Dunkin Donuts plans to open between 350

and 360 new locations in 2013. Last year, it launched 291

new units. The company also announced that for the first

time, Dunkin will be entering the Southern California

market, with stores in Los Angeles, Riverside, San

Diego, San Bernardino, Ventura and Orange counties

expected to open in 2015……..As a way of

boosting its online commerce operations,

Target is launching six new brands that will

only be available online. The new brands

range from apparel to home decor. UnitedHealth Group Inc.‘s

profit in the fourth quarter slipped 1%. But shed no tears;

the company still made $1.24 billion in the period. Total

revenues were up 11% but, says the company, medical

costs grew 12%, resulting in the decline in earnings……A

surge in sales in December helped the toy industry to a

respectable showing during the holiday shopping season.

According to the NPD Group’s Retail Tracking Service,

in the last two weeks of December, dollar sales were up

18% and unit sales rose 10% when compared to the same

time period in 2011.