Supply Chain & Merchandising

SEATTLE — David's Bridal, a retailer of wedding attire and other nuptial-related items, has signed on to use Mercent's Retail software platform.

David’s Bridal is utilizing Mercent Retail to increase online sales, revenue and profits across Amazon.com and high growth comparison shopping engines, Mercent said.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. reported Thursday a loss of $132 million for the second quarter, tightened from a loss of $146 million in the year-ago period. Sales dropped 6.6% to $9.47 billion and same-store sales declined as well, by 2.9% at U.S. Sears stores and by 4.7% at its Kmart units.

Camp Hill, Pa. — Rite Aid posted a 0.4% increase in same-store sales for the month of August.

The increase included a 2.4% increase in front-end comps and a 0.6% decrease in pharmacy comps.

Total store sales for the five-week period that ended Saturday were $2.406 billion, a 0.4% decrease from last year's $2.414 billion. Same-store prescription count increased by 4.5%.
 

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Wednesday announced that it plans to file a registration statement in the United States for a potential initial public offering of a minority ownership stake in Blackhawk Network Holdings, a leading prepaid payments network.

Same store sales increased 5.1% at Dollar General during the second quarter and the company remains on track to open more than 600 new stores this year.

Sales increased 10.4% to $3.95 billion during the second quarter ended August 3, thanks to the combination of same store sales growth and the addition of new stores. Net income increased 47% to $214 million in the second quarter compared to $146 million the prior year and earnings per share increased 52% 64 cents, inline with analysts’ consensus estimated, compared to 42 cents the prior year.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- Dollar General Corp. on Wednesday said it had earned a better-than-expected $214.1 million in the second quarter, ended on Aug. 3, up from $146 million a year earlier. The discounter also raised its earnings forecast for the year.

STILLWATER, Minn. — Supervalu banner Cub Foods, KSTP-TV, MOM Brands, Dr Pepper Snapple Group and Dean Foods on Tuesday announced a partnership to sponsor the Hunger Action Month food drive under the banner "Give a Little, Feed a Lot" during September at all Cub Foods stores in Minnesota.

PHILADELPHIA — Former A.C. Moore CFO, David Stern, will join Pep Boys as EVP, CFO, effective Sept. 10, where he will oversee the finance function, as well as technology and corporate development.