Distribution

J.Jill Group is looking at a return to the public markets.   The apparel retailer, which is owned by private-equity firm TowerBrook Capital Partners LP, announced that it has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to a proposed initial public offering of its common stock. TowerBrook acquired J.Jill from Arcapita and Golden Gate Capital in 2015. The chain was previously owned by The Talbots.    

Dollar General isn’t boasting when it calls itself one of America’s fastest-growing retailers.    The extreme-value discounter will open 1,000 stores and two distribution centers in 2017, resulting    In the creation of approximately 10,000 new jobs. The announcement comes as Dollar General is testing a new, smaller-store format under a new banner.   

The Kroger Co. has acquired a New York City-based retailer of specialty cheeses and meats.   The supermarket giant has purchased Murray's Cheese, which was founded in 1940. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.    Kroger also bought the three Greenwich Village retail condominium units that house Murray’s home base. The five-story, 22,000-sq-ft. building, which is also home to a bakery, was owned by Murray’s Cheese.    

To tap growing global demand among shoppers in Australia and New Zealand, Alibaba opened its new international office in Melbourne.   On Saturday, Feb. 4, the e-commerce giant opened its new headquarters as a means of extending its reach — and product availability — to shoppers across the two countries, Reuters reported.   

The Wet Seal has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time in a little over two years.   The move comes after the struggling teen apparel retailer said it planned to close all its stores after it was unable to find a buyer or fresh capital.  The company’s website is still selling merchandise, with all goods discounted.     

PriceSmart is ready to break ground on its newest locations.    The warehouse club retailer has acquired approximately 242,000 sq. ft. of land in Santa Ana, Costa Rica — the home of its newest warehouse club set to open in the fall. This will be the chain’s seventh club operating in Costa Rica.  

Dollar General is setting records with its upcoming employment search.   With plans to open 1,000 new stores and two new state-of-the-art distribution centers this year, the chain is preparing to fill approximately 10,000 new jobs — about a 9% overall increase to its workforce.    The hiring spree marks the largest one-year employee increase through organic store and distribution center growth in the company’s 78-year history, the chain said.  

Neil Saunders, managing director of retail research and consulting firm GlobalData Retail (formerly known as Conlumino) analyzes Ralph Lauren Corp.’s third quarter results and the news that CEO Stefan Larsson is leaving the company after a little over a year on the job. His comments are as follows: