Discount Store

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Fred's total sales for the 53-week fiscal 2012 increased 4% to $2 billion from $1.9 billion for the same period last year. Comparable store sales increased 1.1%. Excluding the effect of the extra week in the current year, fiscal 2012 comparable store sales for the year decreased 1.4% from the year-earlier period. 

NEW YORK — Harris Interactive has revealed the brands that Americans rank highest in brand equity. Surveying more than 38,000 American consumers, it measures the level of quality, familiarity, and purchase consideration for each brand, and then awards "Brand of the Year" status to the top-ranked brand from each category.

Tampa, Fla. – Family Dollar Stores has signed a multi-year contract with Retail Sense, a marketing software company that accelerates retail and agile marketing processes. This new partnership includes the implementation of the latest release of IntelliSense marketing resource management solutions.
 

Nashville, Tenn. -- GBT Realty Corp. said Wednesday it has closed on the purchase of approximately 20 acres along Pooler Parkway in Pooler, Ga., for the development of the Village on Pooler Parkway. The development will consist of more than 143,000 sq. ft. when completed in the first quarter of 2014.
 

New York -- Five Below reported Wednesday that net income for the quarter ended Feb. 2 rose to $19.2 million, compared with $12.4 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue surged 38% to $173.6 million from $125.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. Same-store sales rose 4.4%.

For the full year, profit rose to $20 million from $16.1 million and revenue increased 41% to $418.8 million. The company said it expects to open 60 stores this year, including new markets in Texas, as well as adding units in existing markets.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. revealed in a Tuesday SEC filing that it will most likely incur a loss from bribery probes into its operations in Mexico and other countries.

According to the filing, Wal-Mart said it expects to incur costs beyond the $157 million it spent on the probes in 2013, but didn’t elaborate on the amount or the size of the potential loss.

Batavia, Ill. -- Survey results released Wednesday by Facebook marketing firm LoudDoor found that discount grocer Aldi USA ranked fifth on a list of the top 20 companies with the most loyal fans. No other grocery retailer was included on the list, which tracks every major brand on Facebook and how likely those brands' fans are to recommend them to friends or colleagues.

Other companies ranked in the top five include Google, Facebook and Walt Disney World.

New York -- Five Below reported Wednesday that net income for the quarter ended Feb. 2 rose to $19.2 million, compared with $12.4 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue surged 38% to $173.6 million from $125.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. Same-store sales rose 4.4%.

For the full year, profit rose to $20 million from $16.1 million and revenue increased 41% to $418.8 million. The company said it expects to open 60 stores this year, including new markets in Texas, as well as adding units in existing markets.