Strategy

Naperville, Ill. -- OfficeMax has been recognized as a JDA Software Group  2011 Real Results Winner for Best in Demand Management.

Now in its sixth year, the Real Results Awards recognize companies that have demonstrated business-process excellence and achieved quantifiable benefits through the adoption of industry best practices and use of JDA's industry-leading solutions and services. OfficeMax was honored at Focus 2011, JDA's annual user conference in Orlando, Florida, May 1-4, 2011.

CHICAGO -- Supervalu detailed its strategic plan to deliver profitable growth in the future for shareholders at an investor event May 3. 

Commenting on the company’s plans, Supevalu CEO and president Craig Herkert said, “We are focused on acting as one company, working toward a common goal of delivering increased value to all of our customers and meeting their needs neighborhood by neighborhood.”

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Stater Bros. announced that three of its supermarkets have received the Environmental Protection Agency's GreenChill Award.

The regional chain said that the stores, all located in Southern California, earned the Gold Award from the EPA, the second-highest award offered by the agency to businesses that use refrigerants that do not harm the earth's ozone layer.

The consulting firm Gravitytank named Bob Thacker as a strategic advisor to help the firm’s consumer electronics, retail, consumer packaged goods and technology clients. Thacker most recently served as SVP of marketing and advertising at OfficeMax and was with Target from 1989 to 1998 as a VP of marketing. He also served as president and CEO of BBDO in Minneapolis and served as an SVP of marketing at Sears.

New York City -- Clarity and ease of use are sticky points for retailers when it comes to implementing business intelligence, according to a recent survey on BI in retail by Chain Store Age. 

Hampstead, Md. -- JoS. A. Bank Clothiers is now allowing international customers to place orders on its website. The retailer is now able to deliver website orders to customers in over 90 countries. JoS. A. Bank will utilize a third-party provider, FiftyOne Global Ecommerce (“FiftyOne”), New York City, to facilitate the checkout of the orders and to export and deliver the orders to the international destinations.

Kansas City, Mo. -- Einstein Noah Restaurant Group announces partnership with Service Management Group, a leading customer analytics agency focused on loyalty and service improvement, to increase customer loyalty and drive same-store sales.

Through this partnership Service Management will identify new business opportunities through customer analyses that integrate guest experience metrics with transaction data and Einstein restaurant attributes.

New York City -- Americans are placing an even greater premium on quality customer service this year, with 70% willing to spend an average of 13% more with companies they believe provide excellent customer service, according to the American Express Global Customer Service Barometer. This is up from 2010, when 58% said they would spend an average of 9% more for great service.