Strategy

Orlando, Fla. -- Olive Garden plans to remodel or refresh more than half of its 700 plus restaurants across the United States to its new Tuscan farmhouse-inspired design.

Called “Via Tuscany,” the updated décor includes new tables, chairs and booths, a palette of warm, rustic tones and design elements of a farmhouse in Tuscany. Other updates include new window treatments.

New York City -- OSI Restaurant Partners LLC, operators of Bonefish Grill and Outback Steakhouse as well as several other restaurant chains, told securities analysts that it planned to remodel as many as 150 Outback Steakhouse units and focus of expanding its Bonefish Grill brand this year.

OSI operates or franchises 968 Outback Steakhouses, 152 Bonefish Grills, 233 Carrabba’s Italian Grills, 64 Fleming’s units and 22 Roy’s locations.

Charlotte, N.C. - Resale clothing retailer Buffalo Exchange brings the original concept of buy-sell-trade clothing to Charlotte with the opening of its first North Carolina store, located in the Plaza-Midwood neighborhood at 1521 Central Avenue, in mid-April.

Grapevine, Texas -- GameStop Corp. announced the acquisition of Spawn Labs, a streaming technology company.

In addition, GameStop announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase Impulse, a subsidiary of Stardock Systems, and a leader in digital distribution. The Impulse acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in May.

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Office Depot said it will restate its finances for the second and third quarters of fiscal 2010 as well as for the full fiscal year. The company said the U.S. Internal Revenue Service denied its claim for an $80 million benefit related to taxes.

The removal of the benefit, which had already been recorded in financial statements, will result in a loss for 2010 of $46 million. Previously the company said it earned $33 million.

By Eric White, [email protected]

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Staples announced that it has formed a new strategic alliance with one of the leading Swiss office products companies, Büro Schoch Direct AG. Within Switzerland, Staples and Büro Schoch Direct will work together exclusively on international accounts and collaborate to exchange best practices, the company reported.

The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), managed by The Consumer Goods Forum, announced that Yves Rey, corporate quality general manager Danone, has been appointed chairman elect to replace current chairman, Jürgen Matern, Metro AG, once he completes his mandate in February 2012. Yves Rey will become the sixth chairman of the Global Food Safety Initiative. 

WASHINGTON --  The National Retail Federation has a new ally in its fight for swipe-fee reform. The group announced that Americans for Financial Reform, a coalition focused on financial services industry reform that includes the Consumer Federation of America, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and a number of other consumer organizations among its 250 national, state and local members, asked Congress Wednesday to reject proposals to delay swipe-fee reform.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Ebay announced that it has added a new feature to Ebay.com that will allow shoppers to check product and merchandise availability at local retailers. The feature is made possible through Ebay's partnership with Milo, the leading local shopping engine that Ebay acquired last year.