Discount Store

Jim Wade, who has 35 years of experience in retail, is the newest member of closeout retailer Tuesday Morning’s board of directors. Wade will be part of the board’s audit committee.

Chicago - Regency Centers Corporation is starting construction on a new 40,000-sq.-ft.Whole Foods Market. The new store, located 25 miles from downtown Chicago in Schererville, Ind., is projected to open in the fall of 2015, joining existing tenants Homegoods, Gordmans, Ross Dress for Less, DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse and many others.

Dallas -- Tuesday Morning Corp. has named Jim Wade, a 35-year retail veteran, as an independent member of the company's board of directors, effective immediately. He will serve on the company's Audit Committee.

Wade currently serves on the board of directors and Finance Committee for Advance Auto Parts Inc. He first joined Advance Auto Parts in 1994 as treasurer, and retired as president in 2011 with responsibilities including store operations and both the DIY and commercial businesses.  

New York - A majority of parents plan to spend more on their children's back-to-school shopping this year, driven by rising costs or necessity rather than greater spending power. According the Accenture Back-to-School Shopping Survey, which polled 500 U.S. parents of children entering kindergarten through college, nearly all (89%) plan to do most of their back-to-school shopping in a physical store, though many will still use online to browse and search, or "webrooming."

Chesapeake, Va. - In a merger that will shake up the dollar store retail vertical, Dollar Tree is acquiring Family Dollar for $8.5 billion in cash and stock. The resulting company will operate more than 13,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada, with an annual sales volume of $18 billion.

Fashionable new product assortments and innovative customers conveniences supported by clever marketing are being used by Sears and Kmart to entice parents and students this back-to-school season.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores announced that Bill Simon, president and CEO of Walmart U.S. since June 2010, is leaving the company. He will be replaced by Greg Foran, 53, president and CEO of Walmart Asia, who will take up the post on Aug. 9, reporting directly Wal-Mart president and CEO, Doug McMillon. Simon will be available on a consulting basis for the next six months to ensure a seamless transition.

Supervalu posted $5.23 billion in net sales for the first quarter, a decrease of 0.1% from $5.24 billion last year; but president and CEO Sam Duncan expressed confidence in the company’s performance, saying it is off to a solid start across business segments.

“Our first quarter results reflect the investments we are making this year to position the company for future success and I am pleased with our operating performance,” said Duncan.