Events

Washington, D.C. -- Organized retail crime should not be an issue solely addressed at the store level, according to the results of the National Retail Federation’s seventh annual Organized Retail Crime survey. More than half of retailers (49.6%) say they have been a victim of cargo theft in the past 12 months.

New York City -- Borders Group has reached agreements with its landlords to extend the leases on 11 stores it had previously asked a bankruptucy court to shutter, the Associated Press reported.

Last week, the chain asked permission to start liquidating 51 stores because of a condition for its financing. But it said at the time it was actively working to keep them open.

Washington, D.C.  -- Atlanta, Chicago and Dallas were identified as the cities most problematic with regard to organized retail crime (ORC) rings, according to the National Retail Federation’s seventh annual Organized Retail Crime survey. Of the 129 retail companies, 94.5% reported having been the victim of organized retail crime in the past 12 months, up 6% over last year.

The cities most problematic for ORC rings were:

Alexandria, Va. -- A poll from the Society of Human Resource Management, released Thursday, showed that the number of U.S. organizations with a formal succession plan in place decreased during the past five years from 29% in 2006 to 23% in 2011.

While less than a quarter of businesses have a formal plan in place, the numbers improve when informal plans are considered. More than one-third, or 38%, of human resources professionals said their organization currently has an informal succession plan or process in place (up from 29% in 2006).

Walmart executive were said to be among a group of major retailers who met with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday to discuss the elimination of the city’s “food deserts,” essentially areas where roughly 450,000 residents don’t have convenient access to fresh food.

According to an AP report, representatives from Walmart, Walgreen, Aldi and three other chains who were not identified met with Emanuel who reportedly showed a detailed map of the city’s food deserts and made an appeal for projects in specific areas.

Neptune Beach, Fla. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased restaurant space in Neptune Beach, Fla., at Seminole Shoppes to Smashburger.

Smashburger has leased 2,100 sq. ft., bringing the center to 96% leased. The restaurant is slated to open for business in fall 2011 and is the first store location for the franchise chain in the Jacksonville area.

The 78,240-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by Publix Super Market.

Houston -- Men's Wearhouse announced Wednesday that Douglas S. Ewert has officially succeeded founder George Zimmer as the company’s president and CEO.

The announcement was made at the retailer’s Annual Shareholder Meeting. As previously announced, Zimmer will continue as executive chairman of the board of directors.