Strategy

Lakeland, Fla. -- Publix Super Markets is racking up another record year even as other grocers, including Whole Foods Market, are struggling under the weight of new competition.

Publix reports that sales for the second quarter were $8 billion, a 6% increase from last year’s $7.5 billion. Same store sales for the second quarter increased 4.1%.

Net earnings were $482.7 million, compared to $404.1 million in 2014, an increase of 19.5%.

New York -- Friends of Howard Schultz, the outspoken and politically progressive founder and CEO of Starbucks, are urging him to enter the Democratic race for President, according to a report by Fortune.

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Marshfield, Mass. -- Brixmor Property Group has acquired Webster Square, an 182,756-sq.-ft., grocery-anchored community center located on Boston’s South Shore. Cushman & Wakefield oversaw the transaction of the Star Market-anchored community shopping center on behalf of Curtis Management.

New York - Barnes & Noble Inc. on Monday completed the separation of its retail store and college businesses.

Following the spinoff, Michael Huseby, former CEO of Barnes & Noble, became executive chairman of Barnes & Noble Education, which will have a separate board of directors.

Hangzhou, China – Alibaba is launching an omnichannel partnership with one of professional basketball’s biggest stars. Alibaba Holding Group Inc. and Kobe Inc., a newly formed company by NBA player Kobe Bryant, will collaborate with Chinese media company Sina to create a new social media platform.

Asheville, N.C. – Profit stayed essentially flat at Ingles Markets Inc. for the third quarter of fiscal 2015. Ingles reported net income of $13.78 million, compared to $13.83 million the same quarter the prior fiscal year.

Lower interest and income tax expenses helped Ingles keep profits steady in the face of net sales declining 3% to $945.97 million, from $978.26 million. Declining gasoline prices negatively impacted sales.

Boca Raton, Fla. - Office Depot, Inc. has been recognized for outstanding product quality and service by privately-held home builder David Weekley Homes.

This marks the 10th consecutive year that Office Depot has received the “A,A Partners of Choice” award given this year to 15 of David Weekley Homes’ suppliers.

Cincinnati - Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s are stepping up their efforts to get online goods delivered to shoppers faster than ever.
The department store company is expanding same-day delivery service to nine additional markets beginning this month. Both Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s are partnering with third-party delivery service Deliv to offer same-day delivery on products purchased online at macys.com, Bloomingdales.com, and on both brands’ mobile-enabled websites.

Houston - When consumer demand for the latest trends surges, fashion retailers must move quickly to engage with shoppers and ensure they have the right product mix on the shelves. The fast-growing women’s accessory retailer Charming Charlie  has met widespread consumer demand with an upgrade to Oracle Retail Merchandising solutions to support both its immediate needs and its international expansion plans.
 

Cincinnati – A redesign has upped the customer experience and increased sales at casual-dining chain Pollo Tropical.

The 120-plus-unit, Caribbean-themed casual-dining chain, part of Fiesta Restaurant Group, recently underwent a store redesign as part of a national growth strategy and repositioning, with the efforts led by FRCH Design Worldwide.