Supply Chain & Merchandising

SAN FRANCISCO — Levi's announced that it has appointed Paul Zadoff as its new SVP wholesale commercial operations for the Americas. In this role, Zadoff will be responsible for developing and implementing effective strategies to drive long-term sustainable revenue growth, as well as ensuring the integration of a consistent consumer experience across the brand's wholesale commercial operation channels in the Americas.

Pittsburgh -- GNC Holdings announced that it has made three promotions in its merchandising, marketing and store operations functions. The company also announced that David P. Berg has resigned, effective this September, from his position as COO to pursue other interests.

Thomas Dowd, a 22-year GNC veteran, has been promoted from executive VP store operations and development to executive VP chief merchandising officer, and general manager.

Jeffrey Hennion has been promoted from executive VP chief branding officer to executive VP and CMO.

New York City -- An overwhelming majority (72%) of retailers report having a “great deal” of cash on their balance sheets and nearly half of them plan to invest some of it on information technology going forward, according to a survey by KPMG. At the same time, the executives’ assessment of the overall business outlook reflects only modest improvements in revenue and hiring in 2012.

Chicago -- Jones Lang LaSalle announced Wednesday that The Kroger Co. is undertaking an initiative with JLL to conduct a strategic review of a group of its retail assets, in tandem with Kroger’s divisional real estate teams, to explore optimization strategies for a select portfolio of operating stores.

In addition, Jones Lang LaSalle has been selected, among others, to participate in developing disposition strategies for a portion of the retailer’s closed store portfolio.

NORTHFIELD, Ill. — Kraft Foods announced that Michael Clarke, EVP and president of Kraft Foods Europe, will leave the company in mid-August to take a senior executive position with a U.K.-based public company. Kraft Foods has named Timothy Cofer, formerly SVP of the company's global chocolate category team, to succeed Clarke.  Cofer will report to chairman and CEO Irene Rosenfeld and become a member of the Kraft Executive Team.  He will be based in Zurich, Switzerland.

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Palo Alto, Calif. -- Seventy percent of retailers are empowering their employees with technology-enabled touch points to help their businesses to differentiate and evolve, according to a recent RSR Research report cosponsored by HP.

The study finds that by arming their associates with a range of technologies that provide relevant and timely information -- such as digital signage, self-service kiosks, mobile devices and advanced point-of-sale systems -- retailers can increase productivity and boost multichannel selling opportunities.

Dallas -- Tuesday Morning Corp. reported Wednesday that revenue for the quarter ended June 30 declined 3% to $194.8 million, compared with $200.8 million in the year-ago period.

Same-store sales dropped 4.5% in the quarter.

The closeout retailer cut its guidance for the year.

For the full year, revenue dipped almost 1% to $821.3 million. Same-store sales fell 1.2%.