News

Le Duff America Ignores the Slow Recovery
Development chief details chain growth
Chain Store Age asked Paul Carolan, chief development officer for Dallas-based Le Duff America, about the bakery-café company's aggressive growth plan in the United States.
The North American subsidiary of Paris-based Groupe Le Duff SA, Le Duff America now manages four brands in the United States: Bruegger's Bagels, la Madeleine Country French Café, Brioche Dorée and Mimi's Café, which was acquired in March.
Aquatic pets retailer swims into e-commerce territory
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — D&G Pets, a local fish and exotic pet shop in Fort Collins, Colo., is diving into e-commerce waters in an effort to retain existing customers and reach out to new ones.

The local retailer launched an online store so consumers can purchase pet supplies from their computers or mobile devices — leveraging technology to remain competitive in a field dominated by larger pet supply chains.

A Whole Foods home run in Q1

Same stores sales increase 6.9% and earnings per share increased 19% to 76 cents, three cents better than analysts forecast. The company’s performance was favorable across the board, according to co-founder, and co-CEO John Mackey.
OfficeMax has ‘challenging’ Q1

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Declines in technology product category sales and decreased foot traffic at its stores affected OfficeMax’s results for its fiscal first quarter ended March 30, 2013.
Twizzlers flies with the Man of Steel

HERSHEY, Pa. — Twizzlers candy is getting in on the Man of Steel hype and teaming up with Warner Bros. to offer fans a chance to remake themselves as the invincible one and win prizes.

Between now and July 6, participants can visit www.Facebook.com/Twizzlers to create and star in a personalized Man of Steel- inspired video. The custom video application called Create the Invincible You takes Facebook fans through a two-minute transformation that they can then share on social media sites.
Finding a New Normal

Bucksbaum Retail Properties opened for business in April 2012. The Chicago-based company has already opened one project and is working on four more.

The 53,000-sq.-ft. Kingsbury Center near North Chicago has opened with four tenants: Buy Buy Baby, PetSmart, Road Runner Sports and Jimmy Johns. It is a joint venture with Chicago-based Structured Development.
Meijer’s Simply Give program raises $500K

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer and its customers helped to raise more than $500,000 for food pantries throughout the Midwest. Customers donated $184,230 during the retailer’s Simply Give Double Match Days. Meijer double matched all donations made from April 12-13, bringing the total donation amount to $552,690.
New Conference Series Pushes Networking

At Retail Live!, retailers exhibit, and developers, owners, brokers and others stop by to chat
In the retail real estate landscape, there aren't as many networking options as one might think. Even fewer if you narrow it down to those events that put landlords and tenants in the same room, along with entertainment, face-to-face meet and greets, and mutually beneficial educational sessions.
Glimcher Gets Some Fresh Air

The Glimcher Realty Trust pipeline is filled with open-air centers. "We're seeing a lot of opportunity in the market and even our own portfolio with open-air right now," said Michael P. Glimcher, chairman and CEO, Columbus, Ohio-based Glimcher.

Over the last three years, Glimcher has acquired five properties. Four were open-air. Today, open-air centers account for about 20% of the company's 29 properties.

Recently, Glimcher shared his insights about open-air and enclosed centers with Chain Store Age contributing writer Michael Fickes.
Retail Magnet

A guest approaches the concierge desk and asks for help finding a gift. The concierge knows the retail selection and can help. If the product is unavailable here, the concierge will, if necessary, send her to another store across town.

That sounds like Nordstrom service.

But this isn't Nordstrom. It is the concierge desk at The Americana at Brand in Glendale, Calif., a mixed-use development from Los Angeles-based Caruso Affiliated. It's what happens at every center in the Caruso Affiliated portfolio of 2.1 million sq. ft. of retail and residential properties.