Sales & Marketing

TORONTO — Sears Canada has announced the appointment of Calvin McDonald as its president and CEO, effective immediately. McDonald most recently served as EVP, conventional division of Loblaw Companies Limited. He will succeed Dene Rogers, who has served as president and CEO of Sears Canada since 2006.

CAMDEN, N.J. — Campbell Soup Company has named Denise Morrison president and CEO, effective Aug. 1, the first day of Campbell’s next fiscal year. In October 2010, Morrison was named EVP and COO and elected a director of the company in anticipation of her appointment to the role of CEO at the beginning of fiscal 2012.

Morrison will succeed Douglas Conant, who will step down as president and CEO on July 31, 2011, after more than a decade in that role. Conant also will step down from Campbell’s board of directors at that time.

Indianapolis -- Finish Line reported Thursday that earnings for the quarter ended May 28 rose 20% to $16.4 million, compared with $13.6 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue, despite a 6% rise to $299 million, missed Wall Street expectations of $301.4 million.

Same-store sales increased 6.1% for the quarter.

The monthly pricing survey Credit Suisse conducts at Walmart stores and various competitors in Chicago and Dallas market reveals the company continues to offer the lowest prices. That’s the good news for consumers; the bad news is Walmart, like every other company, is passing through increased product costs to shoppers.

Los Angeles -- X Team International said that Los Angeles-based partner Cypress Retail Group has completed a lease for the first full-service 24 Hour Fitness SuperSport in North Hollywood, Calif.

Toronto -- J. Crew announced Friday it will open its first Canadian store in August at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre, located in Toronto.

The approximately 5000-sq.-ft. store, which will offer women’s-only clothing and accessories, marks J. Crew’s international debut, joining recent market entries by retailers such as Target and Big Lots in leveraging Canada’s relatively strong economy.

CINCINNATI — Kroger CEO David Dillon said the company will continue to focus on customer loyalty, after reporting last week that it saw identical-store sales increase for 30 consecutive quarters.

During its shareholders meeting on Thursday, Dillon said the company will build its future growth around its Customer 1st strategy, which emphasizes "[our] people, products, prices and the shopping experience."

INDIANAPOLIS — The Finish Line reported that net sales for the first quarter increased 6% to $299.5 million in the first quarter compared with $282.4 million a year ago. Comparable-store sales increased 6.5% in the first quarter on top of an increase of 10.9% for the same period a year ago.