Sales & Marketing

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Fast on the heels of her departure from Ahold USA’s Giant Foods of Landover supermarket unit, Robin Michel has been tapped for an increasingly critical role at retail giant Sears Holdings. Michel, who left as president of Giant-Landover in December 2010, will serve as SVP and president of food and consumables, health and beauty and pharmacy at Sears and its Kmart subsidiary.

Atlanta -- RedPrairie Corp., a productivity solutions provider, announced that it has finalized the acquisition of SofTechnics, a leading provider of integrated retail enterprise solutions that has been serving customers for more than 20 years.     

MINNEAPOLIS — During the Super Bowl, football fans look forward to guilt-free snacking and will fumble on healthy eating goals for the day, according to the 2011 Supervalu Snack Down Survey by Harris Interactive.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) announced that Bill Simon, president and CEO of Walmart stores, and Steven Preston, president and CEO of OakLeaf Waste Management were named to the RILA board of directors, following the board’s semi-annual board of directors meeting held Sunday in Sarasota, Fla.

Simon replaces Walmart vice chairman and president and CEO of global e-commerce and global sourcing Eduardo Castro-Wright.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. said that it has promoted Tony Fisher to president of Target Canada as the retailer prepares to open its first stores in the country. He will be responsible for building the team, establishing the headquarters and leading the day-to-day operations of the corporation's recently announced expansion into Canada.

The chain tapped an 11-year employee to lead its Canadian business. Last week, Target announced it bought 220 Zeller's leaseholds and it plans to open between 100 and 150 Target stores in Canada beginning in 2013.

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- Fry, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Micros Systems, announced that Cabela’s has launched its newly designed website on Fry’s Open Commerce Platform.

New York City -- Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th announced that it plans to open a store at the Tuscany Place Designer Outlets, a new, upscale pedestrian-friendly lifestyle outlet development in Madison, Miss.

The center and the Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th store are expected to open in the spring of 2012.

"We look forward to opening our first Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th store in Mississippi where the temperate climate allows for year round shopping," noted Robert Wallstrom, president of Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th.

Sarasota, Fla. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association said Tuesday that Bill Simon, president and CEO of Walmart Stores, along with Steven Preston, president and CEO of OakLeaf Waste management, have joined the RILA board of directors.

Simon replaces Walmart vice chairman and president and CEO of global e-commerce and global sourcing Eduardo Castro-Wright on the board.

The RILA board meets twice a year to discuss the issues facing retailers and to offer insight into the opportunities and challenges confronting the industry.