Finance & Capital Management

Seattle – Starbucks is opening a new Evolution Fresh juicery in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., that the retailer says will quadruple its production of cold-pressed, never-heated juice. The $70 million, 264,000-sq.-ft. facility features advanced technology such as High Pressure Processing (HPP) machines.

Philadelphia -- More than three-fourths (79%) of retailers expect an increase in sales this holiday season – the highest percentage seen since the financial downturn. That’s according to global management consultancy Hay Group’s seventh annual retail holiday survey, whose results were more optimistic that several other holiday forecasts.

Fremont, Calif. – The Men’s Wearhouse has rejected the unsolicited proposal by Jos. A. Bank to acquire the company for $48 per share, or about $2.3 billion.

Men’s Wearhouse said in a press release that the offer significantly undervalues the company, is inadequate and not in the best interests of the company or its shareholders.

Bloomberg Businessweek senior writer Brad Stone has authored a new book about Amazon that is a must read for anyone involved in the retail industry – especially Walmart.

Following a successful launch in China earlier this year, Hershey is ready to introduce its first new brand to the U.S. market in three decades.

The Men’s Wearhouse has appointed Vitamin Shoppe director B. Michael Becker to its board of directors. 

Becker has served as a director at Vitamin Shoppe since January 2008 and is chairman of its audit committee. He spent his career as an audit partner for Ernst & Young LLP from 1979 until his retirement in 2006. He was a senior consultant on airline risks to Pay Pal from August 2008 to November 2009.

Fred’s saw positive performance in its general merchandise and pharmacy departments, which lead to sales of $177.3 million in September, an increase of 4% over September 2012.

The Memphis, Tenn.-based company, which operates 702 stores in the South, said same-store sales increased by 2.8%, compared with a 3.8% decrease last year.

For the year to date, sales were $1.3 billion, a 1% increase over $1.3 billion during the same period last year. Same-store sales increased by 0.8%, compared with a 1.2% decrease last year.

Stein Mart experienced strong sales in linens, ladies' boutique, gifts, ladies' career sportswear and women's in September, which bolstered the company’s total sales for the month.

Total sales were $112.20 million, an increase of 7.3% compared to September 2012. Comparable store sales increased 5% compared to last September’s increase of 2.4%.

Retail Process Engineering, an innovative retail merchandising and supply chain solutions provider, has appointed Tom DiPinto as an account executive. 

DiPinto has more than 20 years of experience in enterprise class software solutions with deep experience in retail, project management and systems implementation. He will be responsible for identifying new clients and working with existing clients to align software solutions with business objectives to improve processes, grow the business and save money. 

The Men’s Wearhouse has rejected Jos. A. Bank’s offer to acquire the retailer for about $2.3 billion in a $48 per share all-cash offer, and Jos. A. Banks is not taking no for an answer. 

The acquisition would create a men’s apparel powerhouse with more than 1,700 stores across the nation. However, the Men’s Wearhouse said in a press release that the unsolicited offer significantly undervalues the company, is inadequate and not in the best interests of the company or its shareholders.