Strategy

Dallas -- Fast-casual bakery concept Corner Bakery Café said Thursday it has executed a deal with a franchise group to open the chain’s first restaurants in the Pacific Northwest beginning in 2013.

Northwest Bakery Cafe, a group of restaurant operators that owns 95 Jack in the Box locations, is slated to open 18 Corner Bakery franchised restaurants in and around Seattle over the next seven years.

An expanded offering of private label pet care products will be coming soon to retailers shelves following the acquisition of Sergeants Pet Care Products by Perrigo, the leading global provider of store brand health and personal care items.

Perrigo said it signed a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Sergeant’s, a privately held Omaha-based company, for $285 million in an all cash deal that enables Perrigo to enter the $8 billion pet care market.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Pier 1 Imports reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Aug. 27 surged to $26.2 million from $16.6 million last year, prompting the home goods retailer to raise its full-year adjusted profit forecast for the second time in three months.

Total sales increased 8.3% to $367.6 million from $339.6 million in the year-ago period, edging Wall Street’s expected $367.2 million in revenue. Same-store sales rose 6.7% on top of last year’s 10.8% gain.

The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas was ranked among the top 30 public undergraduate business schools in the most recent edition of U.S. News & World Report's "Best Colleges 2013."

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. said Thursday it will increase its quarterly dividend by 30% to 15 cents per share, payable Dec. 1.

The grocer said the move is prompted by a strong confidence in its business strategy.
 

BUCKEYE, Ariz. — Walmart boosted its sustainable reputation Thursday with the announcement of a new solar initiative at its distribution center near Phoenix.

The retailer will outfit the DC with more than 14,000 solar panels -- making it Walmart's largest solar installation to date. The panels will cover the 1,000 sq. ft. building and parking canopies. The panels will produce up to 30% of the center's energy needs and generate up to 5.3 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy per year, according to Walmart.

Fort Lee, N.J. -- The majority of shoppers take notice of such packaging claims as "made in the USA," and most of them are more likely to purchase a product after breaking down demographics.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Pier 1 Imports continues on a positive trajectory, reporting its 12th consecutive quarter of earnings and same-store sales growth.

For the second quarter, the company reported net income of $26.2 million, or 24 cents per share, compared with net income of $16.6 million, or 14 cents per share, for the same period last year.