Finance & Capital Management

Free standing inserts remain a popular promotional vehicle, but weakness in other aspects of the Valassis business model have CEO Rob Mason vowing major changes after a third quarter sales decline.

New York -- Sephora announced Thursday that Calvin McDonald has been named president and CEO of Sephora Americas, effective Jan. 1, 2014.

McDonald, who previously served as president and CEO of Sears Canada, succeeds David Suliteanu.

Suliteanu, who has helmed Sephora Americas since July 2000, will become CEO of Kendo Brands, which is owned by Sephora's parent, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA.

Coupons.com has appointed former Safeway executive Mir Aamir as the company’s CFO and COO.

Less than two weeks after announcing plans to reduce overall international capital expenditures, top Walmart executives were telling a different story in China this week.

At a press event in Beijing, Walmart CEO Mike Duke and Walmart China CEO Greg Foran said the company planned to opening as many as 110 new facilities during the next three years including stores in China’s smaller cities while also closing up to 9% of its 397 units and remodeling 165 stores.

Dr Pepper Snapple Group continues navigating through a challenging economic climate. Despite experiencing some pressure in its carbonated soft drinks category, president and CEO Larry Young is reportedly encouraged by the performance of the company’s Core 4 TEN platform.

Reported net sales for the third quarter ended  increased 1% reflecting 3 percentage points of positive mix and pricing, partially offset by a 1% sales volume decline and higher discounts.
 

San Antonio, Texas — Transwestern’s San Antonio office today announced that it has completed the sale of Rosenberg Center in Rosenberg, Texas, a suburb of Houston. Built in 1986, the 113,430-sq.-ft. neighborhood retail center serves a commercial corridor between Rosenberg and Richmond, Texas. A private investor bought the property for an undisclosed amount from Rosenberg Station LLC.

Pittsburgh – GNC Holdings reported strong results for the third quarter of fiscal 2013, reporting a net income increase of 17.3%, from $62.2 million to $73 million.

Revenue grew about 9%, from $621.6 million to $675.6 million. Same store sales increased approximately 6.7% in domestic company-owned stores (including GNC.com sales) in the third quarter of 2013, while in domestic franchise locations, same-store sales increased 5.9%.

GNC plans to make some major supply chain investments in 2014, including opening a fourth distribution center serving domestic stores, located near Indianapolis, following strong results for the third quarter.

The company reported a net income increase of 17.3%, from $62.2 million to $73 million.

Revenue grew about 9%, from $621.6 million to $675.6 million. Same store sales increased approximately 6.7% in domestic company-owned stores, including GNC.com sales, in the quarter, while in domestic franchise locations, same-store sales increased 5.9%.