Big Lots Appoints Three Senior Vice Presidents - General Merchandise Managers

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG), North America's largest broadline closeout retailer, today announced the appointment of three General Merchandise Managers as part of realigning the merchandising organization into customer-centric categories of Food and Consumables, Furniture and Home Decor, and Seasonal, Toys and Electronics.

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"As we look at our business through the lens of our customer, we know she wants quality, tasteful, branded merchandise at great values," said David Campisi, CEO and President. "We've realigned our merchandising organization, and added key leadership, to exceed Jennifer's expectations every time she shops our stores. Trey, Martha, and Lucy will provide thought leadership and strategic alignment to the merchandising organization. These changes are a component of our long range strategic planning process where our objective is to deliver a comprehensive and detailed plan that carefully evaluates all aspects of our current operations, including our leadership team and organization structure. Today's announcement is a major step forward in developing our plans for the future."

Trey Johnson was promoted to Senior Vice President, General Merchandise Manager for Food and Consumables. Mr. Johnson joined the company in August 2013 as Divisional Merchandise Manager of Food, and has extensive experience in Food and Consumables with well-known retailers including Family Dollar Corporation, Sears Holding Corporation, Walmart Inc., and SuperValu Inc.

Martha Withers was hired as Senior Vice President, General Merchandise Manager for Furniture and Home Decor. Ms. Withers has diverse category experience with Stage Stores Inc., Stein Mart, and May Department Stores.

Lucy Cindric was hired as Senior Vice President, General Merchandise Manager for Seasonal, Toys and Electronics. Ms. Cindric has rich industry experience with Stage Stores Inc., Walmart Inc., May Company Department Stores, Foley's, and Dayton Hudson Corporation.

About Big Lots 
Big Lots is North America's largest broadline closeout retailer. We currently operate 1,526 BIG LOTS stores in the 48 contiguous United States, 5 BIG LOTS stores in Canada, and 73 LIQUIDATION WORLD and LW stores in Canada. For more information, visit www.biglots.com.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements 
Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and such statements are intended to qualify for the protection of the safe harbor provided by the Act. The words "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "objective," "goal," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "will," "should," "may," "target," "forecast," "guidance," "outlook" and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. Similarly, descriptions of our objectives, strategies, plans, goals or targets are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to the expectations of management as to future occurrences and trends, including statements expressing optimism or pessimism about future operating results or events and projected sales, earnings, capital expenditures and business strategy. Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of assumptions concerning future conditions that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Forward-looking statements are and will be based upon management's then-current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance, and are applicable only as of the dates of such statements. Although we believe the  expectations expressed in forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of our knowledge, forward-looking statements, by their nature, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, any one or a combination of which could materially affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

Forward-looking statements that we make herein and in other reports and releases are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, current economic and credit conditions, the cost of goods, our inability to successfully execute strategic initiatives, competitive pressures, economic pressures on our customers and us, the availability of brand name closeout merchandise, trade restrictions, freight costs, the risks discussed in the Risk Factors section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other factors discussed from time to time in our other filings with the SEC, including Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. This release should be read in conjunction with such filings, and you should consider all of these risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating forward-looking statements.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our public announcements and SEC filings.

SOURCE Big Lots, Inc.