Marketing

SALISBURY, N.C. — Network growth and higher retail inflation prompted growth in both revenues and comparable-store sales for Delhaize America, the U.S. division of Delhaize Group, for the third quarter ended Sept. 30.

Revenues realized a gain of 3.5% to $4.9 billion, compared with the year-ago period, while comparable-store sales jumped 1.9%. Delhaize, however, acknowledged that due to the economic environment and the decrease of consumer confidence, particularly in the southeastern United States, volume trends were down from the previous quarter.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot has announced that Office Depot stores in Plano, Texas; Raleigh, N.C.; and Tallahassee, Fla. won the top three spots for retail energy efficiency gains in the 2011 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star National Building Competition. The Plano and Raleigh stores were also the only retailers in the overall top ten list, according to the company.

PITTSBURGH — Giant Eagle has named Laura Shapira Karet CEO and John Lucot president and COO. Both appointments are effective Jan. 9, 2012. 

Karet, 42, is taking over the position from her father David Shapira, who will assume the position of executive chairman of Giant Eagle's board of directors. Shapira has served as CEO 1980.

SALISBURY, N.C. — Discount grocer Bottom Dollar Food is hiring more than 800 associates over the next several months to begin to prepare for store openings next year, the company announced Wednesday.

"We look forward to expanding in Pittsburgh and Youngstown, Ohio, next year, and bringing new jobs to these areas," stated Bottom Dollar Food president Meg Ham. Bottom Dollar Food is expected to open 14 stores in early 2012. 

Pittsburgh -- Giant Eagle announced that its Board of Directors has named Laura Shapira Karet to serve as the company's CEO, and John Lucot to serve as the company's president and COO, effective January 9, 2012.

Karet, 42, will succeed her father David Shapira, who will assume the position of executive chairman of Giant Eagle's Board of Directors.  Shapira has served the privately-held, family-owned company for 41 of its 80 year-history, and has been CEO since 1980.

New York City -- Off-price retailer Daffy's on Wednesday is opening a nineteenth location, in New York City’s Times Square.

The new 17,000-sq.-ft. store, located at 218 West 44th Street in the former New York Times building.

NEW YORK — Macy's announced that it will debut Ideology, a new brand of activewear, this spring. Cheryl Burke, renowned professional dancer and two-time winner of Dancing with the Stars, will serve as the face of the new brand.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart delivered a long awaited same-store sales increase of 1.3% at its U.S. stores division in the third quarter and pointed to ongoing momentum for the holidays with comps guidance in the range of flat to up 2%.

ATLANTA — Stormy weather around the country had something to do with Home Depot's third quarter sales gain of 2.9%. So did strength in core categories.

The world's largest home improvement retailer posted a 4.2% comp-store sales gain for the quarter ended Oct. 30. Total sales increased 2.9% to $17.326 billion. And even bigger growth came in the net earnings column, where Home Depot reported a 13.0% increase and net earnings of $934 million.

NEW YORK — Despite a significant decrease in net income, Saks delivered sales growth as it continues to improve its operating performance. Saks Inc. reported net income for the third quarter of $17.8 million, or 11 cents per diluted share, compared with net income of $36.3 million, or 20 cents per diluted share.