Finance & Capital Management

Ahold shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the company`s proposal to merge with Delhaize Group.

Ahold is buying Delhaize for $11 billion in a deal announced last year that will create one of the largest food retailers on the U.S. East Coast, as Ahold operates Stop & Shop and Delhaize operates Hannaford and Food Lion.

American’s dependence on their devices – and their tendency to break – has given rise to a new breed of retailer that promises to get its customer back in the digital game fast.

Carmel, Indiana-based uBreakiFix is on the move again in its home state with another new location in the Indianapolis market, its fourth in the area. UBreakiFix currently operates more than 170 stores after opening 63 locations last year. The fast-growing company expects to have 275 stores across North American by next year.

The technology department at Nordstrom continues getting smaller.

According to Geekwire, Nordstrom has laid off 120 IT employees. The cuts follow 10 technology staff reductions the retailer made at the beginning of March. All the layoffs have been part of an organizational restructuring and leveling of IT spending.

No retailer has more momentum right now than Ulta Beauty. The company’s fourth quarter same store sales increased 12.5% on top of a prior year gain of 11.1% and 2016 could be another year of double digits gains.

Weather related closures and tax refund delays hit Hibbett Sports hard in the fourth quarter, as the retailer posted a drop in same store sales.

Home furnishings retailer Kirkland's says its soaring digital sales are proof of the success of its omnichannel transformation, and the retailer plans to grow e-commerce even more in 2016.

Growth at Citi Trends Inc. seems to be slowing, as the retailer reported a drop in comps and profit in the fourth quarter.

Sales at teen retailer The Buckle slowed down over the holiday quarter, as a steep decline in comps negatively affected revenue.

Smart & Final’s value oriented brand of food retailing is resonating with shoppers and that has the company eyeing roughly 40 new stores in 2016.