Corporate Governance

Memphis -- Fred’s, Inc. reported a slight boost in total sales for the first three months of fiscal 2013 compared to the same period last year – an increase from $500.5 million to $501.4 million. However, comparable store sales during the period decreased 1.3%, compared to a 0.3% drop a year earlier.

Total sales for the four weeks ending May 4 rose 3% from $147.6 million to $152.2 million. Comparable store sales for the month increased 1.2% compared with a decline of 0.3% in the same period last year.

OMAHA, Neb. — Sergeant's Pet Care Products, an Omaha, Neb.-based manufacturer of pet products, engaged shoppers while promoting good oral hygiene for pets with its national Sentry Petrodex Superstar Smiles photo contest, sponsored by the company’s Sentry Petrodex dental brand.

Three-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever Flash took the top prize.

By Nicholas J. Percoco, Trustwave

Recently, National Security Agency Director Gen. Keith Alexander told Congress that he would be establishing teams for a new cyber command unit. Gen. Alexander said the DoD would use the cyber teams for offensive measures only. This is sure to be the start of a long and interesting hearings on Capitol Hill, but businesses do not, and should not, have to wait before they start to protect themselves from cyber criminals.

New York -- Ikea has officially plugged-in the solar energy system installed at its store in Stoughton, Mass. The 118,000-sq.-ft. array consists of a 590.8-kW (DC) system, built with 4,220 laminated panels. It will produce approximately 695,000 kWh of clean electricity annually, the equivalent of reducing 479 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), eliminating the emissions of 94 cars or powering 60 homes yearly (calculating clean energy equivalents).  

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WESTBORO, Mass. — Modell’s has selected Micros-Retail, a leading provider of retail technology for the specialty and general merchandise retail industry, to help it improve customer experience, modernize IT for the stores and streamline day-to-day functions.