Finance & Capital Management

New York - Olshan Properties announced that Matthew B. Winn will join the firm effective January 2015 as COO.  Reporting directly to CEO Andrea Olshan and working closely with her executive team on the overall management of the company, Winn will be responsible for leading the firm’s daily operations and refining its operating policies, procedures, and processes. He will also focus on ensuring growth of the company’s platform as well as work to enhance its operational efficiency.   

New York – Activist investor fund Starboard Value has reportedly purchased a 6% stake in Staples Inc. and upped its ownership of Office Depot from 8.6% to 10%. According to the Wall Street Journal, Starboard Value may be positioning itself to pressure the two office supply retailers to merge.  

City of Commerce, Calif. - 99 Cents Only Stores reported a loss loss and a decline in same store sales in the third quarter.   The company reported a loss of $3.8 million in the third quarter, ended Oct. 31, compared to income of $1 million in the prior year quarter.   Net sales increased by 5.0% to $478.3 million.  Same store sales decreased 0.7% compared with the prior year quarter.   

CINCINNATI — David Dillon, who led Kroger's development of the company's successful Customer 1st Strategy, will retire as chairman of the board on Dec. 31 after 38 years of service.   As expected, the Kroger Board of Directors on Thursday elected Rodney McMullen, Kroger's CEO, to the additional post of chairman, commencing Jan. 1, 2015. McMullen has served on the board of directors since 2003.  

In the final installment of CSA Online’s PizzaRev series, we’ll explore the importance of choosing franchisees with a particularly discerning eye, and the process by which franchisors evaluate potential expansion markets.    FRANCHISEE FACTORS   

Fort Worth, Texas - There’s no quick turnaround in sight for RadioShack. On Thursday the struggling chain reported a wider-than-expected third-quarter loss and detailed cost costs that include staff reductions and more store closings to boost earnings by some $400 million annually.  

Washington, D.C. – Retail sales showed slow but steady growth during November 2014. According to the National Retail Federation, retail sales, not including automobiles, gasoline stations or restaurants, increased 0.6% seasonally-adjusted from October and 3.2% unadjusted from November 2013.  The increases were in line with NRF’s holiday sales forecast, which anticipates an increase of 4.1% from 2013.   

Fremont, Calif. – Men's Wearhouse Inc.'s third-quarter profit plunged 82%, mainly on expenses related to its June 2014 acquisition of rival Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc.      The retailer reported a profit $6.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, from $38.2 million in the year-ago-period and below Wall Street projections.  

Ankenny, Iowa – Casey’s General Stores Inc. beat Wall Street expectations with net income of $49.89 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2015, up 21% from $39.43 million the same period the prior year. Growth of cost of goods sold did not keep pace with growth of sales, aiding the retailer’s profit.  

Foothill Ranch, Calif. -  The troubles keep mounting for teen retailer Wet Seal Inc., which reported a wider loss for the third quarter amid lower revenues and fees related to its exit from its former Arden B business.  The retailer posted a loss of $35.9 million in the quarter emded Nov.1, up from a loss of $12.5  million the previous fiscal year.