

The company reported third-quarter sales and profit that topped analysts’ estimates. Shares rose as much as 8.5 percent in extended trading. Whole Foods generated $21 million of operating income in the period, which included about a month of sales. Revenue from “physical stores,” primarily Whole Foods locations, was $1.28 billion. (Bloomberg)
Ireland: grocery chain SuperValu pressured to sell stores

Blackwells Capital said it's been attracted to SuperValu because of the chain's real estate holdings. The activist investor is asking Supervalu to sell roughly 30 percent of its stores. Blackwells also wants a "refresh" of leadership with grocery expertise, a dividend paid to shareholders, and a share buyback plan. (cnbc.com)

Brazilian retailer GPA SA swung to profit on Thursday as its Assai “cash-and-carry” division continued a successful expansion, offsetting losses in the group’s traditional formats. GPA, owned by France’s Casino Guichard Perrachon SA, reported a net profit of 72 million reals ($22 million) in the quarter, up from a 308 million loss a year ago, according to a securities filing. That beat an average estimate in a Thomson Reuters survey for a 32 million-real profit. (Reuters)
UK retail sales plunge
