Finance & Capital Management

Albertsons on Monday submitted a binding bid letter and form of Asset Purchase Agreement to Haggen for the purchase of 29 of Haggen's core stores, confirming reports that Alebertsons would seek to acquire the remaining Haggen core. This is a step in the process to obtain bankruptcy court approval, following Haggen's Chapter 11 filing on September 8, 2015, which is required for consummation of the purchase.

The technology department at Nordstrom continues getting smaller.

According to Geekwire, Nordstrom has laid off 120 IT employees. The cuts follow 10 technology staff reductions the retailer made at the beginning of March. All the layoffs have been part of an organizational restructuring and leveling of IT spending.

Weis Markets last week announced that its fourth quarter sales increased 2.8% to $734.1 million while its comparable store sales increased 2.8%, compared to the same period a year ago.

The Fresh Market has agreed to be acquired by a private equity firm several months after the retailer said it would initiate a review of strategic alternatives and a possible sale.

The struggling grocery chain said it has entered into an agreement with Apollo Global Management, LLC whereby it will acquire The Fresh Market for approximately $1.36 billion. The Fresh Market has been struggling with declining sales through several quarters, and customers have complained about high prices. Recently it had launched an effort to promote "lower prices." 

Ahold shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the company`s proposal to merge with Delhaize Group.

Ahold is buying Delhaize for $11 billion in a deal announced last year that will create one of the largest food retailers on the U.S. East Coast, as Ahold operates Stop & Shop and Delhaize operates Hannaford and Food Lion.

Reducing expenses and increasing prices are two ways for a company to make money, and Instacart is reportedly doing both.

According to the San Francisco Business Times, Instacart is reducing how much drivers get paid for each delivery, as well as the commission paid on each item. In the San Francisco market, the pay per delivery will be reduced 63% to $1.50 from $4.00, while commission per item will be cut 50% to 25 cents from 50 cents.

American’s dependence on their devices – and their tendency to break – has given rise to a new breed of retailer that promises to get its customer back in the digital game fast.

Carmel, Indiana-based uBreakiFix is on the move again in its home state with another new location in the Indianapolis market, its fourth in the area. UBreakiFix currently operates more than 170 stores after opening 63 locations last year. The fast-growing company expects to have 275 stores across North American by next year.