News

Juliet Johansson, a former executive with a dental implant manufacturer, is Office Depot’s new EVP and chief strategy officer.

Minneapolis - Kevin Davidson has joined merchandising intelligence solutions provider Quantum Retail Technology Inc. as its CFO. Davidson brings more than 20 years of financial management and corporate development experience to Quantum and will report to CEO Steve Buege.

Davidson joins Quantum after serving as CEO of Critical Perfusion from 2012 to 2014. Previously he held C-level positions with BioDrain Medical Inc., OrthoRehab Inc., and was a managing director at Arthur Andersen LLP.

Jeffrey Gennette will take on the new role of president at Macy's after serving the past five years as the department store retailer’s chief merchandising officer.

Gennette will report to Macy’s chairman and CEO Terry Lundgren and retain day-to-day responsibility for Macy's merchandising functions, as well as oversight of marketing and macys.com. In addition, he assumes oversight responsibility for Macy's private brands organization.

Los Angeles – Pinkberry’s is entering the Japanese market with franchisee Royal Holdings. Japan is the 20th country where Pinkberry will operate stores.

Royal Holdings who operates 722 restaurants across several brands, both full service and QSR concepts. The partnership provides growth opportunities in the market for both traditional stores and non-traditional venues, with an initial development plan for 50 stores.

Toy maker Jakks Pacific secured a $75 million credit facility from GE Capital.

The nine year old company based in Malibu, Calif., plans to use proceeds for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes as needed.

By Pat Dermody, president, Retale

This is not a lecture about embracing digital. Chances are you have already heard that, read that, maybe even repeated it to yourself. If not, you had better hurry up.

Leading global cooler manufacturer Igloo was acquired by Washington, D.C.-based private equity firm ACON Investments from Connecticut-based private equity firm J.H. Whitney.

ACON said J.H. Whitney will continue to maintain a small, but undisclosed, stake in the company. Igloo will continue to be led by chairman and CEO Gary Kiedaisch and other members of the existing management team who are also purchasing significant interests in Igloo in connection with the transaction. The company will focus on continued growth in the outdoors, housewares and sporting goods markets.

The nation’s largest egg producer, Cal-Maine Foods, named Wil Webb to a new role as vp of operations.

Webb will be responsible for the company’s extensive production facilities in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi and reports to Cal-Maine COO Sherman Miller. Webb has been employed with Cal-Maine Foods since 1997 and most recently served as general manager of the company’s operations in Edwards, Mississippi.