eCommerce

The CEO of Toys “R” Us sounded an upbeat note on Thursday amid results that showed the chain cut its full-year net loss by more than half in fiscal 2015, and improved its adjusted earnings by 25%.

Women’s apparel specialist Christopher & Banks saw its online sales surge in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to keep the company from posting an even bigger operating loss than it did the prior year.

Chain Store Age recently spoke with Daphne Carmeli, CEO of Deliv, to get her perspective on what’s going on in the rapidly growing online delivery space.

What is driving growing consumer interest in online delivery?
We’ve got a bunch of players in the industry who are aggregating inventory in a simple, flexible and cost-effective way for last-mile fulfillment. Companies like Amazon and Google are resetting customer expectations of what’s possible.

Whole Foods Market and online delivery service Instacart have big plans to make it easier for consumers nationwide to receive home deliveries from the nation’s leading retailer of natural and organic products.
 

Whole Foods Market has chosen a fast-casual vegan eatery as the first partner in its “Friends of 365” program to allow like-minded, innovative businesses to establish their own independent retail spaces in 365 by Whole Foods Market stores.

The retailer announced that by Chloe will be part of the first 365 location, which is scheduled to open in late May in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles. It will be the plant-based vegan brand’s first location outside of New York City.

Irvine, Calif. -- Irvine Company has announced it will begin a transformation $30-million reinvestment in Woodbridge Village Center located in Irvine, California. The redevelopment of the center includes upgrading the retail, dining and entertainment mix to complement longtime favorites, freshen the architecture for a coastal California feel, and create an expansive outdoor setting for dining, relaxing and community gatherings that overlooks North Lake.

The CEO of 1-800-Flowers.com is stepping down, but leadership of the 40-year-old company is staying in the family.

The company announced that effective June 30, Jim McCann, founder, chairman and CEO, will transition to the position of executive chairman and Chris McCann, president and Jim McCann's brother, will become CEO. The company says the announcement coincides with the 40th anniversary of the company’s founding and is an integral part of its long-term succession plan.

Amazon will be promoting its growing portfolio of original content available to Prime members on 20,000 movies screens after reaching a multi-year agreement with National CineMedia.