Distribution

Kroger is expanding into new markets and growing its presence in the e-commerce channel with its acquisition of Vitacost.com, a leading online retailer of vitamins and supplements. 

According to the definitive merger agreement, Kroger will purchase all outstanding shares of Vitacost.com for $8 per share in cash, or approximately $280 million.

Conshohocken, Pa. – Ikea has plugged-in an expansion of the solar array completed in April 2013 on the roof of its 1.7 million-sq.-ft. Perryville, Maryland, distribution center. Installation of the new panels began in fall 2013, and since then have nearly doubled the size of the original project.

Stater Bros. Charities is donating $150,000 to 13 local food banks and pantries in an effort to make sure children have enough to eat during the summer months when food reserves are traditionally low and when they don’t have access to meals through school food programs.

The funds were donated by Stater Bros. customers and employees this past holiday season during the Harvesting Hope in Our Community program.

Omnichannel beauty brand Julep has tapped former Blue Nile executive Dwight Gaston as chief delivery officer. In his new role, Gaston will oversee Julep's operations, customer service, fulfillment and product development teams to ensure efficient delivery of products to its customers.

The company develops more than 300 new products each year for its Maven subscribers and e-commerce customers, and shipments are growing exponentially, it said.

Meriden, Conn. -- Vestis Retail Group, made up of the East Coast-based Bob's Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports, has signed an agreement to acquire Los Angeles-based Sport Chalet.

Both sides of a West Coast labor dispute are entering extra time as the contract between the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Long Shore and Warehouse Union officially expired June 30.

As expected, both sides are negotiating in an effort to avoid the economic damage from a costly strike on the docks that, according to a recent study, could cost as much as $2.5 billion per day. 

ConAgra Foods has completed expansion of its Lamb Weston frozen potato facility in Boardman, Oregon. The $200 million investment announced in 2012 adds a new processing line to the plant, increasing capacity for making french fries and other frozen potato products, and also adds more than 100 jobs to the local economy.

During a special grand opening ceremony held last week, Lamb Weston employees were joined by representatives from Columbia River Enterprise Zone, Port of Morrow, city of Boardman, Morrow County and state of Oregon.

Vestis Retail Group, the parent company of Bob's Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports, has set the wheels in motion to acquire Sport Chalet.

The acquisition will create one of the largest sporting goods retailers in the United States, with more than 150 stores and coverage on the East and West coasts. Sport Chalet will continue to operate stores under its existing brand name, and according to Vestis Retail Group, no store closures are planned.