Supply Chain & Merchandising

Redwood Shores, Calif. -- Oracle on Wednesday announced that it has completed the acquisition of Art Technology Group (ATG).

With the addition of ATG, Oracle can now provide best-in-class cross-channel CRM, Retail and Commerce that enables unified marketing, merchandising, service and order management, supply chain, and a seamless, personalized customer experience.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Winn-Dixie Stores announced that Laurence Appel, who joined Winn-Dixie in 2002 and formerly served as general counsel, corporate secretary and SVP human resources, has been named SVP retail operations. Appel replaces Frank Eckstein, who has retired from his current role but will continue to serve in an advisory capacity until the end of fiscal year 2011. 

New York City -- Saks on Wednesday announced it plans to close its Saks Fifth Avenue store located in the Cherry Creek Mall in Denver, Colo., on March 19. With the closing, the company will have closed seven Saks Fifth Avenue stores since July 2010.

An expanding number of consumers in search of value and an improved shopping experience at Family Dollar propelled the company to its strongest first-quarter same-store sales increase in 12 years, but profits for the period and the earnings outlook were below analysts’ estimates.

“Our comparable-store sales increase of 6.9% is the best first quarter result we’ve delivered in more than 12 years,” said Family Dollar chairman and CEO Howard Levine

Plymouth Meeting, Pa. -- Fameco Real Estate, L.P. said that coffee retailer La Colombe Torrefaction has signed a lease for 1,230 sq. ft. at The Residences at the Ritz Carlton, in Philadelphia.

The new location is slated to open April 2011 and will complement La Columbe’s other location on Rittenhouse Square, also in Philadelphia.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings announced that Deidra Cheeks Merriwether has been promoted to senior VP and president of its Retail Services business unit, succeeding James H. Haworth who will be leaving the company to pursue other opportunities. Merriwether will be responsible for the oversight and leadership of retail services for all Kmart and Sears stores.

Matthews, N.C. -- Family Dollar Stores said Wednesday that its fiscal first-quarter profit climbed 9.9% on strong candy and food sales and higher customer traffic. The discounter reported net income of $74.3 million for the period ended Nov. 27, up from $67.6 million a year ago. Its results, however, were short of analysts expectations, with the disappointing profit attributed primarily due to lower gross margins and higher freight costs.

The New Year is off to a busy start at BJ’s Wholesale Club. Amid ongoing speculation about the retailer being a potential takeover target, BJ’s on Wednesday announced the closure of five clubs, several senior level personnel changes and released its December sales a day earlier than normal.