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Emeryville, Calif. -- Extreme-value grocer Grocery Outlet announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by affiliates of Hellman & Friedman LLC along with Grocery Outlet’s senior management team from its principal owner, Berkshire Partners LLC. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Every holiday season is filled with uncertainty, and this year is no different, except when it comes to e-commerce, where the only unknown is the size of the sales increase.

La-Z-Boy has appointed Aaron Thomas Brown as VP, strategy and analytics, a newly created position. Brown will report to Kurt Darrow, La-Z-Boy's chairman, president and CEO, and will spearhead strategic planning across the enterprise.

By Christoph Stehmann, Pitney Bowes

Imagine that it’s a breezy Friday morning and tonight is your nephew’s birthday party. It’s completely slipped your mind, and there just isn’t time in your day to go shopping. However, you’re not stricken with panic, because this solution is routine. You go online, find the hottest toy, and hit Amazon Prime Air. You quickly hop in the shower, scarf down a breakfast, and on your way out the door, a small “Octocopter” is touching down on your doorstep to save your day.

York, Pa. - The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. will close its Carson’s Fox Valley Furniture Gallery in the Heritage Square Shopping Center in Naperville, Illinois. The company will not renew its lease, which terminates Jan. 31, 2015.

Canton, Mass. – Dunkin’ Donuts is continuing its development across India with its master franchisee, Jubilant FoodWorks, where it's on track to meet its previously announced development target of 500 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in the long-term. Since signing its master franchise agreement with Jubilant FoodWorks in 2011, 36 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants have been opened in 12 cities across India, including its newest location, which opened Sept. 11 in the South Indian city of Bangalore.  

Philadelphia – Five Below Inc.’s profit  more than doubled to $8.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014, from $4.1 million in the same period last year. Its results beat expectations. The chain issued a third-quarter earnings estimate slightly below Wall Street views, while increasing its full-year sales and earnings guidance.

Revenue in the quarter increased 30% to $152.5 million. Same-store sales increased by 3.2%.

Walmart released its top toy list for 2014 the same day Toys “R” Us unveiled holiday strategies at its flagship store in New York.