Retail

Tyler, Texas -- Brookshire Grocery Co. recently became one of a select number of grocery retailers nation-wide to join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill partnership, which works with supermarkets to reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their impact on the ozone layer and climate change.

New York -- Richard Schulze, founder of Best Buy Co., may abandon a buyout bid and instead line up investors to take a minority position in the electronics retailer, Reuters reported.
 
Schulze informed the Best Buy board in August that he was interested in partnering with private equity partners to buy the struggling consumer electronics company. But he has been unable to get enough support from banks to finance a deal that would allow him to take it private, the report said.

Charlotte, N.C. -- Belk has named Dorlisa Flur to the newly created position of EVP omni-channel, reporting to John Belk, president and chief operating officer.

Flur joins Belk after eight years at Family Dollar Stores, most recently as vice chair, strategy and chief administrative officer. Prior roles included chief merchandising officer and the EVP strategy and marketing. Prior to Family Dollar Stores, Flur spent her professional career at management consulting firm McKinsey and Company.

Check out the video of The Little Bookworm, Chongqing, China, which uses a colorful design (by Pompei A.D.) to engage and entertain shoppers.

 Click here.

Ridgefield, Conn. -- Schimenti Construction has added new employees to their staff.

“Our recent growth, and our planning for the future, has resulted in the need to expand our team of construction professionals,” stated Matthew Schimenti, company president.
 
The company has hired Edward Sheeran, project manager; Ryan Lumpuy, superintendent; and Kevin Hanley, estimating coordinator.

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market Inc. reported that its first-quarter net income rose 24% to $146 million, exceeding expectations, on stronger revenue. But the grocer narrowed its revenue forecast and said its earnings growth may slow through the remainder of the year amid higher store-opening costs and plans to increase its selection of lower-priced products.

Total sales increased nearly 14% to $3.86 billion for the 16-week period that ended Jan. 20. Same-store sales were up 7.2% for the quarter.

New York -- Coach Inc. said that its longtime CEO, Lew Frankfort, will step down in January 2014. He will be succeeded by Victor Luis, head of Coach’s international operations, at which point Frankfort will become executive chairman. Coach named Luis president and chief commercial officer in the interim and said he will also join the board.