Strategy

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples reported Thursday that profit for the third quarter rose 7% as the office supply retailer clamped down on expenses. Net income increased to $288.7 million, from $269.4 million.

Revenue edged up to $6.54 billion from $6.52 billion. Analysts expected $6.53 billion.

Natick, Mass. -- BJ’s Wholesale Club plans to raise its annual membership fees by $5, to $50, and invest the increased revenues in store remodels.

The fee increase, which will start in January, is the company’s first since 2006. BJ’s said it would generate about $20 million in new revenue, including an expectation that renewals would decrease 1% to 1.5% as a result of the hike.
 

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. reported Thursday that its loss for the quarter ended Oct. 31 widened to $218 million, compared with a loss of $127 million in the year-ago period. The loss was more than analysts expected as margins fell and sales dropped, especially at the company's namesake stores.

"While Kmart improved profitability, our third-quarter results were disappointing, in large part due to lower sales of apparel and appliances at Sears," said interim CEO W. Bruce Johnson.

New York City -- New York & Co. said Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Oct. 30 was $1.9 million, compared with a per-share loss 11 cents in the year-ago period.

Net sales were $238.2 million in the quarter, up from $227.9 million a year earlier. Same-store sales rose 3.6%.

New York & Co. currently operates 579 stores in 43 states.

Closing the lid on a local Jack in the Box

Near my Baton Rouge, La., neighborhood is a Jack in the Box fast-food restaurant that, from all cursory indications, had appeared to be surviving the recession.