Distribution

Washington, D.C. – Retail imports appear to be climbing as the holidays approach.

New York -- Two very different retail companies have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Supermarket retailer Haggen filed for bankruptcy after struggling for months to digest a huge acquisition that has proved troublesome from the start. Surfing and skate apparel chain Quiksilver Inc. also sought protection, a victim of online competition, fast-fashion merchants and teens’ fickle tastes.  

Here is more information on both:

A week after suing Albertsons for $1 billion, west coast regional grocer Haggen has filed Chapter 11 and continues to cite Albertsons as the source of its difficulties.

Phoenix -- PetSmart is making it faster for customers to get the goods they need to take care of their pets.

In partnership with Google Express, PetSmart is adding overnight service in Chicagoland and a five-state Midwest region (120-mile radius from Chicago) in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio, serving 25 million people.

The two firms have been serving the on-demand delivery needs of customers for nearly a year with same-day service in six cities: San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Chicago and D.C.

New York -- An Irish fast-fashion leader is getting ready to make its U.S. debut.

Primark, known for its value prices and on-trend fashions for the entire family, leased a 677,000-sq.-ft. distribution center to support its entry into the United States.

Leading European apparel retailer Primark is so confident its brand of fast fashion will appeal to American shoppers it has leased a 677,000-sq.-ft. distribution center to support its new stores opening this month.

The first Primark store opens on Sept. 10 in Boston and will be followed by a second opening in November at the King of Prussia mall in Philadelphia. Six additional openings are planned before year end in Burlington and Braintree, Mass., Danbury, Conn., Freehold, N.J., Willow Grove, Pa. and Staten Island.

The True Value Company family has expanded with the addition of Pittsburgh-based Busy Beaver Home Improvement Centers.

A rapidly expanding retailer led by a former top Walmart executive is supposed to produce strong same store sales growth, leverage expenses and increase profits. So why isn’t Five Below?

Joel Anderson’s tenure as CEO of value priced retailer Five Below (where everything cost less than $5) is off to an uneven start. The company is achieving its profitability targets, but doing so with productivity improvement in its selling space that is surprisingly weak given the newness of its store base.