Sales & Marketing

Waynesville, N.C. -- Shopping center developer CBL & Associates Properties, based in Chattanooga, Tenn., said Friday that it has launched construction on its newest community center project Waynesville Commons, located in Waynesville, N.C.

The 127,500-sq.-ft. shopping center will be anchored by a new 85,000-sq.-ft. Belk fashion department store, which joins the existing Walmart.

CHICAGO — SymphonyIRI Group on Thursday released a brand report highlighting what elements help drive brand selection and brand loyalty.

New York City -- Marsh Supermarket will spend $60 million to build up to 10 stores and remodel or rebuild several more over the next three years, the Indianapolis Business Journal reported.

The new stores will average 40,000 sq. ft. to 60,000 sq. ft. with a strong focus on fresh fruits and vegetables and service-oriented components, according to the report.

Marsh operates of 70 namesake stores and 27 smaller-format Mainstreet Market stores. It is privately held, a portfolio company of private equity firm Sun Capital Partners.

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — At a special meeting held Friday, BJ's Wholesale Club stockholders approved the definitive agreement between the company and Leonard Green & Partners and CVC Capital Partners to be acquired in an all-cash transaction valued at about $2.8 billion.

BJ's anticipates the closing of the transaction, which was announced in late June, will occur around the end of the month.

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets earlier this week named Regina Tator as its director of private brands.

Tator succeeds Bruno Garisto, who was recently named VP center store sales and merchandising. Tator will oversee the product development and sales and marketing for the company’s 6,300 private-brand products, including center store, healthy and beauty care, and perishable private products.

New York City -- Videogame maker Electronic Arts has entered the retail arena, opening the EA Sports Experience store, at the Charlotte Douglas International airport, Charlotte, N.C. It will open two additional U.S. airport locations by the end of 2011.

The store sells EA Sports’ games and branded apparel, as well as gear from local sports teams. It features televisions with live sports programming, comfortable seating and electrical outlets to charge portable devices. Customers can also play their favorite EA Sports video games.

NEW YORK — The Private Label Manufacturers Association announced that Douglas Merrill will serve as the keynote speaker for the organization's 2011 Private Label Trade Show in November.

Merrill, who served as EVP engineering and chief information officer for Google from 2003 to 2008, will offer attendees perspective on how shoppers and shopping behaviors are changing, and what the coming retail marketplace will look like. The keynote speech will be presented at the annual PLMA Salute to Excellence Breakfast on Nov. 14.

MOSCOW — Gap Inc. announced that it has opened its first Banana Republic store in Russia through its franchise channel. The company also announced that it will open its first Gap store in Serbia on Friday. This store will represent the company’s 200th franchise store globally.