News

ST. LOUIS — Aisle411, a mobile retail navigation service that helps shoppers locate products down to the shelf location, on Tuesday announced its service now is live in more than 1,000 stores with the addition of three markets — Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Diego.

Other markets identified for expansion included Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Houston, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix, Sacramento, Calif., Seattle and Washington, D.C.

Chain Store Age has launched the third edition of its New Product Digest, which is designed to provide retailers with the latest news regarding new products and services, and to help suppliers promote their companies while influencing buying decisions. The companies featured in this volume include Cowan + Associates, Tarrant Lighting and Academy Fire Protection. Check out this month's edition.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The American Customer Satisfaction Index has dropped just 0.1% from the previous quarter to 75.9 on the ACSI's 100-point scale, indicating that customers satisfaction remains strong, the ACSI reported.

Ankeny, Iowa -- Casey's General Stores said Tuesday it has signed a definitive purchase agreement to acquire 11 convenience stores from NuWay Cooperative of Trimont, Minn.

All of the stores are located in Minnesota operating under the NuMart banner and will be immediately rebranded to Casey's, according to the company. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

New York City -- A Tuesday report by the Wall Street Journal said that hedge fund billionaire and Sears Holding Corp. chairman Edward Lampert has reported holding a 5.8% stake in Gap Inc.

Lampert reported the stake in a 13G filing, or a filing for passive investors, with the Securities and Exchange Commission late Monday.

His ESL Partners company and affiliates reported beneficially holding 35 million common shares.

MINNEAPOLIS-- This spring Target is celebrating the five-year anniversary of its GO International program with a collection that features 34 dresses from 17 past GO International designers. Ranging in price from $24.99 to $44.99, the GO International Designer Collective will be available March 13 through April 10 at most Target stores and Target.com.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Census Bureau on Tuesday reported that retail sales continue on a positive trend, edging up 0.3% for the month of January.

The increase to $381.6 billion marked the seventh consecutive month of gains for retail sales. Total sales for the month were above the year-ago period by 7.8%.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Stores reported Tuesday that it lost $24 million in the quarter ended Jan. 12, compared with a profit of $2.1 million in the year-ago period.

Sales were flat at $2.1 billion, and same-store sales fell 0.3%.

Analysts expected sales of $2.05 billion, according to FactSet.