Retail

New York -- Ann Inc., parent of Ann Taylor and Loft, said Friday that its fourth-quarter profit rose to a better-than-expected $2.37 million from $2.18 million a year earlier.

Sales rose 7.2% to $607.7 million. Total company store- sales for the quarter decreased 0.7%. By brand, same-store sales increased 1.4% across the Ann Taylor brand and fell 2.1% across the Loft brand.

New York -- Leslie Dach, EVP corporate affairs for Wal-Mart Stores, will step down in June. The retailer, which announced the news in a memo to employees, said it is actively searching for a replacement. The news was first reported by Politico.

"Leslie has played a pivotal role in helping us understand the broader role Walmart can play in meeting the major challenges facing society today, and social goals are now an integral part of how we run our business," Wal-Mart chief executive Mike Duke in the memo.

Arlington, Va. -- Sustainability teams in retail companies are growing, and reporting levels are gaining seniority, according to a new survey by the Retail Industry Leaders Association.

The report, RILA’s second Retail Sustainability Report, was done in sponsorship with Ernst & Young, The survey uncovered six significant trends, specifically that:

1. Sustainability teams are growing. Most companies surveyed have full-time sustainability teams. Teams are growing, and reporting levels are gaining seniority.

Selden, N.Y. -- Brixmor Property Group said that Blink Fitness and LeMarc’s Hallmark Shop recently opened at College Plaza, located in Selden, N.Y.

Blink Fitness opened a 15,416-sq.-ft. facility and Hallmark opened in 4,044 sq. ft.

Brixmor, based in New York City, owns and operates College Plaza.

Ewing, N.J. -- North Plainfield, N.J.-based Levin Management Corp. said Wednesday that Dollar Tree will open a store at Capitol Plaza, located in Ewing, N.J. The 13,810-sq.-ft. store is slated to open in the spring.
 
As well, a newly expanded Center for Allied Health & Nursing Education will celebrate its grand reopening at Capitol Plaza in March. The nursing school will be renamed Jersey College School of Nursing; it tripled its space to 30,000 sq. ft. in the shopping center, which is leased and managed by Levin.
 

Dallas -- Cypress Equities said Wednesday that Sleep Experts has signed a lease to occupy the remaining portion of the company’s development that currently houses Freebirds World Burrito at the northeast corner of West Seventh Street and Foch Street in Fort Worth, Texas.

The 3,035-sq.-ft. store is expected to open in May and marks the third in Fort Worth.

Virginia Beach, Va. -- Divaris Real Estate announced Wednesday that six new stores totaling 57,434 sq. ft. will open at the company’s Pembroke Mall property, located in Virginia Beach, Va.

City of Industry, Calif. -- Hot Topic announced it has agreed to be acquired by New York-based private equity firm Sycamore Partners for $14.00 per share in cash, or a total of approximately $600 million.

The agreement, unanimously approved by Hot Topic’s board of directors, represents a premium of approximately 30% over Hot Topic’s closing stock price on March 6, 2013.