Distribution

New York -- Almost as quickly as tiny northwest grocer Haggen became a regional player by acquiring 146 former Safeway and Albertsons stores the company is retrenching and has plans to close a large number of stores.

Kroger is thinking big in Texas with a three year, $1.2 billion investment plan and just created a new senior leadership structure to execute the growth strategy.

Kroger’s growth aspirations in Texas will be overseen by two key executives tasked with leading newly created divisions. The retailer created a new Dallas division and a Houston division. The stores in both areas were previously part of the company’s 214 unit Southwest division.

Bellingham, Wash. – West Coast regional grocer Haggen is scaling back some highly ambitious growth plans. Haggen, which made headlines by buying 146 divested Albertson’s and Safeway stores as an 18-unit chain in December 2014, is closing or selling a number of locations in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

Westlake, Ohio -- TravelCenters of America has completed its previously disclosed acquisition of 33 convenience store locations in northern Illinois.

The company expects the stores, which average approximately 3,400 sq. ft., will be rebranded as Minit Mart convenience stores and the sites will undergo improvements in the coming months.

TravelCenters of America operates some 370 convenience stores under the Minit Mart, TA and Petro Stopping Centers brands.
 

Plainfield, Ind. -- Walmart had added to its online fulfillment capabilities.

Columbus, Ohio -- DSW continues its march across America.

The footwear and accessories retailer is opening 22 stores this fill, including six locations in new markets.

"Expanding our store base allows us to grow our footprint in areas we already call home, while also bringing DSW stores and the DSW brand to areas where our customers have been anticipating our arrival,” said Carrie McDermott, executive VP and COO of DSW, which operated 449 stores in 42 states.

DSW's aggressive store expansion plan is still on track, as the retailer looks to tap growth in existing as well as new markets.

The footwear and accessories retailer says it is opening 22 stores this fall, including six locations in new markets.

"Expanding our store base allows us to grow our footprint in areas we already call home, while also bringing DSW stores and the DSW brand to areas where our customers have been anticipating our arrival,” said Carrie McDermott, executive VP and COO of DSW, which operated 449 stores in 42 states.

Seattle -- REI has named its first-ever CIO. The outdoor specialty retailer company is also on the hunt for talented techies to join its ranks.

REI promoted Julie Averill to CIO, where she will continue to lead REI’s technology organization. A 25-year technology veteran, Averill joined REI in 2014 and most recently served as VP of information technology.

REI has grown to 140 stores in 33 states with a sizable e-commerce operation. Imagine what the company will be able to do now that it has finally named a chief information officer and gotten aggressive about recruiting technology talent.

The national outdoor specialty retailer elevated Julie Averill to the role of CIO after the 25 year technology veteran joined the company last year as senior vice president of information technology. She joined REI from Nordstrom where she served as the department store retailer’s vice president of technology.

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. is still searching for its turnaround.

Gap Inc. issued a second-quarter earnings forecast that was below Wall Street analysts' estimates, with its results impacted by foreign currency fluctuations, West Coast port delays and previously announced store closings in its namesake brand.

Gap reported less-than-expected total sales of $3.9 billion for the second quarter, down 2% from the $3.98 billion the year-ago period.