Sales & Marketing

Lake Success, N.Y. -- Excess Space Retail Services said it is celebrating its 20-year anniversary this year. The real estate consulting and advisory firm, which specializes in surplus real estate disposition and lease restructuring for retailers, was founded by president and CEO Michael Wiener in May 1992 and currently has offices in Lake Success, N.Y., and Huntington Beach, Calif.

Highlights of its 20 years in the industry include more than 16,000 retail stores successfully disposed and more than 7,000 retail leases effectively restructured.

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets on Thursday announced it has begun the construction of an environmentally innovative 65,000-sq.-ft. superstore in Fogelsville, Pa.

When construction is completed, the store is expected to achieve U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification for measurably reducing or mitigating its environmental impact for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, material selection and indoor environmental quality.

Milford, Conn. -- Sandwich mega-chain Subway said Friday that it has set 2012 development goals of 1,200 North American locations and, toward that end, said a large contingent of company representatives will be in attendance at the International Council of Shopping Centers’ RECon event in Las Vegas, May 20-23.

Puyallup, Wash. -- Youngstown, Ohio-based Cafaro Co. said that Panera Bread will open a new bakery-café at its South Hill Mall property in Puyallup, Wash.

The new Panera Bread, slated to open this fall, will occupy a 4,300-sq.-ft. building recently vacated by Krispy Kreme.

The 1 million-sq.-ft. South Hill Mall is anchored by Target, Macy’s, J.C. Penney, Sears and Regal Cinemas, and features 120 specialty shops.
 

NEW YORK — JCPenney executives laid out further details of their strategy going forward during the chain’s quarterly conference call with investors. The call followed the release of JCPenney’s first quarter results, when it reported a worse-then-expected loss of $163 million, and a 19% drop in same-store sales.

JCPenney said it would launch a new private label apparel brand, jcp, for both men and women. The brand is set to debut in August.

New York -- Foot Locker's first-quarter profit rose 36%, exceeding Wall Street predictions. For the quarter ended April 28, the company earned $128 million, up from $94 million in the same quarter last year.

"2012 has gotten off to an outstanding start, with our first quarter results representing the highest level of quarterly earnings in the company's history," said chairman and CEO Ken Hicks.

Sales rose 8.7% to $1.58 billion from $1.45 billion. Same-store sales increased 9.7%.

PORTLAND, Ore. and SEATTLE — Safeway has launched its Just for U online and mobile shopping tool in its Oregon and Washington divisions. Customers in these areas will now be able receive targeted savings to their Safeway Club card by signing up for free online at Safeway.com or accessing Just for U through the new Safeway Mobile App for iPhone or Android.

Nashville, Tenn. -- Kirkland's first-quarter profit dropped 38% amid promotions and price cuts. The company also issued disappointing predictions for the current quarter and full year.

Kirkland’s said it earned $2 million for the quarter ended April 28, down from $3.2 million last year.

Sales rose 3.6% to $97.8 million from $94.4 million. Same-store sales edged down 1.2%.

The home décor chain said it increased marketing to counter a drop in sales.