Strategy

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart has launched part of its Fighting Hunger Together fall initiative to provide meals to communities in need.

Commerce, Calif. -- 99 Cents Only Stores said Tuesday it has leased 40 new compressed natural gas powered tractors from Ryder, which will replace diesel burning units with cleaner CNG rigs.

The move is expected to reduce the carbon footprint of the fleet and its CO2 emissions by up to 25%, said Eric Schiffer, CEO.  

The new CNG trucks will operate exclusively in the Southern California market, making store deliveries and picking up goods from vendors.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens on Monday announced that it has completed its purchase of 144 stores operating under the USA Drug, Super D Drug, May’s Drug, Med-X and Drug Warehouse banners located in Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

The acquisition also includes corporate offices, a distribution center located in Pine Bluff, Ark., and a wholesale and private brand business, for a total of approximately $438 million subject to adjustment in certain circumstances.

By Dr. Gary Edwards, [email protected]

Localization is the name of the game in multi-unit retail. Large retail chains offer consistency, scale and other benefits, but if the brand fails to deliver exceptional experiences to local consumers, it’s unlikely that the retailer will gain any real traction in today’s highly competitive retail marketplace.

New York -- Survey results released Tuesday by WSL/Strategic Retail found that Canada represents a strong expansion opportunity for U.S. retailers.
 
The “How Canada Shops” research study revealed that 64% of Canadians can still afford to shop beyond the basics – versus half of Americans, who say they cannot.



CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif. — 99 Cents Only has leased 40 new compressed natural gas-powered tractors from Ryder.

The new CNG trucks will operate exclusively in the Southern California market, making store deliveries and picking up goods from vendors. As part of its full-service lease, Ryder will provide both the CNG tractors, as well as maintenance for the vehicles. The chain said the tractors will replace its oldest diesel burning units with cleaner CNG rigs, making it one of the largest private Class-8 CNG fleets in Southern California.

Charlotte, N.C. -- Harris Teeter is currently renovating two locations into a new concept called 201central, which will feature an extensive variety of wine, beer, specialty foods and other general merchandise items. The new format will also feature an array of specialty services, including in-store wine consultants, event coordination and catering as well as party rentals and educational classes focused on wine, beer and food pairings.
 

Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- Kohl’s Corp. said Tuesday it plans to hire more than 52,700 associates this holiday season, about a 10% increase over last year’s holiday hiring numbers.

Kohl’s said it anticipates hiring an average of 41 associates per store, a 4% increase over 2011, as well as 5,700 seasonal DC positions and more than 30 seasonal credit operations positions.

Hiring began this month, and most jobs will be filled by mid-November, said the retailer.