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Consumer Affairs & Relations

  • Brown Shoe Q4 earnings beat company expectations

    St. Louis - Brown Shoe Company beat internal expectations with net earnings of $6.2 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, up 55% from $4 million in the same quarter of the prior year. Net sales dropped 3% to $600 million, from $618.7 million.
  • Lindt expands U.S. manufacturing

    Premium chocolatier Lindt & Sprungli is adding more than 100,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing capacity at its U.S. headquarters in Statham, N.H. The facility in New Hampshire is one of eight production sites worldwide and the only location in North America. When the expansion is complete the facility will encompass more than 1 million sq. ft. to accommodate production, storage and distribution for products such as the recently introduced Lindt HELLO collection, LINDOR single serve bars and EXCELLENCE individually wrapped dark chocolate diamonds.

  • Starbucks amends Keurig exclusivity agreement

    Seattle – Starbucks Coffee Company is amending its exclusive agreement to provide Keurig Green Mountain Inc. with super-premium coffee pods. The companies have updated their agreement to continue to expand Starbucks’ range of K-Cup pack offerings and to promote expanded consumer choice. In exchange for eliminating the super-premium coffee exclusivity terms of the existing agreement, Starbucks will receive improved business terms, including significantly expanded Starbucks K-Cup pack and variety types.
  • Target acknowledges it ignored early signs of breach

    New York -- Target Corp. on Friday acknowledged its security software picked up on suspicious activity after a cyber attack was launched, but it decided not to take immediate action. The chain also advised that its security breach last year could be even more extensive than reported so far, Reuters reported.
  • Report: Target had early notice of breach

    Minneapolis – Target Corp. reportedly had early notice of the holiday data breach that exposed the personal and financial information of millions of customers but did not act upon it. According to Bloomberg, a $1.6 million security application called FireEye notified Target of a possible intrusion in to its network, but the retailer failed to respond.

  • Kroger in stock buyback

    Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. said Thursday that it will buy back up to $1 billion of its shares. The repurchase program replaces its existing plan, which had roughly $2 million remaining.

    Kroger also declared a regular quarterly dividend of 16.5 cents per share, payable June 1 to shareholders of record May 15.
    During the last four quarters, Kroger has used its strong free cash flow to return more than $928 million to shareholders through share buybacks and dividends.  

  • CST Brands names new board member

    San Antonio -- Stephen Smith, former co-CEO of the Toronto-based restaurant chain owner and operator Cara Operations Limited, has been elected to the CST Brands' board of directors. Smith's most recent experience was with Cara as co-CEO and, prior to that, CFO of Cara. Previously, Smith served for many years as an executive of Canadian grocer, Loblaw Companies Limited.

  • Dollar General Q4 disappoints; to open 700 new stores in 2014

    Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- Dollar General on Thursday reported a 1.5% rise in fourth-quarter profits, below analysts’ estimates, as the retailer felt the impact of harsh winter weather, along with increased competition and low consumer confidence. The company also said it plans to open approximately 700 new stores in 2014.

    The retailer earned $322.2 million in the quarter ended Jan. 31, compared with $317.4 million a year earlier.

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