Distribution

New Haven, Conn. -- RHYS Commercial said that Harbor Freight Tools is opening three Connecticut locations – in New Haven (17,000 sq. ft.), Bridgeport (14,284 sq. ft.) and Waterbury (16,813 sq. ft.).

The tool and equipment retailer’s location in New Haven opened April 27; construction is underway on the other two outlets.
 

Austin, Texas -- NetSpend Holdings said Thursday it has entered into a distribution agreement with Family Dollar to sell the NetSpend Visa prepaid debit card at the discounter’s store locations nationwide.

Family Dollar and NetSpend plan to make the prepaid cards available in more than 7,200 locations beginning this month, NetSpend officials said.
 

Atlanta -- Women’s fashion retailer Aritzia has chosen to roll out RedPrairie Corp.'s supply chain execution solutions in its 80,000-sq.-ft. distribution center in Vancouver, British Columbia.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Charges related to store closures in the United States caused OfficeMax's first quarter net income to drop from $4.9 million, or 6 cents per diluted share, compared with $11.4 million, or 12 cents per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2011. Adjusting for these charges, net income for the quarter was $20.3 million, or 23 cents per diluted share, compared with $11.4 million, or 13 cents per diluted share for the same period last year.

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. — Weber Logistics, a third party logistics company in the Western United States, has named former Target human resources manager, Sheila Jordan, as its new VP human resources. Jordan will report to Weber’s CEO, Harry Drajpuch, and be responsible for all human resource-related activities, including hiring, training, associate development and administration, for employees across Weber’s 17 distribution centers and freight terminals.

Columbus, Ohio -- DSW Inc. said Tuesday that its newest store, located in the State Street shopping district of downtown Chicago, is slated to open on May 10, bringing the shoe retailer’s total downtown Chicago store count to two and 17 in Chicagoland.

The new two-level store features 25,000 sq. ft. of space.
 

Washington, D.C. -- Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports will be flat in May compared with the same month last year, but is expected to see solid year-over-year increases through this summer and the back-to-school season, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens on Monday announced it has completed its acquisition of certain assets of BioScrip’s community specialty pharmacies and centralized specialty and mail-service pharmacy businesses. The transaction represents a total deal value of approximately $225 million.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores has entered into a strategic partnership with McLane, a provider of grocery and food service supply chain solutions, to enable the retailer to offer customers a broader selection of merchandise, including refrigerated and frozen food, across the retailer’s more than 7,200 locations in 45 states.

New York -- The retail industry is still assessing the impact of two major deals that occurred within 24 hours of each other. On Tuesday, May, 1, shoe manufacturer Wolverine Worldwide Inc. and equity firms Blum Capital Partners and Golden Gate Capital agreed to acquire footwear giant Collective Brands Inc., operator of Payless Shoe Source, in a deal valued at $2 billion, including assumption of debt. And on Wednesday, May 2, Ascena Retail Group said it will acquire Charming Shoppes Inc., parent company of Lane Bryant, for about $890 million.