Distribution

The Seattle Times is reporting that, according to court documents filed last week, Albertsons is currently bidding on 36 of 95 stores being sold by the now-bankrupt Haggen. Albertsons had previously sold 146 stores to Haggen as part of its acquisition of Safeway. [Seattle Times]

Think quick – who are your top competitors? No matter what product category or channels you operate in, if your list of top two or three rivals doesn’t include Amazon.com, it probably needs updating.

Staples CIO Tom Conophy has publicly identified Amazon as a prime competitor, and Walmart has launched a clear strategy of trying to one-up Amazon innovations like Prime Day and delivery drones. But even if you’re not a major big-box chain, Amazon still most likely represents a critical threat to your market share. Here are three reasons why.

Specialty athletic retailer City Sports never found its footing and, despite bringing in a veteran retailer to lead the 18-store operation, it has commenced going-out-of-business sales.

Gordon Brothers Group & Hilco Merchant Resources are managing the going-out-of-business process, which began Nov.6 at City Sports’ 18 stores in the Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Over the past 15 years or so, fast-fashion has evolved from a trend to a phenomenon to an industry standard, one that has largely redefined the U.S. apparel retailing landscape.

From home-grown Forever 21 to Swedish import H&M, the market is awash in stores offering cheap, on-trend clothes at low prices. Most recently another import entered the mix, Primark, which opened its first U.S. store in September, in Boston, the first of eight announced locations.

A private equity group better known for investing in established companies is creating a new dollar store brand after acquiring 330 Family Dollar stores from Dollar Tree.

Dollar Tree acquired Family Dollar earlier this year and to satisfy federal regulators, the company agreed to divest 330 Family Dollar stores. The acquiring company is a newly created portfolio company of the private equity firm Sycamore Partners called Dollar Express.

AutoZone is making some changes to its leadership as the company positions itself for growth and expansion.

The company announced the following promotions:

• Phil Daniele, VP, Commercial Support, promoted to senior VP, commercial
• Bill Hackney, VP, merchandise pricing & analysis, promoted to senior VP, merchandising
• Jim Griffith, VP, store development promoted to senior VP, store operations
• Rod Halsell, VP, distribution promoted to senior VP, supply chain

The merger agreement between Walgreens Boots Alliance and Rite Aid must be consummated by Oct. 27, 2016, or the deal is off, according to documents filed to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday. That deadline could be extended to Jan. 27, 2017 under some circumstances, according to the document.

Build-A-Bear Workshop logged an increase in same-store sales in the third quarter even as the company enters what is historically its most profitable season.

Same-store sales at the specialty retailer increased 2.1% in the third quarter ended Oct. 3. This was the fifth consecutive quarter it grew same-store sales.