News Briefs

Target Corp.’s salaried employees can expect a bigger bonus this year.

The company will double the annual bonus payout is gives to salaried employees in late March. The increased payout was first reported by Bloomberg. 

In a statement to Chain Store Age, Target spokesperson Brian Harper-Tibaldo said that, similar to many companies, Target offers a bonus plan for select employees, including leaders in its stores and supply chain operations, that is designed to reward their performance in driving its results. 

"The bonus structure is informed by goals set at the beginning of the fiscal year, and includes sales performance and profit outcomes,” he said. “Based on Target’s performance in 2023, including the $2B in additional profit growth our team delivered that exceeded the goals we set at the beginning of the year, we’re rewarding our team accordingly.”

Target’s salaried employees receive an annual bonus that is based on the company’s performance and the eligible amount set as part of their compensation, reported CNBC. The retailer will pay 100% of employees’ eligible annual bonus amounts for the most recent fiscal year, an increase from 50% in the prior year, the report said.

As of Feb. 3, Target employed about 415,000 full-time, part-time and seasonal team members, according to a regulatory filing. The majority of the company’s employees are not salaried. 

Trader Joe’s continues to expand its footprint across the United States.

The grocery store chain has listed 16 upcoming locations on the announcements section of its website. Five of the sites are in California. 

Trader Joe’s did not provide opening dates for any of the listed stores. But it does say on its website that "Our crew is working hard so we can open our doors in 2024."  

Earlier this month, the grocer opened a new store in Everett, Wash. 

Here is the list of Trader Joe’s upcoming locations.

• Reno, Nev.;
• Chandler, Ariz.;
• Milwaukie, Ore.;
• Salt Lake City, Utah;
• Coeur d’Alene, Idaho;
• Clearwater, Fla.; 
• Raleigh, N.C.; 
• Leesburg, Va.; 
• Middletown, N.J.; 
• Mt. Pleasant (Isle of Palms) S.C.;
• Sugar Land, Texas; West Springfield, Va.; 
• South Pasadena, Calif.; 
• Santa Clarita, Calif.; 
• Sherman Oaks, Calif.; 
• Santee, Calif.; and
• Poway, Calif.

Trader Joe’s operates more than 500 stores across 42 states and Washington, D.C.

Food solutions company SpartanNash has promoted one of its senior VPs.

Nicole Zube has been promoted from senior VP to executive VP and chief human resources officer. Zube joined the company in September of 2022 from Kellogg Company, where she spent over 10 years and most recently served as head of HR.

She worked in a variety of human resources roles at Kellogg, including a three-year stint in the United Kingdom, where she was senior HR director of European supply chain and senior HR director of European talent and diversity. Prior to Kellogg, Zube worked in various HR positions during her eight-year career at Procter & Gamble.

"Nicole's work to support our family of 17,000 associates has better positioned the company to deliver on our promise of customer-focused innovation," said SpartanNash CEO Tony Sarsam. "Nicole has driven remarkable, measurable impact that is felt by every individual associate across the organization, and we are proud to recognize her talent, leadership and passion with this well-deserved promotion."   

SpartanNash operates 144 brick-and-mortar grocery stores, primarily under the banners of Family Fare, Martin's Super Markets and D&W Fresh Market, in addition to dozens of pharmacies and fuel centers.

Musician instrument retailer Guitar Center has appointed a new chief merchandising and marketing officer.

Kristin Shane will fill the role effective immediately, where she will be responsible for product, promotions, visual merchandising, omni-channel experience and activations. 

Shane joins Guitar Center from PetSmart, where she served as senior VP and chief merchandising officer for two years. Earlier in her career, from 2005 to 2016, where her last role was VP and merchandise manager for the beauty and personal care business.

“As a visionary leader and a world-class merchant, we are thrilled to welcome Kristin Shane to our executive team,” said Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto, who was appointed to the position last October. “Kristin’s impressive track record of market and sales growth, coupled with her nearly 20 years of retail expertise in the specialty product market, will be instrumental in activating Guitar Center’s new strategic direction and creating a more customer-centric experience.” 

Guitar Center operates more than 300 stores across the U.S., as well as having a strong omnichannel presence. Guitar Center’s sister brands include Music & Arts, which operates more than 250 stores specializing in band & orchestral instruments for sale and rental, and Musician’s Friend, a leading direct marketer of musical instruments.

“Guitar Center stands at the forefront of the musical instrument retail industry, and I am humbled  to be part of its next chapter," said Shane. "Together, we will continue to build on the company's legacy, setting a new course to revolutionize the end-to-end customer experience. Leveraging my background in transforming retail spaces and driving significant market growth, I am eager to implement forward-thinking strategies that not only drive business results but also enrich our customer journey.”

The Kroger Company is getting out of the specialty pharmacy business. 

The grocery giant said it has entered a definitive agreement to sell its specialty pharmacy unit to CarelonRx, a unit of U.S. health insurer Elevance Health. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but it is not expected have an effect on Kroger’s full-year financial outlook, the company said.

Kroger’s specialty pharmacy business serves patients with chronic illnesses that require complex care, including rheumatoid arthritis, growth hormone deficiencies, multiple sclerosis and bleeding disorders. It is separate from the chain’s in-store pharmacies and The Little Clinics, which are not part of the deal.

"As part of our regular review of assets, it became clear that our strong specialty pharmacy business unit will better meet its full potential outside of our business,” said Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger Health. “One of the most important considerations was continued operations to ensure minimal disruption to our associates and patients. We are confident this transaction will help the business to grow and deliver better results for patients."

The sale is not connected to Kroger’s proposed merger with Albertsons, reported by MarketWatch. In February, the FTC  issued an administrative complaint and authorized a lawsuit in federal court to block the merger.

The deal, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the second half of 2024. It is not expected to impact Kroger's 2024 fiscal forecasts.

RBC Capital Markets, LLC is serving as financial advisor and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP are serving as legal advisors to Kroger.

Baskin-Robbins has added a new feature to its mobile app to bolster convenience for its customers.

Customers nationwide can now order ice cream, sundaes, beverages and more through the BR App, with items ready for pickup in as little as 15 minutes. First launched in 2016, the BR allowed customers to access coupons and promotions. Now, customers can order ahead and pick up their items in store.

“When we set out to evolve the BR App experience, we kept digital convenience and guest feedback top-of-mind,” said Nicole Boutwell, senior director of customer marketing & brand experience at Baskin-Robbins. “With these expanded capabilities to our app, guests can enjoy their favorites faster and unlock new ways to celebrate all of life’s moments with ice cream.”

To promote the new feature, customers can save $3 on an order of $10 or more, available for all registered app users through May 17 with promo code TASTY at checkout.

Founded in 1945, Baskin-Robbins, known for its 32 flavors of ice cream, operates more than 7,700 retail shops in 33 global markets.