Strategy

New York City -- Blockbuster said on Monday that it reached a $290 million deal to be bought out of bankruptcy by a group of investors.

The offer by a group of hedge firms comprised of Monarch Alternative Capital, Owl Creek Asset Management, Stonehill Capital Management and Värde Partners -- is a so-called “stalking horse” bid. It sets a base price that Blockbuster hopes will attract other potential suitors who will offer more.

St. Louis -- Discount grocer Save-A-Lot said Monday it will open five new stores in Chicago’s South Side neighborhoods, nearly doubling its store counts in the area.

The subsidiary of Supervalu said the new stores will open on Feb. 24. The additions will give Save-A-Lot 13 Chicagoland stores. The grocer said it expects to open five more locations in the greater Chicago area by February 2012.

BOSTON -- Mobile checkout solutions provider AisleBuyer has added two new VPs to its executive team.

Paul Harsha, VP engineering, and Scott Almeida, CPA, VP finance and administration, are the newest additions to AisleBuyer.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores reported Tuesday that earnings for the quarter ended Jan. 31 jumped 27% as its international stores posted strong results. In the United States, however, the retailer posted its seventh straight quarterly sales decline, falling short of its own projections for the holiday period.

NEW IBERIA, La. — The Grocery Manufacturers Association has tapped the leader of a food manufacturer to serve on its board of directors.

J.S. "Si" Brown, president and CEO of Bruce Foods, will serve on GMA's board. Brown has held led the company, which specializes in manufacturing Cajun and Tex-Mex products, since 1973.

Fort Myers, Fla. -- Chico's FAS announced Tuesday that it has appointed Kent A. Kleeberger to the position of executive VP, COO. 

Kleeberger will replace Jeffrey A. Jones, who is retiring from the company effective March 7. Jones will serve as part-time consultant to the company during a transition period.

Kleeberger, 58, has served as executive VP-finance and CFO of Chico's FAS since joining the company in November 2007. Previously, he was senior VP and CFO for Dollar Tree Stores.

McLean, Va. -- McLean, Va.-based Cityline Partners said Monday it has introduced a plan for the long-term transformation of about 40 acres of land in Tysons Corner, Va., into an integrated mix of office, residential, hotel, retail, and civic uses surrounding an improved Scotts Run Stream Valley Park.

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penny Co. said Tuesday it has introduced a new logo, designed to symbolize the retailer’s transformation to a more updated and relevant destination.

The new logo emphasizes a new, lowercase “jcp” by positioning it slightly off-centered in a red box while still featuring the company's signature red color. It was designed by Luke Langhus, a third-year graphic design student at the University of Cincinnati.