Distribution

New York -- Caribou Coffee will close some 80 stores nationwide and turn 88 other locations into Peet's over the next 12 to 18 months, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Caribou, which is based in Minneapolis, went private this year in a $340 million deal with German investment firm Joh. A. Benckiser Group (JAB), which also owns Peet’s.  

Dallas -- 7-Eleven announced Monday it has closed on the acquisition of 46 Hickory Point and Palms Stores from CB Mart.

While the terms of this particular deal haven’t been made public, the acquisition boosts 7-Eleven’s Carolinas store count to more than 100 and puts the c-store operator solidly on track to continue its accelerated growth plan. 7-Eleven earlier acquired 55 Sam’s Mart and 13 Fast Track stores in the two-state area.

Phoenix -- Leslie’s PoolMart will mark the grand opening of five retail locations on April 12. The stores are in Gold Canyon, Ariz., Madera, Calif., Torrance, Calif., West Springfield, Mass., and Magnolia, Texas.

In total, Leslie's plans to open 48 new stores this year between March and May. With these new stores and its recent acquisition of 24 Warehouse Pool Supply stores in the Houston area, Leslie's will bring its total store count to more than 800 stores nationwide.

ST. LOUIS — Post Holdings announced that after discussions with the union representing hourly employees at the Modesto, Calif. plant, the company's management has made a decision to close the Modesto plant.  The Modesto plant has approximately 140 employees. The transfer of production capabilities and closure of the plant is expected to be completed by September 2014. 

New York -- Amazon will cement its position as major retail price setter for years to come by exploiting its logistics opportunity, according to a new ResearchFarm report.

NEW YORK — Walmart's e-commerce division is following Amazon's lead by starting programs to allow customers to order items online and then pick them up from lockers stationed at brick-and-mortar retailers.

Amazon has been running such a program for a couple of years in a few major cities, including installing the lockers at Rite Aid stores in cities like New York. The lockers allow customers to select a locker location for delivery and then retrieve ordered items automatically using a six-digit code.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Bi-Lo annouced that, through April 30, it will host its fourth annual Paws “Feed the Love” campaign. “Feed the Love” is a pet food drive in which food donations go to local-area food banks for families in need to be able to provide food for the four-legged members of their families.

Target was among six companies recognized by Second Harvest Heartland, a member of Feeding America, as one of the relief organization’s Hunger Heroes.

VALHALLA, N.Y. — Fujifilm North America has earned Walmart's "Vendor of the Year" award for its photo-finishing services in the mass-merchandise retailer's stores, Fujifilm said.

The company, a division of Japan-based Fujifilm, said it received the award in the photo-finishing category at Walmart's Supplier Summit in Orlando, Fla., last month. Fujifilm said the award recognized its manufacturing, quality and distribution capabilities.

Phoenix -- Leslie’s Poolmart said Monday it will grand-open 15 Leslie’s Swimming Pool Supplies stores across 10 states on April 5, as part of the company’s plan to open 48 new stores this spring.

The new stores opening on April 5 include: Tucson, Ariz.; Pleasanton, Calif.; Rohnert Park, Calif.; Cockeysville, Md.; Gastonia, N.C.; Las Vegas; New Hyde Park, N.Y.; West Chester, Ohio; Spartanburg, S.C.; Harlingen, Texas; Lake Jackson, Texas; Sherman, Texas; Wylie, Texas; Manassas, Va.; and Virginia Beach.