International Business

Toronto -- Target Canada Co. and Starbucks Coffee Canada announced Wednesday an agreement that will put Starbucks licensed stores inside most of the 125 to 135 stores that Target plans to open in the region.

"Our goal is to bring the true Target brand shopping experience to our Canadian guests, so expanding our relationship with Starbucks as we enter the Canadian marketplace is a natural fit," said John Morioka, senior VP merchandising, Target Canada. There are currently 1,097 Starbucks locations within Target stores in the United States.

New Albany, Ohio -- Margin squeezes and flagging same-store sales hurt Abercrombie & Fitch Co.’s fourth quarter profit dropped nearly 80% drop, to $19.6 million from $92.6 million a year earlier, amid margin squeezes and flat same-store sales.

Seattle -- A Tuesday report by the Seattle Times said that Eddie Bauer chief Neil Fiske, who joined the retailer in 2007 and led it through bankruptcy, will leave his post effective March 2.

The company has not given a reason for Fiske’s sudden departure. David Chamberlain, executive chairman, will serve as interim CEO until a permanent replacement is named. Fiske will remain with the company as a consultant to ensure a smooth transition.

Wilmington, Mass. -- Trinity Building + Construction Management Corp. announced Tuesday that it has formed a new Canadian entity called Trinity Builders + General Contractors, ULC. The new company’s first project is a retail build-out for J. Crew, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

“Canada’s economy is largely driven by energy and natural resources and therefore has not had the tremendous downturn that we have recently experienced in the U.S,” said Paul Mancini, one of Trinity’s founders and VP business development.

Chicago -- General Growth Properties and Italian restaurant chain Buca di Beppo announced Tuesday the scheduled opening of 10 Buca di Beppo restaurants set to open at various properties within the GGP mall portfolio during late summer 2012.

The multi-restaurant deal marks a significant expansion of the Buca di Beppo restaurant group. New mall locations include Governor’s Square Mall in Tallahassee, Fla., August (Ga.) Mall, Oakwood Center in New Orleans and Town East Mall in Dallas.

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market announced that two regional presidents, David Lannon and Ken Meyer, have been promoted to executive VPs of operations, joining the executive leadership team. The company's 12 regional presidents will report to them.

Recently departed Sam’s Club president and CEO Brian Cornell is a little like legendary Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown in that both walked away from their professions at the height of their careers. However, unlike Brown who gave up football for good after his best season ever, no one is expecting Cornell to stay retired.

San Diego -- PriceSmart announced that on January 9, 2012 it entered into an agreement to acquire approximately 16,038 square meters of property in La Union, Cartago, Costa Rica, upon which it plans to build its sixth warehouse club in Costa Rica.

PriceSmart currently anticipates opening the Cartago Club in the summer 2013 in the market area where local Costa Rican press has reported that Sam's Club plans to operate its first warehouse in the Costa Rica market.

Dublin, Ireland -- Multiple reports on Thursday said that search giant Google plans to open its first stand-alone retail store, at its European headquarters in Dublin, Ireland.

The company last year in London tested a 285-sq.-ft. in-store shop where consumers could try out and buy Chromebooks and a few accessories. Located in a computer store, the in-store shop was open for approximately three months.

According to the reports, the Google store would be open to the public and would sell various Google merchandise.

New York City -- Barneys New York is in discussions with its lenders about restructuring, Crain’s New York reported. Barneys, which operates nine namesake stores and 17 Co-op locations, is owned by Istithmar World, the investment arm of government owned Dubai World.

“Barneys New York is actively engaged in discussions with the company's small group of lenders to improve its balance sheet and further position Barneys New York for sustainable, long-term growth and success,” said a Barneys spokeswoman in a statement.