Supply Chain & Merchandising

Atlanta -- A report released Tuesday by First Data Corp., which tracks same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations, found that warm weather and spring promotions boosted discretionary spending in March.

According to First Data’s March 2012 SpendTrend report, year-over-year dollar volume growth was 8.7% in March, compared with February’s 8.9% growth.

Dallas -- Tuesday Morning Corp. reported Tuesday that same-store sales for the quarter ended Mar. 31 dropped 3.2% on spending and traffic decreases.

According to the discount retailer, traffic dipped 1.8% for the third quarter and average tickets fell 1.4%. Total revenue edged down 1% to $172.7 million, compared with $174.3 million in the year-ago period.
 

Minneapolis -- Supervalu Inc. reported Tuesday that it swung to a loss of $424 million in the quarter ended Feb. 25, compared with a $95 million gain a year earlier. Results were negatively impacted by charges related to store closures and employee layoffs, but still beat Wall Street expectations.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot has joined Supplier Connection, a group of 15 large businesses committed to driving small business growth by simplifying access to their global supply chains.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Safeway announced Monday that it has promoted its executive VP and CFO Robert Edwards to the position of president.

Edwards has held his current role since 2004. He will have overall responsibility for the company's retail operations, marketing, merchandising, corporate brands, manufacturing, distribution and finance functions, and will continue as CFO until a successor is named to the position.

MINNEAPOLIS  — Costs related to workforce reduction contributed to $424 million, or $2 per diluted share loss, at Supervalu for its fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. For the quarter, net sales were $8.2 billion. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, the company reported net sales of $8.7 billion and net earnings of $95 million or 44 cents per diluted share.

Minneapolis -- In a surprise announcement, Best Buy Co. said Tuesday that CEO Brian Dunn has resigned from the company. Company director G. Mike Mikan has been named interim CEO. Richard Schulze, the founder of Best Buy, continues to serve as chairman.

Toronto -- Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group and Calloway Real Estate Investment Trust, Toronto, announced Tuesday that they will launch construction on Canada’s first upscale outlet center on April 25.

The first phase of the planned 500,000-sq.-ft. center will open in summer 2013.

Toronto Premium Outlets is a 50/50 joint venture between Calloway and Simon, and will feature more than 100 upscale outlet stores.