Supply Chain & Merchandising

Americans’ may desire healthy, organic and locally grown foods, but their enduring love of candy propelled the confectionary industry to record setting sales in 2013 and more of the same is forecast for this year.

Matthews, N.C. - Family Dollar Stores Inc. has named Brian D. Hancock to the position of senior VP supply chain. Hancock will report to Howard R. Levine, chairman and CEO.

Kayser-Roth Corporation received three awards from Walmart: Supplier of the Year for overall outstanding performance and partnership in 2013, Overall Apparel Supplier of the Year and the Made in the USA Supplier of the Year Award, Apparel, for its No nonsense brand.

The awards were presented at Walmart's annual Vendor Summit in Orlando, Fla.

Compton, Calif. – Foodsco will open its first store in Oakland, Calif., on March 26. The new 80,000 sq.-ft. supermarket is located in East Oakland's Foothill Square Shopping Center.

The Hilco Global Retail Group is rebranding its recently acquired Steele's retail stores as Steele's & Deals. The company also appointed several key executive leaders who will take over new management roles at the retail chain.

The company feels that the Steele's & Deals name more accurately communicates value to customers.

Oracle Industry Connect starts today, and promises to bring retailers two full days of their peers providing in-depth insight into the latest trends and pain points facing retail technology professionals. The event, being held at the Marriott Copley Place, Boston, Mass., offers a stellar lineup of speakers, including Jeff Hamm, director of e-commerce at Ulta Beauty, who will speak about improving customer experience at home and on the go with Oracle Commerce. Paul McFarren, CIO of C Wonder, will discuss supporting global growth with a unique deployment of Oracle Retail Merchandising.

Outdoor retailer Cabela’s is bringing its smaller format, next-generation concept to the Indianapolis suburb of Noblesville.

The store isn’t due to open until the fall of 2015 but Cabela’s tends to pre-announce store expansion plans well in advance of actual opening dates as its stores tend to be big news events in the communities where they are located.
Construction is expected to begin later this at Interstate 69 and Campus Parkway in the new Saxony Campus development adjacent to Hamilton Town Center.

London – British fashion retailer Arcadia Group, whose banners include Topshop and Topman, has chosen Oracle Retail Merchandising Operations Management, Oracle Retail Merchandise Planning and Optimization, and Oracle Commerce applications to create a platform to help optimize retail operations and support its developing international business.