Marketing

Hong Kong -- Asian-based apparel retailer Esprit reported Thursday a net profit of $71.6 million for the six months ended December, beating Wall Street estimates.

The retailer said it remains on track to close its directly managed stores in North America by end-March 2012 and will continue to look for a licensing partner.

Boston -- Gordon Brothers Group announced that Mark T. Dufton has been named CEO and Neill J. Kelly has been named president of DJM Realty, Gordon Brothers’ real estate management affiliate.

Dufton has held the role of interim president of DJM Realty since December 2011. He is a former veteran of the company, after having spent nine years with DJM as principal and senior managing director.

Kelly is also a former DJM executive, having served as managing director from 1999 to 2003. He was previously principal at RK Realty Advisors.

SAN FRANCISCO — Gap Inc. has named Jill Stanton to the newly-created role as creative advisor for Old Navy and Liz Meltzer as SVP Gap international merchandising.

“Boosting our already-strong creative talent is a key focus in 2012,” said Glenn Murphy, chairman and CEO of Gap Inc. “On the heels of Tracy Gardner coming back to Gap, we are thrilled that Jill Stanton will bring her talent and proven business experience as creative advisor to Old Navy to help us deliver consistently great product.”

Fort Worth, Texas -- RadioShack Corp. said Thursday that it has named William "Bill" Nebes III as senior VP, overseeing the company's operations in Mexico.

Nebes will report to Jim Gooch, president and CEO.

Nebes has served as VP of Mexico operations for RadioShack since February 2009, shortly after RadioShack acquired full ownership of the Mexico business in December 2008.

Dallas -- Fort Worth, Texas-based Trademark Property Co. announced the opening of Central Market’s first small prototype store at its Preston Oaks center. Located in the Preston Hollow neighborhood in Dallas, the 30,000 sq.-ft. store is the ninth location -- the fifth in Dallas-Fort Worth -- for the specialty grocer.

The agreement with H-E-B Central Market was originally announced by Trademark in May 2011 following strong interest from several potential tenants looking to move into the former Borders bookstore location.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway posted a drop in quarterly net income amid higher commodity costs.

The company reported net income of $215.6 million (67 cents per diluted share) for the fourth quarter of 2011. In the fourth quarter of 2010, Safeway reported net income of $229.6 million (62 cents per diluted share).

Total sales increased 6.2% to $13.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011 from $12.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010, helped by higher fuel sales and a 1.5% increase in identical-store sales (excluding fuel).

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. reported Thursday that net income for the fourth quarter plummeted 40% on higher costs and aggressive discounting during the holiday selling season.

Net income for the quarter ended Jan. 28 was $218 million, compared with $365 million a year earlier. Sales dipped to $4.28 billion in the quarter, from $4.36 billion, matching Wall Street estimates.

Twenty new Target stores are scheduled to open this year including the company’s first five CityTarget locations and two other units at recently disclosed California locations.

Target said it would open a 135,000-sq.-ft. store in the California coastal town of Capitola, about an hour and a half south of San Francisco, in July. The store will be the company’s second location in Santa Cruz County.