News

Coty faced a challenging second quarter as revenues declined, partially due to U.S. market softness in the mass fragrance and nail categories. Despite the challenges, company executives expressed optimism during Friday morning’s conference call, and look to return to top-line growth in the second half.

For the 36th year Coca-Cola has aligned itself with one of Miami’s biggest parties, the annual festival known as Calle Ocho that is held each year in the city’s Little Havana neighborhood.
 
The company is offering exclusive opportunities to meet and greet a variety of musicians at the festival, which will take place from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, March 9.

Walgreens is now offering daily testing for cholesterol, blood glucose and body composition at nearly 200 stores in California. Each test also includes a free blood pressure reading and personal consultation with a Walgreens pharmacist.

St. Louis — Build-A-Bear Workshop swing to a profit in the fourth quarter as net income rose to $5.4 million, compared to a loss of $36.5 million a year earlier.

Consolidated net retail sales for the quarter totaled $106.3 million, while operating 28 fewer stores at quarter’s end compared to $116.1 million in the year ago period.

Same-store sales decreased 2.2%, including a 2.8% decline in North America and a 0.1% decline in Europe.

New York — Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten Inc. will buy messaging app provider Viber Media Inc. for $900 million. Rakuten, which is also a major investor in Pinterest and owner of U.S. online retailer Play.com, seeks to use Viber as a platform for both mobile shopping and content consumption, according to the Associated Press.

Rakuten offers services from financing to shopping to online video on its e-commerce platform, the largest in Japan.

Mars Advertising has made changes to its team of shopper marketing experts in an effort to capitalize on a year during which the company expanded its portfolio of high profile clients and reported “solid” growth.

Weis Markets has named Jonathan Weis as president and CEO. Weis will retain his role as company vice chairman.

Weis has been serving as the company's interim CEO. In his new role, Weis will oversee all aspects of the company's retail, supply chain, merchandising, human resources, information technology, finance, real estate and manufacturing operations.

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores is partnering with FabricTraditions, a leading producer of printed fabrics for the home sewing industry, to bring the Creating New Traditions collection of fabrics made entirely in the United States to all Jo-Ann stores nationwide and Joann.com.

FabricTraditions will donate a portion of sales to The National Military Family Foundation.