Strategy

Is it just me, or does it seem like the past two months or so have seen an unusually high level of turnover at the top? It's gotten so that you need a scorecard to keep up with all the comings and goings, as chief executives are forced out, jump ship, retire or move on.

This year's changing of the guard is bittersweet because it includes the retirement of two veteran retailers, Steve Burd of Safeway and Maxine Clark of Build-A-Bear Workshop.

New York -- Aeropostale Inc. reported an unexpected loss for its fourth quarter, hurt by declining same-store sales and store asset impairment charges. The teen apparel chain also forecast a loss for the current quarter, citing markdowns and a weak economy.

"We anticipate a challenging first quarter as a result of expected margin pressures from holiday carryover inventory, and the impact of a weak macroeconomic environment,” said Aeropostale CEO Thomas Johnson.

Minneapolis -- A Friday report by Bloomberg said that coffee purveyor Caribou Coffee has lost interest in opening shops inside J.C. Penney Co. stores.

The revelation comes just six months after Penney CEO Ron Johnson announced Caribou Coffee as a potential partner.

Caribou CEO Mike Tattersfield said in a Friday emailed statement that the company “does not have plans to move forward with a partnership at this time.” Tattersfield has not elaborated on the reasons for the change of heart.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — McKee Foods stalking horse bid for Hostess Brands' Drake's snack cake brand will be presented for approval to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, as no other qualified bids were received for those assets.

McKee has agreed to pay $27.5 million for the Drake's brand and certain equipment. Drake's products include Ring Dings, Yodels, Devil Dogs, Yankee Doodles, Sunny Doodles and Drake's Coffee Cake.

 The company will ask the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York to approve the transaction at a hearing on April 9.

New York -- Swedish fast-fashion powerhouse H&M is revving up its U.S. expansion. The retailer opened 40 stores in the United States in 2012, and hopes to open even more this year, according to a report in Women’s Wear Daily.

H&M, as previously reported, will open a 42,500-sq.-ft. flagship at 4 Times Square, in Manhattan, that will boost an enormous LED billboard signage display. The retailer will also open a store on Fifth Avenue at 48th Street that, at 57,000 sq.-ft., will be its largest in the world to date.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Kid Brands, a manufacturer of juvenile and infant products has announced the appointment of Raphael Benaroya as president and CEO, effective immediately. The company intends to appoint a non-executive chairman of the board, although Benaroya will continue to serve as chairman until his successor is appointed, and is expected to continue to serve as a board member thereafter.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Hibbett Sports reported that net sales for the fourth quarter increased 14% to $217.4 million compared with $190.7 million for the same period last year. Comparable-store sales increased 4.9% on a 13-week to 13-week period.

Net income for the quarter increased 22.3% to $19.4 million compared with $15.8 million for the same period last year. Earnings per diluted share increased 23.7% to 73 cents for the quarter compared with 59 cents for the same period last year. 

PHILADELPHIA — Monetate, a technology solution provider that allows online marketers to leverage Big Data to create personalized online customer experiences, has announced the addition of two senior executives to its leadership team. John Healy joined as chief operating officer and David Stetson was named chief financial officer.