News

ARMONK, N.Y. — In-store sales of women’s clothing are expected to see a 9.2% increase in the third quarter of 2012 versus the year-ago period, according to a just-released IBM analytics-based forecast of U.S. retail sales data. The report predicts a 6.2% increase in sales of children’s clothing and a 5.2% increase in footwear. Men’s clothing, however, is forecast to lag, dropping 6.7%.

Williamsville, N.Y. -- Tops Friendly Markets announced that the company has entered into an agreement with GU Markets LLC, an affiliate of C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc., to acquire 21 supermarkets located in upstate New York and Vermont.

This acquisition will bring the number of Tops stores to 153 and will expand Tops' footprint further into areas of northern and eastern New York State and neighboring northern Vermont. The planned acquisition of the 21 stores follows up on the 2010 acquisition of the Penn Traffic stores.

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. — Teen retailer Hot Topic has named Kate Horton as VP, general merchandise manager for itsTorrid division, which retails fashion apparel, lingerie and accessories for young women who wear sizes 12 and up.

Reporting to Hot Topic Inc. chairman and CEO Lisa Harper, Horton will drive the merchandising strategy for Torrid, leading a team of merchants to develop an assortment of fashion apparel that is reflective of the brand’s position, is enticing to consumers, and drives sales and profit margins.

Safeway’s recently rolled out Just 4 U loyalty program has chairman and CEO Steve Burd optimistic about the grocer’s prospects for sales growth and market share gains. Read more in this special report.
 

NEW YORK — The Estée Lauder Cos, whose brand portfolio includes Bumble and Bumble, American Beauty, Aveda and La Mer, has appointed Tracey Travis as EVP and CFO.

She will jointly report to executive chairman William Lauder and Fabrizio Freda, president and CEO. Travis will assume her new position on Aug. 20.

Indianapolis -- The Lids Sports Group retail division has reached an acquisition agreement with JAS Sports Inc., the Seattle-based retailer of officially licensed Washington collegiate and Seattle professional sports team merchandise. The purchase consists of nine brick-and-mortar stores operating under the Seattle Team Shop, The Dawg Den and Sodo Sports banners, as well as the mobile concession operations near Safeco Field and Century Link Field.

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J. — Samsung Electronics America Inc.received the highest customer satisfaction ranking in three categories in the annual J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Kitchen and Laundry Appliance StudiesSM. The company was a winner in the refrigeration category for the seventh year out of the last eight years, the dryer category for the fifth consecutive year and the washer category for the fourth consecutive year.

BOISE, Idaho — Albertsons Market is implementing the Recall InfoLink product recall management platform into its pharmacy operation to help it streamline the process of managing recalls, the grocer confirmed on Friday.

Recall InfoLink is a patented, Web-based product recall management system designed to improve recall efficiency by providing standardized messages, automated communications, inventory tracking and reports for compliance efforts.