Mass Merchant

York, Pa. -- Following recent news that Bon-Ton Stores president and CEO Bud Bergren would be stepping down and succeed by former Lord & Taylor CEO Brendan Hoffman, the retailer said Tuesday that, effective Feb. 7, Bergen will become chairman of the board.

Hoffman will become a director of the company. Former executive chairman, who recently resigned that title, will remain on the board as strategic initiatives officer.

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. — Ahead of the toy industry's annual convention this February, The NPD Group has reported that U.S. retail sales of toys generated $21.18 billion in 2011 compared with $21.68 billion in 2010, a decline of 2%. 

FORT WORTH, Texas — RadioShack announced that preliminary net sales and operating revenues for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2011 increased approximately 6% to $1.39 billion compared with $1.31 billion for the fourth quarter last year. Comparable-store sales for company-operated stores increased approximately 2% during the 2011 fourth quarter.

The company said it expects diluted earnings per share for the 2011 fourth quarter to be in the range of 11 cents to 13 cents, compared with 51 cents per diluted share reported in the 2010 fourth quarter.

Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. -- Redbox Automated Retail, a division of Coinstar, announced Tuesday it has renewed its agreement with Walmart to continue featuring Redbox kiosks at more than 3,700 Walmart locations nationwide.

The agreement extends the availability of Redbox kiosks and builds upon the companies' more than five-year relationship, said Redbox.

The first Redbox kiosks were installed in Walmart stores in 2006.
 

North Plainfield, N.J. -- A survey released Monday by Levin Management Corp., which polled retailers within its 12.5 million-sq.-ft. shopping center portfolio in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York, found a general feeling of post-holiday optimism.

YORK, Pa. — The Bon-Ton Stores announced Tuesday that its board of directors has elected president and CEO Bud Bergren to the additional role of chairman of the board. The board has also accepted Tim Grumbacher’s resignation as executive chairman of the board. Grumbacher remains a director of the company and was named strategic initiatives officer. Additionally, Brendan Hoffman, recently appointed as president and CEO of the company effective Feb. 7, was elected a director of the company. The actions of the board were taken on Jan.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — The TJX Companies announced Tuesday that Scott Goldenberg has been promoted to CFO, retaining his EVP title, effective Jan. 29, the beginning of TJX’s fiscal year. Goldenberg will oversee corporate finance for TJX and continue to report to Jeffrey Naylor who had resumed the CFO position in 2009. Naylor will continue as senior EVP, chief administrative officer and also have responsibility for other corporate functions, including Information technology, legal, risk management, and investor relations.

Washington, D.C. -- The International Council of Shopping Centers announced Tuesday the launch of a new website devoted to sales tax fairness and how the current sales tax system is unable to support the 21st Century retail marketplace.

The site, 21stcenturyretail.org, will be continuously updated to provide the public, stakeholders, the media and lawmakers with information on the online sales tax loophole and resources to help level the playing field for all retailers, according to ICSC.