News

By Breton Leone-Quick and Steve Ganis

ConAgra, one of the world’s biggest food companies, has begun its search for new CEO, following Gary Rodkin’s announcement to the board that he plans to retire at the end of the company’s fiscal year, May 2015.

The board of directors has established a search committee, led by independent director Richard Lenny, to identify Rodkin’s successor. Lenny is the former chairman and CEO of The Hershey Co. and has served on the ConAgra Foods board since 2009.

Austin, Texas -- A Shoppers Trend report released by RetailMeNot found that, once kids leave the nest, parents are just as ready as their kids to start a new chapter in life. In fact, nearly three-in-four parents (74%) surveyed indicated they would do things differently once their kids leave the house, with traveling (42%), spending time with friends (37%) and pampering themselves (33%) topping the list of changes.

Young America (YA), a leading multichannel marketing promotions company, has named two of its executives to industry board and councils.

Import volume at major U.S. container ports is expected to hit an all-time record in August as retailers concerned about the lack of a West Coast longshoremen’s contract rush to bring holiday season merchandise into the country, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Calloway’s Nursery has named Alicia Hicks as VP marketing, effective Aug. 5. Hicks formerly served as Calloway's director of retail marketing.

With her promotion, Hicks will oversee marketing for all aspects of Calloway's Nursery, which includes 17 Calloway's Nursery locations in Dallas/Fort Worth, as well as two Cornelius Nursery locations in Houston. She will develop strategic marketing plans and customer experience initiatives for both Calloway's and Cornelius brands across all retail locations.

Now that the dog days of summer are here, it’s a perfect time to go fishing. While fishing may be the opposite of work (at least if done properly), there are still valuable lessons digital retailers can take from the ocean, lake or stream back to the office. Here are a few fishing-related digital retail tips even non-anglers can follow.

The Walgreens Charity Classic, presented by the Seagate Country Club, is set for Nov. 6 to 9, 2014 in Delray Beach, the Country Club announced Friday. The Charity Classic will showcase the talents of 48 former LPGA Tour stars now playing the Legends Tour, the official senior tour of the LPGA.

The four-day event will also raise funds for three area charities: The Dan Marino Foundation, Achievement Centers for Children & Families and Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse.