Report: Penney drops Martha Stewart

Associated Press

NEW YORK

J.C. Penney is ending a tug-of-war with its nemesis over Martha Stewart.

J.C. Penney reportedly is dumping the Martha Stewart brand, after sales of the home maven’s goods didn’t live up to expectations. The move, reported by the New York Post on Thursday, comes as a judge is expected to rule soon in a lengthy court battle between J.C. Penney Co. and rival Macy’s Inc. over which chain has the right to sell her pots and pans.

The Post cited unidentified sources as saying that Mike Ullman, a former Penney CEO and Canfield native who returned to the top job this year, made the decision to drop Martha Stewart because of poor sales. Emails seeking comment from Martha Stewart and Penney on the newspaper report were not immediately returned.