Wallingford, Conn.— John Merkin has been named COO of Edible® International (Edible®). In this role, he will oversee all franchise operations for the world’s largest franchisor of shops offering creatively designed fresh cut fruit arrangements. Merkin will also oversee Edible’s® supply chain organization.
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Walmart Unveils Plans for Expanding EV Charging Stations and Doubling U.S. Wind and Solar Energy Use
by Katie Lee
Bentonville, Ark. — On April 18, 2018, Walmart announced that suppliers have reported reducing more than 20 million metric tons (MMT) of greenhouse gas emissions in the global value chain, as part of the company’s Project Gigaton initiative. Walmart launched Project Gigaton last April, seeking to work with suppliers to reduce emissions from the company’s value chain by a gigaton, or one billion metric tons, by 2030. The emissions reduction progress was shared at Walmart’s annual Sustainability Milestone Summit, where expanded commitments on solar and wind power, as well as …
Warren, Mich. — Art Van Furniture, the Midwest’s Number 1 furniture and mattress retailer, has hired Ronald (“Ron”) Boire, a retail industry veteran with extensive leadership experience, as its new president and chief executive officer, effective April 30, 2018. Boire will succeed Kim Yost, who is retiring after 9 years with the company.
Houston — Chicken Express, with more than 250 locations in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, has selected Revention as a preferred point-of-sale (POS) provider. Chicken Express was established in 1988 by Richard and Nancy Stuart’s Stuart Group Inc. The first restaurant opened in 1988 in Benbrook, Texas.
Syracuse, N.Y. — CoreLife Eatery, a fast-growing active lifestyle restaurant based in upstate New York, has its eye on the western United States for expansion. The brand is looking to its new vice president of franchise development, Brooks Speirs, to lead that charge. He joined CoreLife Eatery in March.
Nashville, Tenn. — W. Michael Madden has resigned from his roles as president, chief executive officer and director of Kirkland’s, Inc., effective immediately, and will serve as an employee-advisor to the board until June 30, 2018. Michael B. Cairnes, the company’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, will serve as acting CEO while the board conducts a search for a new CEO.