Strategy

Ensuring the roughly nine billion people who are estimated to inhabit the planet by 2050 have enough to eat is a big challenge. That’s why Land O’Lakes has introduced new program to fund big ideas from future food leaders.

Philadelphia -- Destination Maternity Corp. will expand into Israel through an international franchise agreement with Israeli fashion retail chain H&O Fashion Ltd. (H&O). Through this relationship, Destination Maternity will introduce its Motherhood Maternity, A Pea in the Pod, and Destination Maternity brands into Israel, with the first franchise locations expected to open in spring 2015.    

Even if Dollar General doesn’t prevail in its efforts to acquire Family Dollar the company’s expanding distribution infrastructure is positioned to support future growth.

Dollar General said it plans to build the 13th distribution center in its nationwide network in San Antonio. The facility will measure more than 900,000-sq.-ft., employ roughly 530 people and serve more than 1,000 stores when it opens in October 2015, the company said.

San Jose, Calif. -– EBay Inc. beat Wall Street estimates with its third quarter revenue results but lowered its forecast for full-year sales due to the impact of a May 2014 security breach. Net income fell 2% to $673 million from $689 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2013.  

Amazon’s 50 fulfillments centers and 15 sortation centers are looking to hire 80,000 seasonal works to cope with an anticipated surge in U.S. holiday sales.

Amazon, like other retailers, touts the seasonal positions as an opportunity to get in on the ground floor with the company and establish a foundation for a career. Last year, Amazon said it converted thousands of seasonal employees into regular, full-time roles after the holidays, and expects to do the same this year.
 

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee Company continues to extend its mobile offerings. The coffee giant will launch mobile ordering in its locations in the Portland, Ore., area by year end, with a full rollout nationwide in 2015.    The mobile-order app will enable customers to place orders in advance of their visit and pick them up at their selected Starbucks location.   

Regional discounter Shopko has added a range of omnichannel capabilities to its retail operations just in time for what is expected to be the most digital Christmas ever.

Shopko announced the rollout of expanded omnichannel capabilities it said would provide shoppers more access to products, the ability to buy products on-line and ship them to store for free. The capabilities were extended to 310 of the company’s locations.

Birmingham, Ala. -- Brookwood Village, a mixed-use development located in the affluent Mountain Brook and Homewood area of Birmingham, Ala., announced that leading specialty bedding company Mattress Firm will join the shopping center’s merchant roster in 2015.