Supply Chain & Merchandising

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.

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.

New York -- Ann Inc.'s fiscal first-quarter net income increased a better-than-expected 5%, boosted by growing sales at its Loft division. The chain, which also operates Ann Taylor, said Friday that it earned $28.7 million in the three months through April 28, up from $27.3 million a year earlier.

Canton, Mass. -- First-quarter net income dropped 45% at Casual Male Retail Group Inc., hurt by a higher tax rate. The chain’s tax rate jumped to 40.4% from 10.1% due to the reversal of a valuation allowance in fiscal 2011.

The retailer reported Friday that it earned $2.3 million for the three months ended April 28. That's down from $4.2 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue edged up slightly to $95.9 million from $95.8 million on better sales at its DXL and Casual Male XL stores and more money spent per customer.

Grapevine, Texas -- GameStop said Thursday that net income for the quarter ended April 28 slid to $72.5 million, from $80.4 million in the same period last year, negatively impacted by weakened demand in the video game market.

Sales for the quarter declined 12.2% to $2 billion, compared with $2.28 billion in the prior year quarter. As previously announced, same-store sales dropped 12.5%.
 

Sam Club president and CEO Ros Brewer on Thursday named Charles Redfield as Sam’s newest EVP merchandising to replace Linda Hefner who will relocate to Chicago, according to an internal announcement.

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%.

St. Louis -- Discount grocer Save-A-Lot, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Supervalu, opened its first store in Atlantic City, N.J., on May 17, becoming the first full-service grocery store within a 21-mile radius of the city.