Supply Chain & Merchandising

BERKELEY, Calif. — Annie's, a leading natural and organic food company, has appointed Ed Aaron to the newly created position of SVP of strategic planning and investor relations.

Pittsburgh -- GNC Holdings reported Friday that net income for the quarter ended March 31 rose 12.5% to $72.6 million, compared with $64.5 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue increased 6.5% to $664.7 million, from $624.3 million last year. Same-store sales advanced 1.9% in domestic company-owned stores (including online sales).

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario – Walmart Canada is looking to resolve Canada’s raccoon problem by carrying Great Value Mint-X raccoon repellent garbage bags. 

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners and Cresa announced an agreement to form a new company to perform lease administration services for retail, office and industrial clients.

The new company will be known as SRS-Cresa Lease Administration, and will deliver a spectrum of lease administration services including critical date management, CAM audits, occupancy cost reconciliations, and full portfolio lease administration services out of currently established offices in Dallas and in Chicago.

NEW YORK — Beauty brand Revlon posted a net loss during the first quarter, including charges, as net sales rose 2.1% excluding the unfavorable impact of foreign currency fluctuations.

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee Company reported that its second-quarter profit rose 26% to $390.4 million, up from $309.9 million last year, amid sales increases in the Americas and Asia regions.
     
Total net revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, rose 11% to $3.56 billion, not quite the $3.58 billion Wall Street expected.  Global same-store store sales grew 6%, driven by a 4% increase in traffic and a 2% increase in average ticket, marking the 13th consecutive quarter of global comp growth greater than 5%.
 

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu reported sales of $3.89 billion and a loss of $1.41 billion in fourth quarter 2013, compared with sales of $3.98 billion and a loss of $424 million in fourth quarter 2012.

For the fiscal year, sales were $17.1 billion, compared with $17.3 billion in fiscal year 2012, while the company incurred a loss of $1.46 billion, compared with a $1.04 billion loss the year before.

Walmart and other retailers are facing renewed criticism over their global sourcing practices following another factory disaster in Bangladesh.

Reuters is reporting that a block of garment factories and shops collapsed in Savar, 20 miles outside Dhaka, on Wednesday, killing 251 people and injuring more than a thousand. According to the report, an unknown number of the more than 3,000 people who work at the factory remain trapped inside. For more information, go to: