Corporate Governance

New York -- U.S. retailers' June sales suggest overall consumer spending is improving, even though lower-end shoppers are holding back on nonessential purchases. Same-store sales increased 3.9% in June compared to the year-ago period, according to a preliminary tally of 12 retailers by the International Council of Shopping Centers. The association had expected a 3% to 3.5% increase.

Fresno, Calif. -- Three former Target employees have filed suit against Target Corp., alleging that the retailer discriminated against them for being Hispanic.

The trio, which filed the suit on June 24 in Yolo County, Calif., cited a training document that reminded Target store managers that not all Hispanics eat tacos and burritos, dance to salsa or wear sombreros. They also alleged that Woodland, Calif., warehouse workers used racial slurs when addressing Hispanic workers.
   

Boston -- A report by the Boston Globe revealed that the fate of Market Basket CEO Arthur T. Demoulas lies in the hands of the grocery chain’s board of directors, as members are posted to fire Demoulas at a meeting of the board next week.

A longtime family feud has split the board in two, and both sides of the family-owned Demoulas Super Markets Inc. will face off in a meeting on Thursday, July 18, to determine whether or not Demoulas will be removed from office.

Evansville, Ind. -- Value-priced footwear retailer Shoe Carnival will grand-open 12 stores in 11 different cities in July, bringing its store count to 367 stores in 32 states and Puerto Rico.

“We are excited to be growing rapidly across the country,” said Todd Beurman, senior VP marketing. New stores will open in: Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago; Lansing, Mich.; St. Louis; Greenville, N.C.; Cincinnati; Atlanta; Phoenix; Louisville, Ky.; and Grand Rapids, Mich.
 

Altoona, Pa. -- Sheetz Convenience Restaurants said it broke ground Thursday on a new distribution and production center in Burlington, N.C.

The 44-acre site will include a Sheetz Bros. kitchen bakery, distribution and warehousing center for the Sheetz distribution fleet, and also will provide space for various other corporate support departments.

Brussels, Belgium -- Belgian grocer Delhaize Group said that it has reached an agreement to sell 25 Maxi, Mini Maxi, and Tempo stores in Montenegro to Expo Commerce.

The transaction is slated to close in the fourth quarter, and Delhaize and Expo will enter into a franchise agreement to maintain the Maxi, Mini Maxi and Tempo names.

Los Angeles -- Online shopping content provider PriceGrabber announced it has appointed Jeff Goldstein as its president, charged with leading the new division of CPL Holdings that was created from a management-led buy-out from Experian.

Jeff Goldstein previously was managing partner at BGT Capital, an investment and advisory firm focused on the digital media and ecommerce sectors where he advised CPL Holdings.

New York -- Walmart said it was walking away from its plans to build three stores in Washington, D.C., after the city council passed a bill on late Wednesday setting a higher minimum wage for large retailers.

”This was a difficult decision for us — and unfortunate news for most D.C. residents — but the Council has forced our hand,”  said Wal-Mart spokesman Steven Restivo in a statement released after vote, which passed 8 to 5.

New York -- Uniqlo is expanding its U.S. footprint. The Japanese apparel retailer, a division of Fast Company, will open 10 more U.S. stores this fall, in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and California.
 
The new locations, all in shopping centers, will bring the brand’s presence in the United States to a total of 17 sites.

The 10 new Uniqlo locations include:

Dallas – Alliance Data Systems Corporation will provide private label credit card services for the US brands of Zale’s and acquire the existing card portfolio at a future date. In addition to providing private label credit card services for each Zale brand in the U.S., Alliance Data will provide turnkey credit marketing services to all Zale brands, including omni-channel and mobile services and technologies.