Marketing

St. Louis -- Discount grocer Save-A-Lot, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Supervalu, opened its first store in Atlantic City, N.J., on May 17, becoming the first full-service grocery store within a 21-mile radius of the city.

New York -- Ann Inc.'s fiscal first-quarter net income increased a better-than-expected 5%, boosted by growing sales at its Loft division. The chain, which also operates Ann Taylor, said Friday that it earned $28.7 million in the three months through April 28, up from $27.3 million a year earlier.

Chicago -- General Growth Properties announced Thursday that Boscov’s department stores will open at White Marsh Mall, in Baltimore, and at Woodbridge Center, in Woodbridge, N.J.

The 197,000-sq.-ft. Baltimore store is projected to open November 2012, and the 180,000-sq.-ft. Woodbridge Center store is slated to open August 2013

Lake Success, N.Y. -- Excess Space Retail Services said it is celebrating its 20-year anniversary this year. The real estate consulting and advisory firm, which specializes in surplus real estate disposition and lease restructuring for retailers, was founded by president and CEO Michael Wiener in May 1992 and currently has offices in Lake Success, N.Y., and Huntington Beach, Calif.

Highlights of its 20 years in the industry include more than 16,000 retail stores successfully disposed and more than 7,000 retail leases effectively restructured.

Washington, D.C. -- Combined Properties said that Randy Kenna has joined the company as senior director of development & acquisitions. 

He will be leading the acquisition of new value-add/redevelopment retail and mixed-use projects while also redeveloping portions of Combined's portfolio of retail centers in the region.
 

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- First quarter profits at Walmart exceeded analysts’ estimates as same-store sales increased 2.6% and the company said it strategy of low prices on a broad merchandise assortment is resonating again with shoppers.

ST. LOUIS — Supervalu is bringing its Save-A-Lot banner to Atlantic City, N.J.

The store, which opened Thursday, will become the first full-service grocery store within a 21-mile radius of the city, the company said. The Atlantic City location is the 11th Save-A-Lot store in New Jersey.

CAMDEN, N.J. — Campbell's has tapped Walgreens' social media director to lead the soup maker's digital marketing and social media efforts.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Ross Stores reported Thursday that net income for the first quarter surged 21% to $208.6 million, from $173 million in the same period last year.

Sales increased 14% to $2.4 billion, and same-store sales rose 9%.

“We believe that favorable weather across many of our markets also contributed to our above-plan performance," said Michael Balmuth, CEO, about the results.

SAN FRANCISCO — Gap Inc. raised its full year guidance Thursday after reporting first quarter sales and earnings per share growth. For the quarter ended April 28, sales increased 6% to $3.5 billion compared with $3.3 billion for the first quarter last year. The company’s first quarter comparable sales increased 4%. Net income for the first quarter was $233 million, flat compared with the first quarter last year. First quarter diluted earnings per share increased 18% to 47 cents compared with 40 cents last year.