International Business

San Jose, Calif. – Digital technology stands ready to significantly disrupt retail and many other industries, yet many companies are not showing concern.  

Chicago - True Value Co. has added National Lumber and Hardware, a 50-plus-store chain in Puerto Rico, as the newest purchasing partner of the cooperative. The growth of True Value’s international presence is a key initiative as the company focuses on its long-term strategic plan.

“We’re excited to enter into this new relationship with National as this marks an important expansion of the Puerto Rican market for True Value,” said Lars Hybel, VP of International, True Value Co.
 

The combination of Royal Ahold and Delhaize Groupe creates a new super-regional chain along the Eastern Seaboard that will serve 50 million customers weekly and generate annual sales of more than $60 billion.

The merger announcement was highly anticipated following months of speculation followed by confirmation of talks between the companies. Now that the merger agreement has been reached, Ahold and Delhaize said they expect the deal to close by mid-2016.

Armonk, N.Y. – IBM and Box are launching a global, cloud-based partnership that will integrate their existing products and services and develop new solutions targeted across industries including retail. The strategic alliance brings together Box’s cloud content collaboration platform with IBM Analytics and social solutions, IBM security technologies and the global IBM cloud.

Hong Kong – A subsidiary of global export company Li & Fung is partnering with two Chinese department store retailers to open as many as 300 stores in the Shanghai free trade zone. Li & Fung Trading (China) Holdings Ltd. is forming a joint venture with Shanghai Bailian Group Co. Ltd. and Beijing Wangfujing Department Store (Group) Co. Ltd. Li & Fung holds a 20% stake and each department store chain owns a 40% stake.

Deerfield, Ill. - Mondelez International has renewed its global strategic partnership with Facebook, with a focus on creating and delivering creative video content and driving impulse snack purchasing online. Through this partnership, the companies will work together to leverage and innovate around video consumption and mobile commerce.

New York - Kate Spade & Co. is naming Emilia Fabricant as executive VP, president of North America, effective June 29. In this role, Fabricant will oversee the company's North America business, with responsibilities across all distribution channels, and will report to Craig A. Leavitt, CEO.  

Hangzhou, China – Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Holding Group Inc. will reportedly pull the plug on its 11Main U.S. specialty e-commerce site. According to TechCrunch, Alibaba plans to fold 11Main into New York-based social shopping platform OpenSky.