News

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — After months of speculation, BJ's Wholesale Club has entered a definitive agreement to be acquired by Leonard Green & Partners and CVC Capital Partners for an all-cash transaction valued at about $2.8 billion.

BJ’s board of directors unanimously approved the merger agreement — which is subject to approval of BJ’s shareholders, customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals — and recommends that all BJ’s shareholders vote in favor of the transaction.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club announced that all of its members can take advantage of its eValues program for savings on select items through July 4. 

"Just in time for Independence Day, we are offering all members freedom to sample our eValues and find everything they need for the holiday," said Mike Turner, SVP membership at Sam's Club. "From TVs and computers to hamburgers, cheese trays and pork barbecue, we are celebrating with summer savings.

Featured products and savings include:

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — HSN announced that on Sept. 21 and 22 it will debut an exclusive collection from designer Adam Lippes.

Lippes Love ADAM collection will feature sleek button down blouses, modern wide-leg pants, printed dresses, fur-trimmed outerwear, embellished skirts and cropped jackets, HSN reported.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Supervalu announced that plans to transition 40 stores to zero waste operations by the end of its current fiscal year ending Feb. 29, 2012. 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Wednesday unveiled plans to establish deeper roots on its home turf with its “Chicago Hometown Investment Initiative,” a plan that will create an estimated 600 new jobs in the city over the next two years and quadruple the number of Walgreens’ food oasis stores.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club is helping parents prepare for the back-to-school season by offering free children's health and ID screenings at stores nationwide on July 9.

Columbus, Ohio-based Steiner + Associates announced that the city of Hampton, Va. has been awarded the 2011 Donald E. Hunter Excellence in Economic Development Planning Award by the American Planning Association for the Peninsula Town Center. Located in Hampton, Va., the Peninsula Town Center represents the successful redevelopment of an enclosed mall into a vibrant town center, providing approximately 2,400 new jobs and significantly increasing the taxable sales base in the city. The site has been effectively transformed from the Coliseum Mall into a regional destination.

New York City -- Wal-Mart Stores spent $2.42 million on lobbying in the first quarter on issues ranging from organized crime to food safety, as well as nutritional labeling, according to a recent disclosure report, the Associated Press said.

For the second year in a row, retailers’ expansion plans are on an upward trajectory, according to Chain Store Age’s 2011 Store Construction & Outfitting Survey, an annual survey of retail building activity and development costs. In other findings, the cost of lighting, signage, roofing and other store-outfitting systems decreased compared with last year.

Matthews, N.C. -- Family Dollar Stores' third-quarter net income increased 6.5% as broader markdowns drew more store traffic. Its results, however, fell short of analysts' expectations.

For the quarter ended May 28, Family Dollar had net income of $111.1 million, compared with $104.4 million a year earlier.

Revenue was up 8% to $2.15 billion. Same-store sales rose 4.7%.

Family Dollar said sales were strongest in consumables and home products.