Sales & Marketing

CINCINNATI — Kroger has announced the appointment of Cindy Holmes to director of investor relations and Carin Fike to director and assistant treasurer. Both changes will be effective March 6.

Fike will report to Kroger's treasurer, Scott Henderson; Holmes will report to Kroger's CFO, Michael Schlotman.

Holmes, 42, began her career with Kroger in 1990 in the information systems and services department, and for the past 10 years, she has served as the company's assistant treasurer.

BETHPAGE, N.Y. — New York-based supermarket retailer King Kullen announced that it is partnering with NuVal to provide customers with better insight of what foods they should be eating.

NuVal's nutrition scoring system — in which store items receive a NuVal score from 1 to 100, making it easy for consumers to compare the overall nutrition of the foods they buy at a glance — will be implemented in all of King Kullen's stores, which are located throughout Long Island and Staten Island.

New York City -- Target Corp. said its annual sales may top $100 billion within the next seven years, with revenue boosted by its first expansion outside the United States, Bloomberg reported.

The chain also may double earnings per share over that period, CFO Douglas Scovanner said Thursday on a conference call after fourth-quarter results. Net income in the period ended Jan. 29 rose 11% to $1.04 billion.

Ventura, Calif. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said that Freeb!rds World Burrito has leased retail space in Ventura, Calif., at Ventura Village shopping center.

The fast casual-style Mexican restaurant has leased 2,808 sq. ft., bringing the center to 98% leased. The tenant is slated to open in June.

The Ventura Village location will be the first in Ventura County and one of the first five Freeb!rds restaurants to open in California. 

Pittsburgh -- General Nutrition Centers reported Friday that net income for the quarter ended Dec. 31 surged 56.3% to $19.8 million, compared with $12.7 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue for the quarter rose 7.9% to $435.7 million, from $403.9 million a year earlier. Same-store sales improved 5.8% in domestic company-owned stores (including e-commerce sales).
 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Friday announced that Hal Rosenbluth will retire as president of its health-and-wellness division in April, but will continue with the company as a senior consultant to the CEO for healthcare services.

Rosenbluth was a co-founder of Take Care Health Systems, which was acquired by Walgreens in 2007. Prior to that, he led Rosenbluth International, a global travel management company, which he sold to American Express in 2003.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Delivering its fourth consecutive year of double-digit earnings per share growth, Gap Inc. reported earnings per share for fiscal year 2010 increased 19% to $1.88 on a diluted basis compared with $1.58 on a diluted basis for fiscal year 2009. Net earnings grew by $102 million to $1.2 billion.

New York City -- Dunkin’ Brands plans to open 500 Dunkin’ Donuts stores in India over the next 15 years through a partnership with restaurant chain operator Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd.

Dunkin’ Donuts signed a franchise agreement with Jubilant, according to a statement distributed by PR Newswire today. The first Dunkin’ Donuts shop will open early next year, and will feature the company’s signature coffee and bakery products as well as food developed specifically for the Indian market.