News

Berlin, N.J. -- A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts said Tuesday it is considering a potential sale of the company.

The arts-and-crafts retailer revealed that its board is looking at strategic options to boost shareholder value, which may also include corporate financing or raising capital. It said there has been third-party "expressions of interest," but that it won't discuss any developments unless its board approves a specific transaction.

New York City -- Jo-Ann Stores announced Tuesday that it has received no other takeover bids after a nearly two-month "go-shop" period. The fabric and crafts chain said it will therefore ask shareholders to vote on the company's proposed $1.6 billion sale to Leonard Green & Partners LP.

The meeting is scheduled for March 18.

Jo-Ann Stores, which operates 751 stores in 48 states, announced the proposed sale in December. The company had until Feb. 14 to seek a better offer.

MONTVALE, N.J. -- A&P announced that it has filed a motion seeking approval to close 32 stores in six states as the company continues to fully implement its comprehensive financial and operational restructuring. The store closures are expected to be completed in the company’s fiscal first quarter, subject to court approval.

CHICAGO — Walgreens last month promoted Mia Scholz from corporate VP accounting and controller to SVP accounting and controller. She joined Walgreens in 1999 as director of internal audit. She was named a divisional VP in 2003, and promoted to corporate VP accounting and controller in 2007.

Before joining Walgreens, Scholz was a senior manager for Arthur Andersen LLP in Chicago.

She received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in 1988.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Operations at Winn-Dixie Stores continued to improve across the second quarter, helping to drive shares up by 11 cents to $6.92 per share in mid-day trading.

“Overall I feel good about our progress this quarter,” Peter Lynch, Winn-Dixie chairman, CEO and president, told analysts Tuesday morning during a conference call. “[We] continued to improve sales through strategic adjustments to our promotional activity.”

Chain Store Age has launched the third edition of its New Product Digest, which is designed to provide retailers with the latest news regarding new products and services, and to help suppliers promote their companies while influencing buying decisions. The companies featured in this volume include Cowan + Associates, Tarrant Lighting and Academy Fire Protection. Check out this month's edition.

ATLANTA -- The Home Depot announced it will hire more than 60,000 seasonal associates in time for its second annual Spring Black Friday event.

Like the traditional Black Friday that occurs the day after Thanksgiving to unofficially start the holiday shopping season, The Home Depot's Spring Black Friday marks the start of home improvement's busiest shopping season -- the spring. 

Ankeny, Iowa -- Casey's General Stores said Tuesday it has signed a definitive purchase agreement to acquire 11 convenience stores from NuWay Cooperative of Trimont, Minn.

All of the stores are located in Minnesota operating under the NuMart banner and will be immediately rebranded to Casey's, according to the company. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.