Five Below Opening 12 Stores in Chicago Area

Retailer Five Below said it plans to open 12 stores in the Chicago market - with more to follow later.  The stores will open this spring, the Philadelphia-based company said.  Five Below said it may open as many 60 Chicago-area stores in the next three to five years.  In recent months, Five Below has also expanded into New England, upstate New York, North Carolina and other areas. By the end of the year it hopes to have 200 stores in 15 states.

Philadelphia Business Journal

Acme to Shutter Five Philadelphia Area Stores

Acme Markets told workers this week that it will close five unprofitable Philadelphia-area stores by the end of February, three in South Jersey and two in Pennsylvania - locations union officials said were hurt by Wegmans and other competing chains.  The shutdowns are in Limerick, Wayne, Moorestown, Cinnaminson, and Millville.

The Inquirer

Marsh to Close Stores in Indiana 

Marsh Supermarkets Inc. says it plans to close stores in Shelbyville and Connersville by the end of February.  The Indianapolis Business Journal reported that the grocery chain already had closed a store in Rushville. Together, the three closures will leave Marsh with 97 stores. About half are in Indianapolis.

Chicago Tribune

Sligro Reports Slight Growth In FY Sales

Sligro has reported modest growth in sales for its fiscal year, with results rising by 1.2% to €2.29bn. The group noted that supermarket sales were up 1.5% to €738m, while wholesale results were up 1.1% to €1.53bn.  In particular, Sligro remarked on the strong showing its EMTÉ supermarket banner, of which it currently operates 131 outlets.

Kam City

Eroski Sells Seven Hypermarkets to Deal with Its Debts

The Basque company Eroski is in talks to sell its network of hypermarkets in Madrid to the French group Leclerc. With this operation, the company seeks to reduce debt, which reached EUR 1,300 million at the end of last year.  With the sale of the hypermarkets Carabanchel, Pinto, Alcobendas, Vallecas, Majadahonda, Fuenlabrada and Valdemoro, Eroski significantly reduces its presence in the Spanish capital.

FIS

Big C Begins Overhaul

Big C Supercenter Plc has begun the transformation of the Carrefour outlets it purchased last year from the French retail chain, starting with a 350-million-baht re-imaging exercise.  The company has no plan to close any of the 42 Carrefour stores because many are located in strategic central Bangkok locations that would augment the network of Big C.  Carrefour customers generally had higher purchasing power; consequently, the signs on the former rival's stores will change to Big C but the merchandise inside will remain the same as before.

Bangkok Post