News Briefs

The Body Shop is remaining true to its activist reputation.

The natural beauty products retailer  is partnering with civic engagement organization HeadCount to hold several voter registration events in select stores across the country and giving customers the opportunity to win a spot on the brand’s influencer list. The initiative is part of The Body Shop’s  “Be Seen. Be Heard.” campaign, which aims to get young people more involved in civic life in more than 75 countries across the globe. 

Body Shop’s customers can register to vote or check their registration status at their local store. They can also register via the brand’s digital hub.   Every customer who takes action can enter for a chance to win a spot on The Body Shop influencer list for a year, which means they will receive products from select skincare, haircare and makeup collections.

The Body Shop is now in its second year of Be Seen. Be Heard, which launched last May at the United Nations. The campaign has made numerous global strides since its launch, according to The Body Shop, including successfully lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 in Malaysia and encouraging the UK's House of Lords to amend two clauses in its Public Order Bill to better protect the right to protest.

In 2022, The Body Shop  partnered with non-partisan organization Generation Citizen to educate and motivate young people to engage in the democratic process in the year's midterm elections and beyond.

The Body Shop operates about 2,500 retail locations in more than 70 countries. It is part of Natura & Co, a global multi-brand cosmetics group that is committed to generating positive economic, social and environmental impact.

 

Pacsun is engaging a third-party logistics and inventory management platform to support nationwide fulfillment across channels.

The teen apparel retailer is partnering with Cart.com. Under the collaboration, Cart.com manage nationwide fulfillment for Pacsun. As part of the agreement. Pacsun will transition management of its 2-million-sq.-ft. automated fulfillment facility in Groveport, Ohio to Cart.com. The hub includes advanced sortation technology and over 25 miles of conveyance, as well as dynamic storage solutions.

Cart.com bases its fulfillment solution on proprietary software and predictive analytics designed to streamline logistics operations, reduce costs and provide real-time inventory visibility. The company provides physical and digital infrastructure to support omnichannel commerce, including a suite of digitally-driven logistics capabilities, enterprise channel and order management software, and expert services.

“We are pleased to partner with Cart.com and believe its scale, proprietary technologies and operational expertise will enhance our efficiency and increase customer satisfaction,” said Russell Bowers, COO and CFO of Pacsun.

“We’re extremely proud to partner with Pacsun and support its significant momentum with our best-in-class fulfillment capabilities,” said Omair Tariq, CEO and co-founder of Cart.com. “We’re excited to add this distribution center to Cart.com’s network as we continue to see accelerating demand for tech-enabled 3PL services.”

[Read more: Pacsun names CEO]

Sprouts Farmers Market has named a new chief information officer.

The fast-growing specialty retailer of fresh, natural and organic food said that James Bahrenburg has joined the company as chief technology officer. He will oversee the strategic direction and management of all aspects of Sprouts’ technology.

From 2019 to August 2023, Bahrenburg  served as chief information officer of Good Food Holdings, a holding company for five grocers: Bristol Farms, Lazy Acres Natural Market, Metropolitan Market, New Seasons Market, and New Leaf Community Markets.

Prior to joining Good Food, Bahrenburg was with 99 Cents Only Stores for 12 years, including serving as senior VP,  chief information officer, from 2016 to 2019, and VP, business process and IT planning, from 2010 to 2015.  According to Sprouts, he has more than 35 years of experience in information technology.

“We are pleased to add Jim Bahrenburg to the Sprouts executive leadership team,” said Jack Sinclair, CEO, Sprouts Farmers Market.  “Jim’s deep experience in retail technology leadership will be an invaluable resource as we enhance our platforms to support the continued execution of our long-term growth strategy.”

Bahrenburg joins Sprouts on the heels of the company’s 400^th store opening. As part of its five-year plan, the grocer is committed to a robust growth strategy, aiming to expand 10% year-over-year.

“I’m thrilled to join Sprouts at this point in its growth trajectory,” said Bahrenburg. “I look forward to working with the team to execute on the company’s strategic technology initiatives to enhance and elevate digital platforms for Sprouts’ customers and team members.”

Sprouts’ sales rose 5% in 2022 to $6.4 billion, with comparable sales growth of 2.2%. 2.39. It reported earnings per share of $2.39, compared to $2.10 in 2021. Based in Phoenix, the company operates stores in 23 states across the U.S., including Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

 

BJ’s Wholesale Club has a new chief information officer.

The membership warehouse club retailer named Anjana Harve as executive VP, CIO, effective immediately. She will also serve as a member of BJ’s executive leadership team.

Prior to BJ’s, Harve served as global CIO at Fresenius Medical Care where she led information technology, privacy assurance, cyber, digital and data security across key business units. She also held various CIO and technology leadership roles at Hill-Rom, Novartis and Shire, along with other senior management positions during her career.

Harve will be responsible for the strategic leadership and direction of the company’s information technology organization to drive business outcomes, optimize revenue growth and improve operating efficiencies. Harve will report to Bob Eddy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and serve as a member of BJ’s executive leadership team.

“I’m pleased to have a leader of Anjana’s experience joining BJ’s,” said Bob Eddy, chairman and CEO “She brings more than 25 years of experience driving innovative technology transformations and leading and inspiring high-performing teams. She will play a crucial role in further strengthening our technology to advance our long-term strategic growth priorities and deliver greater value for our members.”

Harve holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science engineering from Bangalore University in India and a master in business administration from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania.

Headquartered in Marlborough, Mass., BJ’s operates 238 clubs and 168 BJ's Gas locations in 19 states. 

 

GNC Holdings Inc. is increasing its visibility into consumer preferences in vitamin, mineral and supplement (VMS) segments.

The vitamins and supplements retailer is partnering with wellness-focused data company SPINS as its new research partner for product development and product design in the VMS space. GNC hopes its exclusive, multiyear contract with SPINS will enable it to improve consumer integration and accelerate its innovation initiatives via SPINS’ proprietary attribution and product intelligence platform.

"GNC and SPINS share a deep commitment to deeply understanding and transforming the future of health and wellness," said Michelle Walkley, director, customer insights, GNC. "Having insight into the SPINS platform is going to enhance our current data-driven approach to understanding market trends and evolving customer needs. The SPINS data opens exciting new opportunities to even further drive customer-centricity across product development, design, and innovation."

"As consumers demand transparency, quality, and personalization in the health and wellness industry in ways never seen before, SPINS and GNC are uniquely positioned to collaborate and drive innovation together," said Andrew Henkel, executive VP of retail at SPINS. "We're excited to partner with GNC to shape the future of the VMS industry and improve the well-being of people around the world."

[Read more: GNC renews investment in subscription management technology]

Walmart is adding a new feature to one of its upcoming Neighborhood Market locations in Atlanta.

In December 2022, Walmart’s store in the city’s Vine City neighborhood closed after it sustained fire and water damage due to suspected arson.  The location is being converted to the retail giant’s smaller-format Neighborhood Market banner and is scheduled to reopen in May 2024.  Along with a pharmacy and grocery offerings that range from prepared foods to fresh produce to full-service deli,  the store will also include an Atlanta Police Department substation where an officer’s presence is intended to help deter criminal activity, reported local media source roughdraftatlanta.com.

The substation will be a place for Atlanta officers to fill out paperwork, hold meetings, or charge their phones or body cameras, according to the report. It will not be occupied at all hours. 

The goal is to keep people safe, but also to make sure shrinkage does not hurt Walmart’s bottom line so “they don’t want to stay here anymore,” Mayor Andre Dickens said in the report. 

The move to include the police substation comes as retailers across the board say rising levels of shrink due to organized retail crime and theft are cutting into their profits.