Supply Chain & Merchandising

Minneapolis -- Quantum Retail Technology, a provider of merchandise optimization and inventory solutions for retail, announced that The Children's Place has selected Quantum's Q Analytics for Size and Pack Optimization. The solution joins The Children's Place's implementation of Quantum's Q for Allocation and Replenishment, due to go live this year, and their planned implementation of Quantum's Q for Order Planning.

Commerce, Calif. -- Smart & Final Stores Inc. reported earnings of $4.9 million in its first quarter, compared with a profit of $2.5 million last year. Revenue for the period ended March 22 rose 11.9% to $822.2 million. Same-store sales climbed 6.1%.

"The year is off to a strong start, with Smart & Final Stores delivering against our business plans and financial objectives," said Dave Hirz, president and CEO.

Oak Brook, Ill. -- Retail Properties of America announced that it has closed on the off-market acquisition of a 38,000-sq.-ft. community center located in Tysons Corner, which is in the Washington, D.C./Baltimore corridor.

Recently renovated in 2012, the property is anchored by Golfsmith and shadow-anchored by Best Buy. It is also supported by national fast-causal restaurant offerings including Chipotle, Chick-fil-A and Roti. The property was purchased off-market for approximately $31.6 million.

Store closures led Office Depot sales to decline in the first quarter, but the retailer still reported a sizable bump in profit.

True Value Company has selected a specialty retail veteran as its next chief financial officer.

Chicago - Potbelly Corp. has promoted Julie Younglove-Webb as its new senior VP of operations. Younglove-Webb will oversee all aspects of company operations.

Younglove-Webb joined the Potbelly 2008, as a general manager and then a district manager before assuming various operations roles and being promoted to her latest role as Central Zone VP, overseeing 250 shops. She replaces John Morlock, who will now serve as senior VP of ops growth.

New York -- Discount supermarket company WinCo Foods LLC will open its 100th store on May 7, in Lewisville, Texas. The 83,000-sq.-ft. location is the fifth WinCo store to open in the Lone Star State.

The new store features WinCo's signature "Wall of Values" at the entry, which displays a wide variety of high-volume, value-priced products.

WinCo currently operates some 100 stores in the states of Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California, Oregon, Arizona, Utah and Texas.
 

WinCo Foods LLC is marking its 100th store opening with a huge celebration in Texas on May 7.

The newest WinCo Foods store is located at 1288 W. Main St. in Lewisville and is the fifth WinCo Foods store to open in Texas. Occupying approximately 83,000 square feet the store will initially employ approximately 150 individuals, about 140 of whom have been hired locally.