OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Sam's Club SCOREs a partnership to benefit small businesses
Sam's Club is teaming up with a national nonprofit dedicated to mentoring small business owners to launch the 2016 American Small Business Championship.

The SCORE competition is open to small business owners and entrepreneurs from coast to coast with one winner receiving a $25,000 grand prize.
Supermarket chain names CEO
The Golub Corp., operators of the Price Chopper grocery store chain, named Scott Grimmett as president and CEO. Grimmett, who has been part of the family-owned company’s succession plan since joining Golub in January 2012 as executive VP and COO, is the first non-family member to head up the chain. He replaces Jerry Golub, who has been appointed vice chairman of the board

Acosta names new COO

Acosta, a leading full-service sales and marketing agency in the consumer packaged goods industry, on Tuesday named Tom Corley COO.

He will be responsible for overseeing the sales and foodservice divisions and will work to deepen consumer packaged goods clients and customer relationships, identify retail operating strategies and develop a differentiated sales organization.
Seven payment predictions for 2016

The NFC/contactless ecosystem will grow in 2016, with an increasingly number of third-party wallets coming from the likes of Samsung and Google.

That’s just one of seven payment predictions contained in a new infographic from the Ingenico Group.

To see the infographic, click here.
Penney taps former Home Depot vet to head up stores

J.C. Penney Company appointed Joe McFarland as executive VP of stores, effective immediately, succeeding Tony Bartlett.

McFarland, similar to J.C. Penney CEO Marvin Ellison, is a Home Depot veteran. He worked at the home improvement giant for over 20 years, most recently as president of its Northern and Western Divisions, where he was responsible for the sales and operations of up to 800 stores in 24 states. McFarland began his career at the chain as a sales associate.
Ascena Retail Group appoints a new senior VP

Ascena Retail Group has a new senior VP to lead the company through its next phase of growth.

The company announced that Duane Holloway has been named senior VP and general counsel, effective immediately. Holloway will serve on the company’s leadership team and report to David Jaffe, president and CEO. He will be responsible for overseeing all legal matters for the Company.
Publix names senior VP of retail ops, plus two new VPs

Publix Super Markets continues to make news on the executive front.
Former RadioShack CEO, Walgreens exec to lead Massage Envy

Massage Envy, a subscription-based massage and skincare services provider, on Monday named Joseph Magnacca as CEO, succeeding Dave Crisalli who will continue to serve the business as a member of its board.

Magnacca most recently served as CEO of RadioShack. Prior to that he was executive VP and president of Daily Living Products and Solutions for Walgreen Co., where he oversaw all of Walgreen's marketing and merchandising operations across more than 8,000 stores.
Aaron's announces new senior leadership

Aaron's has assembled a new senior leadership team to position the company for growth and success.

The company, led by CEO John W. Robinson, announced the following changes on Tuesday:

• Gilbert L. Danielson will step down as CFO. Until his retirement at the end of 2016, Danielson will remain executive VP, serving as a senior advisor to the leadership team and managing certain strategic projects.
Toys “R” Us marks milestone store in China

Ten years after first entering the market, Toys "R" Us has opened its 100th store in China. The retailer has opened a total of 27 new locations across China within the past year.