Distribution

Dollars Tree’s first quarter sales were less than expected, it is divesting more of the acquired Family Dollar stores than expected and closing the merger is taking longer than expected.

Seattle - Auburn University's new RFID Lab held its grand opening May 21, during which Amazon.com announced a joint project with the university to explore the business case for the implementation of RFID within the Amazon supply chain. Amazon has utilized RFID technology in its fulfillment centers, where customer orders are picked from shelves, moved on conveyers and loaded onto trucks for rapid shipping and delivery.

Conshohocken, Pa. -- Ikea has submitted plans to the city of Joliet, IL for a second distribution center – to accompany the center previously announced and planned to open in summer 2017.

In February 2015, Ikea advanced the development of its previously approved 1.4-million-sq.-ft. Midwest distribution center on 72 acres of land already purchased in Joliet/ The company is now proposing another, similarly sized facility on 62 acres it hopes to purchase adjacent to the west of the currently planned first building.

A month after being named America's favorite home improvement store, Ace Hardware reported record profit in the first quarter of 2015.

Seattle -- Nordstrom plans to further expand its San Diego County presence with the addition of a Nordstrom Rack at The Shops at La Jolla Village in La Jolla, California.

The approximately 32,000-sq.-ft. store is scheduled to open in fall 2016. The property is owned by Alecta Real Estate USA, LLC. When it opens, it will be the fifth Nordstrom Rack in the San Diego area and about one mile west of Nordstrom at University Towne Centre.

Pittsburgh - American Eagle Outfitters Inc. continues its global expansion with new license agreements in South Korea with SK Networks Co. Ltd.; in Singapore with Trendz 360 Pte. Ltd.; and in Greece with Notos Com Holdings S.A. Stores will begin opening in mid-2015, and American Eagle currently expects to open approximately 40 licensed stores in fiscal 2015

Winston-Salem, N.C. - Krispy Kreme (will open 31 stores in South Africa during the next five years. The coffee retailer has signed a development agreement with KK Doughnuts SA (Pty) Ltd, that will mark its first venture into Africa.

Krispy Kreme has more than 1,000 stores in 24 countries.

Ascena Retail Group may be looking to attract younger, more career-oriented shoppers with its $2.15 buyout of rival Ann Inc.