Labor & Employment

Minneapolis – Supervalu Inc. reported a higher net loss and lower net income during the first quarter of fiscal 2014, compared to the first quarter of the prior fiscal year. Net loss totaled $105 million, up from $18 million year earlier, although one-time after-tax charges of $139 million pushed Supervalu into the red. Net sales were $5.16 billion, a 1.5% drop from $5.24 billion a year earlier.

FREMONT, Calif. — Men's Wearhouse has signed a definitive agreement to acquire JA Holding, the parent company of American clothing brand Joseph Abboud, for approximately $97.5 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments. 

JA Holding is currently majority-owned by funds affiliated with J.W. Childs Associates, L.P. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2013.

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu reported net sales of $5.2 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2014, down 1.5%, and net earnings of $85 million, or $0.34 per diluted share. 

The decrease in net sales primarily reflects a decline in identical store sales of negative 3% percent for retail food and negative 1.9% for Save-A-Lot. Identical store sales for corporately operated stores within the Save-A-Lot network were negative 1.2%.

Walter Loeb has been a part of the retail industry longer than many of the retail executives running Walmart have been alive. And he, like many retail analysts who follow the company, have marveled at its accomplishments over the years.

However, that wasn’t the case earlier this week when Loeb let Walmart have it over what he regarded as deplorable store standards.

ATLANTA — Red Book Connect, a global, cloud-based software solutions company serving the broader retail and restaurant industries, has appointed Arnab Sur as SVP of global sales, a previously unfilled position since the formation of the company in January 2013.

CORNING, N.Y. — Procter & Gamble group president of global beauty Deborah Henretta has been appointed to Corning's board of directors.

Henretta will also serve on the board's audit and finance committees. She will hold office until Corning`s annual meeting of shareholders in the spring of 2014, at which time she will stand for election to a one-year term. Her appointment brings to 13 the number of directors in the specialty glass and ceramics provider’s board.

Greenwood Village, Colo. -- Red Robin Gourmet Burgers has named Cathy Cooney as senior VP and chief people officer of the burger chain. Cooney will be responsible for leading the development and execution of human resource strategies.

Before joining Red Robin, Cooney served as executive VP of human resources for Carefusion, a $4 billion medical technology company.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Mattel reported net income of $73.3 million for the second quarter ended June 30, a 23% decrease from $96.2 million for the same period last year. 

The dip in profits reflects, in part, investments the company has made, such as its acquisition of HIT Entertainment, as it positions itself for future growth, according to chairman and CEO Bryan G. Stockton.