OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

New York -- Best Buy Inc.’s president of U.S. retail stores, Shawn Score, 48, has retired, effective immediately, after spending 29 years with the company. His responsibilities will be assumed by Best Buy’s chief human resources officer, Shari Ballard.

Ballard joined Best Buy in 1993, and has served in a variety of executive positions, moving into the HR position in 2013. Ballard will continue to head up human resources in addition to taking on the new duties.

Camp Hill, Pa. - Rite Aid pharmacy workers in 77 stores across the state of Michigan have voted to ratify a new, three-year agreement negotiated by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 876, and the Rite Aid Bargaining Committee. The agreement guarantees 7% wage increases for all 792 union members; provides both pension and healthcare benefits; and preserves all current holiday, vacation and personal days.

New York -- Modell’s Sporting Goods announced it has hired Deborah Fine to fill a newly created role on its executive leadership team, chief commercial officer. Among other duties, Fine will head up the retailer’s digital strategy, transforming Modell’s into an Omnichannel retailer.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – Several Sears Outlet stores across the country have new owners. Locations in Oceanside, Ontario, and Corona, Calif., are now owned by Tony Lutfi. Lutfi and his team now own and operate 11 Sears Outlet stores, 17 Sears Home Appliance Showrooms and three Sears Appliance & Hardware Stores.

In addition, Sears Outlet stores Tempe and Gilbert, Ariz. have a new owner, Keith Edquist. Edquist also owns another Sears Outlet store and seven Sears Home Appliance Showrooms.

Itasca, Ill. -- Jewel-Osco has appointed Scott Hays as VP operations for the Chicagoland supermarket chain.

Most recently a district manager with Albertsons LLC’s Southern division, Hays will lead the operations team to support Jewel-Osco’s marketing and merchandising initiatives, including the company’s upcoming remodels and opening their five newly acquired Dominick’s locations.

Cheshunt, U.K. -- Tesco U.K. buyers and category managers are using KSS Retail PriceStrat’s science and analytical tools to help plan and understand the impact of potential offers. Facing increased competition and consumer price sensitivity due to a slow economic recovery, Tesco has made price and promotion key areas of focus.

Montreal -- Dollarama Inc. has named Johanne Choinière as COO, effective May 12. In this role, Choinière will be responsible for overseeing retail store operations as well as logistics, distribution and supply chain management.

Since 1999, Choinière was employed at Metro Inc., where she held increasingly senior positions across the organization, including senior VP merchandising for Metro Ontario and, most recently, senior VP of Metro's Ontario Division.

Washington, D.C. - The National Retail Federation is moving forward with the creation of a program that will allow retailers to access to information on cybersecurity threats identified by other retailers, government and law enforcement agencies and partners in the financial services sector.