Supply Chain & Merchandising

Pelham Manor, N.Y. -- Dallas-based SRS Real Estate Partners said it has negotiated an 8,280-sq.-ft. lease for Five Below at Pelham Manor Shopping Center in Westchester County, N.Y.

The new store opened in April.

Amsterdam -- Dutch retailer Koninklijke Ahold N.V. reported Tuesday that profit for the first quarter increased 6% to $423.84 million, citing a 6% sales rise and lowered operating costs for the improved performance.

Ahold generates more than half its sales in the United States through its Stop & Shop, Giant Carlisle and Giant Landover banners. In the Netherlands, it operates under the Albert Heijn banner.

The company didn't give any guidance or detail on its growth strategy.
 

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Safeway said Tuesday it has signed a new $1.5 billion revolving credit agreement that replaces a $1.6 billion facility.

The new agreement is for four years, while the one it is replacing was set to mature on June 1, 2012.

Safeway said that its Canadian subsidiary can borrow up to $250 million from the new facility, which will be used for general corporate purposes.
 

NEW YORK — Phillips-Van Heusen announced that it has entered into a licensing agreement with Ram Pacific under which Ram Pacific will market and distribute apparel and accessories under PVH’s IZOD brand in Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The initial term of the license agreement runs through December 2015 and provides for a renewal at PVH’s option.

HINGHAM, Mass. — Talbots reported that first quarter income from continuing operations was $0.9 million, or 1 cent per share, compared with last year’s loss from continuing operations of $7.1 million, or 12 cents per share.

Dayton, Ohio -- A report by the Dayton Business Journal said that the Liz Claiborne distribution center in West Chester, Ohio, will close within the next year.

Liz Claiborne said it plans to close and sell the 900,000-sq.-ft. DC due to “changing business needs,” company spokeswoman Dana Stambaugh told the Journal.

As part of our ongoing coverage of RECon, the annual retail real estate convention conducted by the International Council of Shopping Centers and held May 22-25 in Las Vegas, Chain Store Age talked with Adam Ifshin, president and CEO of Tarrytown, N.Y.-based DLC Management Corp., to get his take – post-convention – about the state of the industry.

What are your key takeaways from RECon 2011?

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Boyd Clark was named SVP buying at Big 5 Sporting Goods following the resignation of long-time head merchant Thomas Schlauch, the company announced.