Supply Chain & Merchandising

Fred’s wants to be what it calls “the convenient small box store of choice” and to achieve that goal, it has embarked on a two-pronged strategy focused on general merchandise and pharmacy.

Woonsocket, R.I. – CVS is launching Specialty Connect, a specialty prescription services program that allows to bring their specialty prescriptions to any CVS/pharmacy location, as a complement to existing specialty pharmacy processes.  

Hong Kong - Michael Kors Holdings attributed impressive growth in net income, total revenues and same-store sales during fourth quarter 2014 to strong global demand for luxury items. Net income for the three months ended March 29 rose 59% to $161 million, from $101.1 million last year.

Total revenue increased 53.6% to $917.5 million. from $597.2 million. Same-store sales grew 26%. The addition of 101 corporate stores and 150 licensed stores, including concessions, also helped fuel results.

St. Louis -- Brown Shoe Company’s first quarter results exceeded expectations as the retailer swung to a profit. The company said it is raising its annual forecast.

Brown Shoe reported net earnings for the quarter of $15.4 million, compared to a net loss of $10.8 million in the year-ago period.

Net sales for the quarter increased 0.4% to $591.2 million, from $588.7 million for the prior-year quarter.

Customers can now shop on Amazon for collectible U.S. coins from industry leading dealers including Stack’s Bowers Galleries, Kagin’s, David Lawrence Rare Coins and Liberty Coin — all from the newly launched Collectible Coins store.

Ahold CEO Dick Boer cited competitive pressures in New England as a contributing factor in the company’s flat U.S. sales in the first quarter, but it’s not stopping the company from targeting online expansion.  

Ahold's U.S. operations posted first-quarter net sales of $8 billion, down 0.3%. Excluding fuel sales, overall sales were flat relative to the same period last year. Identical sales growth excluding gas was 0.1%, which included the positive impact this year of the post-Easter week falling into the second quarter.

Fort Myers, Fla. – Higher costs reduced profits at Chico’s FAS Inc. during the first quarter of fiscal 2014 even as net sales grew. Chico’s reported net income of $39.88 million, a 22% year-over-year-drop from $51.12 million in the year-ago period.

Brussels, Belgium - Dirk Van den Berghe has decided to resign from his role as CEO of Delhaize Belgium and Luxembourg effective July 31. Delhaize Group is announcing that Van den Berghe has decided to resign and accept a new role outside the company.