Legislative, Regulatory & Legal

An incentive program is in the works in California that would make it easier for food retailers to prevent harmful refrigerant emissions. If approved, the Refrigerant Incentive Program will be the beginning of the end of supermarkets’ struggles with endless refrigerant phase outs, regulations, and government refrigerant dictates.

Where Does the Money Come From?

Market uncertainty around the world is taking a toll on retail CFOs confidence in the future.

That’s according to a new BDO U.S.A. survey in which retail CFOs predict a 3.4% increase in total sales for 2016. It’s the second consecutive year that the total store sales projection has dipped since the spike to 5.1% in 2014.

In addition, a notable decline in the number of CFOs expecting consumer confidence to increase this year was also revealed, which dropped nearly 50% year over year.

Walmart is the target of a lawsuit that could provide an answer to the quesition as to whether anti-gay discrimination is a form of sex discrimination, according to Bloomberg. If a settlement isn’t reached in the case, which goes to mediation on Feb. 22, it will go to trial in federal court in Massachusetts.

Cincinnati -- Phillips Edison & Company it has appointed Theresa (“Terry”) Shea as VP, assistant general counsel. In her new role, Shea will work closely with the general counsel to provide legal advice to the Company concerning all aspects of its business.

Women’s apparel retailer Joyce Leslie is calling it a day.

The company announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Court for a sale of its intellectual property and retail store leases, along with the lease of its corporate office and distribution center.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) is publicly supporting what it calls “e-fairness” legislation that would extend the reach of state sales taxes to online transactions.

Under present regulations, a state can only charge a sales tax on an Internet sale conducted by an entity that has some type of physical presence in that state.

Retail industry sales will grow an estimated 3.1% in 2016, outpacing the 10 year industry average, as economic headwinds diminish, according to a forecast released by the National Retail Federation.

The NRF sales forecast of 3.1% excludes automobiles, gas stations and restaurants and exceeds the 10 year growth rate of 2.7%. Non-store retail sales are forecast to growth between 6% and 9%.

Staples secured approval of its acquisition of Office Depot from European regulators after agreeing to numerous concessions. Now similar actions may be required if the company is to win over a stubborn U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Staples said it received approval from the European Union to acquire Office Depot, highlighted a range of actions it took to alleviate the regulator’s competitive concerns and used the action to take a jab at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).