Supply Chain & Merchandising

SEATTLE -- REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) announced 2010 sales of $1.66 billion, up 14% from $1.46 billion the previous year, proving that even in a down economy outdoor enthusiasts will find ways to support their passion. Net income in 2010 was $30.2 million, up 1.4% from $29.8 million in the previous year. The company’s direct sales channel, which includes online and catalog sales, grew by 22.9%. Comp-store sales grew by 8.1%, up from negative 3.5% in 2009.

Medford, Ore. -- Harry & David Holdings filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday, according to a filing.

The gift basket retailer will continue to operate the business as debtors under the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court. The company has nearly $200 million in outstanding debt.

Harry & David sells its products through catalogs, its website and in stores, which are primarily in factory outlet malls across the nation.

NEW YORK — Royal Ahold’s Peapod online grocery service is expanding in New York, according to published reports.

According to the reports, the new service, Peapod by Stop & Shop, will fulfill orders using the existing warehouse presence of Ahold supermarket banner Stop & Shop, which operates several stores in the city. In addition to groceries, Peapod also offers numerous health and beauty products.

FREEPORT, Maine — L.L.Bean announced that, effective March 25, it will offer free standard shipping to all United States and Canadian.

“We tested free shipping offers with no minimum purchase for several months and the customer response was overwhelming,” said Chris McCormick, president and CEO, L.L.Bean. “Our customers want and value free shipping. It’s our opportunity to offer free shipping for all U.S. and Canadian customers with no minimum purchase, no end date, no conditions -- guaranteed.”

New York City -- Save Mart Supermarkets saved more than $8,000 on a high-efficiency LED lighting retrofit of store in Ripon, Calif., through a partnership with the EnergySmart Jobs program.

Save Mart is distinguished as one of the first participants in the federally-funded program, which is an initiative of Energy Upgrade California and is administered by PECI, San Francisco. It focuses on creating new jobs through the implementation of energy-saving upgrades that help commercial retailers lower their operating costs.

DULUTH, Ga. -- NCR Corp. announced that the current release (version 5) of its NCR SelfServ Checkout solution has won a Good Design Award for product design excellence in the electronics category.

New York City -- Tesco has installed wind turbines, each with a capacity of nearly 1 MW, at three of its grocery distribution centers.

The company installed two of the 90-meter, 800kW wind turbines at its distribution center near Newport in Wales, BusinessGreen reported. The other turbines are at two sites in England’s Midlands region.

New York City -- Optimism was in the air at Chain Store Age’s 47th annual SPECS conference, in Grapevine, Texas. Spirits were up, and so was attendance, dramatically so, among both the show’s attendees and exhibitors.