Centre.

Located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the 28,000-sq.-ft.- facility serves as the core digital hub for the Canadian Tire family of companies and a store network of roughly 1,700 locations. The center will possess 20 times more computing power and 10 times more network bandwidth than the company’s existing technology infrastructure.