Supply Chain & Merchandising

Amazon continues its hiring spree.    The company announced Thursday that it plans to add more than 30,000 part-time positions in the United States over the next year.  The new positions are on top of the previously announced 100,000 full-time U.S. jobs Amazon will add during the next 18 months.   Some 5,000 of the new part-time hires will be in Amazon’s  Virtual Customer Service program, which offers employees the flexibility to work from home as a customer service agent. 

In a move to avoid filing Chapter 11, the fashion retailer is planning to shutter approximately 12% of its stores.   The closures will incur an impairment charge of approximately $2.0 million and will make a termination payment to the landlord of approximately $7.4 million, according to a filing the chain made on April 4, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.   

After three quarters of missing analyst estimates, Bed Bath & Beyond’s fourth quarter ended on a high note, and beat expectations.

Amazon is gaining a significantly larger share-of-wallet for everyday household items — and the retailer continues to build momentum.  

Riverpoint Center, a 211,000-sq.-ft. grocery-anchored center in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, has been acquired by Federal Realty Investment Trust for $107 million.   Mid-America Rea Estate brokered the sales of the center, which is anchored by Jewel-Osco, Marshalls, and Old Navy. The name of the seller was not disclosed.   Riverpoint Center is located at the northwest corner of West Fullerton and North Clybourn Avenues in Lincoln Park, an affluent neighborhood on the lakefront north of downtown.

Rue21 could be the next chain headed toward bankruptcy.   The teen apparel retailer, which is backed by private equity firm Apax Partners, is preparing to file for bankruptcy as soon as this month, according to Bloomberg.    

7-Eleven has accelerated its U.S. expansion by entering into the largest acquisition in its history.    The c-store retailer has agreed to buy the Sunoco chain of gas stations, which includes some 1,108 convenience stores located in 18 states, for a reported $3.3 billion.   

Ace Wholesale Holdings has appointed a new executive to drive the company’s ongoing expansion.   Mark Spanswick was named president and general manager of Ace Wholesale Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of Ace Hardware Corp.