Finance & Capital Management

Aliso Viejo, Calif. -- Continuing its opening march through Kuwait, Johnny Rockets has opened a new restaurant at the Divonne Restaurant Complex in Kuwait City.

Franchisee Haidar Al-Naqeeb is expanding the American chain in the Arabian Gulf; his first unit opened in December 1995 at Salem Al-Mabarak in Salmiyah, Kuwait.  Since that time, he's grown his portfolio to now include over a dozen franchises in Kuwait, as well as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain with additional openings planned.

Following a disappointing fourth quarter and fiscal year ended Feb. 1, Toys “R” Us hosted investors, industry analysts and the media and outlined its strategy for improving its operational performance and driving profitable growth in the future.

Dallas — Dickey’s Barbecue will open seven new locations this week — in Kent, Wash.; Richland, Miss.; Vienna, Va.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Clinton Township, Mich.; Yonkers, N.Y.; and Dallas.

The fast-growing 391-unit restaurant chain has added more than 200 stores in the past two years. There are more than 150 stores in development.

Francesca’s sales results for the fourth quarter were below its revised guidance, thanks in part to extreme weather conditions, which forced the company to fully or partially close 370 boutiques during January.

New York -- Coming off a disappointing 2013, Toys “R” Us unveiled a strategic plan to position the company for profitable growth in the future. The plan includes improving its in-store and online shopping experience, simplifying promotions, cutting costs, more disciplined inventory management, and more omni-channel integration with stores. Significantly, it not include closing stores apart from those involving standard lease expirations, top company executives said during a media presentation on Tuesday at the chain’s flagship in Times Square.

Gordmans Stores president and CEO Jeff Gordman has resigned his post. According to the company, he is retiring to spend more time with his family as well as to pursue outside interests. Board chairman T. Scott King will serve as interim CEO while the company searches for Gordman’s successor.

Omaha, Neb. -- Gordmans Stores announced that its president and CEO, Jeff Gordman, has given his resignation to the board. The retailer said that Gorman is retiring to spend more time with his family and pursue outside interests.

T. Scott King, the current chairman of Gordmans’ board, will serve as interim CEO while a search is conducted for a permanent successor to Gordman. King will take an unpaid leave of absence from his position as senior managing director at Sun Capital Partners while he serves in the interim position.

Despite expected headwinds from slower generic drug introductions, comparisons with last year's flu season and severe weather, Walgreens saw solid top-line growth in the second quarter ended Feb. 28, driven by record quarterly sales and record second-quarter prescriptions filled.

The company also continued to gain prescription market share while maintaining a firm hold on its costs.

Walgreens posted a sales increase of 5.1% to $19.6 billion for the quarter. First half sales were up 5.5% to $37.9 billion.