Labor & Employment

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples on Thursday said it will close 225 stores by the end of 2015 amid falling fourth-quarter revenue, increased competition, and a shift to online sales. The big-box office-supply category, which was battered by the recession, has come under increased competition from Walmart and other discounters and online retailers such as Amazon. Most recently, Staples’ rivals Office Depot and OfficeMax completed a $1.2 billion merger.

Framingham, Mass. – Cumberland Farms is reportedly selling 27 stores in New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, to Petroleum Marketing Group, based in Woodbridge, Va. According to the Boston Globe, the stores will continue to operate as convenience stores and all roughly 600 affected employees are expected to keep their jobs.

Cumberland Farms will focus on its nearly 600 remaining stores in New England, New York, and Florida. Both companies are private and terms were not disclosed.

Sunbury, Pa. – Declining sales across a variety of categories negatively affected year-over-year fiscal performance of Weis Markets Inc. during the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2013. Net income declined 29% to $15.7 million from $22.1 million during the quarter, and dropped 13% to $71.7 million from $82.5 million during the year.

Revlon said fourth quarter sales increased 28%, thanks to the inclusion of sales at The Colomer Group, which it acquired in October.

Net sales for the quarter totaled $491 million, up 28% compared with $383.5 million in the year-ago period. On a foreign currency fluctuations or XFX basis, total net sales rose 31.2%, benefiting from the inclusion of $116.8 million of net sales related to the Professional segment beginning on The Colomer Group acquisition date. Excluding the acquisition, total net sales rose 0.7% on an XFX basis.

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.

Following RadioShack’s surprise announcement that it will close 1,100 stores in an attempt to staunch the flow of red ink, the company has retained Melville, N.Y.-based A&G Realty Partners to manage the disposition.

“In the coming weeks we’ll be working with our landlords to find an efficient and cost-effective means to exit these unprofitable locations, and as such, we’ve engaged A&G Realty to assist us in this process,” said John W. Feray, RadioShack’s CFO, during a March 4 earnings conference call.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe's Companies Inc. has named Michael A. Jones has been named the company's chief customer officer, effective April 30. Jones currently serves as Lowe's chief merchandising officer, overseeing the full merchandise offering for all Lowe's U.S. stores and Lowes.com, as well as all global sourcing activities.

Gates, N.Y. - Wegmans Food Markets begins recruitment for full-time positions March 4 for its latest Massachusetts location, Burlington, which is scheduled to open in fall 2014. The company's third location in the state is a 135,000 sq.-ft. supermarket that includes a Market Cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. Going forward, Wegmans also plans to open more stores in Massachusetts, including a location in Westwood, in 2015.