Supply Chain & Merchandising

SOUTHPORT, Conn. — Sturm, Ruger & Company, a firearms manufacturer, announced that the company has been named Vendor of the Year by Cabela’s.

Matthews, N.C. -- Family Dollar Stores, announced that it has named Jeffrey Thomas senior VP-merchandise operations. He replaces Scott Zucker, who left the company at the end of May.

Thomas joined Family Dollar in 2003 as a director of vendor performance. He went on to assume roles with increasing responsibilities, and in 2013, was named VP-merchant services.

Fourth quarter same store sales increased 3% at Dollar General as the company capped of another record year and indicated it would open 635 stores this year.

Total sales for the company’s 13 week fourth quarter ended February 1, increased 0.5%, to $4.21 billion compared to $4.19 billion during the 14 week fourth quarter the prior year. Excluding the extra week from the prior year’s fourth quarter, sales would have increased 8%. The company said its same store sales increase was driven by consumables and a mix of increased transaction size and customer traffic.

Atlanta -- Jones Lang LaSalle’s Capital Markets announced that the firm has closed the sale of Bethesda Walk in the Lawrenceville suburb of Atlanta, on behalf of DLC Management Corp., Tarrytown, N.Y.

Solon Mack Real Estate purchased the 68,271-sq.-ft. shopping center, which is anchored by a 44,271-sq.-ft. Walmart Neighborhood Market that opened in mid-2012.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

BOSTON — Wayfair.com, an online retailer of home products and furnishings, announced five executive leadership promotions Monday.

Ed Macri was named SVP business intelligence and marketing, and John Mulliken was named SVP strategic initiatives. Additional executive promotions include Dave Raymond to VP operations process improvement, Laura Scott to VP supplier operations and Jeff Steeves to VP arketing.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- Dollar General reported Monday net income of $317 million for the quarter ended Feb. 1, compared with $293 million in the year-ago period, beating Wall Street expectations. The company also forecasted 2013 sales growth of 10%-12%, slightly below analysts’ views.

Revenue edged up 0.5% to $4.21 billion in the quarter, missing Wall Street’s expected $4.26 billion. Same-store sales rose 3%.

For the full year, profit grew to $953 million from $767 million, and revenue rose 8.2% to $16.02 billion.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores has named Scott Zucker to the newly created position of SVP merchandise operations. Zucker will be responsible for driving the strategy and execution of merchandise initiatives, category management, merchandise planning and replenishment. In his new role, he will report to Michael Bloom, president and COO.

Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. -- Mid-America Asset Management said it has signed three furniture/home décor stores to retail locations in Chicago’s suburbs of Oak Brook and McHenry as well as downstate in Bloomington, Ill.

Ashley Furniture signed a lease for 31,573 sq. ft. at Colonial Plaza in Bloomington, Ill., with plans to open in spring 2013. Ashley Furniture will co-anchor the 236,460-sq.-ft. center along with Kmart and OfficeMax.