Distribution

EMERYVILLE, Calif. — Clif Bar & Company has promoted president and COO Kevin Cleary to CEO. In his new role, Cleary will focus on expanding Clif Bar’s growth in the sports nutrition and healthy snacks category while continuing to lead the company’s day-to-day business operations. 

Owners Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford will continue as co-chairs of Clif Bar & Company’s board of directors and become co-chief visionary officers guiding the company’s Five Aspirations business model.

New York -- Supervalu Inc., which recently divested 877 supermarkets in a $3.3 billion transaction, reported Wednesday a loss of $179 million in the fourth quarter, widened from $42 million in the year-ago period.    

SECAUCUS, N.J. — Children's Place CFO Michael Scarpa has added COO to his credentials. Scarpa, who oversees finance, information technology, distribution, logistics and wholesale, will add store operations, store development and international to his responsibilities. Scarpa will continue to report to president and CEO Jane Elfers.

Brentwood, Tenn. -- Tractor Supply Co. reported Wednesday that net income for the quarter ended March 30 rose to $44 million, compared with $40.3 million in the year-ago period.

Sales increased 6.4% to $1.09 billion from $1.02 billion in the prior year's first quarter. Same-store sales edged up 0.5%.

New York -- The Jones Group Inc. announced Monday that it will put into action a series of events designed to shore up profitability, the most significant of which includes shuttering 170 underperforming stores in the U.S. by mid-2014.

The stores identified for closure include 50 units previously announced in the fourth quarter.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — AutoZone recognized Spectra Premium Industries as its Vendor of the Year during the company's annual AutoZone Vendor Summit held in Tunica, Miss.

"Spectra has been a strong AutoZone supplier for more than five years. During that time they have collaborated with us to grow sales and improve productivity in the categories they supply us," said Bill Rhodes, chairman, president and CEO of AutoZone.

NEW YORK — The Jones Group Inc. plans to close 170 under-performing stores in the U.S. by mid-2014 as part of its efforts to shore up profitability.

The stores identified for closure include 50 units previously announced in the fourth quarter.

Jones, which owns the Nine West, Jones New York and Anne Klein banners among others, will emerge from the restructuring with a higher percentage of outlet stores in its portfolio, and some units will be converted to more viable sister banners.

Naperville, Ill. -- OfficeMax has been awarded the National Employment Team 2013 “Private Sector Business of the Year” by the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) for its commitment to employing people with disabilities, including veterans.

OfficeMax is one of two organizations — and the only private sector company — to receive this year's CSAVR distinction.