Retail

New York -- J.C. Penney on Thursday shot back at reports that its sales were weak in the late August and early September back-to-school season and said it was pleased with the progress of its turnaround efforts.

The company said it still expected positive comparable-store sales trends coming out of the third quarter and throughout the fourth, adding that its online sales continue to rise in double-digits over last year.

New York -- Governor Jerry Brown of California on Wednesday signed a bill approving a $2 hike in the state’s minimum wage, with the increase to be rolled out during the next three years. The increase will make California's minimum wage the highest in the country.

The wage increase will go into effect in two separate $1 increments, going from the current minimum of $8 to $9 on July 1, 2014, and then to $10, on January 1, 2016.

Auburn, Ala. — Toomer’s Coffee Company and Auburn Rays have each leased 1,400 sq. ft. in Hamilton Place Shopping Center in Auburn, Ala., according to Pine Tree Commercial, which owns the property in partnership with Privet Investments LLC and Silverpeak Real Estate Partners.

The Shopping Center Group represented the landlord in the transaction.

Mobile commerce leader Shopgate has unveiled a new flexible pricing model that enables online merchants to set their own pricing for Shopgate's m-commerce solutions. 

The new pricing allows e-commerce stores to customize their minimum contract period, fees and mobile integration to conveniently enter a rapidly growing mobile shopping market.

Tewksbury, Mass. – DeMoulas Supermarkets Inc., operator of the Market Basket supermarket chain, has reportedly been allowed by a judge in Suffolk Superior Court in Massachusetts to continue making a $300 million payout to shareholders.

According to the Boston Globe, Judge Judith Fabricant denied a motion by Arthur T. DeMoulas, president of DeMoulas Supermarkets, to stop the payout, which had been approved by a majority of the company’s board of directors. All nine shareholders receiving the payout are members of the DeMoulas family.

Southeastern Grocers, parent company of Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie supermarkets, has filed a registration statement on a proposed initial public offering.  

The shares are expected to be offered by Southeastern Grocers, and the number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined.

Citigroup, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank Securities will act as representatives of the underwriters for the offering, and, together with William Blair and Wells Fargo Securities, will act as joint book-running managers for the offering. 

City of Commerce, Calif. – 99 Cents Only Stores, Inc. is opening two new stores in the Southwestern U.S. today. One is located in Arizona, and one in Texas.

99 Cents Only is opening its first store in Laveen, Ariz. at 3610 West Baseline Road. The store is approximately 11,685 sq. ft. and will feature a perishable food department, including produce, dairy and frozen foods.

Reston, Va. -- Online shoppers in the U.S. lead the world in customer satisfaction. According to the latest UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper report released in conjunction with comScore, Inc., shoppers in the U.S. are the most satisfied with online shopping experiences at 83%, while consumers in the Asia Pacific are least satisfied at only 50%.