News

Phoenix -- PetSmart's fourth-quarter net income rose 20%, helped by more customer transactions and a strong holiday season.

The chain's net income rose to $90.3 million from $75 million in the same period last year. Revenue rose 8% to $1.52 billion. Same-store sales were up 6.3 %.

For the year, net income increased 21% to $239.9 million. Revenue rose 6% to $5.04 billion.

Woonsocket, R.I.  -- CVS Caremark Corp. said Tuesday that federal antitrust regulators cleared its planned acquisition of insurer Universal American Corp.'s Medicare Part D prescription drug business.

CVS and Universal American said the Federal Trade Commission has ended a mandatory review of the $1.25 billion deal. Universal American shareholders and state regulators still need to clear the deal.

The companies announced the transaction Dec. 31, and they expect it to close by the end of the second quarter.

New York City -- The global PC-based point-of-sale market grew a solid 6.9% in 2010, according to new research from IHL Group, a global research and advisory firm.

Shipments grew in all four major worldwide regions (North America, Europe/Middle East Africa, Latin/South America, and Asia/Pacific). Strong double-digit growth in the Asia/Pacific region was driven by new shipments in China, India, Korea, and Indonesia, according to the research. 

By Akhilesh Srivastava, [email protected]
According to NRF Retail Horizons Benchmark Report, two key initiatives to keep retailers competitive in 2010 were optimization and streamlining of their internal operations to reduce operating costs and improving their customer centricity to win the share of wallet.

Retailer demand for new locations is up across the board, according to ChainLinks Retail Advisors’ just-released National Retailer and Restaurant Expansion Guide. The report details the current expansion plans for hundreds of the largest U.S. retail and restaurant chains.

“As 2010 came to a close, growth plans were up 30% from the levels we recorded last year,” said ChainLinks’ research director, Garrick Brown,/ Right now, expansion plans are up 40% over last year’s levels.”

If Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2010 numbers were any indication, retail may well be prepping for some measurable bounce in 2011.

But the road to recovery isn’t going to be without frustrations, according to Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle’s North America Retail Outlook report, released in November.

The inaugural report examined retail real estate fundamentals such as vacancy levels, rental rates and investment sales volumes -- and drew the conclusion that 2011 would see a “slow and arduous retail sector recovery.”

Originally purchased by Paster Enterprises in 1985, Mendota Plaza in Mendota Heights, Minn., underwent a minor facelift in 1989. In 2005, it became evident that the 60,000-sq.-ft. community shopping center needed a significant revitalization, and so the planning began. While developing the plans for the new and improved Mendota Plaza, Paster Enterprises worked tirelessly to acquire the adjacent eight acres of land. Along with several smaller parcels, the land was acquired, bringing the full parcel to 21.2 acres.

The Shops at Wiregrass, in Wesley Chapel, Fla., partnered with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to host a Battle of the Bands event in an effort to raise money to fight blood cancer.

Held Saturday, Feb. 19, the event featured four stages of live music and performances by 24 local bands. Two more fundraising events are planned -- a parade celebration on March 12 and a golf tournament on April 1.

The Shops at Wiregrass, a Forest City Enterprises property, is a pedestrian lifestyle village featuring shopping, dining and entertainment options.

BEAUMONT, Texas -- Conn’s announced that it has appointed Theodore Wright to the position of interim CEO and president, following the news that Timothy Frank will step down as president and CEO of the company and resign as a director to pursue other opportunities.Conn’s said it will immediately commence a formal search to identify a permanent CEO.

 BOCA RATON, Fla.-- Office Depot announced that it has launched a new line of energy-efficient lamps under the “Realspace” brand. The full range of Realspace lighting is available at more than 1,100 Office Depot retail store locations across the country and online at www.officedepot.com.

According to the company, all Realspace lighting is California Compliant, with each lamp packaged with a low energy light-bulb. The Realspace Collection also offers an assortment of LED lamps, which are 70%more efficient than using incandescent bulbs.