Finance & Capital Management

The parent company of Safeway and Albertson's has promoted its executive chairman and created a four-person Office of the CEO.

New York -- Specialty retailer L Brands continued its winning ways in March, reporting a 9% increase in same-store sales, higher than expectations. Total sales increased 10% to $981.2 million, from $923.7 million in the year ago period.

The Cato Corp. also turned in a winning performance, with a 12% surge in March same-store sales. For the nine weeks ended April 4, sales totaled $197.5 million, up 5% from $188.98 million a year earlier.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation announced a multimillion-dollar investment to form a new department within the organization focusing on industry research. The new Retail Research and Analysis Center will bring together all existing research within NRF and expand upon the wide range of issue areas and trends already studied.

The Center will focus on four main areas: the economy, legislative and regulatory policy, the retail industry and consumers.

Fort Worth, Texas – Pier 1 Imports Inc. on Thursday reported a declining profit for its fourth quarter and also announced that it plans to close 100 stores as part of a three-year real estate optimization plan.

Pier 1 reported net income of $33.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, down 22% from $42.6 million the same quarter a year earlier.  Expenses related to the retirement of the company’s former CFO, as well as increased selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses, contributed to the decrease in profit.

Union, N.J. – Bed, Bath & Beyond Inc. missed Wall Street expectations with its fourth quarter 2014 profit and sales results. In addition, the company indicated that it may join Walmart and other retailers in raising wages for employees.

During the fourth quarter, Bed, Bath & Beyond reported net earnings of $321.1 million, down 4% from $333.3 million a year earlier. Higher cost of sales and selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses helped drive down earnings.

Deerfield, Ill. – Walgreens Boots Alliance has named U.S. Foods president and CEO John Lederer to the board of directors. Lederer was appointed president and CEO of US Foods in September 2010, and previously was chairman and CEO of Duane Reade.

Lederer also held a variety of senior leadership positions during a 30-year career at Loblaw Companies Ltd.

Chicago - Potbelly Corp. has named Michael Coyne as its new CFO, effective May 1. Coyne will oversee all financial functions and will also be charged with positively impacting Potbelly's analytical, productivity, and risk assessment capabilities.

Deerfield, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance on Thursday reported quarterly earnings for the first time since the December 2014 merger of Walgreen Co. and Alliance Boots GmbH. The announcement included the news that the drug store retailer will close about 200 U.S. stores as part of its previously announced three-year, $1 billion cost-reduction plan.

Weis Markets Inc. is losing one of its longest serving executives after the company announced that the chairman of the board is stepping down.

Robert F. Weis will not stand for re-election to its board of directors at the company's annual meeting of shareholders on April 23, the company said.

"We are deeply indebted to Robert for his 69 years of leadership and tireless dedication to our company," said Harold G. Graber, Jr., a director and secretary of the company.