Supply Chain & Merchandising

Hingham, Mass. -- Talbots said Friday that Sycamore Partners had walked away from negotiations over a proposed $215 million buyout of the retailer. The company, which also reported first quarter results, said it was exploring other strategic alternatives.

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market has named Scott Allshouse, Omar Gaye and Rob Twyman as regional presidents following the promotion of David Lannon and Kenneth Meyer to executive VPs of operations.

Allshouse fills Meyer's former role as president of the company's Mid-Atlantic Region. He moves from his position as president of the South Region.

Gaye takes the South Region president position vacated by Allshouse, moving from his position as the South Region's VP.

Chicago -- A new report by Jones Lang LaSalle found that with 92% of retailers selling online, 68% maintaining brick-and-mortar stores, and 64% utilizing catalogs, retailers are embracing a multichannel approach to meet buyer expectations and battle for market share.

New York -- The Los Angeles City Council voted 13-1 to ban plastic bags at supermarket checkouts, becoming the largest city in the nation to approve such a law.

The council voted to phase out plastic bags during the next 16 months at an estimated 7,500 stores, meaning shoppers will need to bring reusable bags or purchase paper bags for 10 cents each.

New York -- Ashley Furniture Industries Inc. plans to open about 50 bedding stores, under the Zzz's By Ashley banner, in 2012, according to Furniture Today. The sleep shops will average about 4,500 sq. ft. each, and will offer a wide selection of mattresses and sleep accessories.

“I think we can open several thousand in the next 10 years,” Ben Thorud, the Ashley executive who is heading the new initiative, told Furniture Today.

Issaquah, Wash. -- Costco Wholesale Corp. reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended May 6 surged 19% to $386 million, from $324 million in the same period last year.

Revenue rose 8% to $22.3 billion from $20.6 billion, beating Wall Street’s expected $22.1 billion in revenue. Same-store sales increased 5%.

The company said it plans to open six additional warehouse clubs before the end of fiscal 2012.
 

I’ve read a few thought-provoking articles recently about the state of the retail real estate marketplace that make the observation that A malls are generally doing better while B malls are continuing to tread water—or even beginning to fade away. Once again, I have to disagree on the B malls.

Indianapolis -- Simon Property Group, along with Calloway REIT and SmartCentres, have announced plans to develop their second Premium Outlet Center in Canada. 

The center will be located in the Town of Mirabel, Quebec, approximately 20 miles north of Montreal.  The project, called Montreal Premium Outlets, is a joint venture between Simon, Calloway and SmartCentres. Simon will own 50% of the project.