Supply Chain & Merchandising

Gouverneur, N.Y. -- Kinney Drugs Inc. announced that Jim Spencer, formerly COO, has been promoted to president of Kinney Drug stores. In this expanded role, Spencer will be responsible for the total customer experience and strategic growth of our retail drug stores.

In addition to overseeing pharmacy and retail operations, marketing, and merchandising, he will assume oversight responsibilities for logistics.

Durham, N.C. -- Supermarket retailer Bashas has installed energy-efficient LED lighting from Cree in its Tempe, Ariz., location. The newly renovated store features luminaires powered by Cree TrueWhite technology, with an anticipated energy savings of 47% over the store’s previous design.
 

The National Retail Federation definition of September 2013 shifts the month one week later in the calendar when compared to 2012. This shift introduces a significant cooler bias in the forecast. Therefore, while the nation on a year-on-year basis trends cooler, most of that will be due to a calendar shift and not a change in the weather. Conditions are expected to be similar to 2012 when the shift is removed.

Charlotte, N.C. — Divaris Real Estate has arranged two leases totaling approximately 9,000 sq. ft. of retail space at the Westfield Eastridge Mall in Gastonia, N.C. Divaris represented the landlord, WEA Eastridge LP.

Los Arcos, a family owned Mexican restaurant, leased a 6,183-sq.-ft. outparcel building. Creations, a gift card shop, renewed its lease for 2,669 sq. ft.

Belk, J.C. Penney, Sears and Dillard’s anchor the mall, which is leased exclusively by Divaris.

Saint John, New Brunswick -- Walmart Canada grand-opened a 129,000-sq.-ft. superstore in Saint John, New Brunswick, on Friday, the first of nine “Maritime Supercenters” planned for the country by Jan. 31, 2014, said the retailer.

The newly redeveloped store, which signals the launch of Walmart Canada’s Maritime sourcing program for produce, features a fresh grocery section that will serve as a prototype for all Maritime supercenters.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Ross Stores Inc. reported a profit of $213 million for the second quarter, compared with $182 million last year and beating Wall Street’s expectations.

Revenue rose 9% to $2.5 billion, matching forecasts. Same-store sales edged up 4%, compared to a 7% rise in the same period last year. However, the retailer expressed caution about the months ahead.

Dublin, Calif. – Epicor Software announced the appointment of Noel Goggin as senior VP and general manager of the Epicor Retail solutions business reporting to Epicor president and CEO Pervez Qureshi.

In this strategic role, Goggin will have operating responsibility for the Epicor Retail solutions business which delivers a comprehensive retail management suite representing a complete range of advanced solutions for specialty, soft goods, and general merchandise retailers.

New York -- Foot Locker's second-quarter net income increased 12%, partly due to a recent acquisition. (In July, the retailer completed its purchase of German athletic store chain Runners Point Group for $94 million.)

For the period ended Aug. 3, the company earned $66 million, compared to $59 million a year ago. Its results were in line with expectations.

Revenue rose 6.4% to $1.45 billion from $1.37 billion, in line with expectations. Same-store sales rose 1.8%.