Supply Chain & Merchandising

After 30 years in the drug store sector, Michael Bloom left CVS Caremark in September 2011 to become president and COO of Family Dollar Stores. The extreme-value chain has adopted an aggressive growth strategy in recent years, and plans to open 450 to 500 stores in 2012.

Family Dollar is equally committed to improving existing locations. Under its ambitious store-reinvention program, an estimated 1,000 locations are scheduled to be renovated, relocated or expanded this year.

There has been lots of buzz and comment over Wal-Mart Stores’ fourth quarter fiscal results. While the chain’s U.S. sales are rebounding, its quarterly profit and sales fell short of Wall Street expectations and its forecasts suggest that results in this quarter and fiscal year may again disappoint analysts.

Here are some interesting comments from Natalie Berg, global research director, Planet Retail, on the chain’s results:

St. Louis -- Save-A-Lot, a wholly owned subsidiary of Supervalu, will open 13 stores in February and March.

The grocer will open three locations in New York bringing the total number of Save-A-Lot stores in the state to 52. In Ohio, it will open three stores, for a total of 128 locations state-wide. The chain will open four stores in Pennsylvania, for a total of 76, and three in Tennessee, for a total of 108.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — TJX Cos. is headed for a strong 2012, thanks to fourth-quarter sales and profit growth. The company reported that its fiscal fourth-quarter profit rose 42% to $475.3 million, from $334.4 million a year earlier. The owner of Marshalls, HomeGoods and T.J. Maxx also announced plans to repurchase up to $1.3 billion of stock this fiscal year.

For the quarter, sales rose 6% to $6.7 billion. Same-store sales increased 7%.

A phenomenon that continues to boggle my mind and, in many cases impress me, is how the Texas economy continues to flourish. Even in the midst of the recent economic downturn that left few retail markets untouched, the Lone Star State remained one of the few bright spots in a recessionary sky.

By Stephen Wyss

As retailers eye avenues for growth in 2012, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) will be a key area of interest and activity.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe’s Cos. announced the promotion of Kevin S. Measel to senior VP store operations for the company’s West division. Measel replaces Jim Frasso, who retired from Lowe’s following a 17-year career with the company.

Measel has more than 28 years of retail experience in both store operations and merchandising, having served most recently as merchandising VP nursery.
 

ST. LOUIS — Supervalu subsidiary Save-A-Lot is expanding its presence in Pennsylvania.

The company is slated to open four new stores in Pennsylvania in February and March, bringing the total number of Save-A-Lot stores in the state to 76, the company said.