Supply Chain & Merchandising

New York -- Taxi app company Uber introduced a trial service on Tuesday, offering on-demand delivery of medicine, toiletries and other drugstore products.

Uber is testing the "Uber Corner Store" over the next few weeks in parts of Washington, DC.
 

A 6.4% second quarter same store sales increase at U.S. stores enabled Home Depot to handily exceed analysts’ profit estimates and prompted the company to increase its full year outlook.

Shopping site Shopsavvy announced an update to its mobile app this week that adds functionality for users who are looking for the right price on the product they want.  

The update increased the number of participating retail outlets from fewer than 40,000 to about 500,000. Additionally, products can be tracked by their barcodes using the app’s built-in scanner.

Atlanta -- Home Depot said its fiscal second-quarter net income rose 14% amid a rebound in its spring selling season and strong online sales. The retailer also raised its annual profit guidance.

"In the second quarter, our spring seasonal business rebounded, and we saw strong performance in the core of the store and across all of our geographies," stated Frank Blake, chairman and CEO.

For the three months ended Aug. 3, Home Depot Inc. earned a better-than-expected $2.1 billion, compared to $1.8 billion in the year-ago period.

Dick’s Sporting Goods overcame weakness in its golf and hunting businesses to generate much better than expected second quarter same store sales and made further inroads in e-commerce.

Mars has appointed Jean-Christophe Flatin as president of global chocolate, effective Oct. 1. Flatin, who is currently global president of Royal Canin, a unit of Mars Petcare, replaces Grant F. Reid, who recently moved into the role of office of the president for Mars.

Framingham, Mass. -- TJX Cos. said Tuesday that its second-quarter net income increased a better-than-expected 8% on strong sales in the United States and abroad. The retailer also lifted its full-year earnings forecast.

TJX earned $517.6 million for the period ended Aug. 2, compared with $479.6 million a year earlier.

Revenue rose 7% to $6.92 billion from $6.44 billion, beating Wall Street's estimate of $6.88 billion.

Better than expected second quarter sales and profits at TJX Companies prompted CEO Carol Meyrowitz to strike an optimistic tone about the discount retailer’s future prospects.