Business Analytics

One investor wants Barnes & Noble to embark on a new chapter — with a new owner.   Activist investor Sandell Asset Management issued a letter to Barnes & Noble’s board of directors on Tuesday, urging the company to sell itself. The firm believes a sale would not only improve the value of the brand, but protect itself against a volatile marketplace that continues to take a toll on sales.   

Subway is more accurately planning new locations.   The fast-causal restaurant chain is partnering with location intelligence provider SiteZues, to augment its development strategy. The company’s data-driven solution will combine advanced geospatial technology and visualization with Subway’s market data. The result will be more thorough and accurate insights — the foundation Subway needs to plan and expand its market growth.   

J.C. Penney's finance head of three years is leaving to "pursue other interests."    Edward Record stepped down as CFO of Penney effective July 11, according to a regulatory filing. He will remain in an advisory capacity with the company until Aug. 7. Andrew Drexler, Penney's senior VP and chief accounting officer and controller, will serve as interim CFO while the retailer searches looks for Record's replacement.  

Proposed cuts in food stamp benefits could cost the the retail industry billions — with supermarkets and discounters taking the biggest hit.    AlixPartners estimates that retail collectively stands to lose $70.7 billion during the next 10 years if the proposed cuts in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (commonly referred to as food stamps) turn into reality, CNBC reported. The budget proposed by the Trump administration calls for $191 billion in cuts to the program between 2018 to 2028.  

An accounting change could give a big boost to retailers' earnings.   The new Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, revenue-recognition rule (ASC 606) goes into effect for public companies in 2018. One of the major implications of the new rule involves how the unredeemed dollar portion of company-issued gift cards, called breakage revenue, is recognized, according to a report by MarketWatch. The change will impact everyone who issues gift cards, including both online and offline retailers.    

Supervalu Inc. is losing its chief finance officer.   The company announced that Bruce Besanko plans to resign as executive VP, COO and CFO effective July 5, 2017 to pursue an outside opportunity.  

Amazon is impacting its hometown of Seattle in ways large and small.  

Sainsbury's will become the first supermarket retailer in the United Kingdom whose stores will be lit entirely by LED lighting.   The retailer is partnering with GE's Current division in an extensive lighting upgrade. Current will upgrade 250,000 LED fixtures across more than 450 Sainsbury's stores, cutting the chain's lighting energy consumption by 58% and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 3.4% annually.  

Bed, Bath & Beyond, which missed sales and earnings expectations for its first quarter, is focusing online for growth.   Citing strong digital growth, CEO Steven Temares said on the chain's quarterly earnings call that he expects store closings to increase as leases expire and as the way customers shop continue to evolve.