Supply Chain & Merchandising

Seattle -- Starbucks Corp. reported that its fiscal first-quarter profit rose 10% for the quarter ended Jan. 1, 2012. But the company issued a modest forecast for the year that was slightly below Wall Street expectation, citing ongoing struggles with higher costs for coffee beans, dairy products and other ingredients.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer announced Friday the appointment of J.K. Symancyk to the newly created role of COO for the company, along with the addition of Peter Whitsett to the Meijer team as EVP merchandising and marketing.

NEW YORK — Management consultancy Kurt Salmon announced John Karonis will move into the role of deputy chief executive officer and Brooks Kitchel, long-time retail specialist, will replace Karonis as head of the firm's global retail and consumer products group.

Austin, Texas -- Golfsmith announced Thursday plans to open 10 stores and relocate four existing locations in fiscal 2012, increasing its sq. ft. by 17.5% and adding a more experiential presence.

The new 2012 stores include locations in Cleveland, Washington, D.C., Chattanooga, Tenn., Nashville and Atlanta. The relocations will move stores into spaces that provide an updated and expanded golf retail experience that mirrors the company's new stores.

All scheduled store openings and relocations are slated for completion by year’s end

Arlington, Va. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association on Thursday released a first-of-its-kind retail sustainability report discussing retail's environmental, social, and community impacts.

"As one of the leading industries to embrace sustainability, it is becoming a core consideration for the retail industry," said Adam Siegel, RILA VP of sustainability and retail operations. "Retailers are working to incorporate sustainability into their strategy, operations, workforce engagement, and connection to consumers and communities.”

Stockholm, Sweden -- Swedish fast-fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz reported Thursday that net profit for the fourth quarter dipped to $997.2 million from $1.1 billion in the year earlier period. Sales in December, the first month of H&M's fiscal first quarter, were up 13% year-on-year in local currencies, against a forecast 12%. Same-store sales were up 4%.

"Most indicators suggest that the macro-economic climate in many of our markets will continue to be tough during 2012," said CEO Karl-Johan Persson.

New York City -- The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index slightly dropped in December despite small improvements in three-out-of-four components.

The index — which is comprised of tax burden, initial unemployment claims, real wages and real home prices — fell to 1.86 from a reading of 1.93 the previous month. Because of this drop, the ability for consumers to continue to spend at the rates seen in 2011 may be in question, Deloitte said.

Asda, Walmart’s U.K. subsidiary, has big plans for 2012 that include investing more than £500m ($784 million) in its stores in 2012.

The company said it will invest the money in opening 25 new stores and three depots, as well as expanding and remodeling 43 of its existing stores. According to the company, this investment will create up to 5,000 new jobs in the United Kingdom. The company noted that current Asda associates would have the opportunity to enhance their careers through the company’s apprenticeship program.