Finance & Capital Management

Retailers looking for global opportunities in emerging markets should head to Asia, particularly China, according to a just-released survey.   

China ranks as the top country in A.T. Kearney’s 2016 Global Retail Development Index (GRDI), followed by India, whose high market potential, fast growth, improved regulatory environment, and ease of doing business pulled it up to second in the rankings. (See end of article for top 30 rankings.)

Photo: Dollar General executives and local leaders cut the ribbon to celebrate the grand opening celebration of the company's new San Antonio Distribution Center. (L to R, Steve Sunderland; Wayne Peacock, Chairman, San Antonio Economic Development Foundation; Bexar County Judge, Nelson Wolff; Mike Kindy; Mario Tort; Todd Vasos, Dollar General CEO; Jeff Owen; Alan Warrick, San Antonio City Council; Jeff Owen; Bob Ravener; Jim Thorpe)

Phillips Edison Grocery Center REIT I Inc. is acquiring a grocery-anchored shopping center, expanding the company’s holdings in Massachusetts.

Northwoods Crossing is a 159,562-sq.-ft. grocery store-anchored shopping center in Taunton, Massachusetts, a suburb 40 miles south of Boston. The center is anchored by BJ’s Wholesale Club. It also features national and regional tenants such as Tractor Supply Company, Dollar Tree, Subway, Ruby Tuesday and Wendy’s.

Mary Meixelsperger, senior VP and CFO DSW Inc., is shifting professional gears

Meixelsperger has resigned from the company effective June 10, to pursue another unspecified opportunity. Coincidentally or otherwise, DSW recently missed expectations for both profits and sales in a difficult first quarter of fiscal 2016. Net income fell 37% and same-store sales also declined, although revenues grew below Wall Street forecasts.

Walmart is teaming up with a few third-party partners — including two names very familiar to consumers — to take on its biggest rival in the competitive in the area of online delivery.  

Meijer has expanded its store footprint in Michigan, opening a new 192,000-sq.-ft. supercenter in Sturgis.
 
The new store is the latest of nine new Meijer supercenters to open – and part of an investment of more than $400 million in new and remodeled stores – this year, which will create 3,000 new jobs across the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based retailer's six-state footprint.

While online retailers generally understand that fraud can significantly cut into profits, they may not be aware of its full cost — or the different ways it can impact a business.    A new infographic from fraud and risk management technology provider Kount drives home the boomerang impact fraud has on e-commerce. Called “The 10 Deadly Costs of Fraud” for e-commerce retailers, here is a brief summary of its findings:   

Several factors conspired to produce a drop in net income at Village Super Market Inc. during the third quarter of fiscal 2016, despite a slight bump in sales.

Net income was $5.88 million in the quarter, down 55% from $13.21 million in the third quarter of the previous fiscal year. The prior year period including a net gain from the recovery of insurance receivables related to Superstorm Sandy and a tax benefit a result of a settlement with the New Jersey Division of Taxation.