Supply Chain & Merchandising

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. said it has initiated remodels to expand the fresh food offerings at 90 stores across the nation, with the work expected to be completed on June 24, 2012.

The June stores will be the second of three cycles of remodels for Target this year. Stores scheduled for the June remodel cycle span markets across the country, from Des Moines, Iowa, to El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio.

By the end of the year, more than 1,100 Target stores will offer the expanded fresh food layout.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Big Lots has lowered its comparable-store guidance for its first quarter, and now expects them to be slightly negative compared with its prior guidance issued on March 2. The company's prior guidance estimated first-quarter comps would be up 2% to 4%.

Cincinnati -- Macy’s will open a store in Sarasota, Fla., in fall 2014. The two-level, 160,000-sq.-ft. Macy’s will be an anchor of the new Mall at University Town Center, which is due to begin construction later this year.

Macy’s currently operates three stores in the Sarasota-Bradenton market – at Southgate Mall, Sarasota Square and DeSoto Square.
 

FORT WORTH, Texas — RadioShack's sales and earnings fell in the first quarter, as the company struggles to deliver an effective mix or products and services to its customers. 

Houston -- Stage Stores announced the appointment of Steven Lawrence as chief merchandising officer, effective April 30, 2012. Lawrence will be responsible for all of the merchandising, planning and allocation functions of the company.

Prior to joining Stage Stores, Lawrence spent 11 years with J.C. Penney, where he was most recently co-chief merchant executive VP GMM men’s, kids & home.
 

Toronto -- Sears Canada Inc. said Tuesday it has agreed sell its Cantrex Group operations to Nationwide Marketing Group.

Sears Canada will maintain ownership of appliance brand Corbeil Electrique.

Cantrex was purchased by Sears Canada in 2005 in order to further develop its merchandising, buying, and logistics services in the furniture and appliance sectors. Corbeil became part of the Sears portfolio through this purchase and recently Sears has announced its plans to expand Corbeil's operations to the Greater Toronto Area this year.

MINNEAPOLIS — Another 90 Target stores are slated to receive fresh food in June as part of a major remodeling initiative that has become known simply as PFresh.

ORRVILLE, Ohio — J. M. Smucker has promoted one of its corporate officers.

The company said David Lemmon now would serve as VP and managing director of the company's Canada operations. Lemmon, who has been with the J. M. Smucker for 17 years, "has been instrumental in successfully implementing the company's growth strategy in Canada and helping the company achieve a leading market share position in several Canadian food and beverage categories," J. M. Smucker said.

Lemmon's promotion is effective May 1.