Finance & Capital Management

SAN FRANCISCO -- Gap said that it has expanded its Gap and Banana Republic online presence to eight additional European countries through its dedicated European e-commerce sites.

Gap debuted the dedicated sites in the United Kingdom in August 2010 and then expanded to include nine additional European countries in October 2010. The newest announcement brings the total reach of it European e-commerce business to 18 countries.

New York City -- Robert K. Futterman & Associates announced it has secured a long-term, 2,725-sq. ft. lease with high-end apparel and accessories retailer Intermix in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. 

This completes the first of three phases of leasing at the building, which is situated on the southwest corner at the intersection of Washington and Gansevoort Streets, where Intermix will have two entrances. 

Palatine, Ill. -- An overwhelming number (88%) of executives admit to a “moral responsibility” beyond regulatory requirement to make their companies more energy efficient, according to a recent poll of senior executives at Fortune 1000 companies. At the same time, however, 61% of respondents rank potential cost-savings as biggest motivator to save energy at the enterprise-level, outranking both environmental benefits and government regulations.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.  -- Stater Bros. reported that supermarket sales declined 2.31% in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 compared with the same period of the prior year.  Like-store sales decreased 2.31% or $21.3 million for the thirteen weeks ended Dec. 26, 2010 compared with the thirteen weeks ended Dec. 27, 2009.  Consolidated sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 were $899 million compared with $923.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2010, an overall decline of $24.8 million.

New York City -- The Jones Group reported Wednesday that revenues for the fourth quarter rose 12.5% to $874 million, from $777 million in the year-ago period.

The company attributed the fourth quarter performance to the June 2010 acquisition of the Stuart Weitzman business, as well as increases in various business segments.

Jones Group closed 44 retail locations in the fourth quarter to end the year with 803 locations (which includes acquired Stuart Weitzman locations). The company closed 194 locations in 2010.

In the Jan. 27 edition of SiteTalk, we asked our readers to comment on the recent announcement that Cordish Cos. would build an upscale outlet center and entertainment district near Omaha, Neb., and if that development signaled the beginning of more ground-up projects. This is what one reader had to say:

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe’s Cos. said Wednesday that it has made several key promotions and moves in its human resources, legal, merchandising, logistics and information technology areas.

Maureen K. Ausura was promoted to executive VP human resources, from senior VP in the same capacity.

Gaither M. Keener has been promoted to executive VP general counsel, secretary and chief compliance officer, from senior VP in the same capacity. 

Both will continue reporting to CEO Robert Niblock.

YONKERS, N.Y. -- Consumer Reports announced that its Trouble Tracker Index has climbed for the third straight month to 58.7. The index, which tracks the depth and breadth of financial difficulties among households, has climbed up from 54.2 last month and from 53.4 one year ago.