Distribution

Canton, Mass. -- Casual Male Retail Group said Thursday it swung to a profit of $0.3 million in the third quarter, compared with a loss of $1.4 million a year earlier.

Total sales edged up 1.4% to $89.9 million, and same-store sales increased 3%.

San Francisco -- Continuing its global expansion, Gap announced a franchise agreement to introduce its namesake Gap brand in South America. The first Gap store is expected to open in Santiago, Chile, in the Parque Arauco mall, in September 2011.

Gap has signed a franchise agreement with Komax, for exclusive rights to operate Gap brand stores in Chile. Komax will purchase merchandise from Gap and must adhere to the company’s quality standards.

Topeka, Kan. -- Collective Brands, parent company to Payless ShoeSource and Stride Rite, said Tuesday it is planning to take its Stride Rite children’s shoe brand to mainland China next year.

According to Bloomberg, the company is teaming up with Li & Fung Retailing and will also open stores in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore starting in December, according to Matthew Rubel, CEO of Collective Brands.

New Albany, Ohio -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. on Tuesday reported a profit of $50 million for the quarter ended Oct. 30, compared with $38.8 million in the year-ago period. Its results were helped by improving sales in the United States and international revenue.

Sales rose 18% to $886 million, matching Wall Street expectations. Same-store sales increased 7%. By division, same-store sales rose 8% at namesake stores, 2% at Abercrombie kids stores and 7% at surf-themed Hollister stores.

Brussels, Belgium -- Delhaize Group announced on Monday that AllianceBernstein LP lifted its voting stake in the food retailer to 5.04%.

The New York asset manager, a member of France's AXA group, now holds 5.11 million Delhaize shares, compared with 3.73 million as of Oct. 5, Delhaize reported.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. said Thursday that its Kmart division has launched an in-store pickup program for online purchases this holiday season.

Kmart customers who buy items online can pick up their purchases on the same day at more than 600 locations. Customers can now buy items through the Kmart2go mobile website or smartphone applications and select in-store pickup. The apps also can be used in-store for product information.