International Business

Issaquah, Wash. – Costco Wholesale Corp. reported a bigger-than-expected 15% drop in net income for the second quarter amid deep-discounting during the holidays. Net income in the quarter ended Feb. 16 fell to $463 million from $547 million.   
 
Costco blamed the lower earnings on several factors, including weaker sales of certain nonfoods merchandise categories and lower international profits. The year-ago period was also helped by a tax benefit.
 

Los Angeles — The Lipsey Company has named CBRE Group the top global brand in commercial real estate for the 13th consecutive year.

A training and professional development firm specializing in commercial real estate, Lipsey has surveyed commercial real estate professionals on their perceptions of the industry’s leading brands since 2001. More than 100,000 U.S. and international professionals participated in the 2014 survey. Respondents included property owners, investors, lenders, occupiers, brokers and property managers.

TAIPEI -- Gap will officially open its first Taiwan flagship store on March 8 as part of its ongoing strategy to expand Gap’s global footprint. With plans to open about 30 Gap stores across its Greater China region, including three in Taiwan, the brand expects to have more than 100 stores by the end of fiscal 2014.

Dallas -- Corner Bakery Café has signed a new multi-unit development agreement to open its first restaurants in Indianapolis beginning later this year and the remaining sites over the next six years.

Canton, Mass. - Dunkin' Donuts has signed a multi-unit store development agreement with existing franchise group, Sizzling Donuts LLC for 46 new restaurants throughout the greater Sacramento, Calif., metro area and surrounding cities of Stockton, Modesto, Tracy, Manteca, Placerville and Davis, Calif.   

Canton, Mass. - Dunkin' Brands Group Inc, the parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, today announced the extension of Chairman and CEO Nigel Travis's employment contract through December 2018. Travis, 64, whose contract previously ran through December 2016, joined Dunkin' Brands as CEO in December 2008.

Chicago -- Galleria, a provider of retailer and vendor category management solutions, is expanding into the Asia Pacific region.  This growth is part of an ongoing international program of strategic focus and investment for Galleria.

In addition to navigating the regulatory hurdles and adapting to a difference in consumer culture, recent initiatives from Galleria have included solution developments to facilitate new market connectivity in Hong Kong and other areas within the region.