Supply Chain & Merchandising

Walmart’s release of a sustainable chemistry implementation guide may not sound like the biggest news to come out of Bentonville, but the directives contained in the document are sure to have wide-ranging implications for suppliers’ products.
 

Hoffman Estates, Ill. - Sears Holdings Corp. narrowed its loss for the fourth quarter as it lowered expenses and reduced inventory.

Sears said Thursday that it lost $358 million for the period ended Feb. 1, compared with a loss of $489 million a year ago.

Sales plunged 14% to $10.6 billion, from $12.3 billion. Sears’ revenue performance was hurt partly by having one less week in the latest quarter and having fewer Sears and Kmart stores, the company said.

Walmart honored more than a dozen trucking and transportation partners this week as “Carriers of the Year,” and the list includes many of the supply chain world’s biggest companies along with some lesser known firms.

In addition to its massive private trucking fleet, the enormity of Walmart’s business means it works with more than 400 third party carriers. Out of those the company recognized 13 companies and further singled out Charlie Crawford from UPS as carrier representative  of the year.

Dublin, Calif. -- Ross Stores’ said its Ross Dress for Less  will open three new locations in Texas on March 8, for a total of over 160 stores in the chain’s second largest state. The new Texas stores will be located in the Katy Mills shopping center in Katy, Rayzor Ranch Marketplace in Denton, and The Pavillions in El Paso.  

Ross is also expanding its dd’s Discounts brand, opening two new locations in Northern California on March 1. The new stores are in White Road Plaza in San Jose and Hatch Road Center in Ceres.

San Diego -- As part of a restructuring, Sony Electronics announced plans to close 20 U.S. Sony stores, along with a total staff reduction of one-third by the end of the calendar year.

Best Buy saw revenues slip in the fourth quarter and fiscal 2013, thanks in part to declining retail traffic fueled by a shorter holiday shopping season and severe winter weather. But all was not bad news for the retailer, which was able to profit from its Renew Blue cost reduction program.

During the fourth quarter, Best Buy reported net earnings of $311 million, a notable improvement from its $460 million net loss a year earlier. For the fiscal year, Best Buy reported net earnings of $523 million, compared to a net loss of $233 million the prior fiscal year.

By Carrie Smith, [email protected]

It is undeniable that fast-casual restaurant chains in North Florida and South Georgia are resuming their expansion plans. The local unemployment rate ended 2013 under 6%, home building permits jumped nearly 30%, and car sales climbed — all signs of an improving local economy.

New York -- Sears Holdings’ CEO Eddie Lampert strongly defended his company in his annual letter to shareholders, saying not only does he believe Sears is headed in the right direction, but that “the entire retail industry is headed to where we already are.”