L.L. Bean reports 2013 sales gain of 3 percent

L.L. Bean, a Maine-based retailer known for its outdoor gear and apparel, reported fiscal 2013 sales of $1.56 billion, up 3 percent from 2012 as consumers continued to snap up its famous boots.

During the year, L.L.Bean Boot production was at an all-time high, the company said. Also doing well were L.L. Bean’s hunting and fishing products. The reason? People are continuing to spend more time outdoors, the company said. . . . more

Wegmans now hiring full-time employees

Wegmans Food Markets has begun recruitment for full-time positions for its Burlington location, which is scheduled to open in fall 2014. The company’s third location in the state is part of a shopping and dining destination located on 3rd Avenue in Burlington.

“Although our Burlington store won’t open until fall, we need to start hiring early because our employees receive some of the most in-depth product, customer service and culinary training in the industry,” said Marybeth Stewart, Wegmans human resources manager for New England. “We are excited to welcome new employees to the Wegmans family in Burlington and are proud to offer such perks as flexible scheduling, robust job training and competitive pay and benefits.”. . . more

New president takes over at Shaw's Supermarkets in midst of turnaround effort

As a new president takes over Shaw’s Supermarkets this week, he’s expected to continue the strategy that had been started by the West Bridgewater-based chain’s departing leader.

The new owners of Shaw’s and Star Market haven’t wasted time putting their stamp on operations at Shaw’s and Start Market, closing 14 underperforming Shaw’s stores across the area, spending millions of dollars renovating and cleaning up stores, and cutting product prices. Annual sales at the Shaw's and Star Market stores had fallen by $1.5 billion under Supervalu's ownership, in part because of relatively high prices and customer dissatisfaction. . . . more

The Fresh Market closing 4 stores

The Fresh Market said Thursday it would close three locations in Sacramento, Calif., and one store in Houston to focus on expansion in existing markets.

“Following an in-depth analysis of our stores and the markets in which we operate, we made the strategic decision to close four stores,” saidCraig Carlock, president and CEO, The Fresh Market, Greensboro, S.C. “In addition, we are refining our real estate plan to focus on increasing penetration in existing markets while slowing the pace of our expansion in new markets. We believe these actions will allow us to allocate capital and resources to opportunities that are more in line with our historical returns.”. . . more

LL Bean says it's ready to make $100M in capital investments after 4 years of revenue gains

Coming off record profits and four years of revenue growth, L.L. Bean is ready to make the biggest single-year capital investment in the retailer's 102-year history, the company's CEO said Friday.

Chris McCormick, president and chief executive, told workers that the Maine-based retailer has been conservative for the past few years and is now ready to "accelerate our growth plans and grab market share." That plan includes pumping an additional $100 million into its website, retail expansion and business systems, he said.. . . more

J.Crew, Fast Retailing Union Could Lead to Global Domination

All-American apparel chain J.Crew appears poised for either an IPO or a sale to Japanese holding company Fast Retailing, according to reports, as its private equity owners mull an exit.

If J.Crew pursues an IPO, it wouldn’t be its first — the company previously went public in 2006. In 2011, TPG and Leonard Green & Partners acquired J.Crew for almost $3 billion in a deal that proved controversial with shareholders.. . . more

Wegmans pharmacies now fill prescriptions for pet meds

Wegmans, the Rochester-based supermarket chain, recently started filling prescriptions for animal medications.

Wegmans will even allow you to list your pet as a "dependent" in its online pharmacy accounts, according to a blog posted by Mary Ellen Burris, the chain's senior vice president for consumer affairs. That allows you to check the status of your order, look up refill availability, etc.

Burris said Wegmans will offer name brands and generic alternatives, and can sometimes provide lower cost items than the meds dispensed directly by your veterinarian.. . . more

Cerberus to buy Safeway

Private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management has reached a preliminary agreement to buy Safeway Inc. for over $9 million, the Wall Street Journal reported. The deal is subject to board approval.

The Kroger Co., which recently completed its acquisition of Harris Teeter, reportedly was also interested in making a bid for Safeway. Even if a deal is announced between Cerberus and Safeway, Kroger could still mount a bid.. . . more

February sales improve for many retailers

Following a bitterly cold and stormy January that left many retailers with disappointing monthly sales figures, February’s sales results were generally a bit more encouraging. Chain store sales posted a gain of 2.7% for the fiscal month of February on a year-over-year basis, according to a tally of comparable-store sales compiled by the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Chains across a variety of sectors reported increases in both same-store sales and total net sales as compared to February 2013, despite poor weather continuing into the first half of the month across much of the U.S.. . . more

Abercrombie Plans to Remake Hollister Stores

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is preparing to reposition its surfer-themed Hollister chain as a fast-fashion brand, hoping to better compete with rivals such as H&M and Forever 21 Inc. that have eaten into sales to teens.

The shift will mean lowering prices and beefing up U.S.-based supply sources to adjust more quickly to changing styles. Teens have been gravitating to the fast-fashion sector. That gives them a reason to shop more frequently, even on limited budgets, at the expense of the higher-price T-shirts and jeans sold by the Abercrombie and Hollister brands.. . . more