Strategy

Empty shelves at Walmart are getting a lot of attention these days, but the situation isn’t new and can’t be blamed entirely on store staffing levels.

Boston -- Walmart Canada and Target Canada are very competitively positioned from a basket price perspective, according to a recent report by Kantar Retail.  

Based on the study’s results, Kantar Retail believes that Target’s “Pay Less” consumables prices will stack up well against its Canadian competition and that the retailer will prove to be a formidable challenge to Walmart Canada’s price position in the market.  

Wise, Va. -- Brixmor Property Group announced on Monday that Dollar Tree has opened a 9,000-sq.-ft. store at Ridgeview Centre, located in Wise, Va.

Brixmor, based in New York City, is the owner of Ridgeview Centre.
 

MERRIMACK, N.H. — Brookstone announced that it has accepted the resignation of Stephen Bebis, its president and CEO and a member of the company's board of directors. Bebis' resignation will be effective April 4. Bebis joined Brookstone in May 2012.  

Effective upon Bebis' resignation, James M. Speltz, the company's VP, COO has been appointed as the company's new president and CEO.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. said Thursday that its in-store Take Care Clinics have expanded the scope of healthcare services offered beyond treating minor ailments like sinus infections to include assessment, treatment and management for chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma and others, as well as additional preventive health services.

The new services are now available at the more than 330 Take Care Clinics located at select Walgreens (excludes clinics in Missouri).

The Home Depot is bringing back its Spring Black Friday event, which it describes as a weekend of regional savings on hundreds.

The sales begin April 4.           

"We see increased traffic in our stores during the spring season as customers kick-off their home improvement projects," said Craig Menear, executive VP merchandising. "In a recovering housing market, we know our consumers are continuing to look for ways to affordably improve their homes.”

Laredo, Texas -- Brentwood, Tenn.-based GBT Realty said Wednesday it has completed construction of a new shopping center that is home to four new retailers. The fully occupied McPherson Place, in Laredo, Texas, is tenanted by James Avery, Orange Leaf, Starbucks Coffee and AT&T. All four stores are open for business.

“The quality of this location allowed us to completely fill the center with an outstanding list of retailers,” said Fraser Schaufele, VP leasing at GBT.

NEW YORK — Abercrombie & Fitch in its annual report revealed that it plans to open Abercrombie & Fitch flagship stores in Seoul and Shanghai in 2013, as well as 20 international Hollister stores. The news sent the teen retailer’s shares rising on Wednesday.

The company also said in the report that it is maintaining its focus on boosting profitability by simplifying processes, eliminating less-profitable parts of its business, shoring up efficiencies and cutting expenses.