Supply Chain & Merchandising

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores reported Tuesday that earnings for the quarter ended Jan. 31 jumped 27% as its international stores posted strong results. In the United States, however, the retailer posted its seventh straight quarterly sales decline, falling short of its own projections for the holiday period.

Fort Myers, Fla. -- Chico's FAS announced Tuesday that it has appointed Kent A. Kleeberger to the position of executive VP, COO. 

Kleeberger will replace Jeffrey A. Jones, who is retiring from the company effective March 7. Jones will serve as part-time consultant to the company during a transition period.

Kleeberger, 58, has served as executive VP-finance and CFO of Chico's FAS since joining the company in November 2007. Previously, he was senior VP and CFO for Dollar Tree Stores.

ST. LOUIS — Save-A-Lot on Monday announced that it was expanding its reach by opening five new stores in the Chicago market.

Save-A-Lot, the hard-discount, limited-assortment grocery retailer and subsidiary of Supervalu, would nearly double its presence in the area, bringing the total Chicagoland stores to 13. The five stores, located in Chicago's South Side, range in size from 11,000 to 21,000 sq. ft.

New York City -- Barnes & Noble reported Tuesday that net income for the quarter ended Jan. 29 decreased 24.7% to $60.6 million, from $80.4 million a year earlier. Although the chain returned to profitability after three straight quarters in the red, its increase in revenue was lower than expected.

Overall sales were up 6.9% to $2.3 billion. Same-store sales at its namesake stores rose 7.3%; same-store sales at its college bookstore chain dropped 2.2%.

Cincinnati -- Macy’s reported Tuesday that net income jumped 50% in the fourth quarter ended Jan. 29, and projected its full-year profit would meet Wall Street expectations.

After a strong holiday season, the retailer earned $667 million in the fourth quarter, compared with $445 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 5% to $8.27 billion, just missing analysts’ average forecast for $8.28 billion. Same-store sales increased 4.3%.

Providence, R.I. -- DijiPOP, a leading provider of on-demand digital shopper marketing technology solutions, announced that Walmart Canada has selected the company to power the digital shelf space monetization efforts of its rapidly growing Walmart.ca online property.

As a complement to Walmart Canada’s current advertiser program, DiJiPOP’s technology will integrate deeply with Walmart Canada’s existing proprietary vendor portal, allowing Walmart.ca vendors to reserve premium shelf space.

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Office Depot said Tuesday that it narrowed its loss in the quarter ended Dec. 25 to $58 million, compared with a loss of $77 million in the year-ago period.

Total sales dropped 3% to $3 billion. Sales in the North American Retail division dipped 2% to $1.2 billion; same-store sales decreased 1%. During the quarter, Office Depot closed six stores, opened three and relocated four stores in North America.

Mexico City -- Wal-Mart de Mexico SA reported Tuesday that profit for the fourth quarter increased 14%, citing newly acquired stores in Central America for the improved performance.

The Mexican unit of Wal-Mart Stores said that net income rose to $539 million in the fourth quarter, up from $474 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 25% to $8.3 billion. 

Walmex recently acquired stores in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.