Supply Chain & Merchandising

The National Retail Federation and a coalition representing retailers, manufacturers, truckers, transportation intermediaries and other business groups have asked the Federal Maritime Commission to set new policy preventing terminal operators and ocean carriers from charging unfair fees when uncontrollable incidents such as storms and strikes keep cargo from being picked up from ports on time.  

Staples will sell a controlling stake in its European operations to private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management for an estimated $53.65 million as the retailer continues to focus on North America following its failed take-over of Office Depot.  

Heidenberg Properties has received planning board approval to build a new 54,000-sq.-ft. Stop & Shop prototype at its Lake Plaza Shopping Center in Mahopac, New York. The store will replace a Key Food supermarket and increase total square footage at the center to 165,000 sq. ft.   “This was a complicated process involving multiple municipal agencies,” said Heidenberg VP of Operations Jason Lazar.” We are excited to deliver the new prototype for Stop & Shop."  

It’s a draw.   Dollar General and Walmart tied for the least expensive overall basket, at $27 each, in Kantar Retail's Opening Price Point Study, which seeks to determine how select retailers meet the grocery and consumable needs of shoppers looking for the lowest absolute shelf prices.     

On Monday, Amazon announced the launch of Amazon Go, a checkout-free convenience store in Seattle. The 1,800-sq.-ft. store is powered by what Amazon calls “just walkout technology,” which combines computer vision, sensor fusion and deep learning technologies. Currently open only to Amazon employees, Amazon Go expected to open to the public in 2017.  

The Home Depot Mexico is one step closer to delivering on its promise "to provide the highest level of service, the broadest selection of products and the most competitive prices.”  

It’s official. Supervalu has finalized the sale of its discount supermarket business, Save-A-Lot, to an affiliate of Onex Corporation for $1.365 billion in cash.   In connection with the closing of the sale, Supervalu and Save-A-Lot have entered into a five-year professional services agreement whereby Supervalu will continue providing certain back office services to Save-A-Lot.  

Gordmans Stores named Ramin Mozafari as senior VP of planning and allocation.   Mozafari joins Gordmans from Kohl's Department Stores, where he most recently was senior VP, divisional merchandise manager for accessories. Prior to Kohl's, from 2008 to 2012, he served DSW, where he held various merchandising roles including VP, general merchandise manager.