Strategy

Washington, D.C. - Import volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to grow 5.1% in September over the same month last year as retailers head into the holiday season. U.S. ports followed by the monthly Global Port Tracker report, released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates, handled 1.43 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in July, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available.

Warrendale, Pa. – Two independent proxy voting advisory firms, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis & Co., have both recommended that rue21 shareholders vote for a proposed acquisition by Apax Partners. As previously announced on May 23, 2013, rue21 entered into a definitive agreement under which funds advised by Apax Partners will acquire all outstanding shares of rue21 for $42 per share in cash.

DALLAS — Leading closeout retailer Tuesday Morning has appointed retail industry veteran Jeffrey Boyer as the company’s EVP, chief administrative officer and CFO.

Boyer will fill the existing chief administrative officer vacancy and will replace Stephanie Bowman as CFO. Bowman, who served as the company’s CFO since April 2008, has decided to pursue other professional interests but will remain with Tuesday Morning in a consultative capacity to facilitate a smooth transition.

Philadelphia – The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack has acquired 17 Discount Tire Centers in Southern California from AKH Co. These 17 stores are located throughout the greater Los Angeles market, from Bakersfield to Orange County.

SAN FRANCISCO — Shutl, a same-day and same-hour delivery platform, has appointed John Kelly as the company’s EVP of retail. In his role, Kelly will be responsible for recruiting leading multichannel retailers to Shutl's same-day and same-hour delivery platform on a global scale.

Dallas -- Tuesday Morning Corp. said it has appointed Jeffrey Boyer as executive VP, chief administrative officer and CFO, effective immediately. Boyer fills both the existing chief administrative officer vacancy and replaces outgoing CFO Stephanie Bowman.

Boyer previously was CFO, then COO of 24 Hour Fitness Worldwide, and has also served as CFO of Michael’s Stores and Kmart Corp.  

CARLISLE, Pa. — Giant Food of Landover, Md., division president Anthony Hucker has resigned his position. His last day will be Sept. 13, according to parent company Ahold USA.

Ahold USA said Hucker was leaving to pursue another opportunity. Ahold USA EVP operations Bhavdeep Singh will oversee the Giant-Landover division on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is named.

Hucker was appointed president of Giant-Landover on Sept. 13, 2011, having previously worked at Walmart.

Dallas – Neiman Marcus is reportedly closing in on a deal to be purchased by Ares Management and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for $6 billion.