Store Systems

WAYNE, N.J. — Babies“R”Us launched the Very Important Baby (V.I.B.) program, designed to allow parents an opportunity to earn a 10% bonus savings on baby essentials.

The complimentary V.I.B. card is much like a debit card and can be used toward purchases of any brand of diapers, wipes, formula and baby food at “R” Us stores nationwide. Every time money is loaded onto the card, Babies “R” Us will add 10% – up to $200 annually.

Mahwah, N.J. -- The Home Furnishings Independents Association said Friday it has selected TD Retail Card Services’ Renovate Card private-label credit card program for use by its 1,100 retail members nationwide.

Woodland Hills, Calif. -- Kuwait-based trading and contracting company The Standard Arabian Business & Enterprises Co., which represents Casual Male, said Thursday it will use Great American Group GA Store Opening Services program for a retail location in Kuwait.

The Sabeco project represents the first time Great American Group's new Store Opening Services have been used outside the United States.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. reported Thursday that profit for the quarter ended Jan. 28 slid 5.2% to $981 million, from $1.04 billion in the prior year.

Revenue increased 3.3% to $20.94 billion, missing Wall Street’s expected $21.23 billion in revenue. Same-store sales rose 2.2%.

Heavy discounting during the holiday season cut into fourth-quarter profits, but Target still is forecasting a full-year profit outlook that beats analysts’ expectations.

Toronto -- The Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association said Thursday that it has forged an agreement Chase Paymentech to refer its payment processing solutions to more than 30,000 CRFA members across the country.

With the new agreement, Chase Paymentech will provide countertop, wireless and integrated restaurant management solutions to handle any payment type, including Pay-at-the-Table, EMV chip, online orders, contactless and gift cards.

A body in motion tends to stay in motion and that appears to be the case with Sam’s Club where a strong fourth-quarter performance is expected to continue in 2012 under the leadership of new president and CEO Rosalind Brewer.

The former Walmart store operations executive took the helm from outgoing Sam’s president and CEO Brian Cornell three weeks ago and is looking to build on the momentum he initiated and was evident in fourth quarter results reported earlier this week.

Dallas -- Fort Worth, Texas-based Trademark Property Co. announced the opening of Central Market’s first small prototype store at its Preston Oaks center. Located in the Preston Hollow neighborhood in Dallas, the 30,000 sq.-ft. store is the ninth location -- the fifth in Dallas-Fort Worth -- for the specialty grocer.

The agreement with H-E-B Central Market was originally announced by Trademark in May 2011 following strong interest from several potential tenants looking to move into the former Borders bookstore location.

St. Louis -- HBD Construction said Thursday that it teamed with grocer Dierbergs to build a freestanding store in St. Louis that features an underground parking garage.

The 80,000-sq.-ft. store, located on 6.5 acres, is the first St. Louis-area supermarket to offer covered parking, with 42% of its parking spaces planned for a brightly lit lower-level garage. The construction completion date is estimated to be July 31.