Luxottica Moves into South American Market … and More Industry News

HIRINGS AND PROMOTIONS

Walmart Stores Inc. (Bentonville, Ark.) has named Vicente Trius executive vp, president and ceo of Wal-Mart Latin America. Trius previously held the same titles at Walmart Asia.

Borders Group Inc. (Ann Arbor, Mich.), a book retailer, has appointed Scott Laverty chief information officer and Paul Devitt director, e-commerce systems.

Trion Industries (Wilkes Barre, Pa.), a fixture manufacturer, has opened an office in Sacramento, Calif., where Linda Rothman will serve as the company’s multi-state representative in the western U.S.

STORE OPENINGS

Nordstrom Inc. (Seattle) will open a Nordstrom Rack off-price store in The Centre at Post Oak shopping center in Houston. The 30,000-square-foot store is slated to open in spring 2010.

Prime Retail (Baltimore), a developer of outlet centers across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, announced that two retailers – Bare Escentuals and Tory Burch – will open stores this summer at its Prime Outlets mall in San Marcos, Texas.

Stonestown Galleria (San Francisco) announced that Sephora and Jade Galore Jewelry & Watch Co. will open stores in the mall this fall.

BUSINESS BRIEFS:

Luxottica Group S.p.A. (Milan), a luxury goods and eyewear producer and retailer, has entered the South American market by acquiring a 40 percent stake in Multiopticas Internacional S.L., a Spain-based operator of nearly 400 eyewear stores in Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.

Abet Laminati (Englewood, N.J.) a manufacturer of high pressure laminates, has received Greenguard Certification for demonstrating its commitment to indoor air quality. Greenguard is a third-party testing program for low-emitting materials and products that’s run by the non-profit Greenguard Environmental Institute.