Supply Chain & Merchandising

Naperville, Ill. — OfficeMax has named new leadership at its contract division. The company announced that, effective April 2, John Kenning will serve as executive VP and president and will report directly to Ravi Saligram, president and CEO of OfficeMax.

Columbus, Ohio -- Big Lots’ fourth-quarter net income rose 4% to $114.7 million for the period ended Jan. 28, up from $110.1 million a year earlier. The chain also said it anticipates 90 new store openings in the United States in 2012.

Big Lots’ revenue in the quarter rose 10% to $1.67 billion, from $1.52 billion.

Under normal circumstances a dividend increase of 9% would be regarded as pretty solid, but Walmart has spoiled its investors in recent years, so when it boosted its annual dividend to $1.59 from $1.46 this week the increase was viewed as puny.

New York City -- Foot Locker Inc. said that its fourth-quarter profit increased 42% amid higher sales and cost cuts.

The company earned a better-than-expected $81 million in the three months that ended Jan. 28, up from $57 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue increased 8% to $1.5 billion, from $1.39 billion. Same-store sales were up 7.5% in quarter.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Pier 1 Imports Inc. said that its total revenue for the fourth quarter, ended Feb. 25, increased a better-than-expected 11.8% to $477 million. Same-store sales rose 10.3%.

The chain said total revenue for the fiscal year ended Feb. 25 climbed 9.8% to $1.53 billion.

The home décor retailer is upbeat about its first-quarter prospects.

Garden City, N.J. -- A Thursday report in the Wall Street Journal said that Neiman Marcus has moved on from its earlier plans to open a department store in the Mall at Oyster Bay, located in Syosset, N.Y., and owned by Taubman, and has instead decided to open a new 100,000-sq.-ft. anchor store at Simon Property Group’s Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City.

The new store, slated for 2015 completion, will be part of a $200-million redevelopment of Roosevelt Field.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — General merchandise retailers Shopko Stores and Pamida has completed their merger that will create a $3 billion company that serves largely rural communities in 22 states.

The combined entity will retain the Shopko name. Shopko will be headquartered in Green Bay and Pamida’s corporate headquarters in Omaha, Neb., will be consolidated into the Green Bay office over the next several months.

New York City -- JDA Software Group announced that Woolworths, South Africa’s leading and most respected retail chain, selected a number of JDA solutions in fourth quarter 2011.