Supply Chain & Merchandising

Dayton, Ohio -- A report by the Dayton Business Journal said that the Liz Claiborne distribution center in West Chester, Ohio, will close within the next year.

Liz Claiborne said it plans to close and sell the 900,000-sq.-ft. DC due to “changing business needs,” company spokeswoman Dana Stambaugh told the Journal.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Macy’s has enjoyed strong sales momentum during the early part of this year with first-quarter same-store sales up 5.4% and the second quarter off to an even stronger start with May comps up 7.4%. There are a lot of reasons for those results, but several key supply chain initiatives have made important contributions and were recognized recently at the annual VICS Collaborative Commerce Achievement Awards.

While an abundance of celebrities and references to Walmart founder Sam Walton gave this year’s shareholders meeting a familiar feel, there also was an unmistakable emphasis on e-commerce and social media.

MINNEAPOLIS — ValueVision Media, a premium interactive retailer via TV, Internet, mobile and social media, operating under the "ShopNBC" brand, announced that Nathan Martin, has been appointed VP fulfillment.

Martin joins ShopNBC with nearly two decades of manufacturing and distribution experience. Most recently, he served as assistant general manager at United Stationers Supply Company. Previously, he held management positions at Cost Plus, QVC, and Verbatim Memory Corporation.

Driving same-store sales at U.S. stores is the top priority of Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon and his boss, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., president and CEO Mike Duke. Both executives stated U.S. comp growth is their top priority on Friday and went on to add that they are confident the company has the right strategy and people in place to make it happen.

Atlanta -- Manhattan Associates was honored as the "Best Third Party Provider" at the Voluntary Interindustry Commerce Solutions Association Awards, for its strategic thinking and leadership that has resulted in high-impact supply chain practices and partnerships. Manhattan was selected based on its partnership with Macy's, providing solutions from the Manhattan SCOPE solution suite that have supported the growth of the leading retailer's direct-to-consumer business.

Target isn’t off to a great start in the second quarter- with a same store sale increase of 2.8% that was toward the low end of the company’s guidance range that called for a low to mid-single digit increase. The company also fell short of its comp guidance in April.

MONTVALE, N.J. — Grocer A&P has entered into a new supply and logistics agreement with its principal wholesale supplier, C&S Wholesale Grocers, that is estimated to generate a run-rate of more than $50 million in annual savings. The revised contract must be approved by the bankruptcy court.