(Ian Ritter is national online editor for GlobeSt.com/RETAIL.)

CINCINNATI-One of the country's best-known retail brand names will soon vanish. Federated Department Stores executives have decided to convert the 62 Marshall Field's the company gained as part of its $11-billion purchase of May Department Stores into Macy's units. The department stores are scheduled to change names by the fall next year.

Federated's move follows a decision by officials to convert all of the regional chains in the May portfolio, including Hecht's, Meier & Frank, Robinsons-May and others, into Macy's. "We carefully researched customer preferences and studied alternatives before making this decision to incorporate Marshall Field's into the nationwide Macy's brand," says Terry Lundgren, Federated's chairman, president and CEO, in a statement.

By February, there will be 850 Macy's stores across the country, regionally grouped by divisions called Macy's East, Macy's Florida, Macy's Midwest, Macy's North, Macy's Northwest, Macy's South and Macy's West. The consolidation will affect as many as 4,500 employees, though Federated will try to offer them other positions in the company, executives say.