Mergers & Acquisitions

Louisville, Ky. - Long John Silver's has named James O'Reilly as CEO. O'Reilly brings to the role more than 20 years of food service executive experience, including his most recent stint as chief brand officer for Sonic Drive-In.

In addition, O'Reilly has served in a variety of domestic and international leadership positions for food service and CPG companies including Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Yum Brands, and Procter and Gamble.
 

Staples Inc. is tapping into a new revenue stream by launching a lending program aimed at small businesses.

Staples has launched the Staples Business Loans powered by Lendio service to provide access to capital for small business owners. Staples has teamed up with Lendio, a financial technology firm and small business-lending marketplace, to deliver a suite of funding options.

Staples Business Loans offers more than 20 different funding options and the flexibility for businesses to use the money for whatever their business needs.

Dublin, Ohio - The Wendy's Co. has increased the size of its board of directors from 10 to 11 members and elected Michelle "Mich" Mathews-Spradlin to serve as a director of the company, effective immediately.

Prior to her retirement in 2011, Mathews-Spradlin worked at Microsoft Corp. for 18 years, where she served, among other roles, as chief marketing officer and senior VP. In this position, she oversaw the company's global marketing function.
 

Hudson’s Bay Company is forming two joint ventures valued at $4 billion as it aims to bring even more value its lucrative property portfolio. 

Lowe’s grew same store sales 7.4% in the fourth quarter and surpassed the high bar Home Depot set the prior day in terms of profitability as well as store expansion.

Sales at Lowes during the period ended Jan. 30, increased 7.6% to $12.5 billion and U.S. same store sales grew 7.4%. Neither the top line or comp number were as large as the 8.3% sales increase and stunning 8.9% comp increase Home Depot generated from its U.S. stores, but Lowe’s managed to grow profits at a quicker pace.

Canton, Mass. – Dunkin’ Donuts has signed a multi-unit store development agreement with a new franchise group, Donut World, LLC, to develop two Dunkin' Donuts restaurants and one combination restaurant with its sister brand Baskin-Robbins, in Columbia and Jefferson City, Missouri. The group's first restaurant is planned to open in Columbia this summer and the remainder will open in 2017.

Boca Raton, Fla. – Office Depot Inc. is seeing some fiscal benefits from its November 2013 merger with OfficeMax. The retailer shrank its net loss in fourth quarter 2014 to $84 million, from $120 million in the same quarter the prior year.

Net sales climbed 10% to $3.83 billion, from $3.49 billion.

As Macy’s undergoes aggressive changes to better compete in an omnichannel retailing world, the company reported a decline in profit for the fourth quarter.

For the quarter ended Jan. 31, profit fell to $793 million from $811 million. Per-share earnings were $2.26 a share, up from $2.16 a share a year earlier. Same store sales grew 1.7% Revenue increased 1.8% to $9.36 billion.