Supply Chain & Merchandising

More information storage muscle
Teradata, the data warehousing and enterprise analytics leader, has a new deal with Walmart to help the retailer store, manipulate and analyze the expanding volume of information that results from selling more than $400 billion worth of goods annually.
Deloitte Spending Index down as housing market remains weak
NEW YORK - The Deloitte Spending Index, comprising four components -- tax burden, initial unemployment claims, real wages and real home prices -- fell to 4.29%, from an upwardly revised gain of 4.71% a month ago. According to Deloitte the decline was primarily due to sustained weakness in the housing market despite incremental gains in other areas.

Toni & Guy to open at Preston Park Village

Plano, Texas -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased retail space in Plano, Texas, at Preston Park Village to Toni & Guy.

The hair, skin and nail salon will open a 1,690-sq.-ft. location in January 2011.

The 239,333-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by a 53,118-sq.-ft. Tom Thumb alongside national retailers Panera Bread, Williams Sonoma, Ann Taylor and The UPS Store.

NRF Show Preview

NRF Convention: Influential Demographics

The annual NRF Convention attracts retailers from around the globe. Here is a breakdown of the attendees by job titles:

Court accepts A&P's DIP facility

MONTVALE, N.J. — Bankrupt grocer A&P has announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York has approved the $800 million debtor-in-possession financing provided by JPMorgan Chase. Of the total DIP facility, a $350 million term loan immediately has been made available.

As previously reported, A&P filed for bankruptcy on Sunday and will keep its 395 stores open and operational during the proceedings.

In addition, the court granted A&P's motion to approve its request for "first day orders," including:

Centro NP Residual Holding forms JV with Inland American

New York City -- Centro NP Residual Holding LLC said Friday it has sold a portion of its interest in 25 shopping centers and formed a joint venture with Inland American CP Investment, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Inland American Real Estate Trust.

The new joint venture has secured $310 million of term loans with J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs, which mature in 10 years and are secured by assets within the joint venture.

Pantry reports profit drop in Q4, swings to loss for full-year

Cary, N.C. -- C-store chain The Pantry reported Tuesday that net income for the quarter ended Sept. 30 dropped to $8.5 million, compared with $12.5 million in the year-ago period.

Merchandise revenue for the fourth quarter increased 12% overall and 5.7% on a same-store basis from last year’s fourth quarter.

Working with Walmart: What suppliers really think

If the eyes are the window to the soul, then Walmart’s suppliers are the window to its future thanks to the truly unique relationship the retailer enjoys with its trading partners. Walmart brought new meaning to the concept of collaboration when it pursued a strategy of data transparency decades ago that enabled fact-based decision making.

Target to save planet too

While such retailers as Kohl’s, Walmart and Office Depot were receiving accolades for their sustainability efforts the past few years, Target was seldom mentioned in the same breath. Target wasn’t exactly destroying the planet, but it was far less vocal and precise than others about its efforts in the area of sustainability. Not any more. The company last week established some clear goals regarding resource usage, waste elimination and carbon footprint reduction and a time frame in which to achieve them.

Smart Fashion to make retail debut in Manhattan

New York City -- Winick Realty Group announced that Smart Fashion, a national importer and exporter of women’s apparel, has leased its first retail location at 149B West 36th Street, between Broadway and 7th Avenue in Manhattan’s Garment District.

Smart Fashion already operates a wholesale showroom nearby at 1407 Broadway.

The 2,000-sq.-ft. store will focus on trendy junior sportswear.

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