Supply Chain & Merchandising

GameStop is trying to boost the number of its stores by bidding on 163 leases from RadioShack Corp, according to Bloomberg.

The news service reports that Spring Communications, the wireless unit of GameStop, submitted and won a significant bid for the leases.

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. reported stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter results on Thursday, fueled by surging sales at Old Navy and strong online results. But it offered a disappointing profit outlook for 2015 as it feels the impact of the stronger U.S. dollar and West Coast port delays.

New York -- These are tough times for discount grocery stores — unless the company happens to be the fast-growing Aldi. Pittsburgh-based supermarket operator Giant Eagle plans to close all eight of its Good Cents Grocery + More stores. The closures are set for March 26.

The 2,200 store Bridgestone Retail Operations group is refining its approach to a key supplier relationship with a new deal involving Shell Lubricants Americas.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2016, Bridgestone Retail Operations (BSRO) said Shell would serve as its supplier of choice for automotive lubricants at the company’s more than 2,200 U.S. tire and automotive service centers.

Dublin, Calif. -- dd’s Discounts, a division of Ross Stores, Inc., will open a new store in Oxnard, California. The opening date is scheduled for Feb. 28.

The new store is located in Fremont Square along North Ventura Road and Doris Avenue in North Oxnard.

California is the retailer’s largest state with a total of 68 stores.  Including this new location, dd’s Discounts will operate 156 locations in 15 states.
 

Dublin, Calif. -- dd’s Discounts, a division of Ross Stores, Inc., will open a new store in Waco, Texas. The new store is slated to open Feb. 28 and is located in the Parkdale Shopping Center at North Valley Mills Drive and Bosque Boulevard, 13 miles southwest of Baylor University.  

Texas is the retailer’s second largest state with a total of 32 stores.  Including this new location, dd’s Discounts will operate over 155 locations in 15 states.
 

Dublin, Calif. – Costs and expenses did not grow at the same rate as sales during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 at Ross Stores Inc., resulting in significant net income growth compared to the prior year period. Ross Stores’ net earnings grew 14% to $248.53 million, from $217.95 million.

Sales climbed 10% to $3.03 billion, from $2.74 billion. Same-store sales rose 6%.

The recently merged Albertsons and Safeway organization has appointed Justin Dye as chief administrative officer of the combined company.   Lee Wilson, who previously held this position with the company, has elected to stay in his role as consultant and not go forward as an officer with the newly combined organization.