Corporate Governance

The Estée Lauder Companies achieved record net sales and reported overall strong financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30.

For the year, the company achieved record net sales of $10.97 billion, an 8% increase compared with $10.18 billion in the prior year. Even excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, net sales still increased 8%.

BJ's Wholesale Club plans to partner with 215 schools through the organization's Adopt-A-School program. At the beginning of each school year, every BJ's Wholesale Club and Distribution Center partners with a local school to help enhance existing curriculum.

Supervalu has suffered a data breach that may have resulted in theft of customer payment card data. The stolen information may include account numbers, and in some cases also the expiration date, other numerical information and/or the cardholder’s name.

Wet Seal is partnering with girl group Fifth Harmony for a new collection of clothes that will be rolled out over the next three seasons.

The line will feature styles modeled on each member of the five-piece group, which formed in 2012 during the second season of “The X Factor.” Basing different pieces of the collection on each member of Fifth Element means a diversity that will range from grunge looks to more dressy styles.

Dr Pepper Snapple Group met or exceeded several of its corporate social responsibility goals over the past year, according to the 2014 report the company released Friday.
 
One of the goals it reports meeting was reducing its use of PET, a polymer used in beverage bottles. DPS conserved about 60.7 million pounds since 2007 by redesigning packaging and upgrading almost 70,000 older-model coolers and vending machines.

Nike has appointed a new VP and GM of its stores and its women’s line. Heidi O’Neill will work with Nike stores, and Amy Montagne has been placed with NIKE Women’s.
 
“These two appointments demonstrate our commitment to investing in our retail experience and our women’s business – two of our most strategic growth opportunities,” Nike brand president Trevor Edwards said. “We’re delighted to elevate two seasoned Nike leaders in these important roles.”
 

Los Angeles - The Canadian market offers an opportunity for U.S. retailers to expand and to gain experience operating in an international market. According to a new study from market research firm IbisWorld, the U.S. retail segment best suited for expansion into Canada is department stores, followed by men’s clothing stores.

Seattle -- Just two weeks after announcing its $350-million acquisition of men’s personalized clothing service Trunk Club, Nordstrom Inc. reported second-quarter earnings and sales in line with Wall Street projections.

Profit for the quarter was flat at $183 million, and sales climbed 6.2% to $3.3 billion, from $3.1 billion last year. Same-store sales rose a respectable 3.3%.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Following Walgreens' announcement last week about taking the next step in acquiring Alliance Boots, Alex Gourlay, executive VP Walgreens Boots Alliance and president of Walgreens, announced a proposed operational organization structure in a letter to Walgreens employees.
 

Plano, Texas – Pizza Hut Inc. is deploying energy management systems from Entouch Controls at 500 corporate stores. The company plans to recommend the Entouch technology to its 5,800 franchised stores, as well.