Discount Store

Waban, Mass. – Publix, Aldi and H-E-B share something besides all operating in the grocery sector. Based on a study of 10,000 U.S consumers, the three supermarket chains earned the highest scores in the 2015 Temkin Experience Ratings that ranks 293 companies across 20 industries.

Joining those firms in the top 12 spots are retailers Chick-fil-A, PetSmart, Amazon.com, Trader Joe's, Papa John's, Walgreens, and Hannaford's.

Stage Stores' approach to operating department stores in small to mid-sized towns enabled the company to grow holiday season sales and profits faster than some of its big city rivals.

The company’s 853 departments stores, operating under the banners of Bealls, Goody’s, Palais Royal, Peebles and Stage, grew sales 6.6% to $525 million and profits from continuing operations increased 35% to $43.7 million during the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31. Same store sales increased 6.4% and the company’s e-commerce business grew 30%.

Shrewsbury, N.J. -- Cost Plus World Market, a division of Bed, Bath & Beyond, has secured a new 15,000-sq.-ft. space at 490 Broad Street, Shrewsbury, New Jersey. It is the retailer’s second store in the New Jersey area (Monmouth County), having opened its first Northeast store in July 2014 at 530 W. Mt. Pleasant Avenue in Livingston, New Jersey (Essex County).  

Matthews, N.C. – Howard Levine, CEO of Family Dollar Stores Inc., intends to reduce his holdings of company stock for the second time in a month. In an SEC filing, Levine said he will sell up to two million shares of Family Dollar stock in an effort to diversify his portfolio.

In February 2015, Levine sold about 1.77 million shares of Family Dollar stock for $134.5 million. Family Dollar is in the process of being acquired by Dollar Tree Inc.

Portland, Ore. -- X Team International announced that Oregon-based partner New & Neville has been retained by CAPREF Lloyd Center, LLC as the broker for leasing of the Lloyd Center during and following its renovation.

Regional discount retailer Shopko will experience its most dramatic growth in many years later this month when its Hometown stores division takes over locations from the now defunct Alco Stores chain.

Green Bay, Wis. -- Shopko on Monday announced plans to open 20 new Shopko Hometown stores in late March. The company recently acquired the rights to occupy the 20 stores, with locations primarily in Texas, North Dakota, Kansas and Minnesota, which were previously operated by Alco Stores.

The conversion to the Hometown banner will include a mix of new interior and exterior signage, carpet, paint, updated and supplement fixtures and lighting, improved store design and layout, as well as an expanded merchandise mix.

New York -- Nike will open its first clearance store location in New York City at The Shops at Sky View Center in Flushing, New York.

The 15,000-sq.-ft. Nike Factory Store is slated to open April 2 on Level B of the 700,000-sq.-ft. shopping destination.