Strategy

Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen declared 2014 an outstanding year and it is easy to see why after the nation’s leading supermarket operator again surpassed performance expectations.

Cincinnati – Benefits from its acquisition of the Harris-Teeter grocery chain, which The Kroger Co. acquired in January 2014, helped boost results at Kroger during fourth quarter 2014. It was the supermarket giant’s 45th consecutive quarter of same-store sales growth.

Kroger’s net income rose 23% to $518 million, beating Wall Street expectations with a 22% increase from $422 million last year.

Walmart Vice President of U.S. Manufacturing Cindi Marsiglio is scheduled to provide an update on the retailer’s $250 billion domestic sourcing commitment at an event later this month.

Marsiglio is scheduled to speak at 7 a.m., March 19, at an event sponsored by Doing Business in Bentonville at the John Q Hammons Center in Rogers, Ark. The organization, known as DBB locally, regularly holds events at which top Walmart executives share updates and insights on key initiatives and working effectively with the company.

Los Angeles - Factory workers of American Apparel established a coalition of workers to advocate for their rights before new corporate management. Hundreds of workers met on Feb. 28 to organize themselves into the "Coalition of American Apparel Factory Workers United to Save American Apparel."

Regional grocery chain Roundy’s Inc. is heading out of a “transition year,” according to CEO Robert Mariano, with lackluster same store sales growth.

Roundy’s reported a same-store sales decline of 2.3% for the fourth quarter. In 2014 overall, same-store sales dipped 2.9%. For the year, net sales reached $3.86 billion, up from $3.35 billion in 2013. 

Brooklyn, N.Y. - Etsy Inc., the popular online bazaar where people sell artsy goods and handmade crafts and clothing, has filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering (IPO) in which it hopes to raise at least $100 million.

Cincinnati -- Bloomingdale’s will open an outlet store in fall 2015 in the heart of Manhattan’s Upper West Side. It will be the 14th Bloomingdale’s Outlet store and the first in a major urban center.

With 25,000 sq. ft. on three levels, Bloomingdale’s Outlet on Broadway will offer a range of off-price apparel and accessories, including women's ready-to-wear, men's, children's, women's shoes, fashion accessories, jewelry, handbags and intimate apparel.

Never heard of Etsy? Time to start paying attention to the 10-year-old company that defines its value proposition as connecting people and reimagining commerce.

The unique online marketplace, where you can buy hand-knitted baby shoes or a vintage night light with Elvis Presley’s face on it, has filed for a sure-to-be-closely-watched $100 million public offering.