Sales & Marketing

Cincinnati -- Kroger Co. CEO and chairman David Dillon saw his pay fell again as the chain's sales and profit growth fell below tough targets amid continuing economic instability.

An Associated Press analysis shows Dillon received compensation for 2011 valued at $5.4 million, down 19% from 2009. It is the third straight year in which Dillon's largely performance-based pay fell.

The AP's calculation counts salary, bonuses, perks and stock and options awarded to the executive during the year.
 

Turns out Shakespeare’s famous line, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” doesn’t quite fit with every scenario. Case in point, Wal-Mart Stores, which, according to Millward Brown Optimor’s BrandZ ranking of the top 20 global retail brands, saw its brand value diminish when it decided to rename its Wal-Mart stores, Walmart. 

San Francisco -- Gap plans to open stores in Serbia and Ukraine later this year as its continues to expand its international operations.

The chain said Friday that it signed new deals with existing franchise partners that will put Gap stores in Belgrade and Kiev.

According to Stephen Sunnucks, the company's international president, the Ukraine is the fastest-growing retail market in Eastern Europe, while Serbia has many young customers who enjoy shopping.

Encino, Calif. -- Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services said it has promoted Bill Rose to director of the National Retail Group.

Rose joined Marcus & Millichap’s San Diego office in September 2003 as a retail and multifamily investment specialist. He was promoted to senior associate in September 2006. He rejoined the firm in November 2009 as sales manager of the San Diego office and in November 2010 was named western regional director of the NRG.
 

WASHINGTON — U.S. retail sales rose for the 10th consecutive month in April, increasing 0.5% to $389.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Thursday.

The government agency also disclosed retail sales experienced a 7.6% jump above the year-ago period. Across retail sectors, grocery stores during April rose 1.5% to nearly $45.9 million, up from $45.3 million in March, while health and personal care stores, which have experienced positive numbers over the past several months, saw a surprise drop of 0.3% to nearly $22.7 million for the month.

Organic growth initiatives come out on top (46%) when it comes to how to increase market share, followed by a mix of organic growth and M&A (22%) and primarily M&A (22%), according to a survey of 152 senior financial executives of global retail companies by KPMG International.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Kohl’s reported that its first quarter diluted earnings per share increased 14% to 73 cents, in line with Citi and Stifel analysts expectations and with the company's updated guidance that EPS would be toward the high-end of 68 cents to 73 cents (provided on May 5). Net income for the quarter was $211 million, compared with $199 million (64 cents per diluted share) a year ago. Net sales were $4.2 billion, an increase of 3.1% for the quarter. Comparable-store sales for the quarter increased 1.3%.

New York City -- Britain’s trendy fashion brand Superdry plans to open three stores in the United States by July.

New stores are slated to open at Valley Fair, Santa Clara, Calif., in late May; at the South Street Seaport in Manhattan in June; and at Mall of America, in Bloomington, Minn., in July.

The company, which hopes to open 10 to 12 stores a year over the next four years, would like to open additional stores in the Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago and Miami markets, according to Women’s Wear’s Daily.