Strategy

Sam’s Club made some expansive personnel and strategy changes focused on merchandising on the same day that Walmart announced job cuts at its home office in Bentonville, Arkansas.

In a memo sent to Sam’s Club employees on Friday, Sam’s Club CEO Rosalind Brewer said the company “has been conducting an in-depth analysis of its business to map out a winning path for the future of Sam’s Club.”

The four key elements to the new strategy include:

The bankrupt Haggen supermarket chain is following through on its promise to unload some of its California locations as the company looks to refocus its operations on 37 stores in the Pacific Northwest.

Haggen announced Monday that it has entered into an agreement with Smart & Final Stores Inc. for it to acquire 28 store leases and related assets from affiliates of Haggen Holdings for $56 million.

Miami -- Federal Realty Investment Trust, along with partners Grass River Property and The Comras Company, acquired 85% interest in The Shops at Sunset Place -- a 515,000 sq. ft. mixed-use center in South Miami, Florida for $110 million.

The transaction includes the assumption of an existing $70.8 million mortgage with an interest rate of 5.6% and maturity date of September 2020.

In a not unanticipated move, American Apparel filed for bankruptcy protection in Delaware on Monday. But the company said its stores will not be affected by the filing, and no store closings or layoffs were announced.

The Los Angeles-based retailer, which has not reported a profit since 2009, has been struggling under the weight of big debts sluggish sales and a protracted — and costly — legal battle with its founder and ousted CEO, the controversial Dov Charney.

The bankrupt Haggen supermarket chain is following through on its promise to unload some of its California locations as the company looks to refocus its operations on 37 stores in the Pacific Northwest.

CVS Health is opening hearing centers in seven CVS/pharmacy stores in the Dallas and Cleveland markets and will be providing optical services at CVS/pharmacy in five store locations around the Baltimore-Washington region.

The Container Store attracts a lot of loyal customers, and soon those shoppers will have another reason to buy more closet organizers and kitchen jars, thanks to a partnership with Synchrony Financial.

The retailer announced a new, multi-year agreement with Synchrony Financial to offer a private label credit card program for customers. The card will be available for use in the retailer’s stores and online and is scheduled to launch in the spring of 2016.

A new survey has revealed some more glum news about shrink in the U.S. retail industry.

Boston-based sporting goods retailer City Sports has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and plans to liquidate at least a quarter of its stores.

According to the Wall Street Journal, City Sports said it has a deal with liquidators Tiger Capital Group to hold going-out-of-business sales at eight of the company’s 26 stores, which are scattered throughout the Northeast from Massachusetts to Washington, D.C.

Rincon, Ga. -- Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. announced the acquisition of Fort Howard Square in Rincon, Georgia, for a purchase price of approximately $11.5 million, using a combination of cash and debt to pay for the property.

The center is 95% leased and anchored by Lowe’s and Walmart Supercenter.