Corporate Governance

Merger creates new pet power
Two mid-sized U.S. and Canadian chains are joining forces to create the third-largest pet specialty retailer and the largest small format, neighborhood specialty pet retailer in North America Pet Valu and Pet Supermarket have merged to create a combined business named Pet Retail Brands. With more than 930 stores, it is expected to generate approximately $1 billion in system-wide retail sales across the U.S. and Canada. Pet Retail Brands will have stores from the East Coast to the West Coast and from Miami to Vancouver.
Staples names new head of North American retail
Staples Inc.is looking north of the border for an executive to lead its North American operations. The office supply giant is promoting Steve Matyas to president of North American retail. Matyas had previously served as president of Staples Canada/Bureau en Gros since July 2000, and will continue to serve as a member of the company’s executive committee.

Extreme value grocery store with unusual model joins the fray

A new player has entered the value grocery segment. LogicLane, a start-up company that provides discount wholesale grocery supply chain services and a wholesale grocery e-commerce marketplace for businesses, has entered the retail arena, opening a supermarket in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Called Mill Street Merchants, the store is designed to extend the extreme value deals previously only available to national businesses on the LogicLane website to local businesses and consumers.
Walmart Pay is Rolled Out – Now What?

Customers at all of Walmart’s 4,600-plus U.S. stores can now use the Walmart Pay digital payment service.
Off-price retailer continues to expand

Nordstrom remains in expansion mode with its Nordstrom Rack division. A 26,000-sq. ft. Nordstrom Rack is scheduled to open in spring 2017, at CityPlace, a 100-acre, master-planned development in Woodbury, Minn. The property is owned and managed by Elion Partners, a Florida-based real estate investment firm.
Tommy Bahama, Disney Springs, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Good times for fast-casual chains

Bolstered by the rapid expansion of build-your-own pizza concepts, fast-casual chains had another strong year in 2015. That’s according to Technomic Inc.’s annual Top 250 Fast-Casual Chain Restaurant report, which reported that cumulative sales in the fast-casual dining segment rose 11.6% in 205, compared to 13.5% in 2014.
Report: Nordstrom buys stake in supply chain software firm

Nordstrom has taken another step to reduce complexity in its supply chain and improve its shipping of online orders. The retailer has bought a minority stake in DS Co., a software company that links inventory management between retailers and suppliers, the Wall Street Journal reported. The company, based in Utah, offers a cloud-based service, called Dsco, which makes it easier for suppliers to directly ship orders placed through their retail partners.
Ralph Lauren turnaround plan evokes Ford Motor’s comeback

Beset by declining sales, growing competition and changing consumer tastes, Ralph Lauren has launched an ambitious turnaround plan that includes a heavy brand emphasis.
Now Showing: Stores in classic L.A. movie palaces

Los Angeles’s Broadway Theater District was the first such entertainment strip to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Is the famed alley of theater palaces now poised to make retail history?
Tech Bytes: Walmart Pay is Rolled Out – Now What?

Customers at all of Walmart’s 4,600-plus U.S. stores can now use the Walmart Pay digital payment service. This is an impressive feat, especially considering Walmart Pay was only announced in December 2015 and didn’t start undergoing official rollout until May 2016. While everyone agrees Walmart Pay reaching full implementation is a big deal, there is less agreement on how this will affect the digital payment landscape.
New bricks-and-mortar concept taps into consumers’ digital photo obsession

Blink is eyeing retail expansion thanks to new financing.