International Business

Belgium -- Belgian supermarket operator Delhaize Group said Thursday it plans to spend $1.21 billion opening new stores and remodeling existing outlets.

According to a report by Wall Street Journal, Delhaize, which operates mainly under the U.S. Food Lion, Hannaford and Sweet Bay banners, is making the investments despite a fourth quarter same-store sales decline of 0.8%.

Newport Beach, Calif. -- Grubb & Ellis Co. said Friday that H&M has leased 19,600 sq. ft. of retail space at The Forum in Carlsbad. 

The retailer signed a 10-year lease for the space, which includes a portion of the second level of The Forum. The company will take the majority of the space currently occupied by Borders Direct LLC, which is expected to vacate in spring 2011. 

The retailer, which plans to open its Carlsbad location in summer 2011, now has 2,200 stores in 38 countries.

HOUSTON  -- The Men's Wearhouse announced that Grace Nichols has been elected to the company's board of directors, effective January 30, increasing the number of directors to nine.

WASHINGTON — Retailers are ready to expand again, and likely will do so as the economy picks up, according to a new survey conducted by the charitable arm of the National Retail Federation and KPMG.

Wal-Mart Stores earlier this week denied rumors that it would consider opening banks in Chile and Argentina.

The reports are “completely untrue,” Wal-Mart spokesman Kevin Gardner told Bloomberg in an e-mailed response to questions.

Lexington, N.C. -- Grocery retailer Save-A-Lot announced Thursday it will break ground on a new 325,000-sq.-ft. food distribution center in Lexington, N.C.

The center is expected to open by December 2011. It is the result of collaboration with the state of North Carolina and its One North Carolina Fund, the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Davidson County and the City of Lexington.

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands -- Ahold reported that net sales for its U.S. division increased 6% to $5.6 billion for the fourth quarter. Identical-store sales for the quarter increased 1.9%(0.9% excluding gasoline), and comparable sales were up 2.1%.

For the full year the company reported net sales of $23.5 billion increased b y  5.1% when compared to the adjusted full year 2009 sales. Identical sales were up 1.5% (0.4% excluding gasoline).

Little Rock, Ark. -- In a regulatory filing on Wednesday Dillard's said it plans to form a real estate investment trust, with the objective of improving liquidity.

According to the department store retailer, various company entities will transfer interests in properties to the REIT, which will then lease the properties back to them.

"Dillard's believes the formation of a REIT may enhance its ability to access debt or preferred stock and thereby enhance its liquidity," the filing said.