Strategy

NEW YORK — Kenneth Cole, chairman and chief creative officer of Kenneth Cole Productions will now be the holder of approximately 46% of the company's common stock and will have 89% of the voting power. The deal was made possible through an agreement between Kenneth Cole Productions and Cole's controlling entity KCP Holdco.

New York -- Supervalu plans to cut as many as 2,500 positions at its Albertsons unit. The reductions, which will occur across all 247 Albertsons stores in California and Nevada, will begin the week of June 17 and should be completed around July 1, according to a statement.

“A decision of this nature is never easy, but it is the necessary step for us to take to help improve our business and accelerate our turnaround," Dan Sanders, president of the Albertsons Southern California Division, said in a statement.
 

NEW YORK — Five minority- and women-owned businesses have successfully completed the inaugural Workshop development program to become official vendors of Macy's. The five enterprises include  Bella Tunno, Big Girl Cosmetics, Cenia, Kane & Couture and Lamik Beauty, and all have begun selling products at select Macy’s locations and/or on Macys.com.

NEW YORK — Retail executives have more cash, are adding employees and enjoying stronger revenue, but they remain quite guarded longer term, not seeing a complete economic recovery until 2014 or later, according to the 2012 Retail Outlook Survey by audit, tax, and advisory firm KPMG LLP.

In the recent survey, 77% of retail executives indicate that their companies have significant cash on the balance sheet – up from 72% in KPMG's 2011 survey – and 56% say their companies' cash positions have increased from last year.

New York -- Brooks Bros. Group and Reliance Brands Limited announced Tuesday the formation of a joint venture company in India.

Reliance Brands, a division of Reliance Industries Group, will use its local connections to bring the American brand to India.

Canadian specialty apparel retailer Reitmans broadens its appeal with a new store environment designed to appeal to a younger and more fashion-focused shopper while also engaging the existing customer base. Bright, crisp, clean and confident, the new design (by Dalzel and Pow, London) brings a fresh, modern feel to the brand.

Los Angeles -- Regional sporting goods retailer Sport Chalet reported Monday that it lost $3.8 million in the quarter ended April 1, compared with net income of $300,000 in the year-ago period.

The company cited warm weather trends for the weakened performance.

Revenue fell 16.6% to $81.9 million, from $98.2 million. Same-store sales dropped 5.3%.

 

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Surging profits and a 6.7% first quarter same-store sales increase prompted Dollar General to raise its full-year profit forecast by three cents.

Dollar General shows no signs of slowing down this year after posting first-quarter results that saw the company’s total sales increase 13% to nearly $3.5 billion and net income increase 36% to $213 million. The 6.7% comp increase was driven by an increase in customer traffic and average transaction size, according to the company.