Personnel Updates
• Bealls Inc. (71) announced that Matt Beall has been named as CEO. He succeeds Steve Knopik who will remain as Executive Chairman.
• Dollar Tree Stores Inc. (108) announced Duncan Mac Naughton, President of Family Dollar, is leaving the company. Michael A. Witynski has been promoted to Enterprise President, Richard L. McNeely has been promoted to Chief Merchandising Officer, and Thomas R. O’Boyle Jr. has been promoted to COO.
• The J. Jill Group Inc. (48) announced Linda Heasley has stepped down as President and CEO of the company.
• Lululemon Athletica Inc. (65) announced that Stuart Haselden, COO and Exec VP International, will leave the company.
• Ollie’s Bargain Outlet (45) has named John Swygert as President and CEO.
• Tractor Supply Co. (48) has named Hal Lawton as its next President and CEO. He will succeed Greg Sandfort, who announced that he plans to retire.
Mergers and Acquisitions
• Builders FirstSource Inc. plans to acquire the assets of Raney Components, LLC.
• Optum is acquiring Diplomat Pharmacy and integrating it into its OptumRx pharmacy care services business.
Industry Insight
• Yankee Candle Company recently debuted a new store concept in Natick, MA, that features an untraditional merchandising strategy and an upgraded personalization station that allows customers to curate their own scents.
Real Estate
• Blain’s Farm & Fleet Inc. will open its fifth Michigan store in the fall of 2020. The new 106,000 sq. ft. location will be in Walker-Standale.
• Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. is projected to open at least 40 stores by the end of its 2021 fiscal year, including locations in Pennsylvania and New York.
• David Yurman has announced the launch of a new flagship in Midtown Manhattan in New York.
• Dollar General Corp. reported that it plans to open 1,000 stores in 2020, and complete 1,500 store remodels and 80 store relocations.
• RTW Retailwinds, Inc. is closing a total of 27 stores during the coming weeks, including 19 New York & Company locations, four Fashion to Figure stores and four outlet stores.
• Target Corporation announced it plans to open a small-format, 33,000 sq. ft. store in Times Square in New York City, in 2022.
• Versace USA Inc. has revealed plans to open its first store in Arizona. The new 3,131 sq. ft. location will open in spring 2020 in Scottsdale.
Technology News
• Walmart Stores Inc. is launching a new pilot with autonomous vehicle company Nuro in Houston. The pilot will enable customers to opt in to receive deliveries of online grocery orders from self-driving Nuro vehicles.
