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June 13, 2013
Family Dollar courts Father's Day shoppers

With Father’s Day just around the corner, Family Dollar is touting its small-store format, accessible staff and assorted product offerings to draw shoppers into its stores.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — With Father’s Day just around the corner, Family Dollar is touting its small-store format, accessible staff and assorted product offerings to draw shoppers into its stores.

The value retailer is offering greeting cards, apparel and grills, while reminding shoppers that stores carry not only grills but also charcoal, coolers, hot dogs, hamburgers and even condiments.

May 2, 2013
Tractor Supply Co. increases dividend

Tractor Supply Company, the largest retail farm and ranch store chain in the United States, has announced that its board increased the company's quarterly cash dividend 30% to $0.26 per share of the company's common stock, up from the previous $0.20 per share.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Tractor Supply Company, the largest retail farm and ranch store chain in the United States, has announced that its board increased the company's quarterly cash dividend 30% to $0.26 per share.

April 26, 2013
Former Morgan Stanley exec joins CIT Group

CIT Group, a leading provider of financing and advisory services to small businesses and middle market companies, has named Todd Harrington Northeast regional sales manager of CIT Trade Finance.

NEW YORK — CIT Group, a leading provider of financing and advisory services to small businesses and middle market companies, has named Todd Harrington Northeast regional sales manager of CIT Trade Finance.
 
He will report to Marc Heller, Northeast regional manager and international manager of CIT Trade Finance.
 

April 18, 2013
Walmart still a ‘buy’ near all-time high

A Web site affiliated with noted television investment pundit Jim Cramer has reiterated its buy recommendation on shares of Walmart.

A Web site affiliated with noted television investment pundit Jim Cramer has reiterated its buy recommendation on shares of Walmart.

TheStreet.com rated Walmart A+ and said the company’s strengths can be seen in areas such as revenue growth, notable return on equity, solid stock price performance, growth in earnings per share and net income.

"We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows weak operating cash flow," according to the TheStreet.

March 21, 2013
Supervalu sale complete

Supervalu has completed the sale of its Albertsons, Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s and Star Market stores and related Osco and Sav-on in-store pharmacies to AB Acquisition LLC, an affiliate of a Cerberus Capital Management-led investor consortium, in a stock deal valued at $3.3 billion, including $100 million in cash and $3.2 billion in debt assumption.

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu has completed the sale of its Albertsons, Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s and Star Market stores and related Osco and Sav-on in-store pharmacies to AB Acquisition LLC, an affiliate of a Cerberus Capital Management-led investor consortium, in a stock deal valued at $3.3 billion, including $100 million in cash and $3.2 billion in debt assumption. 

March 4, 2013
Former Michaels CEO to head Tuesday Morning on interim basis

Tuesday Morning has named former Michaels Stores president and CEO, Michael Rouleau as its interim CEO.

DALLAS — Tuesday Morning has named former Michaels Stores president and CEO, Michael Rouleau as its interim CEO.

In his role as interim CEO, Rouleau will manage the company's day-to-day operations through the retention of a new CEO. He will continue to serve on the company's board of directors, which he joined in November 2012.

February 14, 2013
Former Ulta CEO to head Michaels

Michaels Stores has named Chuck Rubin CEO and a member of the board of directors.

IRVING, Texas — Michaels Stores has named Chuck Rubin CEO and a member of the board of directors.  Rubin, currently the president and CEO of Ulta Beauty, will assume his new roles after a brief period of transition, at which time Michaels will discontinue the office of the CEO, established on an interim basis in May 2012.  Charles Sonsteby, a member of the office of the CEO, will continue as the company's chief administrative officer and CFO.

February 14, 2013
Harris Teeter confirms reports of possible sale

Harris Teeter on Wednesday confirmed an earlier Wall Street Journal report that the grocer was in the process of exploring strategic options.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Harris Teeter on Wednesday confirmed an earlier Wall Street Journal report that the grocer was in the process of exploring strategic options. 

February 4, 2013
Safeway gets new finance chief

Safeway on Monday announced the appointment of Peter Bocian as its new executive vice president and CFO. Bocian, 58, will oversee the company's financial functions including accounting, tax, audit, treasury, investor relations, planning and business development.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Monday announced the appointment of Peter Bocian as its new executive vice president and CFO. Bocian, 58, will oversee the company's financial functions including accounting, tax, audit, treasury, investor relations, planning and business development. He will report directly to Robert Edwards, Safeway's president, and will assume his new responsibilities on Feb. 19.

January 11, 2013
First Data CEO says good-bye

First Data Corporation, a global leader in electronic commerce and payment processing, has announced that CEO Jon Judge plans to retire from the company for health reasons.

ATLANTA — First Data Corporation, a global leader in electronic commerce and payment processing, has announced that CEO Jon Judge plans to retire from the company for health reasons.

First Data offers e-commerce solutions to merchants, financial institutions and their customers. First Data leverages its product portfolio and expertise to drive customer revenue and profitability, and facilitates payment by debit or credit card, gift card, check or mobile phone, online or at the checkout counter.

January 2, 2013
Former Best Buy exec new president of ESL Investments

ESL Investments has appointed G. Mike Mikan as its new president. Mikan will report to Edward S. Lampert, founder, chairman and CEO of ESL Investments.

NEW YORK — ESL Investments has appointed G. Mike Mikan as its new president. Mikan will report to Edward S. Lampert, founder, chairman and CEO of ESL Investments.

Mikan held various executive positions throughout a 14-year period at UnitedHealth Group, including serving as EVP and CFO, as well as CEO of its Optum subsidiary. Mikan has served on the board of directors of Best Buy Co. since 2008. He was appointed Best Buy’s interim chief executive in April 2012, and served until September 2012.

December 10, 2012
Office Depot offers online customers break for holiday

Office Depot is making online shopping more convenient to holiday shoppers racing against the clock while trying to avoid steep shipping and handling fees.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot is making online shopping more convenient to holiday shoppers racing against the clock while trying to avoid steep shipping and handling fees.

November 19, 2012
Chase has finger on the holiday pulse

The retail industry is awash with forecasts and projections during the holidays, but a near real-time indicator from Chase reveals how shoppers are actually behaving.

WILMINGTON, Del. — The retail industry is awash with forecasts and projections during the holidays, but a near real-time indicator from Chase reveals how shoppers are actually behaving.

November 8, 2012
TRU, Thyme Maternity deliver a new choice in maternity fashion

Toys"R"Us has partnered with Canada’s leading maternity fashion brand Thyme Maternity to provide its Babies"R"Us customers across the United States with a new collection of maternity apparel and accessories.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us has partnered with Canada’s leading maternity fashion brand Thyme Maternity to provide its Babies"R"Us customers across the United States with a new collection of maternity apparel and accessories. The collection is available at www.Babiesrus.com and is scheduled to be featured in approximately 150 Babies"R"Us stores nationwide in the coming weeks.

November 1, 2012
Walgreens, Alliance Boots form new jointly owned company: Walgreens Boots Alliance Development

Walgreens has formally set up a new company, jointly owned with Alliance Boots, as part of their strategic partnership’s synergy program.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens has formally set up a new company, jointly owned with Alliance Boots, as part of their strategic partnership’s synergy program.

The new company, called Walgreens Boots Alliance Development, will be based in Bern, Switzerland.

No other details were released.

October 30, 2012
Survey: More holiday shoppers looking to increase gift-giving this year

Consumers plan to buy more gifts this year, according to a recent survey commissioned by USAA and released Monday.

SAN ANTONIO — Consumers plan to buy more gifts this year, according to a recent survey commissioned by USAA and released Monday. The fourth annual USAA holiday spending survey indicated that consumer sentiment toward holiday budgeting has become more positive in 2012 when compared to 2011 (53% vs. 45%).

October 23, 2012
Survey: Most e-commerce companies expect better holiday sales

A survey released Tuesday by Chase Paymentech, a subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co., found that online companies are expecting the 2012 holiday shopping season to be better than last year.

DALLAS — A survey released Tuesday by Chase Paymentech, a subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co., found that online companies are expecting the 2012 holiday shopping season to be better than last year.

According to the Chase Paymentech eHoliday Shopping Monitor, 59% of e-commerce companies surveyed expect better sales volume this season than in 2011, while almost half (47%) expect it to be better than pre-recession levels in 2007.

October 17, 2012
Target firing on all cylinders for the holidays

Target is enticing shoppers this holiday season with new initiatives including price match, exclusive gift offerings and shoppable advertisements.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target is enticing shoppers this holiday season with new initiatives including price match, exclusive gift offerings and shoppable advertisements.

“Target’s holiday plans are built around an outstanding shopping experience, exclusive merchandise and competitive prices,” said Gregg Steinhafel, Target Chairman, president and CEO. “Our guests will be able to shop with confidence this holiday season knowing that we are intensely focused on providing them the right merchandise at the right price.”

September 25, 2012
Summer Infant retains investor relations firm

Summer Infant, a juvenile products manufacturer, today has retained Sharon Merrill (www.InvestorRelations.com), a nationally recognized investor relations and corporate communications firm based in Boston, to provide strategic investor relations services.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Summer Infant, a juvenile products manufacturer, today has retained Sharon Merrill (www.InvestorRelations.com), a nationally recognized investor relations and corporate communications firm based in Boston, to provide strategic investor relations services.

September 7, 2012
Simon puts comps, other initiatives in perspective

Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon was feeling pretty good earlier this week as he reeled off accomplishments and emerging opportunities during a presentation at a Goldman Sachs retail conference.

Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon was feeling pretty good earlier this week as he reeled off accomplishments and emerging opportunities during a presentation at a Goldman Sachs retail conference.

Simon appeared at the same conference two years earlier when Walmart was in a very different place in terms of its financial performance and its share price. His presentation this year was markedly different given all that has occurred under his leadership.

September 6, 2012
Safeway outlines three future growth platforms: Wellness, loyalty and fuel

Safeway will package $150 million in real healthcare savings into an overall wellness strategy to be implemented over the course of 2013, the grocer's chairman and CEO Steve Burd told analysts Thursday morning at the Goldman Sachs 19th Annual Global Retailing Conference.

NEW YORK — Safeway will package $150 million in real healthcare savings into an overall wellness strategy to be implemented over the course of 2013, the grocer's chairman and CEO Steve Burd told analysts Thursday morning at the Goldman Sachs 19th Annual Global Retailing Conference.

August 30, 2012
Simon to speak at Goldman Sachs event

Everyone who is anyone will be on hand in New York next week for the nineteenth annual Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference so its not surprising that Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon will be in attendance.

Everyone who is anyone will be on hand in New York next week for the nineteenth annual Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference so its not surprising that Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon will be in attendance.

August 8, 2012
Canadian moms offer valuable insight

Walmart Canada got some key insights into its core shoppers when it surveyed more than 2,000 Canadian moms with children under 18. And while the survey may have targeted Canadian shoppers, the results can easily be applied to shoppers in the United States.

MISSISSAUGA, ON — Walmart Canada got some key insights into its core shoppers when it surveyed more than 2,000 Canadian moms with children under 18. And while the survey may have targeted Canadian shoppers, the results can easily be applied to shoppers in the United States.

July 30, 2012
Walmart, Target to see bulk of BTS shoppers

Walmart and Target should see an influx of parents in the coming months, as both retailers topped the list of where consumers plan to do most of their back-to-school shopping this year, according to The NPD Group.

Walmart and Target should see an influx of parents in the coming months, as both retailers topped the list of where consumers plan to do most of their back-to-school shopping this year, according to The NPD Group.

NPD asked the the open-end question:  “Where do you plan to do most of the back to school shopping for your child(ren)?" Out of 1,760 mentions of retailers where parents plan to do back to school shopping on behalf of their kids, Walmart secured 36% of them, followed by Target at 20%.

June 8, 2012
JCPenney promotes execs in merchandising, operations and investor relations

JCPenney has announced several promotions and additions to its merchandising, operations and investor relations areas.

PLANO, Texas — JCPenney has announced several promotions and additions to its merchandising, operations and investor relations areas.

“We’re rethinking every element of the retail business and there's no better way to re-imagine the possibilities than to tap the proven abilities of our own extraordinary talent along with the fresh perspectives offered by industry experts new to our organization,” said CEO Ron Johnson.