Discount Store

New York -- 99 Cents Only Stores named Christopher Laurence as the company's interim CFO, treasurer and secretary. Laurence replaces Frank Schools, who resigned to pursue other opportunities.

Laurence most recently was CEO of ThreeSixty Group, a product development and sourcing company for consumer product brands and retailers.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. – Dollar General Corp. has opened its 12th distribution center in Bethel, Pennsylvania. Dollar General announced plans to build the 930,000-sq.-ft. facility in 2012 and broke ground on the facility in fall 2012 with Kinsley Construction.

Columbus, Ohio – Expenses related to exiting its Canadian operations substantially reduced net earnings for Big Lots Inc. in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. Compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2013, net income fell 90% to $3.35 million from $32.33 million.

Net sales rose 1% to $1.28 billion, from $1.27 billion. Same-store sales rose 0.9%. Big Lots forecasts same-store sales growth of 1%-3% in the second quarter of fiscal 2014, and 1%-2% in the full fiscal year.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- Keep it simple — that’s secret to Dollar General's success Rick Dreiling, chairman and CEO of the 75-year-old company said at its shareholders annual meeting.

"Simple neighborhood stores, simple, frequently-needed items and everyday low prices," he said. "For 75 years, [Dollar General has focused] on helping low- and middle-income families save money and save time by offering quality, basic merchandise at affordable prices in convenient, small-box neighborhood stores."

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores announced the promotion of Shelley Broader, currently president and CEO of Walmart Canada, to executive VP, president and CEO of Walmart EMEA, effective June 1. In her new role, she will lead Walmart's retail operations and oversee business development in Europe, the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa and Canada and will report directly to David Cheesewright, president and CEO, Walmart International.

Exiting Canada may have taken a bite out of Big Lots’ profits in the first quarter, but the company still saw net and comparable-store sales increase.

Net sales for the quarter increased 1.1% to $1.28 billion, compared to net sales from continuing U.S. operations of $1.26 billion for the same period last year. Comparable-store sales for stores open at least 15 months increased 0.9% for the quarter.

South Plainfield, N.J. — Advance Auto Parts has signed an 11,382-sq.-ft. lease at Oak Park Commons in South Plainfield, New Jersey, bringing the center’s occupancy rate up to 95%. Charter Realty & Development co-brokered the transaction with NJ Commercial Realty.

The auto parts retailer will be joining Dollar Tree, A&P, McDonalds, CVS, Subway, GNC, Wells Fargo, Goodyear, RadioShack, and H & R Block.

Walmart Canada president and CEO Shelley Broader’s responsibilities have been significantly expanded to include oversight of Europe and Africa.

Broader was named EVP, president and CEO of Walmart EMEA, a region Walmart defines as including Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa.