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Starbucks: Record Q3 prompts increased store openings
Seattle -- Starbucks Corp. reported Thursday that it scored record results in the quarter ended July 3, prompting the retailer to accelerate its 2012 new store opening targets to 800 net new stores globally.
Starbucks grew profits 34% in the third quarter, to $279 million from $208 million in the year-ago period. Sales rose 12% to $2.9 billion from $2.6 billion, topping Wall Street estimates.
Same-store sales globally surged 8%, buoyed by a 6% increase in traffic and a 2% increase in average ticket.
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Williams-Sonoma to open U.K. stores
London -- A Friday report by the United Kingdom’s The Independent newspaper said that San Francisco-based Williams-Sonoma is planning a U.K. launch in 2012.
The report said that the company has appointed a U.K. retail property agent and plans to open its first store in the first half of next year.
Plans call for a London debut and the report said the retailer is seeking 5,000-sq.-ft. to 8,000-sq.-ft. spaces.