Supply Chain & Merchandising

Plymouth Meeting, Pa. — Smashburger plans to open a 2,700-sq.-ft. eatery at Plymouth Meeting Mall this fall. As of now, Smashburger has 187 corporate and franchised restaurants across the country.

Anchored by Macy’s, Boscov’s and Whole Foods Market and Café, the mall features more than 100 specialty retailers and a long list of destination restaurants like Benihana, Bertucci’s, California Pizza Kitchen, Chipotle Mexican Grill and others.

New York -- American Apparel has purchased the independent New York specialty retailer and wholesaler, Oak, according to Women’s Wear Daily.  

Oak has two stores (one in Brooklyn, and the other in Manhattan) an e-commerce site and a wholesale business. The brand has a cool, hip vibe, and features contemporary fashions at upmarket prices. It will operate as a separate division within American Apparel, and its founders will remain on board, the report said.

NEW YORK — H&M has made a lot of its U.S. customers happy with the launch of its Shop Online store, namely those who prefer the convenience of online shopping over having to go to the retailer’s brick-and-mortar stores. 

The retailer also stands to reach new potential customers who don’t have a store anywhere near them, but are familiar with the brand. 

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Higher sales in the retail and distribution segments had a favorable impact on Spartan Stores’ consolidated net sales for the first quarter ended June 22, which increased 1.4% to $612.4 million compared to $603.9 million last. 

New York -- HH Gregg saw a significant improvement in its financial results for the three-month period ended June 30. Despite a net loss of $1.3 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, the specialty retailer narrowed the gap from a net loss of $5.7 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the comparable prior-year period.

The decrease in net loss for the three month period ended June 30, 2013 was due, in part, to a comparable-store sales increase of 0.8%, offset by a decrease in gross profit as a percentage of net sales.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Ahold USA has appointed former Jewel-Osco executive Nick Bertram as its SVP store strategy and execution.

At Jewel-Osco, Bertram oversaw operations across Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. He was also SVP of Supervalu and worked in executive positions at Walmart in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. His new position at Ahold USA will be based out of the company's Carlisle, Pa., headquarters. 

New York — The Feil Organization has named industry veteran Nicholas Forelli Director of Retail Leasing.

In his new role, Forelli will focus on Feil’s leasing efforts throughout the metropolitan area, including New York City, Long Island and New Jersey. Chief among his projects will be Glen Oaks Shopping Center in Queens, working with Briskin on the redevelopment of Concourse Plaza in the Bronx, smaller retail projects around the metro area, as well as One & Olney Square in Philadelphia.

New York -- J.C. Penney on Thursday said that reports claiming CIT Group Inc., the largest lender in the apparel industry, had stopped funding some shipments to Penney were untrue. The retailer said it has plenty of cash on hand and all major suppliers were still shipping.

“J.C. Penney continues to have the support of all of its key vendors, who have maintained their shipments to the company," the company said in a statement on Thursday.