Corporate Governance

Albertsons makes exec appointment
Albertsons Cos. on Monday appointed the president of its Jewel-Osco division, Mike Withers as executive VP, retail operations, Albertsons. Withers will lead the company's East Region operations, while current executive VP, retail operations Susan Morris will lead the West Region. Jim Perkins, executive VP, retail operations Special Projects, is focused on targeted initiatives to accelerate growth. All three executives will continue to report to Wayne Denningham, president and COO, ALbertsons.
Consumer confidence slips in April
April's consumer confidence metric didn't live up to the new benchmark established in March, when consumer confidence reached a 16-year high. This month, the Index declined to 120.3 from 124.9 in March.

Parent of Ugg brand considers sale

Deckers Brands announced on Tuesday is it reviewing strategic alternatives, including a possible sale. The decision comes as the company said it has made “significant progress” in streamlining its cost structure, optimizing its retail store fleet, and realigning its brands to improve profitability. Deckers portfolio includes the popular footwear brands Ugg and Teva.
Gander Mountain to get reprieve?

Bankrupt sporting goods retailer Gander Mountain may live to see another day. Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings Inc. is planning to bid for as many as 80% of Gander Mountain’s stores, Bloomberg reported. Gander Mountain filed for bankruptcy on March 10.
J. Crew cutting jobs as part of restructuring

J.Crew Group is in a reorganization mode as it look to better position itself for growth. The apparel retailer announced several strategic changes across its organization, including reducing headcount. Approximately 150 full-time and 100 open positions are being cut, mostly from corporate headquarters.
Two million-sq.-ft. project on board for North Carolina
Report: Amazon explores the value of self-driving vehicles

Always in search of more efficient, cheaper delivery methods, Amazon is exploring a new avenue. The online giant has created a think tank that is evaluating how driverless vehicles could improve package delivery speeds, according to NewsMax. The group, which is comprised of 12 members, began brainstorming on the initiative more than a year ago. However, the group is not designing a fleet of driverless vehicles.
Major expansion for Nevada outlet center

One does not live by bargains alone, and the latest outlet center to realize that and pick up its food and beverage game is The Outlets at Legends in Sparks, Nevada. RED Development announced that six new restaurants are slated to open at the center, including The Habit Burger Grill, Jersey Mike’s Subs, and Chick-Fil-A. A 75,000-sq.-ft. retail space expansion is also underway, led by a 40,000-sq.-ft. Burlington Coat Factory outlet with a planned opening in spring of 2018.
Despite merger uncertainly, Rite Aid beats Street in Q4

Rite Aid managed to best analyst forecasts for the fourth quarter even as its chairman and CEO noted that "the extended duration of the merger process" with Walgreens Boots Alliance is "having a negative impact" on the company's results. Rite Aid’s revenue rose a better-than-expected 2.7% to $8.5 billion in the quarter. Same-store sales fell 3.0%, consisting of a 4.3% decrease in pharmacy sales and a 0.3% decrease in front-end sales.
Study: Key decision makers look to AI for ongoing success

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly topping IT wish lists as a means of improving business decisions and providing personalization. That’s according to a new report from PwC, “Bot.Me: A Revolutionary Partnership.” The study, surveyed consumers and business decision makers on AI’s impact in the business world, the evolution of AI acceptance by consumers and AI’s changing role in addressing socioeconomic issues.
Eco-friendly retailer to open first of its kind home improvement store

A home improvement start-up with a green conscience is expanding out of its Austin, Texas, hometown. TreeHouse will open the nation’s first-ever net-zero energy store on June 1, at The Hill, a shopping center in Dallas. The store will be the retailer’s second location, but not for long. An additional store, planned for the Plano area, is due to open this fall.
Online fine jeweler continues offline growth

Ethically sourced bridal and fine jewelry retailer Brilliant Earth is expanding its brick-and-mortar footprint. The company has just opened a location in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C. The showroom utilizes an appointment model designed to provide a high-touch, personalized experience for every customer.