Sales & Marketing

Toronto – Loblaw Companies Ltd. has selected the SAP Store Device Control by GK software solution marketed by SAP. This product offers the infrastructure to control stores in an omnichannel commerce architecture.

GK Software US Inc. will handle the implementation of the software in this project.
 

New York -- Kroger is expanding into new markets and growing its presence in the e-commerce channel with its acquisition of Vitacost.com, a leading online retailer of vitamins and supplements. 

According to the definitive merger agreement, Kroger will purchase all outstanding shares of Vitacost.com for $8 per share in cash, or approximately $280 million.

As a result of its definitive agreement to acquire CytoSport Holdings, maker of Muscle Milk products, Hormel Foods has promoted three of its executives to leadership roles with CytoSport, based in Benicia, California.

Denver - While on summer vacation, nearby location trumps brands for many types of consumer purchases, and mobile devices will be the dominant form of search. A new study conducted by location marketing automation provider Placeable shows that proximity is apparently so important that only 1% of vacationers consider reviews when looking to replace a forgotten item.

Toronto – Tim Hortons and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) are launching the new CIBC Tim Hortons Double Double Visa Card, leveraging a two-button technology that allows cardholders to press the CIBC Visa button on the front of the card to pay for their purchases anywhere Visa is accepted. One percent of each dollar spent is converted instantly into Tim Cash rewards, and by touching the Tim Card button, cardholders can then redeem their Tim Cash loyalty points at Tim Hortons locations.

Less than a month after former Walmart.com CEO  Joel Anderson joined Five Below as president, the discount retailer’s EVP of merchandising Jeffrey Moore has resigned.

Five Below, which bills itself as the leading retailer of trend-right, high-quality, extreme-value merchandise for pre-teens, teens and beyond, spoke highly of Moore who is leaving to spend time with his family.

Dublin, Calif. — dd’s DISCOUNTS, a division of Ross Stores, will open a new store in downtown Portland on June 28^th in a former Ross Dress for Less location. Counting the new location, dd’s DISCONTS will operate over 140 locations in 13 states. The retailer is on schedule to open approximately 20 locations in 2014.

Walmart is sponsoring the translation of an industry leading food fraud prevention course into Mandarin as part of a larger effort designed to position  the retailer as a leader in product quality, authenticity and safety.