Corporate Governance

Costa Mesa, Calif. — Uniqlo is expanding into Southern California. The Japanese apparel retailer will open its first stores in the region this fall, at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles and South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.

Uniqlo announced announced it will an additional location in Northern California, at the Sunvalley Shopping Center in Concord. Also in the works: a store at Stamford Town Center, Stamford, Conn.
 
The retailer, owned by Japanese holding company Fast Retailing Co., currently has 17 stores in the United States.

Sunbury, Pa. — Weiss Markets named Jonathan Weis as president and CEO. Weis, 46, will also retain his role as vice chairman of the chain.

Weis has been serving as the company’s interim CEO since David Hepfinger departed in September. He is the son of Robert F. Weis, who remains chairman of Weis Markets.


 

New York — Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten Inc. will buy messaging app provider Viber Media Inc. for $900 million. Rakuten, which is also a major investor in Pinterest and owner of U.S. online retailer Play.com, seeks to use Viber as a platform for both mobile shopping and content consumption, according to the Associated Press.

Rakuten offers services from financing to shopping to online video on its e-commerce platform, the largest in Japan.

Dallas — Davaco, a provider of high-volume programs and implementation services for global brands, announced that the company’s Canadian offices have relocated to a new space in Woodbridge, Ontario.

Effective immediately, Davaco Canada will operate its divisional office at 100 Marycroft Avenue, Unit # 4, Woodbridge, Ontario, L4L 5Y5.

According to founder/CEO Rick Davis, DAVACO’s new office space provides enhancements that further support its clients’ brand initiatives in Canada.

Cheshunt, U.K. — Major British supermarket chain Tesco plc has reportedly been the victim of a data breach. According to CNBC, hackers have gained access to the personal data of more than 2,000 Tesco customers and posted it online.

Pittsburgh — GNC Holdings Inc. reported positive financial performance during the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2013. For the quarter, net income slightly rose to $47.7 million from $47.4 million in the same period the prior year.

In addition, the chain reported consolidated revenue of $613.7 million for the quarter, an increase of 8.6% from $565 million from the year-ago period. Same-store sales increased 5% in domestic corporate stores and 3.3% in domestic franchise stores.

St. Louis — Build-A-Bear Workshop swing to a profit in the fourth quarter as net income rose to $5.4 million, compared to a loss of $36.5 million a year earlier.

Consolidated net retail sales for the quarter totaled $106.3 million, while operating 28 fewer stores at quarter’s end compared to $116.1 million in the year ago period.

Same-store sales decreased 2.2%, including a 2.8% decline in North America and a 0.1% decline in Europe.

Seattle — Starbucks Coffee Company is opening its first store in Brunei, the company’s 64th global market, and its 100th store in Singapore, which will give people with autism the opportunity for employment and skills.

Stellarton, Canada — Sobey’s Inc. has entered binding purchase and sale agreements with Overwaitea Food Group and Federated Co-operatives Limited that will see Sobeys sell 22 of the 23 stores it is required to divest as part of its consent agreement with the Competition Bureau related to its purchase of Canada Safeway.

 In addition, Sobeys has signed a binding letter of intent with Federated for the sale of its Price Chopper location in Winnipeg, which the company is also required to divest as part of its October consent agreement.

Dallas — The Container Store Group Inc. has launched its Employee First Fund, an employee assistance fund that will provide grants to employees experiencing unforeseen emergencies, a major medical situation, are suffering from a catastrophic event, or facing other challenges in life which they are not financially prepared to handle. The Container Store is contributing $100,000 to kick-off the fund, and after that, employees and other stakeholders have the opportunity to make donations.