Finance & Capital Management

SuperValu Inc. on Tuesday reported fiscal fourth-quarter profit that beat expectations. But in a setback to plans to spin-off its deep-discount banner, same-store sales fell 2.2% at Save-A-Lot.

SuperValu earnings in the quarter increased to $52 million, or 20 cents a share, up from $39 million, or 14 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding debt refinancing, store closures and expenses related to the potential Save-A-Lot spinoff, adjusted per-share earnings rose to 23 cents.

Coach on Tuesday reported its first growth in quarterly profit in three years. The retailer also announced a series of management changes and corporate job reductions resulting in a pre-tax charge of about $65 million to $80 million in the fourth quarter.

Coach said it would cut an unspecified number of corporate jobs, and announced that president and COO Gebhard Rainer and global marketing president David Duplantis would leave the company.

Supervalu on Monday announced that experienced financial executive and corporate board member Mary Winston has been appointed to Supervalu's board of directors effective April 27, 2016.

While generally steady post-recessionary economic performance has led to an extended period of retail growth, retailers and retail real estate professionals around the country have begun openly wondering about just how high rental rates can continue to climb. In the last few years, occupancy costs are up significantly virtually across the board; most dramatically in dense urban locations in larger markets.

Chico's FAS is getting rid of its chief marketing officer.

The apparel retailer on Monday announced a realignment of its marketing and digital commerce functions that the company expects will reduce its 2016 marketing expenses by $11 million and generate annualized cost savings of approximately $14 million.

The word “big” is often associated with Walmart, and that adjective also applies to the discount retailer’s IT spending.

According to data from IDC, Walmart Stores Inc. spent more on IT than any other company globally in 2015, to the tune of more than $10.5 billion. No other retailer, not fellow large tech-focused organization Amazon.com, cracked the top 10 list.

Cross-border expansion is on the rise and an extensive new study from JLL identifies the top 50 major cities worldwide that offer the top growth prospects.

J.Crew customers on Saturday received a surprise in their email accounts — a letter from the CEO and chairman of the company, Mickey Drexler.

In the note, Drexler recounted how he was recently told by a shopper that the J.Crew she loves "is back.” He then asked customers to come into stores or check out the J. Crew e-commerce site to see what she was talking about, and also requested they email him directly with their thoughts. ([email protected].)

Over the past decade or so, we’ve watched as consumers have increasingly turned to e-commerce to make their purchases, and more segments of the retail sector — from apparel to grocery — have set up shop online to meet demand.

Pre-leasing has begun on a $100 million mixed-use complex developed by Forest City Realty Trust that offers retailers an interesting opportunity to serve the bustling Chinatown area of Los Angeles.

The project, named Blossom Plaza, will feature 237 apartments and 19,000-sq.-ft. of commercial space on a two acre tract at the intersection of Broadway and College Street. Leasing the space on behalf of Forest City will be JLL VP Lorena Tomb and associate Danielle Cornwell.