Strategy

Sales trends at J.C. Penney are improving and year end liquidity is now expected to exceed $2 billion following a recent stock offering, the company said Tuesday morning during an uncharacteristic mid-quarter update on its operating performance.

Cincinnati — Phillips Edison & Co. has announced that D.J. Belock has joined the company as senior VP of finance. He will take responsibility for all financial and internal control activities, including planning and reporting, fundraising, investor relations, accounting and risk management.

Columbus, Ohio -- DSW Inc. is increasing its presence in New York City. The company will open a 27,000-sq.-ft. store on 125th Street in Harlem on Oct. 11, and a 20,000 sq. ft. store at Bay Plaza in the Bronx on Oct. 31.

The new locations bolster DSW's presence in New York City when combined with existing locations at 14th Street/Union Square, 34th Street, and the Upper West Side.

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney Co. on Tuesday said that it was making “solid progress” in its turnaround as it reported a smaller decline in same-store sales for September, compared to August. The company also said it expects that it will have ample liquidity at year end.

While Penney’s September same-store sales fell 4% over the same month last year, they showed an improvement of 580 basis points compared with August.

The CEO of Delhaize Group's European division has resigned, effective Oct. 31, according to the Belgian supermarket operator.

Delhaize said Stefan Descheemaeker had decided to resign as CEO of Delhaize Europe, though the company did not give a reason. Delhaize said that as a result of Descheemaeker's departure, Delhaize Group EVP and Delhaize Group Southeast Europe and Asia CEO Kostas Macheras would report directly to group CEO Pierre-Olivier Beckers, as would Delhaize Belgium CEO Dirk Van den Berghe, effective Nov. 1.

New York — RKF has formed an affiliation with CWM Retail Property Advisors, LLP, a U.K.-based retail consulting firm.

Under the agreement, RKF has acquired CWM’s New York City office, whose current staff will join RKF. In addition, CWM and RKF have each committed to an exclusive relationship involving shared business referrals within the U.S. and the U.K.

Overstock.com has opened a distribution center in Jonestown, Pa., just in time for the holiday rush. The new operation means faster fulfillment of orders. Shipping products from the Jonestown facility will provide orders to customers from Maine to Florida within two days of order shipment.

With the implementation of Obamacare mired in controversy, two of the nation’s largest retailers are backing an innovative Employers Centers of Excellence Network that will offer no-cost knee and hip-replacement surgeries at four highly regarded hospitals.

Walmart and Lowe’s issued a joint statement that they and other large employers had joined the Pacific Business Group on Health Negotiating Alliance (PBGH-NA) to launch the national Employer’s Centers of Excellence Network.