Supply Chain & Merchandising

East Cleveland, Ohio -- Walgreens recently upgraded its general lighting across 80% of the chain's nationwide locations, through a partnership with GE Lighting.

As part of its new lighting initiative, Walgreens said it has changed its lights to the new GE F25 T8 linear fluorescent tubes, which is designed to save thousands of dollars as it impacts more than 4.3 million lights at nearly 7,000 stores. Additionally, the new linear fluorescent fixtures from GE Lighting are expected to increase energy efficiency by 9% and extend re-lamp cycles by 10%.

When Craig Herkert left Walmart a few years ago to become president and CEO of Supervalu the situation that unfolded earlier this week at the grocer was not what he had in mind.

Carlsbad, Calif. -- Callaway Golf said Wednesday it will cut 150 to 170 jobs, or about 12% of its work force, as demand for golf equipment has weakened.

The eliminated jobs will span all regions and levels, said the retailer.

Callaway has downwardly revised its full-year forecast after announcing in April that it expected a significant improvement in fiscal 2012.

The job cuts are expected to generate about $52 million in annual savings.
 

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Eddie Bauer is engaging the software services of ChannelAdvisor to broaden online visibility and simplify the selling process on shopping engines, ChannelAdvisor anounced. Specifically, Eddie Bauer is using Managed Marketplaces and Managed Comparison Shopping solutions.

Minneapolis -- Target on Thursday confirmed the list of the stores that it intends to open across Canada in 2013.

As previously reported, Target purchased the leasehold interests of 189 sites currently operated by Zellers, and is slated to open 125 to 135 stores in Canada, the majority of which will open in 2013.

The latest announcement confirms the first 125 stores that will open in 2013, and later this year, Target will confirm additional store locations that will open starting in early 2014 and beyond.

Paris -- French retail giant Carrefour reported Thursday that sales in the second quarter dipped 0.3% to $26.5 billion, beating analysts’ expectations and prompting the retailer to issue earnings guidance to match 2012 expectations of $2.5 to $2.6 billion.

Yikes! After a monstrous earnings miss, Supervalu suspended its earnings guidance and dividend and said it was exploring strategic alternatives.

Lawrenceville, Ga. – Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group said that Crazy 8 will open a store at its Discover Mills property, Atlanta’s largest outlet, value retail and entertainment destination.

Gymboree Corp.’s Crazy 8, slated to open this fall, will join newly announced tenant Old Navy Outlet at the center.

Discover Mills features more than 180 retailers, as well as four full-service restaurants and entertainment venues.