International Business

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. is expanding its footprint in Latin America. Leveraging its franchise model, the company has opened its first stores in Panamá and plans to introduce its brands to three additional Latin American countries: Colombia, Uruguay, and Peru.

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples Inc. beat Wall Street estimates as its fiscal fourth-quarter net income rose 3.2% to $283.6 million. Weakness in Europe and Australia was offset by the company’s strongest North American retail sales growth in more than a year.

Total company sales rose 0.7% to $6.46 billion, while analysts expected about $6.45 billion. Sales at Staples’ North American delivery segment and domestic retail segment, which together account for about 80% of the company's revenue, rose 2% to $5.16 billion.

CARLSBAD, Calif. — Callaway Golf Company has appointed Chip Brewer as president and CEO, effective March 5. Tony Thornley, who has served as interim president and CEO since June 2011, will resign from his interim positions on March 5, but will continue to serve on the Board of Directors. It is expected that Brewer will be appointed to the board of directors once he officially joins the company.    

Salisbury, N.C. -- Bottom Dollar Food announced plans to open eight additional stores in New Jersey. The expansion will more than double the number of Bottom Dollar Food stores in the Garden State, with the first two stores opening March 2.

"We have been pleased with customer reaction to our current five stores in New Jersey and we are very excited to continue serving customers at our additional locations in the market," said Bottom Dollar Food president Meg Ham.

New York City -- British fashion retailer Topshop will open its fourth store in the United States, in The Grove shopping center in Los Angeles.

The 25,000-sq.ft. store is expected to open in time for the 2012 holiday season, according to The Los Angeles Times.

To date, Topshop has opened in New York City and Chicago. It will open in Las Vegas, on March 8.
 

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Office Depot Inc. reported Monday that it swung to a profit of $12.3 million in the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with a loss of $108.6 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue edged up to $2.97 billion in the quarter, from $2.96 billion last year, missing Wall Street’s expected break-even on $3 billion in sales. Same-store sales dropped 5%, due in large part to a move away from promotions to shore up profitability, said the company.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Express has appointed Michael Keane to the position of EVP human resources.

Keane's extensive experience includes more than twenty years in a series of human resource leadership positions with Tween Brands, Limited Brands, Borden Foods and Whirlpool Corporation.  He most recently served as EVP human resources and stores for Tween Brands, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ascena Retail Group Inc.

New York City -- Royal Ahold NV has agreed to acquire bol.com, the Netherlands’ largest online retailer, for about $470 million in cash.

Profits grew faster than sales at Walmart’s international division last year, despite investments to drive record expansion and inventory growth, as EDLP took hold in more markets.

SAN FRANCISCO — Gap Inc.'s fourth-quarter net income plummeted 40% on higher costs and aggressive discounting during the holiday selling season.

The company reported that net income for the quarter ended Jan. 28 was $218 million, compared with $365 million a year earlier. Sales dipped to $4.28 billion in the quarter, from $4.36 billion, matching Wall Street estimates.