News

Report: Sam's Club to overhaul grocery offerings

Sam's Club is building a team of regional U.S. buyers to bring in more local and organic groceries in order to attract wealthier customers and better compete with Costco.

According to Reuters,Sam's Club has hired a handful of buyers in Dallas and is considering putting teams in up to five other markets, John Furner, chief merchandising officer at Sam's Club, told Reuters. Until now, all of its buyers have worked out of company headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas.
AutoZone moves into the fast lane in Q2
Efforts to rework its distribution process netted big wins in the second quarter for AutoZone, which reported increases in same-store sales and profit.

The auto parts retailer posted net sales of $2.3 billion for its second quarter ended Feb. 13, an increase of 5.3% from the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Same-store sales increased 3.6% for the quarter. Net income for the quarter increased 8% over the same period last year to $228.6 million, while diluted earnings per share increased 14.2% to $7.43 per share from $6.51 per share in the year-ago quarter.

Aldi drops ban on credit cards

Fast-expanding grocery chain Aldi is making it even easier for consumers to shop its no-frills stores.

The European chain has announced it will now accept credit cards – including Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express – at all of its stores across the country.
Starwood announces $50 million investment

Charlotte, N.C. -- Starwood Retail Partners announced a $50 million investment in an 11-acre parcel adjacent to Northlake Mall in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company plans to build a 200,000-sq. ft. lifestyle component complementing the existing two-story mall. Construction is set to begin by early 2017.

The project will include retail, dining, entertainment, landscaping, parking and pedestrian friendly areas.
Study: E-commerce fraud risk varies by location

When it comes to fraudulent online transactions, one state in particular may warrant a little extra attention from retailers.

Analysis of millions of 2015 e-commerce transactions by Experian indicates Florida is the overall riskiest state for billing fraud, followed by Delaware; Washington, D.C.; Oregon and California. Billing fraud states are determined by where the consumer whose information was illegally used resides.
Phillips Edison Grocery Center REIT makes strategic buys

Phillips Edison Grocery Center REIT II announced the strategic acquisitions of four grocery-anchored shopping centers in Colorado, Florida and California.
Albertsons sets goal for cage-free eggs by 2025

Albertsons is joining other major retailers in working with its suppliers toward a goal of sourcing only cage-free eggs for its store operations.

The company, among the first and largest in the conventional retail grocery sector to make such a commitment, is making the move not only as part of its ongoing commitment to animal welfare but also in response to customer buying habits.
Stein Mart inks new agreement with Synchrony Financial

Stein Mart says it has extended its consumer credit agreement with Synchrony Financial with a new long-term deal.

Since 2006, Synchrony Financial and Stein Mart have partnered to offer credit card programs for qualifying cardholders at the retail chain’s 278 stores and at Steinmart.com. Consumers can apply in-store or online for the Stein Mart Style Credit Card or the Stein Mart Style Platinum Master Card.
‘No-Call’ for ‘On-Call’: Illegal Misclassification of ‘On-Call’ Shifts

A new form of wage theft has recently been identified, where employers misclassify employees’ schedules in order to shift the business expenses associated with scheduling to the employee. Illegal misclassification schemes have been around for decades. A common example is an employer misclassifying an employee’s job title, so that the employee is a salaried employee, in order to avoid paying the employee overtime. Here, the employers are misclassifying the employee’s schedules, instead of the employee’s job title, to avoid paying reporting time premiums.
Mixed-use development planned for Daniel Island

Charleston, S.C. -- Faison Enterprises announced it broke ground on its new mixed-use development, located in Daniel Island’s Town Center, Charleston, South Carolina. The project will include 317 luxury apartment units along with nearly 30,000 sq. ft. of restaurant and retail space.