Strategy

Hartford, Conn. -- FM Facility Maintenance, a leading provider of facility management for clients with multisite restaurant and retail locations,  announced that it has acquired the assets and certain liabilities of US Signs. With this acquisition, FM Facility Maintenance strengthens its position as a service provider of facility maintenance services to customers with a national footprint.

New York City -- According to a Wednesday filing with the SEC, major Barnes & Noble shareholder, Aletheia Research & Management, has cut its stake in the bookseller from 10.6% to 8.65%.

Aletheia was accused by Barnes & Noble of teaming with activist investor billionaire Ron Burkle during a proxy fight last year.

The reduction comes about two weeks after Liberty Media made a $1 billion offer for Barnes & Noble.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Safeway and Coinstar announced Thursday an agreement to install approximately 1,400 Coinstar kiosks in Safeway's stores in the United States and Canada by the end of 2011.

Coinstar kiosks are to be installed in Safeway stores and its banners including Vons, Dominick's, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Genuardi's, Pavilions, Carrs and Pak N' Save. Installations are planned to begin this month, according to the companies.

Springfield, N.J. -- Village Super Market reported Thursday that net income for the third quarter dropped 68% to $1.7 million, primarily due to a $4.2 million charge for the withdrawal liability from a multi-employer pension plan.

Sales grew 5.2% to $316.2 million. Same-store sales increased 4.8%.

Washington, D.C. -- On Wednesday, the Senate rejected the Tester-Corker amendment to delay swipe-fee reform.

Target ended its last fiscal year with sales of $67.4 billion and earnings per share of $4, but if company chairman, president and CEO Gregg Steinhafel has his way, within six or seven years earnings per share will double to $8 and sales will top $100 billion.

Investment sales volume of significant retail properties totaled $5.8 billion in the first quarter of 2011, up an astounding 53% from the same period in 2010. It is important to also note that the number of properties traded increased at a slower pace – by 25% – which means that properties are trading at comparatively higher prices.

Per-square-foot pricing, at $167, is at its highest level in two years and 31% higher than the trough in second quarter 2010. Cap rates are at their lowest level since 1980 ending the quarter at 7.6%.

New York City -- Brazil jumped to first place in A.T. Kearney’s annual ranking of the top developing economies for global retail expansion, followed by Uruguay and Chile respectively.

The 10th annual Global Retail Development Index reflects the dramatic changes that have taken place in global markets, and the varying impacts they have had on different emerging economies. Notably, countries in South America, which fared well during the recession, posted an impressive 6% growth in 2010.

SAN FRANCISCO — Gap Inc. announced that Diane von Furstenberg will design a collection for the GapKids and babyGap brands. The collection is expected to be available for purchase to customers in March 2012 through GapKids and babyGap stores in almost 30 countries including United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Italy, France, China, Japan and Australia as well as online in 75 countries.

The number of planned store closures at Talbot’s was bumped to 110 units recently when the company reported disappointing first-quarter results and indicated most of the underperforming units would close during the second half of the year.