Rutter's

Holiday procrastinators may have saved retailers this year.       A jump in consumer spending in the final home stretch helped to offset a slow start to the U.S. holiday shopping season, and is likely to help many retailers beat sales forecasts, Reuters reported.    

Lidl has made bold moves this week in preparation of its upcoming United States launch.   The company has acquired the site of an industrial building in Philadelphia’s Port Richmond neighborhood, which could be the chain’s first location in Philadelphia, according to philly.com.   

A new billion dollar merger is reported about to rock the supermarket industry.   Albertsons Companies Inc. is in advanced talks to acquire Price Chopper, a privately held, New York-based regional grocery store operator, for around $1 billion, Reuters reported. Price Chopper operates some 130 stores in the Northeast, including New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.   

A lawsuit dating back to 2008 has ended in a federal jury handing down a $55 million verdict against Walmart, and opening up the retailer to penalties.   The jury found that Walmart failed to pay about 850 of its truck drivers in California all of the compensation to which they were entitled, Reuters reported.   

J. Crew Group is reportedly considering options for its popular Madewell brand, which it launched in 2006.   According to Reuters, the retailer, which has struggled with slumping sales in its namesake division, is working with investment bank Lazard Ltd. to assess multiple strategic and balance sheet options for Madewell, which operates some 108 stores.  

J. Jill Group Inc. is moving forward with plans for an initial public offering.   The Quincy, Massachusetts-based retailer has tapped Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and Jefferies Group LLC as underwriters for a possible initial public offering, Reuters reported.     

Several companies have reportedly expressed interest in acquiring the debt-laden American Apparel.   Brand licensors Authentic Brands Group and Iconix Brand Group are among the companies eying the chain, Reuters reported.   

Dick’s Sporting Goods has cast its eye on another bankrupt sports retailer and former competitor.   In June, Dick’s acquired the intellectual property of the bankrupt Sports Authority. Dick’s is now preparing a bid for the U.S. business of Golfsmith International Holdings Inc., according to Reuters.      In making a bid, Dick’s is going up against an offer by Worldwide Golf Shops, according to the report.     

Supervalu has found a buyer for its discount grocery business, Save-A-Lot.   Supervalu agreed to sell Save-A-Lot to Onex Corporation, a Toronto-based private equity firm, for $1.365 billion in cash. As part of the agreement, Supervalu will provide professional services to Save-A-Lot for five years.     The sale is expected to be completed by January 31, 2017, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.    

Walmart is upping some managers’ salaries in anticipation of the Department of Labor’s new overtime rule, scheduled to take effect Dec. 1, 2016.     The retailer, the nation’s private employer, raised salaries for entry-level managers from $45,000 to $48,500 annually, Reuters reported, with the increase going into effect in September. Under the new rule, employers are required to pay overtime to salaried workers earning less than $47,500 a year. The current threshold is $23,660 a year.