News

SIDNEY, Neb. — Cabela’s Inc. announced that Scott Williams will be joining the company as EVP and chief marketing and e-commerce officer, reporting to Tommy Millner, chief executive officer.

Previously, Williams served as president of Fanatics Inc., a vertically integrated online retailer of team and league licensed sports apparel and collectibles, which he joined in 2010. While at Fanatics, Williams led business and financial results with specific emphasis on marketing, IT, business development and manufacturing.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Mass merchandiser Sam's Club is offering a free women's health screening in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the chain said Tuesday.

MORRISVILLE, N.C. — Macy’s and  JCPenney rank as the nation’s top “local” advertisers, according to a new report from RSR Research. The study, “The Local Approach: The State of Localized Advertising in Retail,” finds most major retailers are missing huge opportunities to drive store traffic through localized digital advertising campaigns.

NEW YORK — Rite Aid has started the rollout of its new wellness store format, with 40 stores completed as of the end of the second quarter (Aug. 27, 2011). It expects to complete a total of some 300 wellness remodels in its current fiscal year, management said during a conference call with investors.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Winn-Dixie on Wednesday expanded its Fuelperks! rewards program throughout central Florida, incorporating 62 Winn-Dixie stores in Orlando and Daytona, Fla., areas into the program.

As part of the program, the Winn-Dixie customer reward card has been redesigned to include a magnetic stripe on the back, similar to a debit or credit card.

MINNEAPOLIS — While other retailers are beefing up their sales staff ahead of the holiday season, Best Buy Co. said Tuesday that it has cut its 2011 seasonal hiring plans to about half of last year’s staff numbers, in a move to curtail costs. This year’s plans call for 15,000 holiday workers, compared with 29,000 hired last year.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Kohl’s Department Stores has announced the grand opening of 30 new stores across 20 states. According to the company, these openings will create approximately 4,000 new jobs.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — In her new role as president and CEO of Walmart Canada, Shelley Broader will be tasked with addressing new competition from Target and other retailers expanding into Canada. Broader, who joined Walmart Canada in 2010 as chief merchandising officer, will assume her new role effective immediately.

Prior to Walmart, Broader held a range of key positions with Michael's and Hannaford Bros.Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores announced Wednesday that it plans to open 450 to 500 new stores in fiscal 2012, a 50% jump compared with the number of openings in fiscal 2011, and will renovate, relocate or expand over 1,000 locations. The discounter also reported that its fiscal fourth-quarter net income rose 8%.

“In fiscal 2012, we intend to accelerate investments to drive sales and profitability,” said Howard Levine, chairman and CEO.

PITTSBURGH — GNC Holdings on Wednesday announced that Jenn Brown, two-time Emmy Award-winning sports journalist, has joined the GNC LiveWell team as its newest brand ambassador.