Strategy

Hangzhou, China – The Chinese regulatory agency State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) has reportedly criticized Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. for not making enough effort to prevent the sale of counterfeit items on its e-commerce platform. According to the Wall Street Journal, the SAIC issued a report starting Alibaba offers insufficient product information and does not use an effective system to rank sellers.

Rite Aid Corp. announced plans to build its first new distribution center in 15 years, a 900,000-sq.-ft. facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The new, $90 million center, set to open in 2016, will employ nearly 600 people after it becomes fully operational and will support the inventory and fulfillment needs of approximately 1,000 Rite Aid stores in the southeastern United States.

It's time once again for confectionery and snack retailers, as well as manufacturers to come together for the Sweets & Snacks Expo, which is scheduled to be held May 19 through May 21 at Chicago's McCormick Place.

Katy, Texas – Academy Sports & Outdoors will use cash wraps from manufacturing company Pan-Oston. Academy currently operates more than 185 stores in 15 states.

Academy operates over 185 stores In 15 states.  
 

New York -- BCBGMaxazria Group has expanded its relationship with Demandware to advance its omnichannel commerce strategy. The retailer launched the Demandware Digital Store Solution in nearly 180 BCBGMAXAZRIA U.S. stores in just three months to equip store associates with the solution in time for the holiday shopping season.

Sunnyvale, Calif. – Yahoo Inc. plans a tax-free spin-off of its remaining holdings in Alibaba Group. The spinoff will create an independent registered investment company called SpinCo.

Stock of the new company will be distributed pro rata to Yahoo shareholders, resulting in SpinCo becoming a separate publicly traded company. Following the spin-off, Yahoo will continue to operate its core business and hold its 35.5% interest in Yahoo Japan.

As Lowe’s prepares to open its previously announced 25 new stores in Canada during the next three years, speculation is mounting that the retailer could snap up some of Target's locations when the company withdraws from the Canadian market later this year.   But Lowe's is not saying whether three new Lowe's stores set to open later this year in Lethbridge, Saskatoon and Sault Ste. Mari will be located in former Target locations.  

By Amy ter Haar