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Brentwood, Tenn. -- Tractor Supply Co. reported an 11% rise in profit for the quarter ended March 29, to $48.8 million from $44 million last year.

Revenue rose 9% to $1.18 billion, and same-store sales increased 2.2% versus a 0.5% increase in the prior year period.

For the full year, the company said it expects capital expenditures to range between $240 million and $250 million, including spending to support 102 to 106 new store openings and construction of the new Store Support Center to open in 2014.

New York - The eight-day run up to Easter 2014 fell shy of the previous year’s comparable period by 9.3% in traffic and 8.9% in sales. According to data from retail analytics provider RetailNext, there was a 1.2- percentage-point improvement in conversion, which helped generate a sales decline that was less than the traffic decline.

Minneapolis – SuperValu Inc. swung to a profit in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 from a net loss in the fourth quarter of the prior fiscal year. Net earnings were a better-than-expected $26 million, compared to a net loss of $1.41 billion a year earlier.

In addition, net sales rose 1.4% to $3.95 billion from $3.9 billion and same-store sales increased 3.5%. The substantial improvement in profits partially resulted from a significant decrease in charges and costs.

Waban, Mass. - The percentage of large organizations that have reached the two highest levels of customer experience maturity has grown from 6% in 2013 to 10% this year. During the same period, the percentage of companies in the lowest level of maturity has dropped from 40% to 31%, according to a new report from Temkin Group, “The State of Customer Experience Management 2014.”

Other findings include:

Innovation can take many forms and in the case of Reynolds Bakeware that form is a new oval pan designed specifically for baking fish.

Not that fish couldn’t be baked in one of the brand’s various other square or rectangular shaped disposable pans, but the new oval model is purpose built for fish and part of the new Bakeware line introduced last year.

Procter & Gamble’s third-quarter results met expectations, and the company says that it remains on track to deliver top- and bottom-line growth objectives for the fiscal year.

Net sales for the quarter remained flat at $20.6 billion, including a negative three-percentage point impact from foreign exchange. P&G delivered organic sales growth of 3% for the quarter.

The ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative is a partnership between Ann Inc., parent company of Ann Taylor and Loft, and Vital Voices Global Partnership to empower young women from across the U.S. with the leadership skills they need to affect global progress, invest in their communities and begin their journeys as the next generation of leaders.  

Plano, Texas – Rent-A-Center Inc. reported declining net earnings for first quarter 2014, even as revenues slightly grew. The company said it plans to optimize its U.S. store footprint by consolidating about 150 stores into existing stores by the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2014.

Net earnings fell 37% to $28.9 million from $46.1 million, while total revenues increased 1.8% to $833.7 million from $819.3 million. Same-store sales dropped 0.8%.

Atlanta - InReality, a customer experience strategy and design firm, is offering a retail customer experience measurement tool called Reality Gap Analysis. Reality Gap Analysis delivers a quantifiable assessment of the gaps between a brand's self-perception and a customer's reality.

Atlanta — JLL has announced the closing of the sale of Market Square at Montrose on behalf of LaSalle Investment Management to HP Realty LLC. Purchased for $32.5 million, the 510,231-sq.-ft. retail center hosts anchors Home Depot, J.C. Penney, Levin Furniture, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Regal Cinemas, Toys “R” Us and Cost Plus World Market.

“Akron and similar cities are back in favor with investors,” commented Kris Cooper, a JLL managing director.