International Business

Wal-Mart Stores’ Mexican unit is shedding its apparel store chain.   Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB (Walmex) is selling its Suburbia chain to El Puerto de Liverpool SAB, one of the largest department store operators in Mexico, in a deal valued at 19 billion pesos ($1.03 billion), Bloomberg reported.  

Flying Tiger Copenhagen is expanding its footprint in the United States.   Known for its quirky, fun and ever-changing assortment of Danish-designed goods, the discounter is set to open on New York City's Upper West Side on Aug. 13. The 2,000-sq.-ft. store will be the brand's fourth location in the New York area.    

Surmesur, a custom menswear retailer, has dropped anchor in the United States.    Surmesur, which blends traditional tailoring methods with technological innovation, recently opened its seventh store to date, and first in the United States, in Pittsburgh. It’s the first of several new stores the company plans to open in the coming months, including one in Chicago and other major centers both in the U.S. and in Canada.  

PizzaRev, the build-your-own pizza shop that has a franchising partnership with Buffalo Wild Wings, made its first foray into New England this week with the opening of a store in CambridgeSide Galleria in Boston.   Since joining forces with Buffalo Wild Wings in 2013, the fast-casual concept has expanded to more than 200 franchise locations. Its coverage had touched nearly all regions of the U.S. except for New England.  

Ikea’s upcoming store in Columbus, Ohio, has begun taking shape.   The company said that the structure’s steel framing has progressed far enough to allow for the installation of Ikea’s iconic blue composite panels. Installing the panels is a construction milestone that keeps the store on track to open in summer 2017.  

Uniqlo is in the final stages of an extensive makeover of its first-ever store in New York City.      Located in Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood, the 10-year-old, 36,000-sq.-ft. store is being redone to the theme of "a new Tokyo in Soho." Scheduled to unveil its new look on Sept. 2, the store was the chain’s first global flagship. Hiroshi Taki, Uniqlo U.S.A. CEO, described it as “an important milestone in the company's plans to expand internationally.”  

VF Corporation announced the promotion of Jim Pisani to the position of global brand president, Timberland, effective immediately.   Pisani most recently served as president of VF’s licensed sports group.  

A company relatively unknown outside its home base has entered the U.S. retail market in a deal to acquire Mattress Firm Holding Corp., the largest mattress retailer in the United States.