Business news with words chain+sales. 60 or more news.

HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Tokyo-listed supermarket and department store operator Seiyu Ltd. will undergo a restructuring that will see the firm refurbish stores and open new ones, while targeting a return to profitability within two years, according to the Nikkei business daily. As part of its transformation to a wholly-owned subsidiary Wal-Mart Stores Inc. this spring, the firm will consolidate five regional units, up the pace of its refurbishment plans to include more than 70 stores in 2008 and make other adjustments to its supply chain and payroll procedures, the Nikkei reported. Seiyu will open about 60 new stores by 2012 and target annual group sales of more than 1.2 trillion yen. The report said the strategy set out the goals as part of five-year plan.

US Stocks finished largely flat yesterday as investors returned from the Christmas holiday to news of weaker-than-expected retail sales. A jump in oil prices also concerned investors. The International Council of Shopping Centers said its index of retail chain store sales rose 2.8 percent last week, rounding out a sluggish December performance that puts merchants on track for a smaller sales gain than the trade group originally expected. Still, there is some hope sales will rebound as shoppers start spending with holiday gift cards. Other reports released alongside Christmas proved disappointing. Target Corp. indicated its sales may have fallen in December, while MasterCard Inc. said holiday spending, including credit, cash and checks, climbed a modest 3.6 percent between Thanksgiving and Christmas, weighed by a slowdown in sales of women's apparel. That compares with a rise of 6.6 percent over the same period last year. The 2007 holiday figure is at the low end of its 3.5

Stocks opened moderately lower Wednesday as investors returned from the holiday to news of weaker-than-expected retail sales. The International Council of Shopping Centers said its index of retail chain store sales rose 2.8 percent last week, rounding...

Walgreen Co. reported a moderately stronger-than-anticipated 5.5 percent increase in fiscal first-quarter earnings, but profit margins narrowed for the Deerfield drugstore chain as growing consumer caution put pressure on non-pharmacy sales.

Reuters - Walgreen Co reported a better-than-expected rise in quarterly profit on Friday as cost controls offset weak sales of flu medications and a recall of cold medicines, sending the drugstore chain's shares up 7 percent.

Walgreen's quarterly profit rose 5.5%, helped by tighter cost controls at the drugstore chain and strong sales of its private-label products.

Drugstore chain Walgreen Co. reported a 5.5 percent gain in first-quarter profits Friday, benefiting from cost cuts and sales of private-label products as consumers sought out low-price goods.

Demand for baby cashmere clothing and iPods has helped John Lewis achieve a further week of record festive sales, the department store chain said yesterday.

Electronics behemoth Best Buy gave a disappointing fourth-quarter outlook, stoking worries that Christmas sales of flat-screen TVs, laptops and video games may not live up to Wall Street's lofty expectations. The Minneapolis-based chain's fiscal...

Tiffany, Nordstrom and Coach may see December sales growth slow in what the National Retail Federation is predicting will be the worst U...

John Lewis, the department store chain, is on track to see weekly sales of ?100m for the first time ever this week, bringing a much-needed boost to the retail sector after a sluggish start to the Christmas trading season.

John Lewis, the department store chain, is on track to see weekly sales of £100m for the first time ever this week, bringing a much-needed boost to the retail sector after a sluggish start to the Christmas trading season. The record-breaking figure, never before achieved in the retailer's 143-year history, will help to dispel fears of a widespread consumer slowdown. John Lewis said that sales between Sunday and yesterday morning were up by 7.4pc compared to the same week last year. That week, the retailer reported sales of £93.8m. This means that if sales growth continues at its current level until Saturday,

Music retail chain and Waterstone's owner HMV signalled slowing sales growth in spite of narrowing first-half losses.

SALES have slowed for music chain and Waterstone's owner HMV, despite it reducing first-half losses.

Kroger Co. reported Tuesday that its fiscal third-quarter profit jumped 18% on strong sales, but margins at the nation's largest traditional grocery chain were hurt by what it sells outside stores -- gasoline.

AP - Kroger Co. reported Tuesday its third-quarter profit jumped 18 percent on strong sales but margins at the nation's largest traditional grocery chain were hurt by what it sells outside stores — gasoline.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Kroger Co , the largest U.S. grocery chain, posted an 18 percent increase in quarterly profit on Tuesday on solid sales growth and a tax benefit, though its gross margin slipped.

AP - Kroger Co. on Tuesday said its third-quarter profit rose 18 percent, helped by stronger sales, and the nation's biggest traditional grocery chain operator raised its outlook for the year.

Kroger Co. on Tuesday said its third-quarter profit rose 18 percent, helped by stronger sales, and the nation's biggest traditional grocery chain operator raised its outlook for the year.

Reuters - Kroger Co , the largest U.S. grocery chain, posted an 18 percent increase in quarterly profit on Tuesday on solid sales growth and a tax benefit, though its gross margin slipped.