Supermarket/Grocery

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — When people are working -- whether at a small business or large corporation -- they need office supplies, so when a company such as Staples delivers a retail sales increase for the fourth quarter, it is good sign that the economy is improving.

New York City -- Costco Wholesale Corp. posted a bigger-than-expected rise in quarterly profit on Wednesday. Rising gasoline prices had a positive impact on sales at Costco, which prices its fuel below nearby stations.

Net income in the quarter ended Feb. 12 rose 13% to $394 million, from $348 million a year earlier.

Sales rose 10% to $22.51 billion. Same-store sales rose 8%, better than analysts had expected. 

NEW YORK — After more than a year since it first filed Chapter 11, A&P has won approval to exit bankruptcy. The company announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in White Plains, N.Y., has approved its reorganization plan, which includes $490 million in debt and equity financing from Ron Burkle's Yucaipa Cos. 

New York City -- The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in White Plains, N.Y., approved the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co.’s plan to exit bankruptcy plan. The supermarket company filed Chapter 11 in December 2010.

The reorganization plan includes $490 million in debt and equity financing from Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa Cos.

Boston -- Nearly 40% of smartphone-carrying shoppers abandon their in-store purchases due to long lines and 21% will abandon their purchases if there are no registers open, according to a survey sponsored by in-store commerce provider AisleBuyer.

Target for the first time this year was named to the annual listing of America’s Top Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises compiled by the organization Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

Roseville, Calif. -- Revionics, a provider of retail life cycle price optimization solutions, announced that Big Y Foods has renewed its price optimization software agreement with Revionics.

Big Y leverages the solution for its base price planning and optimization throughout all of its supermarkets.

Salisbury, N.C. -- Bottom Dollar Food announced plans to open eight additional stores in New Jersey. The expansion will more than double the number of Bottom Dollar Food stores in the Garden State, with the first two stores opening March 2.

"We have been pleased with customer reaction to our current five stores in New Jersey and we are very excited to continue serving customers at our additional locations in the market," said Bottom Dollar Food president Meg Ham.