BJ's Wholesale Club Stock Up Sharp Today

NY Post Reports a BJ's Possible Takeover:

BJ's Wholesale Club still isn't safe from the clutches of private equity.
Leonard Green & Partners -- a Los Angeles buyout firm that disclosed a 9.5 percent stake in the warehouse chain in July -- remains keen to acquire the retailer and may launch a hostile bid if an auction isn't initiated in the coming weeks, sources told The Post.


Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/buying_in_bulk_aP1mhywCsTzLrwANWYdZfI#ixzz19YI3r0DD

BJ's Wholesale Club may face a hostile bid from the takeover firm if the chain does not initiate an auction as planned, according to sources quoted in the New York Post.  Reports are also saying that analysts at Jefferies estimate BJ's could be worth $50 to $55 a share. BJ is up more than 6 percent from yesterday's close.

Happy Holidays!

It's that time of year and we hope everyone has and is having a great holiday season! Fill us in on how you and your stores are being affected by the craziness of shoppers, rumors of the BJ's sale, and all the other dramatics working for BJ's provides-

See you in the new year!


Here's just a few stories to keep you updated with BJ's news:

$9.2 Million Construction Loan for BJ's in Western Massachusetts
"The new BJ's in Pittsfield will satisfy the demand for a warehouse club for much of the Berkshires, as the closest wholesale warehouse club is located 31 miles to the west in Albany, New York"


The Ithaca Journal: County Endorses Financing for BJ's in Lansing
The county approved a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes financing agreement to develop a site with a BJ's Wholesale Club store, senior housing and bird sanctuary in the Village of Lansing. 


BJ's November Revenue Metric Up 5%
Revenue at its stores open at least a year rose 5 % in November with both food and general merchandise sales climbing. 


PETA Urges BJ's to Adopt Less Cruel Method of Chicken Slaughter
PETA has submitted a shareholder resolution encouraging the Boston-based wholesale retailer to purchase all its turkeys from suppliers that use a less cruel method of poultry slaughter. "Bj's should be ashamed that it is lagging behind its competitors in improving conditions for the chickens and turkeys who end up on its shelves."

Another New BJ's Wholesale Club to open in Mass.

Image via Wikipedia

Another plan for BJ's expansion was unveiled today when the company announced yet another 80,000 square foot new store to be opening in 2010.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Braintree developer has announced plans to construct a BJ's Wholesale Club on Hubbard Avenue. It would be the first BJ's in Berkshire County

The Berkrire Eagle says the store will be 88,000 square feet, and provide the community with 120 retail jobs. 

BJ's begins laying foundation for new store in Mass.

This weekend, workers began laying foundation for a new BJ's Wholesale Club in Quincy Massachusetts.  The 85,000 sqft store is slated to be completed by April 2010. 

Elsewhere, BJ's sales announced that its comparable club sales for August 2009 decreased by 6.0%, including a negative impact of 8.2% from lower gasoline prices and volumes. Excluding gasoline, merchandise comparable club sales increased by 2.2%.

In 2008, the Company reported a comparable club sales increase of 15.4% for August, including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 7.7%. Excluding the impact of gasoline, merchandise comparable club sales increased by 7.7%

Obama: "We will pass the Employee Free Choice Act," Meanwhile BJ's continues to profit, what's this all add up to?

Image via Wikipedia

Yesterday the Wall Street Journal ran a story which said that President Barack Obama told AFL-CIO union leaders Tuesday in a videotaped address that the controversial Employee Free Choice Act will pass, "signaling his full backing for legislation that makes union organizing easier..."

"We will pass the Employee Free Choice Act," President Obama told more than 100 top labor officials in a closed-door meeting at the labor federation's winter gathering in Miami, according to people at the meeting.

If you'd like read the entire article at the Wall Street Journal

The real question is if you think this could be good for BJ's? Take the poll to your left, leave your comments below, The UFCW has a site on the Employee Free Choice Act for further reference also

Meanwhile, BJ's continues to grow, they reported further growth in the 4th quarter,

Earnings climbed to $52.7 million, or 91 cents per share, from $50.2 million, or 80 cents per share, in the same quarter a year ago.

Read the analysis of BJ's profit's here.

What's this mean to you also?

A new CEO for BJ's Wholesale Club

BJ's Wholesale Club on Thursday named its president, Laura Sen, to serve as chief executive officer, succeeding Herb Zarkin in a widely expected management change...

Previous reports of Herb Zarkin's retirement were denounced, as he will continue to serve as chairman and will stand for re-election to the board when his term expires in May of 2010.

Read more here at Business Week.

BJ's announces new store opening in Florida...

Image by Ditch the Kitsch!! via Flickr
The hard economic times do not seem to be on retailers like BJ's & Wal-Mart, who are taking advantage of the struggling economy by offering lower prices than competitors, question is though are their employees seeing any of these benefits?

CLERMONT - A BJ's Wholesale Club is scheduled to open next spring, showing that commercial growth in Clermont is not about to stop, even with a slowdown in the construction of new homes.

Read the entire article here [Orlando Sentinel]

Has BJ's cited tough economic times to regarding to your wages?

Forecasts are up for BJ's

Once again, investing websites are predicting sunny skies for BJ's Wholesale Club:

The company’s efforts to improve its merchandise and increase store traffic continue to drive its sales. The difficult macro-economic conditions are also pushing customers into discount stores and wholesale clubs, which offer a better value compared to supermarkets. We maintain our Hold rating, and our target price of $38.

Retailers like BJ's Wholesale Club & Wal-Mart are set to thrive in tough economic times.

Here's another investment blog saying BJ's will benefit in this economy.

Mouse found baked in bread sold at BJ's...

A man in North Carolina has found a mouse baked inside a package of Hot Dog buns sold at BJ's Wholesale Club.

BJ’s Wholesale Club has pulled thousands of bread products from 44 stores in three states after we called the company to inform them of what a customer believes he found when he went to make dinner.

A spokeswoman for BJ’s also sent a statement, it reads, “BJ’s first priority is the health and safety of our members. We deeply regret Mr. Van Dyne’s experience as he described it to us. The Arnold Potato Hot Dog Rolls come to us prepackaged from George Weston Bakeries and are placed directly on our shelves by George Weston employees. We have contacted George Weston Bakeries and they are investigating this matter. George Weston has informed us that the product under investigation was manufactured at their facility in Plant City, Florida. As a precaution, we are removing all potentially effected products made by the George Weston Plant City, Florida facility.”

Read the entire story here

NBC carried the story here

And the Charlotte Observer here.

BJ's Store Closings...

From the State, South Carolina

From staff reports

South Carolina's only BJ’s Wholesale Club will close today in Greenville.
The Massachusetts-based chain announced last week that it will close the store on Woodruff Road for failing to meet sales expectations, company spokeswoman Maria Fruci told The Greenville News.
BJ's operates 178 wholesale clubs in 16 states. The Greenville store opened in 2000 and employs about 60.
Fruci told the Greenville paper the company has no plans to close any additional clubs.
BJ's members in the Greenville area will receive pro-rated membership fee refunds

 What are your thoughts?  We've gotten a few email's asking if we've heard any rumors that would affect the NY/NJ area, we'll keep everyone posted.  But what's the feeling around the clubs?

Here's an article regarding the development that will overtake once BJ's vacates.