Strategy

PHOENIX — PetSmart is opening up a new distribution center in Bethel, Pa. in order to better serve its growing store base and increased demands on its supply chain.

When Craig Herkert left Walmart a few years ago to become president and CEO of Supervalu the situation that unfolded earlier this week at the grocer was not what he had in mind.

Walmart and Target were both winners this week as Target announced a deal with Neiman Marcus that makes the distinction between it and Walmart even sharper.

NEW YORK — The popular British fashion brand Topshop, which has flagship stores in New York, Chicago and Las Vegas, is making its mass retail debut in the United States at Nordstrom this fall.

Beginning Sept. 10, 14 Nordstrom stores will carry an assortment of Topshop and Topman merchandiese. Items will also be available online, making it the only large U.S. retailer to do so.

Seattle -- Nordstrom and British fashion brand TopShop said Thursday they have formed a partnership to launch TopShop and TopMan in-store departments in 14 Nordstrom stores, as well as on Nordstrom.com beginning Sept. 10.   

The joint venture makes Nordstrom the only large U.S. retailer to sell a broad assortment of the British fashion brands' merchandise in-store and online.

TopShop and TopMan have flagship stores in New York, Chicago, Las Vegas and Los Angeles (opening spring 2013).

Santa Ana, Calif. -- A report released Thursday by the New York Times said that three ex-managers of Wet Seal have filed a federal race discrimination lawsuit, claiming bias against African-American employees. The trio alleges the retailer has a high-level policy of firing and denying pay increases and promotions to blacks because they did not fit the retailer’s “brand image,” according to the Times report.

East Cleveland, Ohio -- Walgreens recently upgraded its general lighting across 80% of the chain's nationwide locations, through a partnership with GE Lighting.

As part of its new lighting initiative, Walgreens said it has changed its lights to the new GE F25 T8 linear fluorescent tubes, which is designed to save thousands of dollars as it impacts more than 4.3 million lights at nearly 7,000 stores. Additionally, the new linear fluorescent fixtures from GE Lighting are expected to increase energy efficiency by 9% and extend re-lamp cycles by 10%.

Minneapolis -- Target on Thursday confirmed the list of the stores that it intends to open across Canada in 2013.

As previously reported, Target purchased the leasehold interests of 189 sites currently operated by Zellers, and is slated to open 125 to 135 stores in Canada, the majority of which will open in 2013.

The latest announcement confirms the first 125 stores that will open in 2013, and later this year, Target will confirm additional store locations that will open starting in early 2014 and beyond.

Harrisburg, Pa. -- Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett said Thursday that PetSmart will open a new distribution center in Bethel Township, Berks County, Pa.
 
PetSmart will construct an 870,000-sq.-ft. distribution center in Berks Park 78, a new industrial park located in Bethel Township. The company will start construction on the $50 million distribution center in the fall of 2012, with completion expected in first quarter 2014.

The project is expected to create at least 500 new jobs by 2016. 

Minneapolis -- Christopher & Banks Corp. said Thursday it has entered into a new $50 million senior secured revolving credit facility with Wells Fargo Capital Finance.

The new facility provides committed revolving funding through July 2017, and replaces the company’s $50 million credit facility that was scheduled to mature on June 30, 2014.