Data & Analytics

Publix credited its customer service for helping fuel third-quarter sale sales of $7 billion, a 5.6% increase from last year’s $6.7 billion. Comparable-store sales for the third quarter of 2013 increased 4.1%.

The company reported net earnings for the quarter of $359.9 million, a decrease of 2.3% from $368.4 million in 2012. Earnings per share for the third quarter decreased to $0.46 for 2013, down from $0.47 per share in 2012.

Lakeland, Fla. -- Publix reported net earnings for the third quarter fell 2.3% to $359.9 million, compared to $368.4 million in the year ago period.

Sales for the third quarter were $7 billion, up 5.6% from last year’s $6.7 billion. Same-store sales rose 4.1%.

New York -- Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz had resigned from the board of mobile payments company Square Inc., Reuters reported.

Square, founded in 2009 by Twitter Inc co-creator Jack Dorsey, named David Viniar, most recently the CFO of Goldman Sachs Group, as a replacement.

Schultz joined Square's board in August 2012 by investing $25 million in a deal to use its technology to process debit and credit card payments at the coffee chain's stores.

New Canaan, Conn. -- Continuing a two-year slide in retail spending momentum, American shoppers will generate only a lackluster 2.9% rise in holiday sales, according to Customer Growth Partners’ 13th Annual Holiday Forecast. The CPG report paints a scenario that is decidedly less cheery than some of the other holiday forecasts that have been released to date.

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney has secured Energy Star certifications in over 500 stores, one supply chain facility and its home office, far surpassing the company’s initial goal of having 400 locations certified by the end of 2013. (The Environmental Protection Agency awards Energy Star certification to buildings that rank within the top 25% of similar commercial buildings nationwide by meeting strict energy performance levels set by the EPA.)

Orte Madera, Calif. -- Restoration Hardware Holdings announced the appointment of Katie Mitic to its board of directors, effective immediately. Mitic, who will also serve on the board’s audit committee, is a veteran technology leader and entrepreneur with nearly 20 years of strategic product, marketing and business development experience.

Redwood Shores, Calif. – Toms — the company that gives a pair of its shoes or provides eye care to a person in need for every corresponding purchase — has deployed the Oracle Commerce platform to support its rapid business growth and international expansion.

Rite Aid's same-store sales increased by 2.1% this month compared with October 2012. The pharmacy chain also issued an estimate of the negative effects of Hurricane Sandy on its sales.

The increase included a 0.6% decrease in front-end same-store sales and an increase in pharmacy same-store sales of 3.4%, which were lowered by 0.85% due to introductions of new generic drugs. Same-store script count increased by 1.1%. Total sales for the month were $1.961 billion, a 2.2% increase over October 2012. The chain currently operates 4,599 stores.