Supply Chain & Merchandising

Berlin -- 360buy.com was named the Pure Play Etailer of the Year at the Oracle World Retail Awards, which took place during the annual World Retail Congress in Berlin.

Operated by Jing Dong Mall, China’s largest online retailer, 360buy.com provides customers with home appliances, digital devices, computers, household items, clothing and accessories, baby products, books, and food, plus 11 other large product categories, including more than 10,000 brand names and 800,000 SKUs.

SEATTLE — Walmart announced that ihas been selected as one of the Washington Green 50 list by Seattle Business Magazine as part of its annual Green Washington Awards competition. Walmart was a finalist in the retail category.

Matthews, N.C. -- Family Dollar Stores announced Wednesday that it plans to open 450 to 500 new stores in fiscal 2012, a 50% jump compared with the number of openings in fiscal 2011, and will renovate, relocate or expand over 1,000 locations. The discounter also reported that its fiscal fourth-quarter net income rose 8%.

“In fiscal 2012, we intend to accelerate investments to drive sales and profitability,” said Howard Levine, chairman and CEO.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — In her new role as president and CEO of Walmart Canada, Shelley Broader will be tasked with addressing new competition from Target and other retailers expanding into Canada. Broader, who joined Walmart Canada in 2010 as chief merchandising officer, will assume her new role effective immediately.

Prior to Walmart, Broader held a range of key positions with Michael's and Hannaford Bros.Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Oak Brook, Ill. -- Ace Hardware Corp. has selected Suffolk, Va., for the company’s new 336,000-sq.-ft. Import Re-Distribution Center (RDC). Construction is scheduled for completion May 1, 2012.

The facility will allow the company to reduce import and logistics costs and provide an even higher level of service to East Coast retailers, making it possible for Ace stores to more effectively respond to consumer needs dictated by hurricanes and other weather emergencies in the region.

Cincinnati -- Macy’s is ramping up its adoption of RFID technology. The retailer announced that its Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores are adopting the technology on an accelerated timeline to more precisely manage item-level merchandise inventories. The company expects that by the third quarter of 2012, it will begin using RFID in all stores nationwide to count size-intensive replenishment goods, which accounts for about 30% of the company’s total sales.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores announced Wednesday that it plans to open 450 to 500 new stores in fiscal 2012, a 50% jump compared with the number of openings in fiscal 2011, and will renovate, relocate or expand over 1,000 locations. The discounter also reported that its fiscal fourth-quarter net income rose 8%.

“In fiscal 2012, we intend to accelerate investments to drive sales and profitability,” said Howard Levine, chairman and CEO.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Store announced the appointment of David Cheesewright as executive VP, president and CEO of a new regional management team. In this newly created role, he will lead Walmart's retail operations in Canada, the United Kingdom and Sub-Saharan Africa, and will oversee business development in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Canada.

Cheesewright will assume his role immediately and report directly to Doug McMillon, president and CEO, Walmart International.