Finance & Capital Management

Whole Foods Market says it is slashing more than 1% of its workforce in an effort to lower prices for its customers and invest in technology upgrades, as the company fights against increasing competition in the organic grocery space.

Ross Stores Inc. is continuing an aggressive growth strategy for both its Ross Dress for Less and DD’s Discount banners. The new store openings are part of the retailer’s 2015 expansion program, totaling approximately 90 new locations during the year.

Ross Dress for Less will open four new stores on Oct. 10. These include two new stores in the Chicago area: a 25,000-sq.-ft. store in Palatine located in the Deer Grove Centre, and a 24,000-sq.-ft. Joliet store is located in Joliet Commons.

As an organizer of professional golf tournaments, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida-based PGA Tour may not jump to mind as a retailer. But PGA Tour operates a full-service café at its headquarters and also occasionally offers pop-up cafes at tournament events.

Smart & Final celebrated the one year anniversary of its public stock offering by telling investors a growth story about differentiation and new store expansion.

Smart & Final, a uniquely positioned operator of 266 warehouse style stores, has plans to open 100 new stores in the Western United States during the next four years. CEO Dave Hirz dropped that bombshell while he and other senior members of the company were at the New York Stock Exchange to ring the opening bell to commemorate the one year anniversary of the company’s listing.

The bankrupt Haggen supermarket chain has listed 111 locations for sale, many in California, as the company looks to refocus its operations on 37 stores in the Pacific Northwest.

Dallas, Ga. -- Marcus & Millichap announced the sale of a 17,930-sq. ft. CVS Strip Center in Dallas, Georgia, for $4.2 million. The property is 70% anchored by CVS Health with a 15-year corporate-guaranteed double-net lease.

The growth aspirations of Conn’s were revealed in the span of a few days recently when, with a new CEO at the helm, it entered the Georgia market and increased its presence in Colorado.

Between new formats, e-commerce efforts and supply chain initiatives, interesting times are ahead for Bed Bath & Beyond – even if second quarter sales were weak and profits declined.