Supply Chain & Merchandising

Laredo, Texas -- Brentwood, Tenn.-based GBT Realty said Wednesday it has completed construction of a new shopping center that is home to four new retailers. The fully occupied McPherson Place, in Laredo, Texas, is tenanted by James Avery, Orange Leaf, Starbucks Coffee and AT&T. All four stores are open for business.

“The quality of this location allowed us to completely fill the center with an outstanding list of retailers,” said Fraser Schaufele, VP leasing at GBT.

Empty shelves at Walmart are getting a lot of attention these days, but the situation isn’t new and can’t be blamed entirely on store staffing levels.

Los Angeles -- Sport Chalet announced the company-wide implementation of order today, deliver today service. With this new service Sport Chalet customers can order merchandise and have it delivered the same day.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Same-store sales at Rite Aid decreased 2% in March, including a 3.8% increase in same-store sales on the front end and a 4.5% decrease in pharmacy sales.

The 4,621-store chain reported total sales for the month of $1.939 billion, a 2.5% decrease compared with $1.989 billion in March 2012, while same-store prescription count increased 0.3%.

The company said that of the 3.8% increase in front-end same-store sales, 3% came from a shift in timing of Easter, which fell on March 31, as opposed to April 8 last year.

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets announced that Gretchen Suydan has joined the company as director of marketing. The company announced the promotions of Brian Bosworth to sales director and Maria Panko to private brands manager.

ROSEVILLE, Calif. — Revionics, a provider of end-to-end merchandise optimization solutions, that it has named John Greenfield as SVP global business development. Greenfield has been successfully serving as Revionics’ VP channels and alliances. In his new role, Greenfield will be responsible for identifying, creating, and growing strategic global partnerships and alliances that will support accelerated revenue growth for the company.

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee Company reaffirmed its commitment to accelerate growth in Southeast Asia, announcing plans to open 100 stores in Indonesia over the next three years and another 100 stores in the Philippines over the next four years.

Starbucks entered Southeast Asia in 1996 with its first store in Singapore. The company currently operates more than 700 stores across six countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and, most recently, Vietnam.

Naples, Fla. -- Indianapolis-based Kite Realty Group said that Earthwise Pet Supply has leased 3,020 sq. ft. at Pine Ridge Crossing, located in Naples, Fla.

The landlord is KRG Pine Ridge.