J.C. Penney to Close 26 Stores

J.C. Penney Co. said it plans to close 26 stores, including 20 outlet stores that are fed by its catalog business.  Penney also said that it plans to close two call centers and a custom decorating factory and will reduce the number of in-store custom decorating departments to 300 from 525.  The moves reorganize Penney "to focus on its highest potential growth opportunities by reducing investment in areas of the business that no longer contribute meaningfully to its financial performance." 

Dallas News

Houston Grocery Store: Sellers Bros. Grocery Chain Launches New Website

Southeast Media launches a website for Sellers Bros., its long-term Houston grocery store client. Sellers Bros. is a family-owned and operated grocery store and convenience store chain with 17 locations throughout Houston. The website will expand the grocer's reach, advertise the weekly grocery ads and online grocery specials, accept job applications, offer recipes as well as other services.

Web Wire

Sam's Club $99 Basic Health Services

The package, which will cost $99, is called "The Prevention Plan" and is offered by U.S. Preventive Medicine.  The plan isn't health insurance, said Christopher Fey, CEO of U.S. Preventive Medicine. It's more of a personalized health program that gives buyers access to the basic tools they need to evaluate their health. Consumer advocates warn that this program should not be thought of as a replacement for access to doctors.

CNN Money

First Organic Supermarket Opens in Greece

Longtime dream of many Greecians were finally realized with the opening of Greece's first organic food supermarket located in the Alimos district of Athens.  The main aim of the store is to provide high-quality food at affordable prices. The opening of the dedicated organic food supermarket symbolises the mainstreaming of organic food, long the sole domain of farmers' markets and small health-food stores reports Athens News.

Balkans

Big Plans for John Lewis

The retailer has put aside £250 million for investment in 2011, with this money set to go towards refurbishment, new store openings, e-commerce and other innovative retail concepts, such as a spa.  The company also plans to open three new stores this year - including one full line department store in Stratford in September and two more John Lewis at home shops in Exeter and Chester in the autumn. 

Retail Gazette

183 New Jobs at Largest Tesco Extra Store in Northern Ireland

The first minister has attended the opening of Tesco's biggest store in Northern Ireland which has created 183 jobs. The multi-million pound new store means Tesco Extra in Craigavon will now employ 377 people. As well as food retail, the 84,000 sq ft premises will host other facilities, including an optician and a phone shop. 

BBC

Woolworths', Big W, Comes Under Pressure

The discretionary part of the Woolworths business -- discount department store chain Big W and its consumer electronics division, which includes Dick Smith outlets -- came under pressure from heavy discounting and deflation.  Sales at Big W fell 2.9 per cent in the quarter, with sales at stores open at least a year falling 4.5 per cent. Big W attracted more customers and sold more products but unit sales growth was more than offset by price deflation -- including in home entertainment and apparel -- of between 6 per cent and 10 per cent during the half.

The Australian

Mydin Opens New Hypermarket in Penang. With More to Come

Homegrown wholesale and retail giant Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd has launched a new hypermarket in Bukit Jambul, Penang.  Mydin managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin said another hypermarket would soon be operational at Meru Raya, Ipoh in Perak. "We will have seven new hypermarkets by the end of this year and another seven by 2013," Ameer told StarBiz.

The Star Online