Distribution

Owning the shopping experience of the future is how Gap chairman and CEO Glenn Murphy described the motivation behind a wide range of omnichannel strategies he and other senior executives shared during an annual meeting with investors.

Murphy and Gap’s top division heads provided an overview of strategic initiatives designed to achieve long-term, profitable growth across its portfolio of brands and also highlighted how the company plans to use technology, innovation and scale as competitive advantages as it looks to deliver a world class omnichannel experience.

By Jim Rallo, president, retail supply chain group, Liquidity Services Inc.

The retail industry has seen its fair share of challenges in recent years with decreased foot traffic through stores as consumers move online to purchase products. Regardless of where consumers purchase goods, returns are an issue with the NRF estimating the amount of merchandise returned in 2013 totaling $267.3 billion.

St. Louis – Save-A-Lot will open a new 140,000-sq.-ft. food distribution center in Aurora, Colo., in June 2014. Save-A-Lot currently services its stores in this market out of the company’s distribution center located in Dallas.

New York -- Tesco Plc plans to bring its value-priced F&F clothing format to the United States, opening seven stores on the East Coast this year with its U.S. franchise partner, Retail Group of America. The move comes some six months after Tesco sold off its struggling American supermarket operation, Fresh & Easy, to Ron Burkle's Yucaipa investment company.

Retailers on the lookout for new products will find an innovative item from Welch’s gives shoppers a whole new way to PB&J and extends the Welch’s brand deeper into the snack category.

Washington, D.C. - The National Retail Federation is urging maritime management and the union representing dockworkers along the U.S. West Coast ports to expedite pending contract negotiations and reach agreement on a new deal well in advance of the expiration of the current contract this summer. NRF believes expedited negotiations would strengthen the supply chain and provide shippers and retailers the certainty they need to utilize the West Coast ports during the holiday shipping period, which begins in July.

Phoenix — Leslie’s Poolmart has announced plans to open 22 retail locations across the country on April 11. The new stores will open in these cities:

• Gilbert and Tucson, Ariz.
• Anaheim, Corona, Costa Mesa, Menifee, Riverside and Sylmar, Calif.
• Bradenton, Clearwater and Punta Gorda, Fla.
• Marietta and Snellville, Ga.
• Mishawaka, Ind.
• Houma and Lake Charles, La.
• Mooresville, N.C.
• Miamisburg, Ohio
• Lancaster, Pa.

Las Cruces, New Mexico — The family-fun Natural Grocers has opened its fifth New Mexico location in Las Cruces at 3970 E. Lohman Avenue.

The national chain has locations across Colorado, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Missouri, New Mexico, Montana, Kansas, Idaho, Nebraska, Arizona and Oregon.

Pittsburgh – Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. opens three new stores on April 25. The stores are located in Lawton, Okla., Alabaster, Ala., and Tampa. Fla.

The Lawton store will be located at Lawton Town Center, while the Alabaster store will be located at Colonial Promenade Alabaster and the Tampa store will be located at Westshore Plaza. As of April 25, Dick’s will operate 566 stores in the U.S., including 11 in Alabama, 27 in Florida and eight in Oklahoma.

Dollarama has appointed Johanne Choinière as chief operating officer, effective May 12. Choinière will be responsible for overseeing retail store operations as well as logistics, distribution and supply chain management.

"I am pleased to welcome Johanne to the Dollarama team. A seasoned operator with an excellent track record and strong leadership qualities, she is an ideal candidate to help support and drive our continued growth and prosperity," said chairman and CEO Larry Rossy.