Events

WAYNE, N.J. — The "Hunger Games" craze is making its way through the retail industry, with Toys"R"Us being the latest to try and cash in on the popular franchise.

Bergen, N.J. -- Vitamin Shoppe Inc. reported Tuesday that net income for the second quarter surged 38.8% to $16.6 million, compared with $12 million in the year-ago period and marking the third straight quarter of profit increases.

Revenue rose 13.4% to $245 million, beating Wall Street’s expected $241.8 million in revenue.

The company said it is on track to open 52 stores in fiscal 2012.

Charlottesville, Va. -- Columbia, S.C.-based Edens said that Trader Joe’s is among the anchor tenants of its new Shops at Stonefield development, under construction in Charlottesville, Va.

The Shops at Stonefield will begin opening stores and restaurants in November 2012. Tenants include Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Langford Market and Trader Joe's. Edens said it is also working with local retailer Blue Ridge Mountain Sports on a new flagship store.

MINNEAPOLIS — "Hunger Game" fans will hope the "odds be ever in their favor" to get their hands on special collection keepsakes and an exclusive three-disc version of the blockbuster film. These premium items range from $349 to $999 – Target’s first-ever licensed product offering at this price point – and will be introduced one per day beginning on Aug. 18 to coincide with the DVD release.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- CBL & Associates Properties announced that construction has started  on The Crossings at Marshalls Creek, a 103,000-sq.-ft. shopping center development in Stroudsburg (Middle Smithfield), Pa.

The shopping center will be anchored by Price Chopper grocery, Rite Aid, STS Tire and Auto Centers and Family Dollar and will feature approximately 22,000 sq. ft. of stores and restaurants. The grand opening is scheduled for June 2013.
 

And the award for the world’s largest in-store display goes to Procter & Gamble for an Olympic themed creation the consumer products company dropped in the aisle of a Walmart store in American Canyon, Calif.

Chelmsford, Mass. -- The Kronos Retail Labor Index edged down one-tenth to 4.2% in July, reflecting declines in both hires and applications. (The index is defined as the ratio of hires to applications within a given month, expressed as a percentage. A level of 3.0 means that for every 100 applications received, three hires occurred.)

NEW YORK — Many retailers reported better-than-expected results in July as warm weather and clearance sales drew shoppers into stores. Thomson Reuters reported that three-quarters of retailers reported results beat expectations. Costco Wholesale Corp., Target Corp., Limited Brands and Gap Inc. all reported gains above expectations.