News

Tide laundry detergent is so popular with shoppers that it is regularly featured on the cover of Target’s weekly circular as a means to generate customer traffic, but it appears the detergent brand’s popularity is causing it to generate the wrong kind of traffic. A story by the Associated Press points out this week that Tide has become a frequent target of shoplifters at retailers nationwide and the new currency of an underground economy.

Canton, Mass. -- Casual Male Retail Group reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Jan. 28 surged to $33.5 million, from $5.3 million in the year-ago period. Without a $23 million trademark impairment charge, net income was $5 million in the quarter.

The retailer of big & tall men's apparel and accessories also reported flat fourth quarter sales of $111.5 million and a slight same-store sales increase of 0.8%.

It isn’t easy being green. Just ask the folks who have to make sure retailers have the science, compliance infrastructure and audit protocols in place to ensure eco-labels are iron-clad. For an insightful look at the issues of eco-labels and the certification process that underpins the validity of such claims, check out this column from Deloitte Consulting executive Chris Park. . 

FOLSOM, Calif. — Fresh & Easy announced that its new store in Folsom, Calif., received the platinum-level store certification award from the Environmental Protection Agency's GreenChill Partnership.

While the platinum award puts Fresh & Easy — which joined EPA's GreenChill in 2009 — among the nation's 36,000 grocery stores, the Folsom location is the second store in California, and one of four grocery stores in the nation, to achieve these standards.

Warrendale, Pa. -- Rue21 reported Wednesday that net income for the quarter ended Jan. 28 rose 18.7% to $12.9 million, from $10.9 million in the year-ago period.

Sales surged 15.7% to $219.9 million, but same-store sales dipped 2.2% following a 1.5% increase a year earlier.

During the quarter, Rue21 opened 17 new stores and closed two.
 

The outside world doesn’t have a lot of visibility into the bench strength of Target’s leadership team beyond the top tier of executives so it’s hard to know whether the company has the talent it needs to fill the void created by high profile defections to rival JCPenney.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Books-A-Million's quarterly profit edged up to $7.6 million, from $6.7 million a year earlier.

Sales increased 10.7% to $166.9 million, from $150.8 million. Same-store sales declined 5.7%.

During the quarter, the retailer said it incurred costs of $1.6 million related to the closing of 21 underperforming locations and the opening of 41 new Bam! stores in October and November.

MONTVALE, N.J. — A&P has emerged from Chapter 11, and tasked with ensuring the company stays on sure financial footing is Raymond Silcock, who has been promoted to the role of CFO reporting to president and CEO Sam Martin. Silcock succeeds Frederic Brace, who is resigning from his roles as chief restructuring, financial and administrative officer in conjunction with A&P’s emergence from Chapter 11. Brace will continue to serve the company in an advisory capacity.