News

Guthy-Renker, the company behind Proactiv and other wellness products, named Jay Sung to the role of chief marketing officer to lead a broad slate of initiatives at the direct marketing company.

Sung will report to Seth Radwell, Guthy-Renker’s co-president and chief revenue officer, and help the company pursue 2014 growth objectives for brands such as Proactiv+, Meaningful Beauty, WEN Haircare and Sheer Cover Studio.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation issued the following statement from senior VP and general counsel Mallory Duncan in response to U.S. District Court Judge John Gleeson’s approval of a controversial antitrust lawsuit over credit card swipe fees:

Walmart’s ad match policy states that if its customers find an item at another store at a lower price, it will honor the lower price. In fact, the retailer is currently touting its Christmas ad match policy, which covers electronics, toys and grocery produce.

New York -- Due to the holiday rush and related closings, Chain Store Age has extended the deadline for its 32nd annual Retail Store of the Year Design Competition until Wednesday, January 8, 2014.

More than 20 competition categories are featured, including department stores, supermarkets, discounters, restaurants, convenience stores, specialty stores, service, sustainability and pop-up stores. This year, for the first time, the competition also includes the category of in-store digital innovation.

Safeway has made enhancements to its online grocery shopping website to make it more accessible and usable for Safeway shoppers with visual impairments.

Safeway collaborated with its visually impaired customers to make the necessary changes to its website. As such, the company has adopted the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.0 level AA as its accessibility standard.

York, Pa. – Bon-Ton Stores has entered into an amendment to the company’s existing $675 million asset-based revolving credit facility that was scheduled to mature in March 2016. Bank of America, N.A. continues to serve as Agent on the credit facility.

The second amendment extends the maturity date of the commitments under the credit facility to Dec. 12, 2018. The amendment provides interest rate reductions and generally favorable revisions regarding the facility requirements.

The Coca-Cola Company is making management and organizational changes to Coca-Cola Americas as part of its agenda to accelerate growth.

The company, which reorganized its operating structure last year, is taking further steps to streamline its focus and expedite its refranchising to independent bottling partners.

Effective Jan. 1, 2014, the integrated North America business will be segmented into a traditional company and bottler operating model that will consist of two operating units: Coca-Cola North America and Coca-Cola Refreshments.

Corte Madera, Calif. – Restoration Hardware grew its net income an impressive 389% to $13 million from $2.7 million in the same period a year earlier. Net revenues for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 increased 39% to $395.8 million from $284.2 million, while same-store sales increased 29%.

Gary Friedman, chairman and co-CEO of Restoration Hardware, credited net revenue growth and advertising savings as factors driving the company’s net income increase. The strong quarterly financial performance exceeded Wall Street expectations.