Finance & Capital Management

New York -- J.Crew Group Inc. expects to open 46 stores in 2013, company officials said during its quarterly conference call.
 
The specialty retailer will open 17 Madewell stores, 13 factory outlet units and 16 namesake locations, including its first-ever store in Europe, in London.
  
For the fourth quarter, J.Crew’s earnings were up 18% to $70.4 million. Same-store sales rose 11%.

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu announced that Janel Haugarth who will remain with the company as EVP and president of independent business and supply chain services. The announcement comes as Sam Duncan, Supervalu president and chief executive officer, continues finalizing his leadership team following the sale of five retail banners to AB Acquisition LLC, a transaction that was completed on March 21.

New York -- In another sign that British retail giant Tesco is reconsidering its U.S. Fresh & Easy division, the company sent an email sent to shoppers in which it acknowledged that the grocer doesn't know "if Tesco will continue to own the company," the Los Angeles Times reported.
 
Fresh & Easy spokesman Brendan Wonnacott said that Tesco is still reviewing its American chain, and will make an update in April as part of the company's full-year results, the report said.

CARLSBAD, Calif. — 2XU, a manufacturer of high performance athletic apparel, has named Kevin Roberts CEO of the company. 

"2XU represents the pursuit of an incredible global business opportunity," said Roberts. "I greatly value the entrepreneurial culture of the brand and will continue to foster it moving forward."

New York -- Tiffany & Co.’s fourth-quarter net income inched up 0.7%, but its results still topped analysts’ predictions as strong demand in Asia helped to offset domestic weakness. The company also offered an annual sales outlook that topped analysts' estimates, citing its strong prospects in most Asian markets.
    
For the quarter ended Jan. 31, Tiffany earned $179.6 million, compared with $178.4 million in the year-ago period. Revenue increased 4% to $1.24 billion.
     

NEW YORK — New York & Company reported that net sales for the fourth quarter were $291.8 million, as compared with $271.8 million in the year-ago period. 

Comparable-store sales increased 2.3% compared with a decrease of 6.3% in the prior year fourth quarter.

Net income increased to $10.5 million, or 17 cents per diluted share. This compares with a net loss in the prior year fourth quarter of $10.9 million, or 18 cents per diluted share.

New York -- New York & Company reported net income for the fourth quarter of $10.5 million, compared with a net loss in the prior year fourth quarter of $10.9 million.

Net sales for the quarter were $291.8 million, up from $271.8 million in the year-ago period. Same-store sales increased 2.3%.

Sam’s Club this week opened a new 136,000-sq.-ft. club adjacent to a Walmart supercenter in La Marque, Texas.

The club, built in 1991, was relocated from neighboring Texas City. The communities are located along I-45 southeast of Houston en route to the coastal community of Galveston. The new club, Sam’s first of the year, is one of an expected 15 to 20 new units this year that mark Sam’s most aggressive expansion in roughly a decade. Sam’s ended last year with 620 clubs and sales of $56.4 billion.