Retail

Cincinnati -- Macy’s reported a series of new initiatives in its multi-year strategic program to enhance environmental sustainability, including a plan to begin replacing fluorescent fixtures in its store with LEDs.

Macy’s has announced a series of new initiatives in its multi-year strategic program to enhance environmental sustainability. They are consistent with the company’s sustainability principles first adopted in 2008 and implemented with increasing intensity during the past six years.

Results through 2013 include a 38% reduction in the company’s electricity usage since 2002 and a 95% adoption rate of recycled or certified paper used in the company’s marketing materials.

Oak Brook, Ill. — Inland Real Estate Income Trust announced the acquisition of the 86,800-sq-ft. Pick ‘n Save Shopping Center in West Bend, Wisconsin. Lou Quilici, senior VP of IREIT Business Manager & Advisor, Inc., assisted Matthew Tice, VP of Inland Real Estate Acquisitions in the purchase of the property.

Pleasanton, Calif. – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is investigating how Safeway Inc. reports and keeps records on the theft and loss of controlled substances. In a regulatory filing, Safeway said it received a subpoena from the DEA to look into its controlled substance practices.

Footwear maker Crocs is undergoing a major restructuring that includes closing stores and job cutbacks.

The plan comes on the heels of the company's disappointing second-quarter earnings results. Earlier this month, Crocs reported that second-quarter profit fell 44% to $19.7 million.

Seattle – Starbucks is opening three new stores in Hanoi, Vietnam. The stores will add to Starbucks’ established Vietnam presence of eight stores in Ho Chi Minh City.

Starbucks opened the first of the three stores on July 23. All three will be located near shopping malls or office buildings. Starbucks is not publicly saying how many stores in Vietnam it ultimately plans to open. The company first entered the Vietnamese market in 2013.

FreshDirect has tapped longtime public employee Larry Scott Blackmon as the grocery delivery company’s VP, community and government affairs.  
 
In his new position, Blackmon will work to build and expand the company’s community partnerships — especially in New York City’s Bronx borough, where FreshDirect is relocating its office.
 

Bogota, Colombia – Colombian coffee retailer Juan Valdez has opened the first of 60 planned stores in Miami, with official grand opening scheduled for July 28. The downtown location is the first Juan Valdez store in Miami besides an existing store at Miami International Airport.