Posted on by

Shopify Inc. announces the appointment of Amy Shapero as Chief Financial Officer

Ottawa, Canada, 2018-Mar-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Shopify Inc. (NYSE:SHOP)(TSX:SHOP), the leading cloud-based, multi-channel commerce platform, today (Mar 5, 2018) announced the appointment of Amy Shapero as Chief Financial Officer, effective April 2, 2018.

Shapero joins Shopify from Betterment, an online wealth-management service, where she has served as Chief Financial Officer since 2016. Previously, Shapero was Chief Financial Officer at Sailthru, a SaaS marketing technology provider, and Senior Vice President of Strategy, Corporate Development and Corporate Communications at DigitalGlobe, a big data and analytics provider. Prior to that, she held Chief Financial Officer roles at Spot Holdings, a financial services company, and Standard & Poor’s, a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

Shapero began her career as a CPA at Ernst & Young, followed by positions at Credit Suisse and Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

“We’re excited to welcome Amy to Shopify as our new CFO,” said Shopify CEO, Tobi Lütke. “Amy brings extensive financial, operational, and strategic experience. This, combined with her deep knowledge of the technology industry and experience scaling high-growth companies, will be a huge asset to Shopify as we enter our next phase of growth and further our mission to make commerce better for everyone.”

Shapero will succeed Russ Jones, who has served as Shopify’s Chief Financial Officer since 2011. Jones will remain a strategic advisor to the company during a transition period.

“Russ was Shopify’s first CFO, and now he’s our first official retiree. He leaves behind an incredible legacy at Shopify, which includes taking us public. In the last seven years, Russ has been instrumental in growing Shopify from a 50 person company to a leading public SaaS company with over 3,000 employees. We’re very grateful to Russ for his valuable contributions and wish him all the best as he begins his well-deserved retirement,” said Lütke.

Shopify is also pleased to announce the recent addition of Jeff Weiser as Chief Marketing Officer. Prior to joining Shopify, Weiser served as Chief Marketing Officer at Shutterstock (NYSE), held multiple senior level positions with Beachbody (P90X and Shakeology), and performed strategy and analytics roles at SGN (Social Gaming Network), MySpace and Yahoo!. Weiser holds a Bachelors of Arts in English from Yale University and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School.

Craig Miller, Shopify’s former Chief Marketing Officer, will now focus exclusively on his role as Chief Product Officer.

About Shopify

Shopify is the leading cloud-based, multi-channel commerce platform. Merchants can use the software to design, set up, and manage their stores across multiple sales channels, including web, mobile, social media, marketplaces, brick-and-mortar locations, and pop-up shops. The platform also provides merchants with a powerful back-office and a single view of their business. The Shopify platform was engineered for reliability and scale, making enterprise-level technology available to businesses of all sizes. Shopify currently powers over 600,000 businesses in approximately 175 countries and is trusted by brands such as Nestle, Red Bull, Rebecca Minkoff, and Kylie Cosmetics.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding Shopify’s appointment of its new Chief Financial Officer. Words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “will”, and “intends” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent Shopify’s expectations as of the date of this news release, or as of the date they are otherwise stated to be made, and subsequent events may cause these expectations to change. Shopify undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Press Inquiries:
press@shopify.com

SOURCE: Shopify

Posted on by

Nordstrom introduces Anthropologie Home collection in stores and online

Nordstrom introduces Anthropologie Home collection in stores and online

Anthropologie Home collection to be available in 15 Nordstrom stores and on Nordstrom.com, beginning March 19

SEATTLE, 2018-Mar-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) announced today (March 5, 2018) a partnership with Anthropologie (Nasdaq: URBN) to introduce more than 200 items from Anthropologie Home at select Nordstrom full-line stores and on Nordstrom.com, beginning March 19th. The Anthropologie Home collection will encompass categories including kitchen, dining and entertaining, bed and bath textiles, room décor, stationery and hardware.

“We are thrilled to be launching the best of Anthropologie Home into 15 Nordstrom stores and on Nordstrom.com. Home is a category we continue to evolve and being Anthropologie’s partner will allow us to introduce dynamic home product with a regular cadence,” said Gemma Lionello, executive vice president and general merchandise manager, Nordstrom. “We look forward to providing our customers with another way to shop one of their favorite home brands.”

Anthropologie Home at Nordstrom represents a mix of classic and iconic pieces, new seasonal designs and exclusive artist collaborations. Work from 20 artists, discovered around the world, is reflected in the wide range of techniques, mediums and styles in the collection. They include Massachusetts-based ceramicist Molly Hatch’s whimsical creations, painter and UK native Sally Muir’s dog portraiture, Los Angeles studio All Roads Design’s artisanal textiles and North Carolina’s Suite One Studio’s watercolor inspired designs.

“Anthropologie Home has evolved significantly over the past several years, becoming a sought-after design resource for every room of the home. We are thrilled to take this important next step with Nordstrom as our partner in the United States,” said Andrew Carnie, president of Anthropologie home, garden and Europe. “We look forward to sharing our unique voice in home with their customers in a meaningful and engaging way.”

Nordstrom store locations that will feature Anthropologie Home include:

Arden Fair (Sacramento, Calif.) NorthPark Center (Dallas, Texas)
Bellevue Square (Bellevue, Wash.) Park Meadows (Lone Tree, Colo.)
Brea Mall (Brea, Calif.) Perimeter Mall (Atlanta, Ga.)
Downtown Seattle (Seattle, Wash.) Scottsdale Fashion Square (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Fashion Valley (San Diego, Calif.) The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City (Arlington, Va.)
Garden State Plaza (Paramus, N.J.)
Mall of America (Bloomington, Minn.) The Galleria at Tyler (Riverside, Calif.)
Michigan Avenue (Chicago, Ill.) The Mall at Short Hills (Short Hills, N.J.)

ABOUT NORDSTROM:

Nordstrom, Inc. is a leading fashion retailer based in the U.S. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 366 stores in 40 states, including 122 full-line stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico; 232 Nordstrom Rack stores; two Jeffrey boutiques; two clearance stores; seven Trunk Club clubhouses; and its Nordstrom Local service concept. Additionally, customers are served online through Nordstrom.com, Nordstromrack.com, HauteLook and TrunkClub.com. Nordstrom, Inc.’scommon stock is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol JWN.

ABOUT ANTHROPOLOGIE:

Founded in 1992, Anthropologie is an omnichannel lifestyle brand that celebrates fashion, art, culture, design and discovery. Led by David W. McCreight, President of Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN) and CEO of the Anthropologie Group, Anthropologie currently maintains 226 stores in the U.S., Canada and Europe, as well as a popular catalog and website. The company is part of URBN’s portfolio of global consumer brands comprised of Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People, BHLDN, Terrain and the Vetri Family.

Media Contacts:
Nordstrom
Meliz Andiroglu
Meliz.Andiroglu@nordstrom.com
206.303.1255

Anthropologie
Sara Goodstein
Sgoodstein@anthropologie.com
646.728.2155

SOURCE: Nordstrom, Inc.

###

Posted on by

Amazon surpasses the milestone of 10,000 full-time employees in Illinois

Between 2014 and 2016, Amazon’s investments contributed more than $200 million into Illinois’ economy, indirectly creating 7,000 additional jobs on top of the 10,000 the company employs directly

SEATTLE, 2018-Mar-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — This year, Amazon will celebrate its third year fulfilling customer orders out of Illinois and surpassing the milestone of 10,000 full-time employees in the state with job opportunities for people with all types of experience, education and skill levels—from human resources, engineers and facilities technicians, to those seeking entry-level positions and on-the-job training.

“We couldn’t be prouder to be part of the Illinois family. Our team in the Land of Lincoln has been instrumental in providing outstanding customer experiences, raising the bar on our operational excellence, and continuing to innovate on behalf of the customer. We feel fortunate to have been able to create more than 10,000 jobs in just three years and gratified by the amazing support we’ve received from the community,” said Sanjay Shah, Amazon’s Vice President of North America Customer Fulfillment.

Amazon’s first fulfillment center in Illinois, located at 205 Emerald Drive in Joliet, opened in 2015 with a team of 1,000 full-time employees. Since the initial building’s launch, Amazon has opened eight other fulfillment centers, two Prime Now hubs, an Amazon Fresh site, a sortation center, four delivery stations, an Amazon Books store, and a corporate office in the Prairie State.

This expansion has resulted in Amazon investing hundreds of millions of dollars into Illinois’s economy, both in fulfillment infrastructure and compensation to its 10,000 current employees. As a snapshot, according to a report by the company’s Economics team, Amazon’s investments in Illinois from 2014 through 2016 resulted in an additional $200 million to the state’s economy. Using Input-Output methodology and multipliers developed by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Amazon estimates its investments in the state have created an additional 7,000 indirect jobs on top of the company’s direct hires.

“We welcome Amazon’s growth and creation of more than 10,000 jobs, which speaks to the quality of our work force here in Illinois,” said Governor Bruce Rauner. “We’re proud of Amazon’s commitment and contributions to the local community and broader state economy. We congratulate Amazon on yet another enterprise milestone and look forward to working with the company to build on this momentum.”

“Illinois is full of people willing and wanting to work and grow,” said Intersect Illinois President and CEO Mark Peterson. “Amazon exceeding their projections is great news and a testament to our dedicated, skilled and extensive workforce.”

“As the world’s largest inland port, Will County is proud to be home to four Amazon fulfillment centers,” said Will County Executive Larry Walsh.

Amazon in Illinois by the numbers:

  • 9 fulfillment centers, 6 of which are located in Chicagoland
  • 3 locations in Chicago city proper: Prime Now hub, delivery station, and a corporate office
  • Amazon’s corporate office in Chicago has created jobs for 200 engineers and cloud infrastructure professionals, and is being expanded to host up to 400 people
  • 400+ restaurants leverage Amazon’s technological expertise to offer customers superfast delivery on hot food through Amazon Restaurants
  • 8,500+ full-time employees in the greater Chicago area
  • 7,000+ estimated indirect jobs created as a result of Amazon’s investment between 2014 and 2016
  • 95,000+ authors, sellers, and developers in Illinois growing their businesses and reaching new customers on Amazon products and services
  • $100,000+ donated to charities in Illinois through monetary and in-kind donations
  • $200 million added into Illinois’ economy between 2014 and 2016 due to Amazon’s investments
  • More than 6,000,000 sq. ft. footprint for the nine fulfillment centers

Amazon’s statewide impact can be seen in the local small businesses it empowers. For example, Kristin Rae is an Illinois resident and founder of Inspire International, an independent, woman-founded brand that sells modern clothing and travel accessories. Inspire International uses Fulfillment By Amazon, a service that enables small businesses to use Amazon’s resources to sell directly to customers.

“I truly wouldn’t be able to be in business without Amazon,” said Rae. “It’s not only the visibility that Amazon offers boutique brands like mine, but also the resources and support that are so valuable to small businesses. I am able to efficiently operate a global business from the heartland of Illinois, something that years ago wouldn’t have been possible for sellers like me who live in more rural areas of the country. Amazon is revolutionizing what it is to be a small business.”

Full-time fulfillment center Amazon associates receive competitive wages and a comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare, 401(k) and company stock awards starting on day one. Amazon also offers regular full-time employees maternity and parental leave benefits and access to innovative programs like Career Choice, where it will pre-pay up to 95 percent of tuition for courses related to in-demand fields, regardless of whether the skills are relevant to a career at Amazon. Since the program’s launch, more than 10,000 employees have pursued degrees in game design and visual communications, nursing, IT programming and radiology, to name a few.

To learn more about working at Amazon, visit www.amazon.jobs.

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

Media Hotline:
Amazon-pr@amazon.com
www.amazon.com/pr

Source: Amazon.com, Inc.

Posted on by

Albertsons Companies welcomes Jim Donald as President and Chief Operating Officer

Boise, Idaho, 2018-Mar-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Albertsons Companies announced today (Mar 05, 2018) that Jim Donald, former President and Chief Executive Officer of Starbucks, has been appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of Albertsons Companies, effective immediately. Donald is an experienced retail operator with extensive knowledge of Albertsons Companies, having previously held senior leadership roles at both Albertson’s, Inc. and Safeway, Inc. Donald also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Rite Aid from 2008 to 2013.

As President and Chief Operating Officer, Donald will have responsibility for the operations of the retailers’ 2,300+ store portfolio and help with the acceleration of the company’s growing omnichannel platform. Following the close of the recently announced merger with Rite Aid, subject to customary regulatory approvals and approval by Rite Aid shareholders, Donald will continue in this role and work alongside the rest of the combined company’s leadership team. Donald replaces Wayne Denningham, who retired earlier this year. Susan Morris, who was named Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer in January 2018, will continue in her role.

“Jim Donald has built an exceptional career in retail. His knowledge of our company and industry is unmatched, and I know his contributions will be invaluable as we enter the next chapter of Albertsons Companies,” said Bob Miller, Albertsons Companies Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to tapping his expertise in leading large consumer brands as we work every day to meet our customers’ needs, both in-store and online.”

Most recently, Donald served as Chief Executive Officer of Extended Stay America, a large US-based hotel chain, from 2012 to 2015. From 2009 to 2011, Donald served as President and Chief Executive Officer of food and pharmacy retailer Haggen, Inc. Prior to that, he spent six years at Starbucks, leading the company through a period of strong growth and performance, working his way up from President of its North America Division to President and Chief Executive Officer of Starbucks Corporation. Earlier in his career, Donald led Pathmark Stores, Inc. and held a variety of senior management positions with Albertson’s, Inc., Safeway, Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Said Donald, “Having first worked at Albertsons 42 years ago, I have watched as an insider and from afar how their keen focus on customer service maintained a solid foundation for their team through the years. Their acquisitive nature combined with their recent innovation efforts and strong Own Brands portfolio have helped them to build an even stronger company today. I look forward to being a part of the team that takes this great company into the future and continues to serve the food, health, and wellness needs of today’s busy customers.”

About Albertsons Companies

Albertsons Companies is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with both a strong local presence and national scale. We operate stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia under 20 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs. Albertsons Companies is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood.

Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our perspectives and expectations, are forward looking statements. The words “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions, when related to the Company and its subsidiaries, indicate forward-looking statements. These statements reflect the current view of management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on various assumptions and factors, including general economic, market, industry and operational factors. Any changes to these assumptions or factors may lead to practical results different from current expectations. Excessive reliance should not be placed on those statements. Forward-looking statements relate only to the date they were made, and the Company and its subsidiaries undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made.

MEDIA CONTACT:

208-395-6200

Source: Albertsons Companies/globenewswire

Posted on by

SONIC® Drive-In launches new advertising campaign featuring comedic powerhouses Jane Krakowski and Ellie Kemper

Television and Film Stars and SONIC “Two Guys” collaborate in commercial spots

OKLAHOMA CITY, 2018-Mar-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — SONIC® Drive-In (NASDAQ: SONC) brings the laughter with the launch of a new take on its iconic advertising campaign featuring comedic powerhouses Jane Krakowski and Ellie Kemper. In collaboration with the iconic “Two Guys” – consisting of improvisational comedians Peter Grosz and T.J. Jagodowski – the two pairs will be showcased in TV and online advertising while enjoying one-of-a-kind SONIC menu items from the front seats of their cars.

“Jane and Ellie are the ideal pair to cast for this new chapter of the campaign with their strong representations of our brand personality and they bring a fresh female perspective,” said Lori Abou Habib, chief marketing officer for SONIC. “They exude the brand’s good-natured and fun-loving culture with their lively humor, in addition to being SONIC fans themselves. Jane and Ellie radiate authentic personalities ideal for the SONIC brand and audience.”

For more than a decade, the “Two Guys” have been synonymous with the brand’s amusing and energetic strategy to advertising. Krakowski and Kemper join the comedic, iconic campaign to mark an evolution of the SONIC commercials showcasing female comedians.

“Ellie and I have been the biggest fans of SONIC – and the hilarious commercials – for years. When we were presented with the opportunity to join a campaign that fully embraces comedy and improv, we knew right away this was going to be fun,” said Jane Krakowski. “We have always appreciated the comedy that Peter and TJ have brought to the SONIC ads and Ellie and I are honored to be the first female comedy duo to be in the SONIC car.”

The new commercial spots will feature upcoming SONIC products and promotions including the launch of the SONIC Signature Slingers, new cheeseburgers starting under 350 calories made with three simple ingredients: 100-percent pure beef blended with savory mushrooms and bold seasoning, becoming the first of its kind in fast food*.

“Joining the ranks of Peter and TJ feels momentous,” said Ellie Kemper. “Jane and I are so excited to share our take on a couple of friends hanging out at SONIC.”

Additionally, the spots will feature exciting new products throughout the summer and the SONIC Nights promotion, offering Half-Price Floats, Shakes and Ice Cream Slushes all made with SONIC’s Real Ice Cream, after 8 p.m. every day, starting today, March 5**.

*See menu for details
** For a limited time only at participating SONIC® locations. See menu for details.

About SONIC, America’s Drive-In

SONIC, America’s Drive-In is the nation’s largest drive-in restaurant chain serving approximately 3 million customers every day. Nearly 94 percent of SONIC’s 3,500 drive-in locations are owned and operated by local business men and women. For 64 years, SONIC has delighted guests with signature menu items, 1.3 million drink combinations and friendly service by iconic Carhops. Since the 2009 launch of SONIC’s Limeades for Learning philanthropic campaign in partnership with DonorsChoose.org, SONIC has donated $9.5 million to public school teachers nationwide to fund essential learning materials and innovative teaching resources to inspire creativity and learning in today’s youth. To learn more about Sonic Corp. (NASDAQ/NM: SONC), please visit sonicdrivein.com and please visit or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. To learn more about SONIC’s Limeades for Learning initiative, please visit LimeadesforLearning.com.

Contact:
Rebeka Mora
512-542-2804
Rebeka.Mora@Cohnwolfe.com

Source: SONIC

Posted on by

SONIC introduces guilt-free SONIC Signature Slingers cheeseburger

SONIC introduces guilt-free SONIC Signature Slingers cheeseburger

America’s Drive-In® introduces the first QSR mushroom-blended burger starting under 350 calories

OKLAHOMA CITY, 2018-Mar-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — SONIC® Drive-In (NASDAQ: SONC) revamped the traditional American cheeseburger with its new SONIC Signature Slingers, a first of its kind in fast food. The perfect-sized cheeseburger patty is made with three simple ingredients: 100-percent pure beef blended with savory mushrooms and seasonings to create a juicy, flavorful patty that is almost too good to be true. Starting under 350 calories, the SONIC Signature Slingers lets you get away with all the flavor of a cheeseburger with none of the guilt starting at $1.99*.

“The Signature Slingers is a first-of-its-kind fast food cheeseburger, which delivers the juicy savory deliciousness you expect from a burger in a way that makes you feel like you’re getting away with something,” said Scott Uehlein, vice president of product innovation and development for SONIC. “Adding mushrooms right into the burger patty amps up the incredible flavors of the 100-percent pure beef and seasonings you get in each bite. This burger truly raises the bar for every other restaurant.”

Beginning Monday, March 5, guests can enjoy two Signature Slingers cheeseburger options to satisfy their guilt-less burger cravings. The Classic SONIC Signature Slinger is topped with fresh lettuce and tomato, diced onions, crinkle-cut dill pickles, mayo and melted American cheese served on a bakery-quality brioche bun. The Bacon Melt SONIC Signature Slinger is made with crispy bacon, layered with melted cheese and mayo served on a bakery-quality brioche bun.

“We are excited to be a partner on the new Signature Slingers, which brings together the craveability of pure beef with the juiciness of mushrooms, creating a great tasting cheeseburger that guests will only be able to get at SONIC,” said Bart Minor, president of the Mushroom Council, which provides marketing and education on behalf of the nation’s mushroom growers and importers. “The trend of blending mushrooms into a burger patty has been atop a number of food trend lists this year and we can’t wait for guests to experience SONIC’s uniquely delicious creation.”

Guests can pair the new SONIC Signature Slingers with a SONIC Fruit Fizz™ for the ultimate lunch, dinner or snack, but only for a limited time.

* Tax not included. Classic SONIC Signature Slinger contains approximately 340 calories. See menu for details.

About SONIC®, America’s Drive-In®

SONIC, America’s Drive-In is the nation’s largest drive-in restaurant chain serving approximately 3 million customers every day. Nearly 94 percent of SONIC’s 3,500 drive-in locations are owned and operated by local business men and women. For 65 years, SONIC has delighted guests with signature menu items, 1.3 million drink combinations and friendly service by iconic Carhops. Since the 2009 launch of SONIC’s Limeades for Learning philanthropic campaign in partnership with DonorsChoose.org, SONIC has donated $9.5 million to public school teachers nationwide to fund essential learning materials and innovative teaching resources to inspire creativity and learning in their students. To learn more about Sonic Corp. (NASDAQ/NM: SONC), please visit sonicdrivein.com and please visit or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. To learn more about SONIC’s Limeades for Learning initiative, please visit LimeadesforLearning.com.

Contact:
Rebeka Mora
512-542-2804
Rebeka.mora@cohnwolfe.com

Source: SONIC Drive-In

###

Posted on by

British Land: Eataly to open its first UK location at Broadgate’s 135 Bishopsgate in 2020

British Land: Eataly to open its first UK location at Broadgate’s 135 Bishopsgate in 2020

 

LONDON, 2018-Mar-06 — /EPR Retail News/ — British Land and Eataly, the Italian marketplace, announce that Eataly is to open its first UK location at Broadgate’s 135 Bishopsgate in 2020. Eataly has signed an agreement for lease for 42,000 sq ft on the ground and first floors of the building.

Eataly’s original idea is very simple: to gather all the high-quality Italian foods under one roof, where you can eat, shop and learn. With a selection of the best Italian products, restaurants, bars, quick services, exciting on-site production laboratories, and a cooking school, Eataly will add to the already popular restaurant and bar offering at Broadgate, bringing many opportunities to learn about Italian food and culture though courses, guided tastings, demonstrations and special events.

The letting marks yet another positive step in Broadgate’s evolution into a mixed-use neighbourhood for London, and sets the tone for the world class retail destination that British Land is delivering at the campus.

135 Bishopsgate’s refurbishment is part of British Land’s wider focus on enhancing the environment for Broadgate’s workers and visitors and attracting businesses from a range of sectors to the campus. The upgraded building will deliver high quality office space for occupiers, who will benefit from a roof terrace with views over London, as well as an in-house catering offer and a café, both provided by Eataly. British Land is making significant improvements to the public realm on Bishopsgate, one of London’s busiest streets.

Eataly’s marketplace will be accessible from both Bishopsgate and Broadgate’s Exchange Square which is due to be transformed into a new park for the campus. These additional entrances will significantly improve the campus’ permeability and its connections with the lively surrounding areas of Spitalfields and Shoreditch.

Claire Barber, Head of Central London Retail and Meadowhall, British Land said: “Eataly’s decision to take space at Broadgate is a fantastic endorsement of British Land’s strategy to create a vibrant, world class neighbourhood at the campus.

“Along with arrival of the Elizabeth Line at 100 Liverpool Street this year, and the high quality retail space due to open at 100 Liverpool Street in 2019, Eataly will really put Broadgate on the map as an exciting destination for Londoners to enjoy seven days a week.”

Luca Baffigo, CEO, Eataly said: “Visiting Borough Market before opening our first Eataly in Italy was a source of great inspiration for our concept. This is why opening a place in London where people can buy, eat and learn is a very important and exciting milestone for us. Being able to bring our model into a place that is so significant for us fills us with satisfaction and stimulates us to create in London a wonderful multifunctional experience.”

This letting is the most recent in a series of commitments from a range of occupiers at Broadgate, including cyber security and data management company Mimecast, which is taking 79,000 sq ft at 1FA (currently undergoing a major refurbishment), and Japanese bank SMBCE which is taking 161,000 sq ft at 100 Liverpool Street.

For further details on Broadgate, visit www.broadgate.co.uk.

About British Land

Our portfolio of high quality UK commercial property is focused on Retail around the UK and London Offices. We own or manage a portfolio valued at £18.1 billion (British Land share: £13.5 billion) as at 30 September 2017 making us one of Europe’s largest listed real estate investment companies.

Our strategy is to provide places which meet the needs of our customers and respond to changing lifestyles – Places People Prefer. We do this by creating great environments both inside and outside our buildings and use our scale and placemaking skills to enhance and enliven them. This expands their appeal to a broader range of occupiers, creating enduring demand and driving sustainable, long term performance.

Our Retail portfolio is focused on Regional and Local multi-let centres, and accounts for 49% of our portfolio. Our Offices portfolio comprises three office-led campuses in central London as well as high quality standalone buildings and accounts for 49% of our portfolio. Increasingly our focus is on providing a mix of uses and this is most evident at Canada Water, our 46 acre redevelopment opportunity where we have plans to create a new neighbourhood for London.

Sustainability is embedded throughout our business. Our places, which are designed to meet high sustainability standards, become part of local communities, provide opportunities for skills development and employment and promote wellbeing. Our industry-leading sustainability performance led to British Land being awarded a five star rating in the 2017 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark for the second year running.

In April 2016 British Land received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development, the UK’s highest accolade for business success for economic, social and environmental achievements over a period of five years.

Further details can be found on the British Land website at www.britishland.com.

About Eataly

Eataly, which in the last year generates sales of roughly EUR 400 million, has 40 shops in 12 countries, offering to more than 30 million of visitors the best cottage-industry products at sustainable prices, limiting the distribution chain to the utmost and creating direct contact between the producer and the final distributor, skipping the intermediate stages in the chain. The main goal is to increase the percentage of those who eat with awareness, choosing high-quality Italian products and paying special attention to the source and processing of raw materials.

The philosophy adopted by Eataly is twofold: on the one hand, it offers products, both for sale and used as ingredients in catering; on the other hand, it offers education, including cooking classes, tastings, encounters with great chefs, important wine or beer producers or craftsmen, free education for children and senior citizens. The latter aspect summarises the true originality of Eataly and represents the starting-point in leading consumers to perceive quality, which can encourage the sense of taste and enjoyment that makes a human being more satisfied and happier. More on www.eataly.com

Enquiries:
Investor Relations:
David Walker
British Land
020 7467 3418

Media:
Claire Turvey
FTI Consulting
020 3727 1000

Source: British Land

###

Posted on by

Casino Group becomes RelevanC’s sole shareholder

Saint-Étienne, France, 2018-Mar-06 — /EPR Retail News/ — RelevanC, the start-up created on 11 October 2017 by the Casino Group and RedPill, offers mining and analytics services for high quality, relevant data, based on both consumers’ actual in-store purchases and their online behaviour.

Mining these data makes it possible not only to conduct in-depth consumer studies, but also to roll out targeted digital advertising campaigns and measure their impact on actual brick and mortar sales.

RelevanC’s initial launch phase, led by recently appointed Chief Executive Officer Adrien Vincent, has now been completed.

Specifically:

  • the web platform for interfacing with advertisers, media agencies and research institutes has been designed and is now fully up and running;
  • consumer data from the Casino Group’s banners (Cdiscount, Monoprix, Géant, Casino Supermarkets, Franprix, etc.) have been enriched, thanks to partnerships formed with premium media, including TF1, Aufeminin.com, France Télévisions and Amaury Media;
  • the performance measurement application, which determines the impact of a digital advertising campaign on actual in-store buying behaviour, has been developed and the initial outcomes with major food brands are promising.

After this successful incubation phase, Casino and RedPill decided to amend their agreements in order to launch the company’s growth phase.

The Casino Group has now become RelevanC’s sole shareholder and is reaffirming its goal of positioning itself in this new, fast-growing business by actively mining all the potential of its data.

PRESS CONTACT:
Agence IMAGE SEPT
Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 70 74 84
Karine Allouis – kallouis@image7.fr
Grégoire Lucas – gregoire.lucas@image7.fr

Source: Casino Group

Posted on by

Macerich to participate in the Citi 2018 Global Property CEO Conference in Hollywood, Florida

SANTA MONICA, Calif., 2018-Mar-06 — /EPR Retail News/ — Macerich® (NYSE: MAC) today (03/05/18) announced that Art Coppola, CEO and Chairman, Ed Coppola, President and Tom O’Hern, Senior Executive Vice President and CFO will participate in the Citi 2018 Global Property CEO Conference in Hollywood, Florida.

Macerich will participate in a roundtable discussion from approximately 2:55 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, on Monday, March 5, 2018.  Interested parties can listen to a live audio only webcast of the discussion on the Macerich website at www.macerich.com (Investing Section). To listen, please go to the website, at least fifteen minutes prior to the start of the discussion in order to register.  An online replay of the webcast will be available one hour after the conclusion of the live event and will be available until May 1, 2018.

Macerich, an S&P 500 company, is a fully integrated self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust, which focuses on the acquisition, leasing, management, development and redevelopment of regional malls throughout the United States.

Macerich currently owns 53 million square feet of real estate consisting primarily of interests in 48 regional shopping centers. Macerich specializes in successful retail properties in many of the country’s most attractive, densely populated markets with significant presence in the Pacific Rim, Arizona, Chicago and the Metro New York to Washington, DC corridor.

A recognized leader in sustainability, Macerich has earned NAREIT’s prestigious “Leader in the Light” award every year from 2014-2017. For the third straight year in 2017 Macerich achieved the #1 GRESB ranking in the North American Retail Sector, among many other environmental accomplishments. Additional information about Macerich can be obtained from the Company’s website at www.macerich.com.

Contact:

Jean Wood
Vice President
Investor Relations
(424-229-33

SOURCE: Macerich

Posted on by

JCPenney announces 4Q 2017 financial and full year results

  • Fourth Quarter Comparable Sales Increase 2.6%
  • Outstanding Debt Reduced by Over $600 Million in 2017

PLANO, Texas, 2018-Mar-06 — /EPR Retail News/ — J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP) today (Mar. 2, 2018) announced financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter and full year ended Feb. 3, 2018. Comparable sales increased 2.6 % for the fourth quarter and increased 0.1 % for full year 2017. Fourth quarter earnings per share was $0.81 and full year net loss per share was ($0.37). Fourth quarter adjusted earnings per share was $0.57 and full year adjusted earnings per share was $0.22. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures is included in the schedules accompanying the consolidated financial statements in this release.

Marvin R. Ellison, chairman and chief executive officer said, “We are encouraged by our results for the fourth quarter and for fiscal 2017. Through the hard work and dedication of the entire JCPenney team, we delivered our second consecutive year of positive adjusted earnings. For 2017, we improved adjusted earnings per share by 175 %, reduced our outstanding debt levels by over $600 million and generated over $200 million of free cash flow. During the fourth quarter, we delivered our strongest positive sales comps and achieved our largest gross margin improvement for the year. Our fourth quarter gross margin improvement, combined with our continued commitment to expense discipline, helped us generate adjusted earnings per share of $0.57 for the quarter.”

Ellison continued, “In 2018, we will intensify our market share efforts in Appliances, Mattresses and Furniture, while continuing to take steps to modernize our apparel assortment and omni-channel. Our strategy and plan is clear and consistent, and we remain focused on two critical factors – to operate the business for growth and deliver profitable earnings. I would like to thank our nearly 100,000 associates around our company for their hard work and more importantly, for their commitment to JCPenney.”

Fourth Quarter 2017 Results
Total net sales for the 14 weeks ended Feb. 3, 2018 increased 1.8 % to $4.03 billion compared to $3.96 billion for the 13 weeks ended Jan. 28, 2017. Comparable sales increased 2.6 % in the fourth quarter and were on the same 13 week basis as the fourth quarter last year.

Jewelry, Home, Sephora, Footwear and Handbags and Salon were the Company’s top performing divisions during the quarter. Geographically, the Southeast and Gulf Coast were the best performing regions of the country.

Cost of goods sold, which excludes depreciation and amortization, was $2.68 billion, or 66.4 % of sales, compared to $2.65 billion, or 66.9 % of sales in the same period last year. The improvement was primarily driven by decreased promotional activity during the quarter resulting from an improved inventory position. This improvement was partially offset by the continued growth in the Company’s online and major appliance businesses and higher shrink rates.

SG&A expenses were $943 million compared to $925 million for the same period last year. As a percentage of sales, SG&A expenses were 23.4 % and flat compared to last year. Reductions primarily in store controllable costs and marketing spend were partially offset by lower credit income and higher incentive compensation.

Net income was $254 million, or $0.81 per share, compared to net income of $192 million, or $0.61 per share in the same period last year. The improvement was primarily due to a $75 million tax reform benefit recorded in the fourth quarter this year.

Adjusted net income was $179 million, or $0.57 per share, for the fourth quarter this year. Adjusted net income for the fourth quarter last year was $202 million, or $0.64 per share, which included a gain of $62 million, or $0.20 per share, associated with the sale of the Company’s home office.

Full Year 2017 Results
Total net sales decreased (0.3) % to $12.51 billion compared to $12.55 billion last year. Comparable sales increased 0.1 % for full year 2017. The slight decline in total net sales was primarily due to store closures in 2017, most of which closed in the first half of the year, and was partially offset by incremental sales for the 53rd week.

For the year, cost of goods sold, which excludes depreciation and amortization, was $8.17 billion, or 65.4 % of sales, compared to $8.07 billion, or 64.3 % of sales last year. This increase was primarily driven by the liquidation of both closed store and slow-moving inventory, the continued growth in the Company’s online and major appliance businesses and higher shrink rates.

SG&A expenses declined 2 % or $70 million to $3.47 billion, or 27.7 % of sales, a decrease of 50 basis points as a percentage of sales compared to last year. These savings were primarily driven by reductions in store controllable costs and marketing efficiencies, which were partially offset by lower credit income and higher incentive compensation.

Net loss was ($116) million, or ($0.37) per share, compared to net income of $1 million, or $0.00 per share last year. This reduction was driven primarily by restructuring charges associated with the fiscal 2017 store closures and voluntary early retirement program.

Adjusted net income increased $44 million to $68 million, or $0.22 per share, compared to adjusted net income of $24 million, or $0.08 per share, last year.

Adjusted EBITDA was $972 million compared to $1.01 billion last year.

Inventory at year-end was $2.76 billion, a decrease of 3.2 % compared to last year-end. Capital expenditures for the year, net of landlord allowances, were $375 million. Free cash flow was a positive $213 million for full year 2017, an increase of $210 million versus last year.

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of year were $458 million. During fiscal 2017, the Company reduced its outstanding debt position by over $600 million. The Company ended the fiscal year with liquidity in excess of $2.3 billion.

Outlook
The Company’s 2018 full year guidance is as follows:

  • Comparable store sales: expected to be 0.0 % to 2.0 %; and
  • Adjusted earnings per share1: expected to be $0.05 to $0.25.

1 A reconciliation of non-GAAP forward-looking projections to GAAP financial measures is not available as the nature or amount of potential adjustments, which may be significant, cannot be determined at this time.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year Earnings Conference Call Details

At 8:30 a.m. ET today, the Company will host a live conference call conducted by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Marvin R. Ellison and Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey Davis. Management will discuss the Company’s performance during the quarter and take questions from participants. To access the conference call, please dial (844) 243-9275, or (225) 283-0394 for international callers, and reference 6887218 conference ID or visit the Company’s investor relations website at http://ir.jcpenney.com. Supplemental slides will be available on the Company’s investor relations website approximately 10 minutes before the start of the conference call.

Telephone playback will be available for seven days beginning approximately two hours after the conclusion of the conference call by dialing (855) 859-2056, or (404) 537-3406 for international callers, and referencing 6887218 conference ID.

Investors and others should note that we currently announce material information using SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts.  In the future, we will continue to use these channels to distribute material information about the Company and may also utilize our website and/or various social media to communicate important information about the Company, key personnel, new brands and services, trends, new marketing campaigns, corporate initiatives and other matters. Information that we post on our website or on social media channels could be deemed material; therefore, we encourage investors, the media, our customers, business partners and others interested in our Company to review the information we post on our website as well as the following social media channels:

Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jcp) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/jcpnews).

Any updates to the list of social media channels we may use to communicate material information will be posted on the Investor Relations page of the Company’s website at www.jcpenney.com.

About JCPenney: 
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE:JCP), one of the nation’s largest apparel and home furnishings retailers, combines an expansive footprint of approximately 875 stores across the United States and Puerto Rico with a powerful e-commerce site, jcp.com, to connect with shoppers how, when and where they prefer to shop. At every customer touchpoint, she will get her Penney’s worth of a broad assortment of products from an extensive portfolio of private, exclusive and national brands. Powering this shopping experience is the customer service and warrior spirit of approximately 100,000 associates across the globe, all driving toward the Company’s three strategic priorities of strengthening private brands, becoming a world-class omnichannel retailer and increasing revenue per customer. For additional information, please visit jcp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements 
This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expect” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which include, but are not limited to, statements regarding sales, cost of goods sold, selling, general and administrative expenses, earnings, cash flows and interest expense. Forward-looking statements are based only on the Company’s current assumptions and views of future events and financial performance. They are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of the Company’s control that may cause the Company’s actual results to be materially different from planned or expected results. Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, including inflation, recession, unemployment levels, consumer confidence and spending patterns, credit availability and debt levels, changes in store traffic trends, the cost of goods, more stringent or costly payment terms and/or the decision by a significant number of vendors not to sell us merchandise on a timely basis or at all, trade restrictions, the ability to monetize assets on acceptable terms, the ability to implement our strategic plan including our omnichannel initiatives, customer acceptance of our strategies, our ability to attract, motivate and retain key executives and other associates, the impact of cost reduction initiatives, our ability to generate or maintain liquidity, implementation of new systems and platforms, changes in tariff, freight and shipping rates, changes in the cost of fuel and other energy and transportation costs, disruptions and congestion at ports through which we import goods, increases in wage and benefit costs, competition and retail industry consolidations, interest rate fluctuations, dollar and other currency valuations, the impact of weather conditions, risks associated with war, an act of terrorism or pandemic, the ability of the federal government to fund and conduct its operations, a systems failure and/or security breach that results in the theft, transfer or unauthorized disclosure of customer, employee or Company information, legal and regulatory proceedings and the Company’s ability to access the debt or equity markets on favorable terms or at all. There can be no assurances that the Company will achieve expected results, and actual results may be materially less than expectations. Please refer to the Company’s most recent Form 10-Q for a further discussion of risks and uncertainties. Investors should take such risks into account and should not rely on forward-looking statements when making investment decisions. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We do not undertake to update these forward-looking statements as of any future date.

Media Relations: 
(972) 431-3400
jcpnews@jcp.com
Follow us @jcpnews

Investor Relations: 
(972) 431-5500
jcpinvestorrelations@jcpenney.com

Source: J. C. Penney Company, Inc.

Posted on by

JCPenney announces leadership appointments

Company initiates personnel actions to streamline job functions and reduce expenses

PLANO, Texas, 2018-Mar-06 — /EPR Retail News/ — J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP) today (March 2, 2018) announced the appointment of Joe McFarland as executive vice president and chief customer officer, a newly-expanded role that includes responsibility for merchandising, as well as leading all JCPenney store operations. To ensure the positive momentum of its merchandising transformation, Jodie Johnson has been promoted to head of merchandising for women’s, beauty and family footwear; and James Starke has been promoted to head of merchandising for men’s, children’s, home and jewelry, both reporting to McFarland. Additionally, Therace Risch, will assume the combined titles of Chief Information Officer and Chief Digital Officer to reflect her added responsibility for omnichannel retail. As a result of this appointment, Mike Amend will be leaving the Company.

“Joe, Therace, Jodie and James are remarkable executive leaders who have demonstrated their ability to spearhead critical tasks and drive results and efficiencies along the way. Joe is a dedicated advocate for our associates, and knows first-hand how successful we can be when associates are empowered to deliver the best shopping experience possible. Jodie and James are credited for leading the turnaround of our merchandising strategy, and will continue to advance this effort by delivering the best assortment of style and value offered by any retailer. Appointing both Jodie and James to lead our merchant teams will ensure that we push merchandising decisions closer to the division heads and buyers for increased speed and efficiency. Furthermore, Therace understands the power of technology, and how it can significantly influence and enhance the way consumers shop and ultimately, be the point of differentiation on where they choose to buy,” said Marvin R. Ellison, chairman and chief executive officer for JCPenney. “By merging these critical retail functions under the oversight of four proven leaders, we can better align our operations to ensure every aspect of the business is focused on the customer experience.”

Home Office and Field Actions
As part of ongoing efforts to manage expenses, simplify operations and streamline workload in support of the Company’s long-term growth and profitability, approximately 130 Home Office positions were eliminated across various departments. Additionally, JCPenney recently restructured its group, regional, district and store support teams. This restructure eliminated bureaucracy, reduced support positions and reallocated store headcount to customer-facing positions. While the restructuring enabled the vast majority of impacted associates to assume a new role or leadership position within the stores organization, approximately 230 positions were subsequently eliminated. The annual cost savings generated from the home office and store reorganization are estimated at approximately $20-$25 million.

“As the Company continues to make progress on its strategic framework and implement new processes and organizational efficiencies, it is imperative that we maintain a thoughtful approach to managing expenses, while effectively supporting the needs of the business,” added Ellison. “I would like to thank Mike Amend for his service with the Company and wish him well in his future endeavors. Through his hard work, JCPenney has advanced its omnichannel capabilities, laying the groundwork for further innovation and growth.”

About JCPenney:
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE:JCP), one of the nation’s largest apparel and home furnishings retailers, combines an expansive footprint of approximately 875 stores across the United States and Puerto Rico with a powerful e-commerce site, jcp.com, to connect with shoppers how, when and where they prefer to shop. At every customer touchpoint, she will get her Penney’s worth of a broad assortment of products from an extensive portfolio of private, exclusive and national brands. Powering this shopping experience is the customer service and warrior spirit of approximately 100,000 associates across the globe, all driving toward the Company’s three strategic priorities of strengthening private brands, becoming a world-class omnichannel retailer and increasing revenue per customer. For additional information, please visit jcp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expect” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which include, but are not limited to, statements regarding sales, cost of goods sold, selling, general and administrative expenses, earnings, cash flows and interest expense. Forward-looking statements are based only on the Company’s current assumptions and views of future events and financial performance. They are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of the Company’s control that may cause the Company’s actual results to be materially different from planned or expected results. Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, including inflation, recession, unemployment levels, consumer confidence and spending patterns, credit availability and debt levels, changes in store traffic trends, the cost of goods, more stringent or costly payment terms and/or the decision by a significant number of vendors not to sell us merchandise on a timely basis or at all, trade restrictions, the ability to monetize assets on acceptable terms, the ability to implement our strategic plan including our omnichannel initiatives, customer acceptance of our strategies, our ability to attract, motivate and retain key executives and other associates, the impact of cost reduction initiatives, our ability to generate or maintain liquidity, implementation of new systems and platforms, changes in tariff, freight and shipping rates, changes in the cost of fuel and other energy and transportation costs, disruptions and congestion at ports through which we import goods, increases in wage and benefit costs, competition and retail industry consolidations, interest rate fluctuations, dollar and other currency valuations, the impact of weather conditions, risks associated with war, an act of terrorism or pandemic, the ability of the federal government to fund and conduct its operations, a systems failure and/or security breach that results in the theft, transfer or unauthorized disclosure of customer, employee or Company information, legal and regulatory proceedings and the Company’s ability to access the debt or equity markets on favorable terms or at all. There can be no assurances that the Company will achieve expected results, and actual results may be materially less than expectations. Please refer to the Company’s most recent Form 10-Q for a further discussion of risks and uncertainties. Investors should take such risks into account and should not rely on forward-looking statements when making investment decisions. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We do not undertake to update these forward-looking statements as of any future date.

Media Relations:
(972) 431-3400
jcpnews@jcp.com
follow us at @jcpnews on Twitter.

Investor Relations:
(972) 431-5500
jcpinvestorrelations@jcpenney.com

Source: J. C. Penney Company, Inc.

Posted on by

Maxi named Serbia’s favorite supermarket brand at the eighth annual “My Choice” awards

Maxi named Serbia’s favorite supermarket brand at the eighth annual “My Choice” awards

Belgrade, Serbia, 2018-Mar-06 — /EPR Retail News/ — Our great local brands in Serbia got some great news last week with the selection of Maxi as Serbia’s favorite supermarket brand. Maxi received a “My Choice 2018″ award in the retail category during a ceremony in Belgrade, while Tempo came in second.

Organized by the “My Serbia” association and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, the eighth annual “My Choice” awards honor the best domestic products and brands based on a survey of consumers. The survey included more than 1,900 people in 10 cities in Serbia who voted for their favorites in 24 categories.

“When consumers recognize you as their first choice and confirm that Maxi is their first recommendation, you have greater responsibility and an obligation to be even better. At the same time, this is a sign that they truly recognize our efforts to become an even better place to shop and to be an even better neighbor to them every day,” said Quentin Royer, COO of Delhaize Serbia. “We will continue to improve our offer so customers can choose from a broad assortment of quality products, allowing them to make the healthiest choices for themselves and their families.”

Contact:
Ellen van Ginkel
Director External Communications
media.relations@aholddelhaize.com
+31 88 6595134

Source: Ahold Delhaize

###

Posted on by

Taubman Centers declares a regular quarterly dividend of $0.655 per share of common stock

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., 2018-Mar-06 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Board of Directors of Taubman Centers, Inc. (NYSE: TCO) today (03/02/2018) declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.655 per share of common stock, an increase of 4.8 percent. The common dividend is payable March 30, 2018 to shareholders of record on March 15, 2018. Since the company went public in 1992 it has never reduced its regular common dividend and has increased its dividend 21 times.

The Board of Directors also declared quarterly dividends of $0.40625 on its 6.5% Series J Cumulative Preferred Shares (NYSE: TCO PR J) and $0.390625 on its 6.25% Series K Cumulative Preferred Shares (NYSE: TCO PR K). The preferred dividends will be payable March 30, 2018 to shareholders of record on March 15, 2018.

About Taubman

Taubman Centers is an S&P MidCap 400 Real Estate Investment Trust engaged in the ownership, management and/or leasing of 27 regional, super-regional and outlet shopping centers in the U.S. and Asia. Taubman’s U.S.-owned properties are the most productive in the publicly held U.S. regional mall industry. Founded in 1950, Taubman is headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Taubman Asia, founded in 2005, is headquartered in Hong Kong. www.taubman.com.

For ease of use, references in this press release to “Taubman Centers,” “company,” “Taubman” or an operating platform mean Taubman Centers, Inc. and/or one or more of a number of separate, affiliated entities. Business is actually conducted by an affiliated entity rather than Taubman Centers, Inc. itself or the named operating platform.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements reflect management’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “will”, “may”, “could”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “believes”, “intends”, “should”, “plans”, “estimates”, “approximate”, “guidance” and similar expressions in this press release that predict or indicate future events and trends and that do not report historical matters. The forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, the company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Actual results may differ materially from those expected because of various risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to: changes in market rental rates; unscheduled closings or bankruptcies of tenants; relationships with anchor tenants; trends in the retail industry; challenges with department stores; changes in consumer shopping behavior; the liquidity of real estate investments; the company’s ability to comply with debt covenants; the availability and terms of financings; changes in market rates of interest and foreign exchange rates for foreign currencies; changes in value of investments in foreign entities; the ability to hedge interest rate and currency risk; risks related to acquiring, developing, expanding, leasing and managing properties; competitors gaining economies of scale through M&A and consolidation activity; changes in value of investments in foreign entities; risks related to joint venture properties; insurance costs and coverage; security breaches that could impact the company’s information technology, infrastructure or personal data; costs associated with response to technology breaches; the loss of key management personnel; shareholder activism costs and related diversion of management time; terrorist activities; maintaining the company’s status as a real estate investment trust; changes in the laws of states, localities, and foreign jurisdictions that may increase taxes on the company’s operations; and changes in global, national, regional and/or local economic and geopolitical climates. You should review the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including “Risk Factors” in its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports, for a discussion of such risks and uncertainties.

Contact:
Ryan Hurren
Taubman, Director, Investor Relations,
248-258-7232
rhurren@taubman.com

Maria Mainville
Taubman, Director, Strategic Communications
248-258-7469
mmainville@taubman.com

Source: Taubman Centers, Inc.

Posted on by

CBL Properties President and Chief Executive Officer Stephen D. Lebovitz to present at the Citi 2018 Global Property CEO Conference

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., 2018-Mar-06 — /EPR Retail News/ — CBL Properties (NYSE: CBL) today (3/2/2018) announced that it will provide an online audio webcast of the presentation given by its President and Chief Executive Officer, Stephen D. Lebovitz, at the Citi 2018 Global Property CEO Conference in Hollywood, Florida. The presentation will take place on Monday, March 5, 2018, at 8:50 a.m. ET.

The live webcast of CBL’s presentation will be available online at cblproperties.com. The online replay will follow shortly after the presentation ends and continue for 30 days.

About CBL Properties
Headquartered in Chattanooga, TN, CBL Properties owns and manages a national portfolio of market-dominant properties located in dynamic and growing communities. CBL’s portfolio is comprised of 119 properties totaling 74.4 million square feet across 27 states, including 76 high-quality enclosed, outlet and open-air retail centers and 12 properties managed for third parties. CBL continuously strengthens its company and portfolio through active management, aggressive leasing and profitable reinvestment in its properties. For more information visit cblproperties.com

Contact:

CBL Properties
Katie Reinsmidt
423-490-8301
Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer
Katie.Reinsmidt@cblproperties.com

Source: CBL Properties

Posted on by

NEW ZEALAND: Foodstuffs North Island acquires Highland Park Shopping Centre

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, 2018-Mar-06 — /EPR Retail News/ — Foodstuffs North Island Ltd is excited to announce the purchase of the well-established Highland Park Shopping Centre, with a view to eventually bringing a new shopping option to the high growth East Auckland area.

The Centre will be redeveloped over time. The redevelopment will be designed to accommodate existing retailers and to ultimately include a PAK’nSAVE supermarket. The co-operative believes the proposed redevelopment will offer locals the opportunity to enjoy New Zealand’s lowest food prices.

The current owners, Highland Centre Limited, have owned the Highland Park Shopping Centre for 20 years. Over this time, they have come to know many of their tenants personally, as such, the decision to sell was given a great deal of thought.

“After all these years we are pleased to be able to sell to a 100% New Zealand owned company which is committed to providing a valuable service to the Highland Park and wider East Auckland community,” says Mark Townsend, Director, Highland Centre Limited.

Lindsay Rowles, Foodstuffs North Island General Manager, Property Development says, “The purchase is an exciting milestone for the Co-operative. While we are still very much in the planning and evaluation stage, we are considering adding a PAK’nSAVE to the Highland Park and wider Eastern Bays area, which ultimately means we are able to offer customers more choice.”

“The details are still to be worked through. Our focus right now is on working with the existing tenants to ensure they have all the information they need as the redevelopment begins to take shape.”

The rights and interests of existing tenants will be taken into account, including the Countdown supermarket in the Centre which is not directly affected by the current redevelopment proposal.

Colliers has been appointed by Foodstuffs North Island as the managing agent for the Highland Park Shopping Centre. They are handling the process on behalf of Foodstuffs and are responsible for all property, facilities and marketing management associated with the site.

“We know the news that Foodstuffs has purchased the Shopping Centre could mean uncertainty for its current tenants, and we are very mindful of this”, says Rowles.

“The Foodstuff team wants all tenants, some of whom have been here for many years, to feel supported and, with Colliers, are endeavouring to make this process as seamless as possible.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Foodstuffs Communications Team Phone: 0800 376 3342

Source: Foodstuffs North Island Ltd

Posted on by

Harris Teeter integrates North Carolina Controlled Substance Reporting System across its pharmacies in North Carolina

Matthews, N.C., 2018-Mar-06 — /EPR Retail News/ — Harris Teeter announced today (Mar. 01, 2018) enhancements to its North Carolina pharmacy operations. Harris Teeter Pharmacies across North Carolina can now instantly review a patient’s controlled substance use through the State’s Prescription Monitoring Program, known as the North Carolina Controlled Substance Reporting System (“NCCSRS”).

“With the opioid crisis our state and nation are facing, this is an important and exciting tool that our pharmacists in North Carolina can now use to instantly access the prescription drug monitoring program data and ultimately help deter prescription drug abuse,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the NC Department of Health and Human Services. “Our thanks to Harris Teeter for joining this potentially life-saving effort at no cost to the state.”

Integration allows busy pharmacists the ability to quickly review patient data within their workflow to prevent the abuse and misuse of controlled substance medications. Immediate access to prescription drug monitoring programs within the pharmacy workflow puts the best information and insights available into the hands of our pharmacists to ensure the safety of our patients and to comply with state and federal regulations.

Harris Teeter operates 110 pharmacies throughout its home state of North Carolina; the company also partners with local law enforcement to host annual “Take Back” programs in select stores, where shoppers are encouraged to return unused or expired medications to their Harris Teeter pharmacy.

www.harristeeter.com

Source: Harris Teeter

Posted on by

Carrefour brings together Brazil’s largest technology specialists, leaders and companies on its first “Innovation Forum” in São Paulo

Carrefour brings together Brazil’s largest technology specialists, leaders and companies on its first “Innovation Forum” in São Paulo

 

Brazil, 2018-Mar-05 — /EPR Retail News/ — Between 19 and 20 February, Carrefour Brazil launched its first “Innovation Forum” in São Paulo, bringing together Brazil’s largest technology specialists, leaders and companies. Over two days, best practices and digital solutions were presented and discussed with a view to meeting the main needs of the retail sector. The event was in line with the company’s global strategy – “Carrefour 2022” – a plan unveiled in January in which the digital transformation was revealed as one of the Group’s mainstays for the next five years.

The programme included conferences chaired by ten innovation, digital transformation and entrepreneurship specialists, including Guga Stocco, a renowned specialist in digital platforms and creator of Banco Original, Gustavo Caetano, founder and CEO of Samba Tech, Eco Moliterno, Director of Creation in Latin America for Accenture Interactive, Sílvio Meira, scientist, teacher and software and innovation engineering entrepreneur and Michel Sciama, Head of Performance Products at Google.

The event was also attended by the Carrefour Group’s largest technology partners, who provided an overview of current trends in the retail sector, as well as the services and new digital solutions available: Accenture, Cisco, Dielbold Nixdorf, Dimension Data, Intel and Oracle as well as MasterCard, Unilever and IBM.

For all request about the Carrefour Group (sales, financial results, governance, international,…), please contact the Carrefour Group media relations office:

. By phone:

Switchboard: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 00

For journalists: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 17

. By e-mail: presse_groupe@carrefour.com

Source: Carrefour Group

###

Posted on by

Carrefour introduces the first free range chicken reared without antibiotic treatments in Spain

Carrefour introduces the first free range chicken reared without antibiotic treatments in Spain

 

Spain, 2018-Mar-05 — /EPR Retail News/ — Carrefour Spain has launched the first free range chicken reared without antibiotic treatments in the country as part of the strategy announced by Carrefour Group to make our company a reference in food transition. This chicken is sold under the “Calidad y Origen Carrefour” (Carrefour Quality and Origin) brand.

With the highest standards of animal well-being.
The free range chicken has been reared without the use of antibiotic treatments and to the highest standards of well-being. The chickens are reared using preventative treatments based on phytotherapy, in which plant extracts are used in their feed. This type of livestock farming encourages the development of animals’ natural resistance.

In addition, the chicken is produced according to environmentally sustainable parameters. The birds are reared on farms located in Galicia (Spain) and what’s more, aspects such as vegetation, which must be indigenous, or the livestock farming model, which must be traditional, are taken into account. Also, these birds are free to roam the fields and are given 100% plant-based feed, including 70% cereals, 50% of which is corn.

For all request about the Carrefour Group (sales, financial results, governance, international,…), please contact the Carrefour Group media relations office:

. By phone:

Switchboard: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 00

For journalists: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 17

. By e-mail: presse_groupe@carrefour.com

Source: Carrefour Group

###

Posted on by

Walgreens partners with YouTube influencer Judy Travis to create a signature cosmetic bag line

Walgreens partners with YouTube influencer Judy Travis to create a signature cosmetic bag line

 

Influencer Creates Custom Cosmetic Bags with Walgreens

DEERFIELD, Ill., 2018-Mar-05 — /EPR Retail News/ — Walgreens is collaborating with beauty enthusiast and YouTube influencer Judy Travis to create a signature cosmetic bag line. Known for her popular YouTube channel, “ItsJudyTime,” Travis is extending her personal brand to a new line of six cosmetic bags available at Walgreens, retailing from $12.99 to $29.99.

“This is a project we’ve been working on for over a year now and I’m excited to see the collection available at Walgreens,” said Travis. “Some of the designs are inspired by my Filipino roots, incorporating the smooth bamboo and the national flower, the Sampaguita (aka white jasmine). The other designs are timeless with a hint of my favorite metal, gold! I hope you enjoy this collection as much as I enjoyed designing them!”

Travis tapped into her signature taste while designing the cosmetic bags, featuring spring colors such as navy and pink, and classic floral and marble patterns, among others.

“We’re excited to collaborate with Judy,” said Lauren Brindley, group vice president and general merchandise manager, Walgreens. “Between her loyal fan base and classic style, we are thrilled to carry these exclusive designs at Walgreens and this collaboration is just another example of how Walgreens continues to deliver new and exciting brands to give our beauty customers more reasons to shop our store.”

The six cosmetic bags will be available in select stores beginning at the end of February 2018 and can be purchased at www.walgreens.com.

Walgreens beauty offers products such as makeup, skincare, fragrances, hair care, professional hair tools, nail and more. The company also offers Beauty Enthusiast, a beauty club within its Balance® Rewards loyalty program, which provides cardholders who register for Beauty Enthusiast with additional rewards on beauty and personal care items, as well as other benefits. Signup is free, and Beauty Enthusiast members will receive 5,000 Balance Rewards points for every $50 spent on cosmetics, skincare, haircare, oral care, grooming, sun care, fragrance and bath product purchases*. Beauty Enthusiast members will have opportunities to receive free samples and will get exclusive promotions and coupons, as well as special beauty offers, new product information and expert tips throughout the year. For more about Walgreens beauty, please visit www.walgreens.com/beauty.

About Walgreens

Walgreens (walgreens.com), a provider of trusted care in communities since 1901, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. Approximately 8 million customers interact with Walgreens in stores and online each day, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,100 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with its omnichannel business, Walgreens.com. Approximately 400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.

* Every qualifying purchase adds up to the $50 spend requirement. A qualifying beauty purchase includes products from the following categories: fragrances, cosmetics, skin care, hair care, oral care and grooming products. Excludes prescriptions, baby hair care, baby skin care and baby oral care products. The qualifying beauty spend total is calculated before taxes and after discounts, redemption dollars and store credit have been applied. Complete details at walgreens.com/beautyenthusiast.

Contact(s):

Walgreens
Emily Hartwig-Mekstan
847-315-3316
emily.hartwig@walgreens.com
http://news.walgreens.com
@WalgreensNews
facebook.com/Walgreens

Source: Walgreens

###

Posted on by

Amazon announces season three premiere of the Emmy-winning docuseries All or Nothing on Friday, April 27

  • Emmy-winning actor Jon Hamm returns as narrator of the eight-episode season
  • Seasons one and two of All or Nothing are available for Prime members to stream on Prime Video

SEATTLE, 2018-Mar-05 — /EPR Retail News/ — Amazon today (Mar. 1, 2018) announced that season three of the Emmy-winning docuseries All or Nothing, a Prime Original series produced by NFL Films, will launch on Friday, April 27. All or Nothing: The Dallas Cowboys,once again narrated by Emmy-winning actor Jon Hamm (Baby Driver, Mad Men), follows the Cowboys through their tumultuous 2017 season, which they enter with Super Bowl aspirations and exit with disappointment, one game short of the playoffs after a rollercoaster of controversy and emotion. All eight episodes will be available for Prime members on April 27.

All or Nothing, winner of the 2017 Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Serialized Sports Documentary, is the first series to take viewers inside the locker room, on the sidelines and off the field for an unprecedented look inside an NFL franchise’s complete season. Season three, All or Nothing: The Dallas Cowboys, begins with much reason for optimism. Owner Jerry Jones has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the team is operating out of its glistening new headquarters in Frisco, Texas, and head coach Jason Garrett is the reigning NFL Coach of the Year. But a cloud hangs over everything: after a yearlong investigation, running back Ezekiel Elliott has been suspended for six games by the NFL for conduct detrimental to the league. The team never quite finds its footing, alternating between winning and losing streaks.

Being the Dallas Cowboys means being the center of the NFL universe in good times and bad. The Elliott suspension, the team’s response to the players’ social justice protests during the national anthem, and even the fortunes of Jerry Jones’s grandson – a star Texas high school quarterback – dominate national headlines. It all adds up to a wild season even by the lofty standards of America’s Team. And NFL Films is there for it all, providing the immersive coverage that has made the Emmy-winning All or Nothing a new gold standard for all-access sports programming.

“We are excited to announce that the third season of All or Nothing will feature the Dallas Cowboys. One of the best known and most captivating teams in the NFL, the Cowboys have a rabid fan base,” said Heather Schuster, Head of Unscripted, Amazon Originals. “This season will once again provide Prime members with incredible access, compelling drama and plenty of football action to entertain fans until next season.”

“We are thrilled to have the Dallas Cowboys as the featured team in the third season of the Prime Original series All or Nothing,” said Maryann Turcke, President of NFL Media. “An enormous amount of thanks goes out to the Cowboys organization for their cooperation in filming throughout the season. The team at NFL Films continuously delivers high-quality, engaging content for viewers, and through our collaboration with Amazon, the third season of All or Nothing will give football fans incredible access into one of the league’s most iconic and celebrated clubs.”

The April 27 launch of All or Nothing also coincides with the 2018 NFL Draft, which will take place Thursday, April 26 through Saturday, April 28 in Dallas, TX.

Here’s what customers are saying:

  • “Absolutely amazing documentary. I can’t wait to see this show and the unique style continue.”
  • “Wasn’t into football. Now I’m into football.”
  • “The in-depth look at how teams operate behind the doors is astounding to see.”
  • “I LOVE THIS SHOW! WAITING FOR SEASON 3!”

Produced by NFL Films, All or Nothing: The Dallas Cowboys is executive produced by Maryann Turcke, Ross Ketover (Hard Knocks, Inside theNFL), and Pat Kelleher (Hard Knocks, 30 for 30 – The Two Bills). The showrunner is Keith Cossrow (A Football Life). Directors are Shannon Furman, Jay Jackson, Steve Trout, and Terrell Riley. Supervising producer is Bennett Viseltear and senior producer is Nick Mascolo.

Prime members will be able to stream the series via the Prime Video app for TVs, connected devices including Fire TV, mobile devices and online at amazon.com/allornothing. Members can also download the series to mobile devices for offline viewing at no additional cost to their membership.

Customers who are not already Prime members can sign up for a free trial at www.amazon.com/prime. For a list of all Prime Video compatible devices, visit www.amazon.com/howtostream.

About Prime Video

Prime Video is a premium on-demand entertainment service that offers customers the greatest choice in what to watch, and how to watch it. Prime Video is the only service that provides all of the following:

  • Prime Video: Thousands of movies and TV shows, including popular licensed and self-published content plus critically-acclaimed and award-winning Prime Original series like The Grand Tour, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Sneaky Pete, and kids series Tumble Leaf, and Amazon Original Movies such as Academy Award-winning Manchester by the Sea and The Salesman, and Academy Award-nominated The Big Sick,available for unlimited streaming as part of an Amazon Prime membership. Prime Video is also now available to customers in more than 200 countries and territories around the globe at www.primevideo.com.
  • Live Sports: Sporting events, including AVP volleyball and ATP tennis, are available to watch live on Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories around the globe
  • Amazon Channels: Over 140 channel subscriptions that Prime members can add to their membership, including HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ, Cinemax, PBS KIDS, Acorn TV and more. To view the full list of channels available, visit www.amazon.com/channels
  • Rent or Own: Hundreds of thousands of titles, including new-release movies and current TV shows available for on-demand rental or purchase for all Amazon customers
  • Instant Access: Instantly watch anytime, anywhere through the Prime Video app on TVs, mobile devices, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Fire tablets and Apple TV or online. For a list of all compatible devices visit www.amazon.com/howtostream
  • Premium Features: Top features like 4K Ultra HD, High Dynamic Range (HDR), X-Ray and mobile downloads for offline viewing of select content

In addition to Prime Video, the Prime membership includes unlimited fast free shipping options across all categories available on Amazon, more than two million songs and thousands of playlists and stations with Prime Music, secure photo storage with Prime Photos, unlimited reading with Prime Reading, unlimited access to a digital audiobook catalogue with Audible Channels for Prime, a rotating selection of free digital games and in-game loot with Twitch Prime, early access to select Lightning Deals, exclusive access and discounts to select items, and more. To sign-up for Prime or to find out more visit: www.amazon.com/prime.

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

About NFL Films

NFL Films, the most honored filmmaker in sports television history with 126 Sports Emmy Awards – remains a groundbreaking leader in sports television, providing unprecedented access to and legendary storytelling about the sport of professional football. With more than 100 million feet of film in its library, NFL Films is the historical backbone of NFL Network and a key supplier of the network’s programming, including the three-time Emmy-nominated series A Football Life, offering untold stories into the lives of some of the NFL’s most recognizable icons, and The Timeline, chronicling seminal moments that formed the NFL’s storied past, shape the present and, in some cases, set the stage for the future.

NFL Films is a part of NFL Media, the owned and operated media division of the National Football League which is comprised of NFL Network, NFL Films, NFL.com, NFL Now, NFL Mobile from Verizon and NFL RedZone.

Media Hotline:

206-266-7180
www.amazon.com/pr

Source: Amazon.com, Inc.

Posted on by

CVS Health Foundation announces $1 million new grants to 49 Free and Charitable Clinics across the country

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2018-Mar-05 — /EPR Retail News/ — As part of its ongoing effort to making quality health care convenient and affordable for more Americans, the CVS Health Foundation, a private charitable organization created by CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), today (March 1, 2018) extended its commitment to the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) with $1 million in new grants to 49 Free and Charitable Clinics across the country. The new grants will focus on improving health outcomes for patients managing chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

“The rising cost of health care can make finding quality and affordable care harder to come by for many Americans,” said Eileen Howard Boone, president of the CVS Health Foundation. “Through our support of the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics, we’re able to increase access to quality care, improve chronic disease management and care coordination to help improve health outcomes for the most vulnerable patients and reduce health care costs in the communities we serve.”

The new funds, which bring the Foundation’s total contribution to NAFC to more than $4.5 million since 2015, will support increased access to quality care, as well as chronic disease management and prevention services. Grants, ranging from $10,000to $20,000, will be distributed to 49 free and charitable clinics in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

“The NAFC and our network of charitable health care providers are beyond grateful for the continued support and unwavering commitment we receive from the CVS Health Foundation,” said Nicole Lamoureux, NAFC CEO. “Diabetes and hypertension are the top two diagnoses found among our patient population. This year’s funding will allow our Free and Charitable Clinics to focus on improving their patients’ health outcomes for these chronic conditions, and in turn improving the health of communities across the country.”

For more information on how the Free and Charitable Clinics will be utilizing their grants to improve community health, please visit www.cvshealth.com/NAFC.

About the CVS Health Foundation

The CVS Health Foundation is a private charitable organization created by CVS Health that works to build healthier communities, enabling people of all ages to lead healthy, productive lives. The Foundation provides strategic investments to nonprofit partners throughout the U.S. who help increase community-based access to health care for underserved populations, create innovative approaches to chronic disease management and provide tobacco cessation and youth prevention programming. We also invest in scholarship programs that open the pathways to careers in pharmacy to support the academic aspirations of the best and brightest talent in the industry. Our philanthropy also extends to supporting our colleagues’ spirit of volunteerism through Volunteer Challenge grants to nonprofits where they donate their time and fundraising efforts. To learn more about the CVS Health Foundation and its giving, visit www.cvshealth.com/social-responsibility.

About the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics

The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) is the only nonprofit 501c(3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of the medically underserved throughout the nation and the more than 1,200 Free and Charitable Clinics that serve them. Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., the NAFC is working to ensure that the medically underserved have access to affordable quality health care and strives to be a national voice promoting quality health care for all. The NAFC has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar and a Four Star Ranking with Charity Navigator.

For more information about the NAFC, please visit www.nafcclinics.org. Follow the NAFC on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NAFClinics and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NAFCClinics.

Media Contact:
Mary Gattuso,
mary.gattuso@cvshealth.com
401-770-9811

SOURCE: CVS Health Foundation

Posted on by

Lindex opens its first Click & Collect store in Iceland

Sweden, 2018-Mar-05 — /EPR Retail News/ — Now Lindex opens the doors to the fashion retailer’s first Click & Collect store. Here Lindex takes its omni channel strategy to new levels and offer a shopping experience out of the ordinary.

The launch is realised together with the Icelandic franchise partner LDX 19, who today runs the seven Lindex stores in Iceland. The concept store is in central Reykjavik and is Lindex first of its kind. The premises has until now offered Lindex Lingerie but has now been given a new suit and will be Lindex first Click & Collect store.

We are very happy to welcome our customers to a new type of Lindex store. Here the customer gets the service and feeling which often follows with shopping in a small store, at the same time as she gets access to the big stores wide assortment and flexibility. Here she gets the real omni channel experience, says Albert Thor Magnusson, CEO at LDX 19.

In the store there is a selection of women´s wear, kids’ wear and lingerie meanwhile the complete assortment is available through large touch screens on the wall. Thanks to the Click & Collect service the customer orders the garments and choose home delivery or pick up in the store of choice. If the order is done online or in store before 3 pm on a weekday, the garments can be picked up in the new concept store at 5 pm the same day.

Just as Lindex, LDX 19 is driven by the customer experience. Both wants to offer inspiring and easy shopping in all channels and here the customer really gets a seamless shopping experience. LDX 19 is a brilliant partner with an enormous driving force so it’s very exciting to do this together with them, says Johan Isacson, Director of Lindex Franchise.

Lindex first store in Iceland opened in 2011. Today there are seven stores and two more are planned to open during 2018. The concept store in Reykjavik will open March 1 2018.

For more information:
Albert Thor Magnusson
CEO LDX 19
phone +354 691 3101

Johan Isacson
Director of Lindex Franchise
phone +46 31 739 50 30

Eva Jonasson
Media Relations Responsible
Lindex
Phone: 46 (0)31 739 50 60
E-mail: press@lindex.com

Source: Lindex

Posted on by

Baskin-Robbins announces free sample of its Mint Chip ‘n OREO® Cookies Milkshake on St. Patrick’s Day

Baskin-Robbins announces free sample of its Mint Chip ‘n OREO® Cookies Milkshake on St. Patrick’s Day

 

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and Easter with Baskin-Robbins’ spring lineup of ice cream treats

Canton, MA, 2018-Mar-05 — /EPR Retail News/ — This St. Patrick’s Day, Baskin-Robbins’ guests will find themselves luckier than ever because at participating shops nationwide the brand will be offering a free sample of its Mint Chip ‘n OREO® Cookies Milkshake on Saturday, March 17 from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. Baskin-Robbins struck gold with this milkshake flavor combination which is made with two of its most popular flavors – Mint Chocolate Chip and OREO® Cookies ‘n Cream – blended into a rich, minty treat that guests will love.

The Mint Chip ‘n OREO® Cookies Milkshake is just one of Baskin-Robbins’ featured milkshake flavor combinations, and with the brand’s wide variety of premium ice cream flavors, the milkshake possibilities are endless. Guests are encouraged to become “milkshake mixologists” and create new milkshake flavors all their own by blending two of their favorite ice creams into one tasty shake. They can also share their milkshake flavor combinations with Baskin-Robbins on social using the hashtag #BRShakeItUp.

For those looking for additional inspiration, guests can try the following milkshake flavor mash-ups featuring combinations of Baskin-Robbins’ famous ice cream flavors:

  • Chocolate-Covered Strawberry: World Class® Chocolate and Very Berry Strawberry ice creams come together to mimic this classic treat in every sip.
  • Caramel Nut Coffee: Combines two Baskin-Robbins favorites, Jamoca® Almond Fudge and Pralines ‘n Cream, into a delicious caramel nut coffee flavored milkshake.
  • Cookie Dough and OREO® Cookies: The perfect option for all cookie-lovers in a mash-up of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and OREO® Cookies ‘n Cream ice cream.

“Baskin-Robbins’ milkshakes are classic treats that our guests know and love, but one thing they may not know is that they can combine any two ice cream flavors into a single milkshake to create a whole new flavor combination all their own,” said Katy Latimer, Vice President of Culinary Innovation at Dunkin’ Brands. “One of the flavor combinations we’re most excited about is Mint Chip ‘n OREO® Cookies, which is why we can’t wait to offer guests a free sample of this festive milkshake on St. Patrick’s Day.

Those looking for another way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day can purchase a St. Patrick’s Day Cake, decorated with green icing, a vibrant rainbow and a pot of gold. Baskin-Robbins is also offering other sweet, seasonal treats this month including the March Flavor of the Month, OREO® ‘n Caramel, which is made with salty caramel ice cream, OREO® cookie pieces and a caramel swirl. This flavor can be enjoyed in a cup, cone or blended into a milkshake or Cappuccino Blast®.

Additionally, Baskin-Robbins is introducing the new Bunny Stripe Cake, which will be hopping into stores nationwide just in time for Easter. This festive dessert features a classic chocolate bunny atop a pastel striped cake that can be customized with any ice cream flavor and white or chocolate cake.

Finally, ice cream lovers can celebrate the start of spring with Baskin-Robbins’ March “Celebrate 31” promotion. On Saturday, March 31, guests can enjoy all regular and kids-sized scoops for $1.50.* This promotion can be enjoyed on any flavor, including seasonal favorites like Bananas Foster, Tax Crunch® and Triple Grape Ice.

For more information about Baskin-Robbins’ wide variety of premium ice cream flavors and frozen desserts, visit www.BaskinRobbins.com or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BaskinRobbins), Twitter (www.twitter.com/BaskinRobbins) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/BaskinRobbins).

OREO is a trademark of Mondelēz International group, used under license.

*Offer valid on March 31st. Participation may vary. Scoop offer good on every size scoop. All listed flavors are optional amongst Baskin-Robbins’ stores. Waffle cones and toppings are extra. Cannot be combined with other offers. Plus applicable tax.

About Baskin-Robbins

Named a top ice cream and frozen dessert franchise in the United States by Entrepreneur magazine’s 38th annual Franchise 500® ranking in 2017, Baskin-Robbins is the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops. Baskin-Robbins creates and markets innovative, premium hard scoop ice cream, a full range of beverages, and a delicious lineup of desserts including custom ice cream cakes, the Polar Pizza® Ice Cream Treat and take-home ice cream quarts and pints, providing quality and value to consumers at more than 7,900 retail shops in 52 countries worldwide. Baskin-Robbins was founded in 1945 by two ice cream enthusiasts whose passion led to the creation of more than 1,300 ice cream flavors and a wide variety of delicious treats. Headquartered in Canton, Mass., Baskin-Robbins is part of the Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN) family of companies. For more information, visit https://www.baskinrobbins.com/.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Justin Drake
Phone: 781-737-5200
Email: press@dunkinbrands.com

Source: Baskin-Robbins

###

Posted on by

Lenta introduces Bonvida, its first private label aimed at the small business customer

Saint Petersburg, Russia, 2018-Mar-05 — /EPR Retail News/ — Lenta (LSE, MOEX: LNTA), one of the largest retail chains in Russia, announces the launch of Bonvida – a private label for small business ‘professional’ shoppers.

A year after the launch of the Lenta PRO program, Lenta launches Bonvida – its first private label specifically aimed at the small business, or ‘professional’, customer. The label offers products in the following categories available in Lenta stores: cheeses, sausages, coffee, fish (salmon, herring), water, caramel, chocolate, tea/coffee cups/lids, milk, cream, gel shampoos, and sugar. For the moment, the Bonvida range offers 33 product items. The initial product range was selected based on concrete insights about products that are most in demand by Lenta’s small business customers, and will be gradually expanded going forward. Bonvida-labelled products are manufactured by Lenta’s trusted partners and are available in small-scale wholesale packaging at competitive prices.

Herman Tinga, Lenta Commercial Director, said:
“Having analysed the data collected from purchases by Lenta’s customers, we came to a conclusion that a significant number of products in our stores are purchased not only for personal consumption, but also for business purposes. So we decided to offer our ‘professional’ customers a specialised service and a dedicated loyalty program, PRO. Today, we are enhancing this program by adding a new private label developed specifically to meet the needs of our customers. Bonvida offers quality everyday products by leading producers which our customers can purchase without having to pay a brand markup, offering a discount of up to 9% in the process. I am confident that our customers will appreciate these products highly and will promptly put them on their must-buy lists.”

Lenta implemented its initiative for small business customers across all its hypermarkets in February 2017. Upon registering with the Lenta PRO program, legal entities and individual entrepreneurs can pay for their purchases in hypermarkets at dedicated checkouts and receive full invoices to account for expense claims and VAT refunds. The initiative is targeted towards HORECA, small independent retailers, and buyers of office supplies.

About Lenta
Lenta is the largest hypermarket chain in Russia and the country’s third largest retail chain. The Company was founded in 1993 in St. Petersburg. Lenta operates 232 hypermarkets in 84 cities across Russia and 99 supermarkets in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg and the Central region with a total of approximately 1,388,603 sq.m of selling space. The average Lenta hypermarket store has selling space of approximately 5,600 sq.m. The average Lenta supermarket store has selling space of approximately 900 sq.m. The Company operates seven owned distribution centres.

The Company’s price-led hypermarket formats are differentiated in terms of their promotion and pricing strategies as well as their local product assortment. The Company employed approximately 40,383 people as of 30 June 20171.

The Company’s management team combines a mix of local knowledge and international expertise coupled with extensive operational experience in Russia. Lenta’s largest shareholders include TPG Capital and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, both of which are committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance. Lenta is listed on the London Stock Exchange and on the Moscow Exchange and trades under the ticker: ‘LNTA’.

A brief video summary on Lenta’s business and its Big Data initiative can be seen here.

For further information please visit www.lentainvestor.com

Contact:

Lenta
Maria Filippova
Public Relations and Government Affairs Manager
Tel.: +7 812 380-61-31 ext.: 1892
E-mail: maria.filippova@lenta.com

NW Advisors
Russian Media
Anton Karpov & Victoria Afonina
Тel:+7 495 795 06 23
E-mail: lenta@nwadvisors.com

FTI Consulting
International Media:
Leonid Fink & Victor Pomichal
Тel: +44 7497 783 705
E-mail: Leonid.Fink@fticonsulting.com
victor.pomichal@fticonsulting.com

Source: Lenta

Posted on by

Stockmann presents CSR review 2017

Helsinki, Finland, 2018-Mar-05 — /EPR Retail News/ —  In 2018, Stockmann focuses on inspiring the customers with even more responsible choices. The department store invests especially in the sustainability of its own brand product range and the reduction of its environmental impact. The just released CSR review 2017 tells about our efforts towards more responsible business.

Stockmann will significantly increase the use of sustainable materials such as organic cotton, lyocell and recycled fibers this year, in its own brand of clothing for women, men and children.

Even more organic cotton

The use of sustainable materials has increased rapidly as already 30% of Stockmann’s own brands 2018 spring collection is produced with sustainable materials, compared with 10% in 2017. Also Stockmann’s Casa collection with own brand home products will include linens made of organic cotton in the summer. Responsible products in the home merchandise area are featured in a pop up shop in the Helsinki department store until the beginning of April.

In 2017, already 55% of Lindex garments were made of sustainable materials, and 95% of the cotton used was sustainably produced. In 2017, Lindex launched an upcycled collection that was redesigned from Better Denim garments from previous seasons and an even more sustainable Even Better Denim collection that uses less water, energy and chemicals.

Stockmann’s own brand products and Lindex’s fashion products with less environmental impact are identified with a hangtag or given in the product information in the online store. In addition, the Design from Finland label in Stockmann’s own brand products tells that the product has been designed inFinland by Stockmann’s own Design Studio.

Carrier bag consumption declined

In 2017, Stockmann and Lindex also put emphasis in sustainable materials in carrier bags and reducing their amount. According to the Society’s Commitment to Sustainable Development, Stockmann started charging customers for carrier bags in department stores in Finland and Riga in September 2017 and in Tallinn as of 1 January 2018. The demand of carrier bags was reduced by hundreds of thousands of bags on monthly level and during the Crazy Days Campaign it was halved.

Lindex campaigned to reduce the number of carrier bags consumed with the One Bag Habit initiative, which aims to reduce the consumption of bags and increase information about the negative impacts of carrier bags. The initiative started in the stores in Sweden in June 2017 and also in the stores in Finland starting from February 2018.

Human rights principles to strengthen supply chain sustainability

Respect for human rights is fundamental in the Stockmann Group’s values and operations. In February 2018, Stockmann’s Board of Directors approved the Group’s Human Rights Principles.

Stockmann commits to carry out further human rights due diligence as required in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, in order to identify, prevent and mitigate adverse human rights impacts resulting from or caused by our business activities. The policy complements the Stockmann Code of Conduct and is a continuum to Stockmann’s long term work on responsible, transparent and traceable supply chains.

Stockmann’s targets and progress towards more responsible business are presented in the CSR review 2017, which is part of Stockmann’s annual reporting.

More information:
Johanna Stenbäck
CSR Manager
+358 9 121 3757

Source: Stockmann

Posted on by

2018 Spring Scoop: US Foods highlights 26 new products from its Serve Good program

Company Grows Serve Good® Program to Help Independent Restaurants Meet Diner Demand for Sustainable Menu Options

ROSEMONT, Ill., 2018-Mar-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE: USFD) announced today (February 26, 2018) the launch of its 2018 Spring Scoop, dedicated to highlighting 26 new products from the company’s award-winning Serve Good program. Diners today care more than ever about the stories behind how their food is grown and raised. In fact, 67 percent of consumers state that they would have a better impression of a restaurant that offered sustainable foods and at least 80 percent of diners say they want to know more about their food source. As part of the company’s commitment to helping independent restaurants meet the growing demand for responsible menu options, all Serve Good products meet rigorous criteria for responsible sourcing or waste reduction. Additionally, all products are delivered in packaging developed according to strict packaging standards that help reduce waste and prioritize the use of recycled material.

Since launching with 24 products in 2016, the company’s Serve Good program now boasts more than 300 versatile products that fall into one of several categories including sustainable seafood, organic, non-GMO, animal care, responsible disposables or waste reduction, and many come with third-party certifications.

The portfolio is also supported with a pipeline of select seafood products within the company’s Progress Check™ initiative. Progress Check is a program that is designed specifically for the seafood category and highlights vendors that are on the path toward achieving the sustainable certifications required to be a part of the Serve Good program.

“Sustainable menu options are more than a trend, they’re a movement that’s here to stay. With Serve Good, we are committed to delivering a responsible approach to foodservice while equipping independent restaurants with high quality products diners will pay a premium for,” said Stacie Sopinka, vice president of product development and innovation, US Foods. “As we continue to deliver on our Great Food. Made Easy. strategy, our Serve Good portfolio empowers foodservice operators to source a wide variety of food and non-food items that have been carefully developed to help them succeed.”

Sustainable Seafood on the Menu

The term ‘sustainable’ has increased more than 300 percent on seafood menus in the past decadei.As the global demand for seafood continues to grow, responsibly sourced seafood is a key area of interest for diners and operators. Spring Scoop highlights several seafood offerings that meet leading third-party certifications, such as Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC):

  • Harbor Banks® Coho Salmon: Four-star BAP-certified, this salmon is fed fish protein combined with nutrient dense algae, so it produces more fish protein than it uses while retaining top-quality flavor, texture and nutrition.
  • Harbor Banks® Yellowfin Tuna Loin: MSC-certified, sashimi grade, ready to cut and serve with minimal prep required.

Continued Demand for Transparency

Increasingly, diners want to know more about how their food is made, and where it comes from. Over the past decade, the growth of non-GMO, organic and products that are raised without antibiotics have surged, and today, consumers are less willing to compromise these preferences when they dine out. For example, more than half of consumers are concerned about GMOs within their food and beveragesi while the term ‘organic’ has grown on menus by 130 percent over the last 10 yearsi. Spring Scoop highlights include:

  • Monarch® Non-GMO Ripened Sliced Sweet Plantains: Non-GMO Project Verified plantains imported from Ecuador that can be fried, pan-seared or baked.
  • Metro Deli® All Natural* Prosciutto Raised Without Antibiotics: An artisanal prosciutto made with only pork and Nova Scotian coarse salt and aged for nine months according to centuries-old Italian techniques. Perfect for charcuterie boards, sandwiches, salads, and pizzas.
  • Cross Valley Farms® Organic Fingerling Potato Blend: This first-to-market, versatile Fingerling Potato Blend is USDA-Certified Organic and includes colorful yellow, red and purple potatoes.

Beyond the Center-of-the-Plate

Responsibility comes in many forms beyond the center-of-the-plate, including beverages, disposables and desserts. Spring Scoop highlights several products that promote fair treatment of producers and the planet. Highlights include:

  • Devonshire® Premium Banana Chocolate Swirl Cake Made with Rainforest Alliance Certified™ Bananas and Fair Trade Certified™ Chocolate: Inspired by a Minnesota State Fair award-winning recipe, this cake is made with Fair Trade Certified semisweet chocolate and cocoa powder from Callebaut, Fair Trade Certified granulated and powdered sugar and Rainforest Alliance Certified banana purée.
  • Rituals® Moroccan Mint Iced Tea with Rainforest Alliance Certified Green Tea: No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Made from mint grown in Oregon, the tea is infused with spearmint, lemongrass and peppermint.
  • Monogram® Sustainable Cutlery Kit: A kit featuring a napkin and cutlery that are Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)-certified compostable. The napkin and band are also Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) Certified. This is a time-saving product that is ideal for to-go orders, catering, delivery and outdoor dining occasions.

Better Websites, More Business

Spring Scoop also features a new partnership with BentoBox, which is designed to help independent restaurants attract new customers with more functional mobile-ready restaurant websites. US Foods customers can now receive exclusive discounts and support from BentoBox. Learn more about this offering and other value added services here.

To learn more about the Spring Scoop 2018 lineup or to request a product demonstration visit www.usfoods.com/great-food/scoop_.

About US Foods

US Foods is one of America’s great food companies and a leading foodservice distributor, partnering with approximately 250,000 restaurants and foodservice operators to help their businesses succeed. With nearly 25,000 employees and more than 60 locations, US Foods provides its customers with a broad and innovative food offering and a comprehensive suite of e-commerce, technology and business solutions. US Foods is headquartered in Rosemont, Ill. and generates approximately $24 billion in annual revenue. Visit usfoods.com to learn more.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Sara Matheu
Director of Media Relations
847-720-2392
Sara.Matheu@usfoods.com

Source: US Foods

Posted on by

US Foods welcomes David Works as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

ROSEMONT, Ill., 2018-Mar-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE: USFD) announced today (February 26, 2018) that David Works has joined the company as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, reporting to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Pietro Satriano.

“I’m pleased to welcome David, a seasoned chief human resources officer and business executive, to our executive leadership team,” said US Foods Chairman and CEO Pietro Satriano. “Employees are the driving force behind our Great Food. Made Easy. strategy, and David’s leadership will be invaluable as we work to attract, develop and engage the right talent now and in the future.”

Works joins US Foods from Hackensack Meridian Health, where heserved as chief human resources officer for the not-for-profit health care organization. Previously, Works led the HR organizations at Windstream and Sears Holdings. He also served as the president of the Enterprise Business Unit at Windstream. Works spent the first seven years of his career as an officer in the U.S. Navy’s submarine force. He began his post-Navy career as an engineer at Motorola, followed by time at McKinsey & Company and ghSMART, a firm which specializes in talent assessment and leadership development.

Works holds degrees in Finance and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

About US Foods

US Foods is one of America’s great food companies and a leading foodservice distributor, partnering with approximately 250,000 restaurants and foodservice operators to help their businesses succeed. With nearly 25,000 employees and more than 60 locations, US Foods provides its customers with a broad and innovative food offering and a comprehensive suite of e-commerce, technology and business solutions. US Foods is headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., and generates approximately $24 billion in annual revenue. Visit www.usfoods.com to learn more.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Sara Matheu
Director of Media Relations
847-720-2392
Sara.Matheu@usfoods.com

Source: US Foods

Posted on by

Federal Realty Investment Trust President and CEO Donald C. Wood to present at the Citi 2018 Global Property CEO Conference

ROCKVILLE, Md., 2018-Mar-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT) announced today (Feb. 27, 2018) that Donald C. Wood, President and Chief Executive Officer, will present at the Citi 2018 Global Property CEO Conference in Hollywood, Florida on Monday, March 5, 2018 from 7:30 AM ET to 8:05 AM ET.

Event: Federal Realty Investment Trust Presentation at Citi 2018 Global Property CEO Conference

When: 7:30 AM ET, Monday, March 5, 2018

Live Webcast: FRT Citi Global Property CEO Presentation or under the Investors tab at www.federalrealty.com

A replay of the webcast will be available on Federal Realty’s website at www.federalrealty.com through June 3, 2018.

About Federal Realty

Federal Realty is a recognized leader in the ownership, operation and redevelopment of high-quality retail based properties located primarily in major coastal markets from Washington, D.C. to Boston as well as San Francisco and Los Angeles. Founded in 1962, our mission is to deliver long term, sustainable growth through investing in densely populated, affluent communities where retail demand exceeds supply. Our expertise includes creating urban, mixed-use neighborhoods like Santana Row in San Jose, California, Pike & Rose in North Bethesda, Maryland and Assembly Row in Somerville, Massachusetts. These unique and vibrant environments that combine shopping, dining, living and working provide a destination experience valued by their respective communities. Federal Realty’s 104 properties include approximately 3,000 tenants, in approximately 24 million square feet, and over 2,300 residential units.

Federal Realty has paid quarterly dividends to its shareholders continuously since its founding in 1962, and has increased its dividend rate for 50 consecutive years, the longest record in the REIT industry. Federal Realty shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbol FRT. For additional information about Federal Realty and its properties, visit www.FederalRealty.com.

Investor Inquires:
Leah Andress
Investor Relations Associate
301.998.8265
landress@federalrealty.com

Media Inquiries:
Andrea Simpson
Vice President, Marketing
617.684.1511
asimpson@federalrealty.com

SOURCE: Federal Realty Investment Trust

Posted on by

Wegmans Food Markets announces local leadership team managing its new Natick Mall store opening on Sunday, April 29

On-The-Spot Job Interviews are Offered Wednesdays and Saturdays at Wegmans’ Framingham Hiring Office

NATICK, MA, 2018-Mar-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — Wegmans Food Markets today (February 27, 2018) announced the local leadership team managing its new Natick Mall store, which opens at 7 a.m. on Sunday, April 29. The group consists of the store manager, executive chef, and three area managers who each supervise several departments within the store.

“This team brings an incredible background of knowledge and experience to Natick, and we’re still hiring and training for a number of open positions,” said Marybeth Stewart, Wegmans human resources manager.

Wegmans is offering on-the-spot job interviews at its Framingham hiring office, located at 10 Speen St., Wednesdays from 2 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. An additional Wegmans employment office is open daily in Natick Mall and job applications are accepted online at Wegmans.com/careers.

The Wegmans Natick store leadership group is as follows:

Store Manager Rich Boscia
Rich Boscia has been in the supermarket business since he was a teenager in New Jersey, working his way from part-time maintenance employee and cashier to assistant store manager. He joined Wegmans in 2001 as a merchandising area manager and was promoted to perishable area manager several years later. After moving to Massachusetts, he helped open Wegmans’ Northborough store, the family-owned company’s first foray into New England. In 2012, Boscia was promoted to store manager. He’s currently focused on hiring and training for the 550 employees that will serve the Natick community. Boscia has an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University and resides in South Grafton.

Executive Chef Brendan Newhart
Brendan Newhart’s grandfather owned a grocery store and his father owned a deli and pizzeria, so going into a culinary profession was a natural fit for him. A graduate of Paul Smith’s College with a degree in Culinary Arts and Service Management, he began his career with Wegmans in Rochester, NY as a culinary team leader in 2010. The following year, he relocated to New England as a sous chef and worked his way up to executive chef at the Westwood store. At Natick, he plays a key leadership role for some 130 culinary employees who will make Wegmans’ unmatched variety of restaurant-quality prepared foods.

Perishable Area Manager Dan Jackson
Dan Jackson began working at Wegmans in 2001 as a full-time cook for Asian cuisine in Wegmans’ Elmira, NY store. He brings prior experience as a service team leader and department manager for bakery, deli, and prepared foods. Jackson also worked as a business analyst before relocating to the Burlington, MA store as service area manager. He was later promoted to perishable area manager at Wegmans in Chestnut Hill. At Natick, Jackson will oversee the produce, floral, bakery, seafood, meat, cheese, and deli departments, where customers will find the freshest ingredients and employees will offer easy meal solutions.

Merchandising Area Manager Will Mitchell
Will Mitchell joined Wegmans as a part-time cashier and Helping Hand parking lot attendant in 1999. He went on to work full time in frozen foods and became a service team leader before managing the grocery and produce departments. Most recently, he was merchandising area manager at Wegmans in Burlington. In Natick, Mitchell will supervise each of the departments found on the first level of the unique two-story location, including grocery, dairy, frozen foods, health and wellness, bulk, wine, liquor, beer, and home and entertaining.

Service Area Manager Megan Ruby
Megan Ruby started her Wegmans career in 2004 as a part-time cashier and customer service desk employee. A Wegmans Employee Scholarship recipient, she also completed two internships and worked as a business analyst. She continued her employee development as a service team leader and front-end manager. As service area manager in Natick, Ruby will lead the front end, service desk, maintenance, Helping Hands parking lot attendants, and accounting office. She will also oversee local community giving, carrying out Wegmans’ commitment to make a difference in every community it serves.

Wegmans entered New England with its Northborough location in 2011 and currently operates five stores within the state. The Natick store is a 146,500-sq. ft. supermarket spanning two floors, including in-store café seating and two restaurant concepts: The Burger Bar and Blue Dalia Mexican Restaurant & Tequila Bar.

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a 95-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The family-owned company, recognized as an industry leader and innovator, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016. Wegmans has been named one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ by FORTUNE magazine for 21 consecutive years, ranking #2 in 2018.

Press Contact:

Valerie Fox
Media Relations Coordinator
585-720-5713
valerie.fox@wegmans.com

Source:  Wegmans Food Markets