Content about Paris

Chain Store Age asked Paul Carolan, chief development officer for Dallas-based Le Duff America, about the bakery-café company's aggressive growth plan in the United States.

The North American subsidiary of Paris-based Groupe Le Duff SA, Le Duff America now manages four brands in the United States: Bruegger's Bagels, la Madeleine Country French Café, Brioche Dorée and Mimi's Café, which was acquired in March.

Uptown, downtown and all over town, New York had an influx of new stores during the past 12 months. While it was hard narrowing down the choices, here’s my annual 10 Best list:

• C. Wonder: The brand’s second Manhattan location is even more whimsical and colorful than the first. With decor that includes polka-dot horses, multicolored striped zebras and 6-ft. logo teddy bears, the 8,000-sq.-ft. store personifies C. Wonder’s fun, upbeat personality. (Shops at Columbus Circle, 18 Columbus Circle)

The past few months have seen a flurry of store openings in New York City. Here’s a rundown on some of this summer’s hottest new must-sees as chosen by my go-to expert on Big Apple retail happenings Faith Hope Consolo,  chairman of the retail division at Prudential Douglas Elliman:

London -- The British department store Selfridges received the “Best Department Store in the World” award at the Global Department Store Summit in Paris.

Selfridges took the top slot amongst finalists from around the globe, including Macy's and Woolworths (South Africa). The U.K. retailer also won the award, which is given out every two years, in 2010.

Dallas -- Venture Commercial Real Estate said it has represented rue21 in lease negotiations for two new store locations that opened in November in Paris, Texas and Chickasha, Okla.

The Paris store is in a 7,162-sq.-ft. space in Paris Towne Center, and the Chickasha store is located in the Southland Shopping Center.
 

Paris -- Gap Inc. announced Thursday the opening of its first Banana Republic store in France, located in Paris on Avenue des Champs Élysées.

The 15,952-sq.-ft. space will house the brand’s women’s and men’s collections. “We are thrilled to open our first Banana Republic store in France -- a brand-building flagship in Paris -- and reach yet another important milestone for our international growth strategy,” said Stephen Sunnucks, president, International, Gap Inc.

San Francisco -- Gap announced Monday that it will open its first Banana Republic store in France in Paris in early December. The 15,952-sq.-ft. store will be located on Avenue des Champs Élysées, one of the most popular international shopping destinations in the world.

“Following the success of our London and Milan openings, we are delighted to bring Banana Republic to Paris and take another exciting step in our international growth strategy,” said Stephen Sunnucks, president, International, Gap.
 

Paris -- The Carrefour SA board of directors on Tuesday approved a plan for its CEO Lars Olofsson to also assume the role of chairman. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Olofsson will take over as current chairman Amaury de Seze announced Tuesday that he would step down.

"The time has come to reunite the two functions," De Seze said. He will remain on Carrefour's board.