Strategy

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The weak sales and profits reported Wednesday by West Coast sporting goods retailer Big 5 weren’t a surprise, as the company had warned Wall Street more than a month ago that financial results would be below expectations. 

NEW YORK -- Following its emergence from bankruptcy, Loehmann's announced some executive changes. According to the company, CEO Jerald Politzer, who guided the company through this successful bankruptcy process, has chosen to leave Loehmann's. Joe Melvin, the company's COO and CFO will assume the role of interim CEO.

Paducah, Ky. -- Youngstown, Ohio-based Cafaro Co. said that A&K Construction, based in Paducah, Ky., will serve as general contractor for the multi-million-dollar renovation of Kentucky Oaks Mall, also located in Paducah.

A&K Construction will guide the work that will transform the look of the 28-year-old mall, with new entrance features, ceiling treatments, skylights, upgraded flooring, energy efficient lighting and HVAC systems, modernized public restrooms and other amenities.

LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix on Tuesday disclosed a 4.4% increase in its fourth-quarter sales, reaching $6.4 billion, while comparable-store sales for quarter also rose 3.2%.

Net earnings for the retailer totaled $342.1 million, compared with $284.2 million in the year-ago period, an increase of 20.4%. Earnings per share for the fourth quarter increased to 44 cents for 2010, up from 36 cents per share in 2009.

New York City -- Tiffany & Co. has named Frederic Cumenal as executive VP, effective March 10.

Cumenal, 51, will be responsible for the company’s businesses in Asia, Japan, Europe and Emerging Markets, and will report to chairman and CEO Michael J. Kowalski. He joins Tiffany from the LVMH Group where most recently he was president and CEO of Moët & Chandon, S.A.

Suffern, N.Y. -- Ascena Retail Group's fiscal second-quarter net income nearly doubled to top expectations, buoyed by solid results at its Justice stores.

The company, formerly The Dress Barn, reported net income of $42.5 million for the quarter, up from $21.7 million last year.

Revenue for the period ended Jan. 29 was up 27% to $752.2 million, better than the Street's $716.2 million estimate. Same-sale sales rose 9%.

DENVER -- Walmart announced that it has donated $100,000 to continue the Walmart Tribal College Scholarship Program. This program is providing 33 greatly needed scholarships for the spring 2011 semester, supporting one student at each of the nation's 33 tribal colleges and universities.

NEW YORK -- Barnes & Noble's legal matters related to its Nook e-reader may be resolved, as the company announced that it has settled a lawsuit brought against the company by Spring Design Inc. Spring Design initiated legal action against Barnes & Noble in November 2009, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, claiming that the bookseller illegally copied the screen design of the Spring Alex e-reader.