Supply Chain & Merchandising

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot has combined its two largest divisions and named Kevin Peters to the new role of president of North America. The change gives Peters, who previously served as president of North American retail, continuing oversight of the retail group in addition to leadership of the company’s North American business solutions division which is focused on large and mid-size commercial customers.

New York — Borders Group moved closer to liquidation after a judge on Thursday approved its motion to auction itself off with an offer from liquidators as its opening bid. The retailer said it will accept bids until 5 p.m. Sunday and will give notice by Monday if no other bidder emerges.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Whirlpool Corp. announced that it was inducted into the Made in the USA Foundation's Hall of Fame at an awards dinner on July 2 in Santa Monica, Calif. Whirlpool was the winner of the Large Kitchen Appliances Category.

Shanghai — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced it has appointed its current Canada finance chief Sean Clarke as COO over the company’s China operations, after former CFO Roland Lawrence and COO Rob Cissell left the company in May.

According to a report by Bloomberg, Clarke will be joined by Steve Smith, named chief marketing officer in China. Smith was senior VP at Delhaize Group. 

WASHINGTON — Warm weather, lower gas costs and strong Father's Day promotions apparently put consumers in a spending mood in June, boosting retail sales for the 12th consecutive month and surpassing many analysts' expectations, according to the National Retail Federation.

Retail industry sales — which exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants — in June increased 0.3% seasonally adjusted from May, and 5.5% unadjusted year-over-year, according to NRF.

Washington, D.C. — A report released Thursday by the U.S. Commerce Department showed that retail sales in June experienced a slight uptick of 0.1%. This comes on the heels of a 0.1% dip in May, the first time in 11 months that sales fell. 

The June resurgence was attributed to a rise in auto sales and increased spending in big chain stores. Sales excluding gasoline rebounded 0.3% after declining 0.2% in May.

Sales at general merchandise stores, which include Wal-Mart and Target, increased 0.4% on warmer weather and aggressive discounting. 

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. — Pet Supplies “Plus” announced that Dave Bolen was promoted to president and CEO, effective July 11.

Bolen joined PSP on May 2 as president after spending five years at Petco Animal Supplies, a national retailer of pet food and supplies, where he served as EVP and chief merchandising officer. Prior to Petco, Bolen served as EVP merchandising, marketing and supply chain at Jo-Ann Stores, a leading specialty retailer of fabric and craft supplies.

Specialty retailer Mattress Giant named industry veteran Mike Bookbinder as its new EVP merchandising and marketing. Bookbinder’s name is familiar to those in the world of sleep-related retail, as he spent 11 years with the New York-based Sleepy’s chain where he held various roles including EVP of sales and marketing. He also served as president of City Mattress in upstate New York and most recently was with mattress manufacturer King Koil where he served in a new business development role as SVP sales.