Distribution

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has cleared the merger of supermarket operators Safeway Inc. and Albertsons, creating a larger competitor to rival chain Kroger. But there is one caveat.

The FTC agreed to the deal only after Safeway and Albertsons agreed to sell 168 stores to address the FTC’s competition concerns.

Boise, Idaho -- Albertsons and Safeway announced on Tuesday that they have received clearance from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for the companies' proposed merger, which was announced on March 6, 2014.


The FTC's clearance follows Albertsons' and Safeway's agreement to a proposed consent order, which includes a commitment to divest 168 stores.



By Kris Bjorson, JLL

Things didn’t work for Target in Canada, but that hasn’t deterred Japan’s Fast Retailing Co., from announcing plans to enter the market with its UNIQLO format.

The company’s first stores aren’t expected to open until the fall of 2016 when two flagship locations offering budget priced apparel measuring 24,000 and 28,000 square feet are introduced in Toronto.

Brussels, Belgium – The addition of a 53rd week in fiscal 2014 for its U.S. operations helped global grocery conglomerate Delhaize Group make up for disappointing results from its Belgium stores. Including the extra week and benefiting from retail inflation, fourth quarter U.S. revenues were $5.23 billion, a 12% increase from $4.67 billion the same period a year earlier.

Cincinnati - Macy’s Inc. plans to relocate its West Sacramento, California-based direct-to-consumer fulfillment center to a larger facility in a nearby location in Sacramento County to support continued sales growth driven by its omnichannel strategy. Contingent on approvals by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, Macy’s will begin operations in summer 2015 at a 385,000-sq.-ft. facility, creating approximately 100 new jobs.

Macy’s plans to quadruple the size of a central California distribution facility that has played a key role in the execution of the retailer’s omnichannel strategy.

The company plans to relocate its West Sacramento, Calif., direct-to-consumer fulfillment center to a larger facility in a nearby location in Sacramento County to support continued sales growth driven by Macy's omnichannel strategy.

Macy’s plans to quadruple the size of a central California distribution facility that has played a key role in the execution of the retailer’s omnichannel strategy.

The company plans to relocate its West Sacramento, Calif., direct-to-consumer fulfillment center to a larger facility in a nearby location in Sacramento County to support continued sales growth driven by Macy's omnichannel strategy.