Torrid Opens Second Alaskan Store … and More

STORE OPENINGS:

Torrid (City of Industry, Calif.), a fashion-forward apparel chain for plus-size women, will open its second store in Alaska on May 27, in the Bentley Mall, Fairbanks.

Apple (Cupertino, Calif.), a consumer electronics manufacturer and retailer, has opened an Apple Store in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Big Lots (Columbus, Ohio), a closeout retailer, will open a store on May 15 in the Polaris Towne Center on Columbus’ far north side, one of 45 store openings it plans for the year. The 35,000-square-foot Polaris store sports the retailer’s “next generation layout,” which features wider aisles, upgraded merchandise presentations, enhanced lighting, and new signage.

BUSINESS START-UPS:

EcoSense Lighting Inc. (New York), a company created by the co-founder of Color Kinetics, made its industry debut during last week’s Lightfair International 2009 Tradeshow and Conference. The EcoSense team includes George Mueller; founder and chairman; Joe Zamore, vp, product; Kevin Jennison, senior specification manager; and Tim Snyder, senior regional sales manager.

ASSOCIATIONS:

The Food Marketing Institute (FMI, Arlington, Va.) has added the following directors to its board: Mark Batenic, IGA Inc. (Chicago); Rudy Dory, Rudy’s Markets Inc. (Bend, Ore.); Jerry Garland, Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. (Kansas City, Kan.); and Dean Peterson, Harmon City Inc. (West Valley City, Utah). Also, elected FMI board chairman was Richard Jurgens, Hy-Vee Inc. (West Des Moines, Iowa); elected vice chairmen were Gregory Calhoun, Calhoun Food Markets Inc. (Montgomery, Ala.); William Coyne, Raley’s Family of Fine Stores (Sacramento, Calif.); Ed Crenshaw, Publix Super Markets Inc. (Lakeland, Fla.); and Dave Skogen, Festival Foods (Onalaska, Wis.)

BUSINESS BRIEFS:

MOD Systems (Seattle), a provider of digital media delivery systems for retailers, has opened a Japan subsidiary, MOD Systems Japan Inc. in Tokyo.

The National Tile Contractors Association (Jackson, Miss.) has entered a partnership with Starnet Worldwide Commercial Flooring (Darien, Conn.) to assist Starnet members in developing their ceramic tile business.