Content about Company Founded

CLEVELAND — The CFO of Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing is stepping into a new role.

ECRM said that Mitchell Bowlus, who co-founded the company with CEO Charlie Bowlus in 1993, is assuming the role of president. Charlie Bowlus will be transitioning to a greater focus on software development, as well as humanitarian initiatives, ECRM said.

“Mitch has been instrumental in developing our business model and strategies, as well as our strong financial foundation, and is uniquely positioned to take us to the next level as president,” Bowlus said.

DENVER, Colo. — Molson Coors' Andrew Molson and Pete Coors have switched roles.

The brewing company said that Molson, the company's current vice chairman, has assumed the role of chairman, while Coors, its current chairman, has stepped in as vice chairman. The planned transition is consistent with the company's by-laws, which allow the chairman and vice chairman to alternate between the Molson and Coors families every two years.

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition and Virgo on Wednesday announced a continuation of their education webinar partnership, offering a minimum of two new webinars in 2011.

The first webinar will take place Sept. 14, with the topic to be announced in June. The second webinar will take place Nov. 8.

Additionally, a provisional date has been reserved for a potential third webinar Dec. 14, CRN stated.

This marks the fifth year that CRN and Virgo have partnered to produce webinars on topics of interest to the dietary supplement industry.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — The parent company of Kmart is considering taking its headquarters out of Illinois, according to published reports.

STAMFORD, Conn. — Nestle Waters North America has inked a deal to acquire the maker of Sweet Leaf and Tradewinds beverage brands.

Nestle Waters said its acquisition of Austin, Texas-based Sweet Leaf Tea Co. — which was founded in 1998 — is subject to applicable regulatory approval and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. The deal will expand the company's beverage portfolio of bottled water to include high-quality iced teas, lemonades and juice drinks.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The news that CVS Caremark's MinuteClinic has entered into a clinical affiliation with Advocate Health Care and Advocate Physician Partners is important as it reflects a larger focus within the U.S. healthcare landscape: medical homes, or for a growing number of Americans, the lack thereof.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Robert Ingle, the founder and CEO of regional supermarket chain Ingles Markets, died March 6, the company announced Monday. He was 77.

The company's board of directors said Ingle will be succeeded by his son, Robert Ingle II, who has been Ingles' chairman of the board since 2004.

Ingle, who founded the business in 1963, served as CEO since the company was incorporated in 1965, as well as president from 1965 until 1982.

Ingles Markets operates 203 supermarkets across six Southeastern states.

AMSTERDAM — Former Ahold senior executive Albert Heijn, who helped lead the overhaul of the Dutch-based supermarket giant in the 1960s and 1970s, died peacefully Thursday at his home in the United Kingdom, the company announced. He was 83.

GREENWICH, Conn. — Private equity fund Brynwood Partners VI L.P. announced on Tuesday that its newly formed portfolio company, High Ridge Brands, has acquired the Zest brand from Procter & Gamble.

High Ridge Brands purchased the rights to the Zest brand in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean markets. The company will be based in Stamford, Conn., and Brynwood VI has majority ownership of the company.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — The Little Clinic, which operates clinics inside select Kroger, King Soopers, Fry's Food Stores and Publix Super Markets, has announced the addition of the MultiPlan and PHCS Networks to its group of accepted provider networks.

Sometimes shifting trends in business, society or technology can seem to crystallize, giving business leaders who are paying attention a clear view of a market’s future direction and forcing a fundamental realignment of their companies’ strategy. Such was the case four years ago for Innovation Associates, a leading pharmacy technology provider and the company behind the PharmAssist robotic automation system.