Distribution

The much anticipated approval for the Walgreens/Rite Aid merger, through which Walgreens has proposed to pay $9.4 billion for the acquisition of Rite Aid's 4,547 stores in an effort to bolster its national footprint, did not happen by Friday morning as many had speculated.    Now there is a new countdown clock — the deal is set to expire Jan. 27 if not approved before that time.  

Everything is bigger in Texas — including Amazon’s breadth of fulfillment centers.   The retail giant is planning its ninth Texas fulfillment center in Coppell, a move that will create 1,000 more full-time positions. The facility, which will be outfitted with state-of-the-art robotics, will be Amazon’s third located in Coppell. Amazon’s first Coppell warehouse began fulfilling customer orders in 2013; the second launched during the 2016 holiday shopping season.  

The key to omnichannel success is visibility — both internally with business partners, and externally among customers.  

CVC Capital Partners has agreed to sell Leslie's Holdings to L Catterton and an affiliate of GIC.       The financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.   Founded in 1963, Leslie's is the world's largest retailer of swimming pool supplies and related products.   

Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer with nearly 1.5 million associates, plans to add 10,000 new retail jobs in its upcoming fiscal year, which begins on February 1, 2017.   The discounter says the new jobs will be created through the opening of 59 new, expanded and relocated Walmart and Sam’s Club facilities as well as e-commerce services.    

Luxottica Group, the leading eyeglass retailer with multiple U.S. store banners, has entered into a deal that would create a global giant in the optical industry.   Luxottica, whose brands include LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut, Oliver Peoples, and Pearle Vision, will merge with lens-maker Essilor International of France in a deal valued at $49 billion. The merger brings together the industry’s largest manufacturer with its leading retailer.    

Bankrupt American Apparel has started the final, most painful chapter in its drawn out saga.   Approximately 2,400 employees of bankrupt American Apparel will soon be out of a job as the company begins to close or sell its three factories in Southern California, reported The Los Angeles Times.    

Move over Alibaba — Amazon has a new jobs plan too, one with more details and a more immediate window of opportunity.