Distribution

The CEO of Foot Locker credits the company's revised strategic framework with single digit sales gains and double digit earnings gains in the fourth quarter.

For the period ended Jan. 30, Foot Locker reported net Income of $1.14 per share, a 13% increase from the prior year quarter. Earnings per share were $1.16, 16% above last year. Same-store sales increased 7.9%.

Minneapolis -- CBRE’s Capital Markets Investment Properties Group announced it has arranged the sale of White Bear Marketplace, located in St. Paul Minnesota, on behalf of its client, Oppidan Investment Company. CBRE’s SVP Jim Leary and senior associate Jeff Budish represented Oppidan Investment Company in the transaction.

Online delivery service provider Instacart has hired a veteran of a company known for extreme efficiency to take charge of its operations.

Mike Swartz, a retail veteran whose career notably includes a nine-year stint as director of operational excellence at Amazon.com from 1998-2007, is the new senior VP of operations for Instacart. Since Amazon, Swartz’ experience includes four years as senior VP of operations for specialty hair care e-commerce company Folica Inc. and four years as an independent consultant.

Off-price giant The TJX Companies attracted record numbers of bargain-hungry shoppers during the holiday period as the retailer reported record sales and profit sales for the fourth quarter.

For the period ended Jan. 30, net sales at TJX Cos. increased 8% to $8.96 billion, and same-store sales increased 6%.

Net income rose 2.8% to $666.5 million and diluted earnings per share were 99 cents, a 6% increase over the prior year’s 93 cents. Both income and sales exceeded expectations.

DSW has a robust store expansion plan in the works to tap future penetration within the U.S. market this year.

"New store growth is an important and exciting piece of the DSW formula. It allows us to bring the brand to more communities and build relationships with new customers. More stores also enable us to provide additional customers with immediate access to our full assortment. We look forward to engaging with these new customers and helping them find the perfect shoe at the prefect price," said Valara Gee, VP Stores

Discount grocer Aldi will make its long-awaited California debut on March 24, with the opening of eight Southland stores. But that’s just the beginning of the company’s expansion plans for the market.

In all, Aldi plans to open approximately 45 stores in Southern California by the end of 2016. The opening of Aldi in California is part of the company's five-year strategic plan to open 650 new stores across the nation. By the end of 2018, the grocer expects to operate nearly 2,000 stores.

Retailers who are looking to provide a genuine omnichannel customer experience can take one crucial step to help themselves.

According to a new study of more than 300 global retail CEOs, including 100 U.S. CEOs, from enterprise retail technology provider JDA Software Group Inc. and PwC, operational silos are a key inhibitor to delivering an integrated, seamless experience. Only 18% of CEOs said they have eliminated operational silos and are delivering seamless omnichannel shopping experiences for their customers.