News

Belgium -- Belgian supermarket operator Delhaize Group said Thursday it plans to spend $1.21 billion opening new stores and remodeling existing outlets.

According to a report by Wall Street Journal, Delhaize, which operates mainly under the U.S. Food Lion, Hannaford and Sweet Bay banners, is making the investments despite a fourth quarter same-store sales decline of 0.8%.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- HomeGoods reported that according its survey of how people live in their homes, 47% of Americans have not updated their home decor in the last five years and 9% haven't updated their decor in more than 10 years.  As for style, Americans say the overall look of their homes is traditional (44%), followed by modern (22%), eclectic (13%), country (10%) and global (2%).

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Fortune on Thursday released its “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, ranking Wegmans Food Markets No. 3 and making the New York-based grocer the highest-ranked retailer. Only the software firm SAS and consulting organization Boston Consulting Group ranked higher. Wegmans has appeared on the Fortune list for 14 consecutive years, every year since the list was first published in 1998.

North Plainfield, N.J. -- A survey released Friday by Levin Management Corp. said that he majority of shopping center tenants are optimistic about the year ahead.

According to the real estate firm’s pre- and post-holiday survey of Northeastern retailers, 61.5% of respondents were positive about 2011, and 52.2% of respondents said holiday sales topped or equaled 2009

WARREN, Mich. -- Art Van Furniture announced that, for the first time in company history, it will grand open three stores in one day. On January 22, 2011, Art Van will celebrate the grand openings of three new stores  in Auburn Hills, Petoskey and Onaway. Mich.

CHICAGO — It seems that private-label brands are getting a sterling reputation among shoppers.

According to new research by Mintel, consumers have taken notice of private-label companies' "better-for-you" products and attractive packaging, as 44% of grocery shoppers believe store-brand products are of better quality today than they were five years ago. What's more, 39% of respondents said they would recommend purchasing a store-brand product.

New York City -- After filing for Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy in September, then winning an extension until Feb. 4 to file its restructuring plan to emerge from bankruptcy, Blockbuster now has until March 21 to file the plan and until May 20 to round up enough votes among its creditors for approval.  

Judge Burton R. Lifland of U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan granted the extension Wednesday.

HOUSTON  -- The Men's Wearhouse announced that Grace Nichols has been elected to the company's board of directors, effective January 30, increasing the number of directors to nine.