Albertsons Will Close More Texas Stores, Including 5 in Dallas-Fort Worth

Albertsons LLC plans to close seven unprofitable Texas stores next month, including five locations in the Dallas area as the North Texas grocery market continues to be one of the most competitive in the nation.  Liquidation sales start Wednesday, and the company expects the stores in Carrollton, Garland, Richardson , Plano and Southlake to close around February 20. 

Dallas News

Marsh Plans $1M Remodels of Muncie Stores

Big changes are in store for local Marsh supermarkets.   The supermarket chain has filed building permits for $1 million in remodeling work each for two of its eight Muncie locations, 1500 W. McGalliard Road and 715 S. Tillotson Ave.  The building permits, filed in the city building commissioners office, come after Marsh has decided to close stores in other Indiana cities.

The Star Press

A&P Fiscal 3Q Loss Narrows, Though Revenue Falls

The Great Atlantic Pacific Tea Co., the grocery store operator widely known as A&P that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy court protection in December, said that its fiscal third-quarter loss narrowed even though its revenue dipped.  A&P said it lost $199.4 million, or $3.78 per share, for the third quarter, compared with a loss of $559.6 million, or $14.35 per share, a year earlier.  Revenue fell 9 percent to $1.8 billion.

Bloomberg

Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation Announces Fiscal 2010 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Sales Results

For the fiscal 2010 fourth quarter, net sales were $226.7 million, compared to net sales of $237.6 million for the 14-week fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.  During the quarter, the Company's apparel sales increased in the low single-digit range, footwear sales were relatively flat and hardgoods sales decreased in the low single-digit range, all on a same store basis compared to the same period last year.  For the 52-week fiscal 2010 full year, net sales increased to $896.8 million from $895.5 million for the 53-week fiscal 2009 full year.

Iewy News

Growth in Emerging Markets Helps Carrefour Ward Off Winter Chill

Continued growth from its operations in emerging markets helped Carrefour offset the impact of the winter freeze in Europe, as it reported slightly-better-than expected growth in its fourth quarter. The retail giant said sales rose by 5.1% to €27.1bn, with double-digit rises recorded in Latin America and Asia.

Kam City

Russia's Seventh Continent to Buy Mosmart

The owner of Russian grocer Seventh Continent has agreed to buy smaller supermarket chain Mosmart for 15 billion roubles ($497.7 million).  The move could emerge as the latest step in the ongoing consolidation of Russia's fragmented retail sector after industry leader X5 bought rival Kopeika for $1.65 billion last month.

Reuters

Tesco To Sell Car Tyres

Tesco is set to move into the car tyre trade. The supermarket chain is taking on the likes of Kwik Fit by teaming up in a scheme with tyre specialist Blackcircles.com. According to a report by Sun City, motorists will next month be able to place orders on a Tesco Tyres website, then take their car to one of 1,200 affiliated garages to have them fitted. As well as discounts of up to 40% on their tyres, customers will also get Clubcard loyalty points.

Kam City

John Lewis Sales Jump 38% As Shoppers Rush To Buy Goods Ahead Of VAT Rise

Sales John Lewis rocketed last week as shoppers rushed to buy furniture and electrical goods ahead of the increase in VAT. The department store chain said it also benefited from an extra day of holiday compared with the same week the year before, and from snow disruption the same time a year ago. Store sales leapt 38.7% year-on-year in the seven days to 8 January, the biggest rise in the group's fiscal year, which ends this month.

Kam City