Corporate Governance

Rite Aid posts year-end sales lift of 1.3%
Rite Aid on Thursday announced February sales results of its retail pharmacy segment. For the five weeks ended Feb. 27, total drugstore sales for the five-week period increased 0.1% with sales of $2.6 billion. Prescription sales accounted for 69.4% of drug store sales, and third-party prescription sales represented 98% of pharmacy sales.
Report: Walgreens Boots Alliance exploring retail pharmacy options in Australia
Walgreens Boots Alliance is exploring the possibility behind opening a retail pharmacy stake in Australia, The Sydney Morning Herald reported Friday. Though current government restrictions prevent corporate-owned pharmacies from setting up shop, that could change as "the government has commissioned an independent review of pharmacy regulations, which is due to report in March 2017," the paper reported.

Wegmans, Publix named 'Best Companies to Work For'

Both Wegmans and Publix were named to Fortune's 2016 top-100 list of "Best Companies to Work For," and both grocers - the only retail pharmacy operators on the list - have placed in the top 100 for the past 19 consecutive years.

Both Wegmans and Publix are two of 12 companies that have earned spots on Fortune's "Best Companies" list every year since the list began.
A&G Realty Partners to manage sale of 87 Sports Authority locations

A&G Realty Partners has been retained by The Sports Authority to manage the sale of retail store leases and assist in reducing the retailer’s occupancy costs following its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

A&G Realty is currently accepting bids on the leases, which range from 10,000 to 75,000 sq. ft. and are located in many of the major retail markets in the country including prestigious locations in California, Florida, Puerto Rico and Texas. The auction will take place in mid-April
Ross Dress for Less continues to expand

Ross Dress for Less announced three new stores, part of the retailer’s 2016 expansion program, which calls for 70 new locations.

Ross will open a new store and relocate a store in Mobile, Alabama on March 5. The new 25,000-sq.-ft. West Mobile store is located in Westwood Plaza, one mile east of the Mobile Regional Airport. The Mobile location is a 25,000-sq-ft. store that relocated into the McGowin Park East Shopping Center at the southeast corner of Interstate 65 and Highway 90.
Exclusive Content: Retail Gateways

While the phrase gateway markets can be a little bit nebulous – and different people have different ideas about the exact list of cities that qualify – the term is well understood to refer to large mature cities with a track record of population growth, great demographics and a strong and diverse economic foundation.
eBags rolls out new executives

Online specialty luggage retailer eBags Inc. has restructured its senior leadership ranks with several new hires and the promotion of long-time executives.

Scott Erdman has been named chief merchandising officer and Krista Paul is joining as VP of content innovation. eBags also appointed Mike Frazzini CTO and Chris Seahorn VP of marketing.
Kroger’s comp streak continues, cap-ex to surge

The lack of food price inflation which has affected the performance of many grocers had little impact on fourth quarter results at Kroger’s, a company whose string of quarterly same-store sales increases has now entered its 13th year.
Burlington Stores keeps hot streak going

Burlington Stores attracted large numbers of shoppers over the holiday season, as the off-price retailer reported a jump in sales and profit for the fourth quarter.

For the fourth quarter ended Jan. 30, the company said adjusted net income per share rose 26% to $2.31 vs. $1.83 in the prior year quarter.Revenue increased 3.5% to $1.55 billion. Same-store sales increased 2.1%.
Costco prevails during holidays

Costco’s profit fell short of analysts’ estimates at the mid-point in its fiscal year, but business trends were solid in the company’s second quarter with a 4% same store sales increase at U.S. locations.

The company said its total revenues for the period ended Feb. 14, which included the holidays, increased 2.6% to $28.2 billion. Merchandise and service sales increased 2.6% to $27.9 billion and membership fees increased 3.6% to $603 million.
Report: Walmart customer data possibly exposed

Personal information of some Walmart online pharmacy customers reportedly may have been visible online during a four-day period in February 2016.

According to Reuters, a coding mistake may have exposed basic information such as name, address, date of birth, and prescription history of fewer than 5,000 consumers. The error potentially allowed online Walmart pharmacy customers to view each other’s data if they were logged into their accounts at the same time. Social security numbers and full payment card or health insurance information were not visible.
Sports Authority to close stores as online sales hurt business

The Sports Authority on Wednesday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and said it plans to close or sell as many as 140 of its 463 stores nationwide. The beleaguered company has struggled in recent years under increased competition not only from online players, but also from the likes of Dick’s Sporting Goods and specialty retailers such as Lululemon that have capitalized on the “athleisure” boom in fitness apparel.