Strategy

BENSALEM, Pa. — Charming Shoppes has announced the following executive leadership announcements.

SALISBURY, N.C. — Bottom Dollar Food announced grand opening dates for its first 14 stores in the greater Pittsburgh and Youngstown, Ohio, markets, with its first seven stores opening on Jan. 26. Seven additional stores will open on Feb. 9.

New York City -- Target Corp. is mulling a  new pricing strategy amid increased competition from online and brick-and-mortar rivals, according to reports by the Associated Press and Dow Jones.

The reports said that Target  has sent a letter to some of its key vendors as part of a potential new strategy to bolster its competiveness. The news comes just days before J.C. Penney is scheduled to announce a major overhaul in which pricing is likely to play a key role.

Dallas -- 7-Eleven said it has completed the transaction with ExxonMobil to acquire retail interests in 51 North Texas sites. The transaction concluded Jan. 20, and terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The majority of locations will be rebranded as 7-Eleven stores.

"This acquisition fits well with our aggressive growth strategy," said Robbie Radant, 7-Eleven's new VP of mergers and acquisitions. "We met our goal of opening 650 stores in 2011, and with this acquisition 2012 is off to a great start."

Bensalem, Pa. -- Charming Shopped announced that Bryan Q. Eshelman has been promoted to executive VP -- chief supply chain officer, effective immediately.

Eshelman joined Charming Shoppes in 2010 as senior VP -- operations, with responsibility for technology, logistics, technical design and quality assurance. He has led a number of key initiatives relating to Charming Shoppes' IT systems transformation and multi-faceted supply chain strategies.

Norwell, Mass. -- Bluestone Energy Services has helped The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company substantially reduce energy consumption in hundreds of store locations and warehouses, enabling the supermarket operator to meet aggressive sustainability goals, cut costs, and receive over $4 million in utility incentives.

Atlanta -- RedPrarie Corp., a global supply chain and retail technology provider, announced that BJ’s Wholesale Club plans to use RedPrairie’s transportation management system to streamline its transportation operations and reduce costs. The solution is designed to enable wholesale clubs and retailers to improve operational efficiencies by automating transportation tasks and optimizing the planning of shipments. BJ’s Wholesale Club will be able to better monitor carrier performance and shipment activities throughout the supply chain.

Dallas -- PeopleAnswers and Canada-based Town Shoes, which sells under Town Shoes and The Shoe Company, announced a software licensing agreement for the retailer to use the PeopleAnswers’ human-relations solution in its 124 stores across Canada for pre-employment screening and employee selection.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Safeway announced that Tom Keller, president of the company's Vons Division, will retire after more than 40 years of  service in the food industry, effective Feb. 1.

Gary Rocheleau, currently VP, retail merchandising execution, will lead Vons on an interim basis.

Salisbury, N.C. -- Bottom Dollar Food announced grand opening dates for its first 14 stores in the greater Pittsburgh and Youngstown, Ohio, markets, with its first seven stores opening on Jan. 26. Seven additional stores will open on Feb. 9.