Strategy

Chelmsford, Mass. -- Kronos announced the December release of the Kronos Retail Labor Index, analyzing the relationship between the demand and supply sides of the labor market within the U.S. retail sector.

The December report, which includes data for November 2010, showed that the Index increased significantly to 3.8%, a 28% increase over last month’s figure of 3.0%.  (A level of 3.0% means that for every 100 applications received, three hirings occurred.)

Vancouver, British Columbia -- Yoga apparel retailer and manufacturer Lululemon athletica reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Oct. 31 rose to $25.7 million, compared with $14.1 million in the year-ago period.

Net revenue surged 56% to $175.8 million, from $112.9 million. Same-store sales increased 29%.

The company operates 134 stores in North America and Australia.

Yamaguchi City, Japan -- Fast Retailing Co. said Friday it aims to open at least 200 Uniqlo stores in the U.S. by 2020.

Asia’s largest clothing chain said it seeks to raise sales sixfold in a decade.

“The United States is one of the most important markets for us,” Shin Odake, CEO of Uniqlo’s U.S. unit, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. “We want to become the number one retailer in the world.”

Nashville, Tenn. -- Genesco reported on Friday a criminal intrusion into the portion of its computer network that processes payment card transactions for its U.S. Journeys stores, Journeys Kidz, Shi by Journeys and Johnston & Murphy stores, and for some of its Underground Station stores.

The retailer announced that it took immediate steps to secure the affected part of its network and said it believes the intrusion has been contained.

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners announced that it has hired two new brokers in its Houston office.

Jennifer Paulson and Carter Malone recently joined the company as associates. The new hires come on the heels of a strategic move to grow the company’s local presence in Houston.
 

Mobile, Ala. -- Centro Properties Group announced that Marshalls has opened a 26,000-sq.-ft. store at Springdale Mall, located in Mobile, Ala.

New York City-based Centro Properties Group is the owner of Springdale Mall.

Santa Ana, Calif. -- Grubb & Ellis Co. announced that Susan E. Calvert and Joe I. Munoz have joined the company’s Lease Administration group.

Calvert, who joins as manager, Lease Administration, spent two years as a real estate administrator with SRS Real Estate Partners, where she was responsible for commercial portfolios spanning approximately 350 locations. Munoz, who will also serve on the lease administration team, spent seven years with SRS Real Estate Partners, ultimately rising to the position of lead real estate administrator. 

Montvale, N.J. -- A report Friday said that Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. may file for bankruptcy in the coming days to restructure debt.

Citing unnamed sources, Bloomberg reported that a filing to reorganize under court protection may come as soon as this weekend. A&P hired law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP to represent it in negotiations with creditors and in any Chapter 11 proceeding, according to the report.