Strategy

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Office Depot reported Tuesday that it loss widened to $29 million in the second quarter, compared with a loss of $25 million in the year-ago period.

Sales were essentially flat in the quarter, at $2.7 billion. By division, total sales dipped 2% in the North American retail division to $1.1 billion, and same-store sales decreased 1%. During the second quarter of 2011, the division closed 14 stores, opened four stores and relocated four stores, bringing the total count for North America retail to 1,131 stores.

In recognition of his significant contributions to the art and science of supply chain and logistics management, Dr. James R. Stock will receive Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ (CSCMP) 2011 Distinguished Service Award.

Stock serves as the Frank Harvey Endowed Professor of Marketing at the University of South Florida and becomes the 46th person to receive the annual award since it was created in 1965. He will be honored during the opening general session on Monday, Oct. 3, at CSCMP’s Annual Global Conference in Philadelphia.

Washington, D.C. -- A Tuesday report by Bloomberg said that consumer confidence in the United States took an unexpected upward turn in July, from an eight-month low.

Results were led by a rebound in jobs’ outlook over the next six months.

The Conference Board’s index climbed to 59.5 from a revised 57.6 reading in June that was lower than previously estimated, according to Bloomberg research. Economists predicted the July gauge would fall to 56, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Blockbuster and Netflix may face new competition from Walmart, as the retailer announced that it will launch digital online movie rental and video streaming through its acquired Vudu service. 

The retailer is now offering 20,000 titles that can be viewed on almost any device with Internet access, from PCs to televisions to Sony's PlayStation3 and other Blu-Ray disc players.

Minneapolis -- Supervalu reported Tuesday that earnings for the first quarter rose 10% to $74 million, compared with $67 million in the year-ago period. The grocer cited effective cost-cutting for the strong performance, which topped Wall Street expectations.

The operator of Albertsons and Jewel-Osco supermarkets saw revenue fall 4% to $11.11 billion, just missing analysts’ expectations of $11.13 billion. Same-store sales dropped 3.9%.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Books-A-Million's efforts to secure the inventory, fixtures, equipment and leasehold interests for 30 Borders stores ended unsuccessfully because the company could not agree with Borders on terms and the going out of business sales at these locations commenced, the company announced Monday.

Minneapolis -- Supervalu president and CEO Craig Herkert on Tuesday spoke of the company’s “hyper-local retailing” concept during a conference call with analysts and reported by Retailing Today.

Supervalu’s commitment to growing its Save-A-Lot discount banner and its participation in First Lady Michelle Obama’s Partnership for a Healthier America campaign were other significant programs Herkert believes will help differentiate the grocer enough to drive trips and increase consumer loyalty.

Dallas -- RadioShack Corp. reported Tuesday that net income for the second quarter dropped to $24.9 million from $53 million in the year-ago period. Sales decreased to $941.9 million, compared with $962.3 million a year earlier. Wall Street expected sales of $1.03 billion.

However, analysts responded positively to RadioShack’s news that it had signed a deal with Verizon Wireless to sell its postpaid and prepaid wireless products and services beginning Sept. 15, supplanting its current program with T-Mobile.