Supply Chain & Merchandising

Atlanta -- RedPrarie Corp., a global supply chain and retail technology provider, announced that BJ’s Wholesale Club plans to use RedPrairie’s transportation management system to streamline its transportation operations and reduce costs. The solution is designed to enable wholesale clubs and retailers to improve operational efficiencies by automating transportation tasks and optimizing the planning of shipments. BJ’s Wholesale Club will be able to better monitor carrier performance and shipment activities throughout the supply chain.

Dallas -- 7-Eleven said it has completed the transaction with ExxonMobil to acquire retail interests in 51 North Texas sites. The transaction concluded Jan. 20, and terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The majority of locations will be rebranded as 7-Eleven stores.

"This acquisition fits well with our aggressive growth strategy," said Robbie Radant, 7-Eleven's new VP of mergers and acquisitions. "We met our goal of opening 650 stores in 2011, and with this acquisition 2012 is off to a great start."

BENSALEM, Pa. — Charming Shoppes has announced the following executive leadership announcements.

SAN BRUNO, Calif. — Walmart is offering consumers the chance to get their product sold on Walmart.com and in Walmart stores in its new contest, "Get on the Shelf."

The nationwide contest is the latest announcement from @WalmartLabs and similar to the popular American Idol television show, contestants will create videos of their latest inventions and the public will vote online for the winners.

New York City -- Starbucks Corp. is closing in on its retail deal with India’s Tata Coffee Ltd., which makes and exports instant coffee and plantation coffee, Reuters reported.

Tata Coffee plans to open a Starbucks coffee shop by the end of this year, the report said.

DAVENPORT, Iowa — Von Maur Department Store has announced the promotion of Joy Place to VP merchandising, effective immediately. She will report directly to Melody Westendorf, chief operating officer of Von Maur.

Washington, D.C. -- Applied Predictive Technologies announced that AutoZone has signed an agreement to license APT's Test & Learn Management System to assist in evaluating strategic initiatives across all major functional areas.

AutoZone chose to license the system after piloting the software to test the value of various initiatives in marketing, merchandising, pricing, store operations, loss prevention, store development, and programs targeting commercial business customers.

Amstersdam — Ahold experienced several bright spots during its fourth quarter and full year, the Dutch-based supermarket company said.

Fourth-quarter net sales totaled $9.4 billion, a 4.5% increase above the year-ago period, while net sales for the year increased by 2.5% to $39.1 billion.