International Business

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart’s U.S. stores division regained customer traffic during the fourth quarter to post a 1.5% same-store sales increase and continues gather momentum as familiar strategies and effective marketing are resonating with customers, the company said Tuesday morning in conjunction with the release of quarterly results.

New Albany, Ohio -- Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries told analysts during a conference call Wednesday that the teen retailer would close 180 U.S. stores by 2015.

The chain will target underperforming locations for closure, and by shuttering them hopes to boost image and profits. Specific stores slated for closure have not yet been announced.

Here we go again. Every so often the media gets a hint that Wal-Mart Stores is looking to expand into Russia and the speculation begins. The latest report from Reuters claims that the retailer still sees opportunity in the country as it looks to possibly by the X5 chain. X5, however, is denying reports that it is in talks with Walmart. Whether a purchase in Russia will happen anytime soon remains to be seen, but anything regarding the biggest retailer and one of the biggest markets will continue to garner attention.

Toronto -- A Thursday report by Reuters said that Sears Canada is cutting prices on more than 5,000 items as a competitive preemptive move before Wal-Mart and Target begin their expansion march across the country.

According to the report, Sears Canada will also roll out weekly sales promotions and new signage.

Efforts to make food healthier and healthy food more affordable took center stage last week in Washington, D.C. when Walmart unveiled its new “Great For You,” packaging icon. This week in Orlando food safety took center stage at the Consumer Goods Forum’s annual Global Food Safety Conference where Frank Yiannas, VP food safety at Walmart and co-vice chair of the conference weighed in on collaboration, food safety at a cross roads and Tiramisu.

Lancaster, Pa. -- One of the supermarket chains operated by Netherlands-based Royal Ahold has installed rooftop solar panels at two of its stores.

Carlisle, Pa.-based Giant Food Stores — also known as Giant-Carlisle to distinguish it from Landover, Md.-based Giant Food, also owned by Ahold — said it had installed solar photovoltaic systems at stores in Lancaster and Pottstown, Pa.

With China on pace to become one of the world's biggest retail market, any insight on developing a retail business in this area is welcomed, which is why it is no surprise that Scott Price, president and CEO of Walmart Asia, is scheduled to speak at the World Retail Congress Asia Pacific in Beijing this March.

Pittsburgh -- GNC Holdings reported Thursday that net income for the fourth quarter rose to $37.7 million, compared with $18.8 million a year earlier.

Revenue increased 17% to $509.6 million in the quarter; domestic same-store sales rose 12.1%.

In 2012, GNC plans to open approximately 125 net new domestic retail locations, 15 net new domestic franchise locations, 150 net new international franchise locations, and 50 net new GNC-Rite Aid store-within-a-store locations.