Distribution

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Safeway announced Monday that it has promoted its executive VP and CFO Robert Edwards to the position of president.

Edwards has held his current role since 2004. He will have overall responsibility for the company's retail operations, marketing, merchandising, corporate brands, manufacturing, distribution and finance functions, and will continue as CFO until a successor is named to the position.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway has named Robert Edwards president of the company. Edwards has served as Safeway's EVP and CFO since 2004.

Edwards, 56, will have overall responsibility for the company's retail operations, marketing, merchandising, corporate brands, manufacturing, distribution and finance functions.  He will continue as CFO until a successor is named to the position.

Dublin, Calif. -- Epicor Software Corp. said Thursday it has acquired Internet AutoParts, a provider of business-to-business e-commerce solutions for automotive replacement parts distributors, jobbers and vehicle repair businesses.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

UNION, N.J. — Bed Bath & Beyond continues to dominate the home and housewares space and reported another quarter of impressive sales and earnings growth.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — As a large, profitable retailer, Walmart is expected to give back. While many could argue it could do more, the company gave away $958.9 million in cash and in-kind contributions around the globe during the fiscal year ending Jan. 31. The company's U.S. giving grew nearly 20%, largely due to increased donations of produce, meats, poultry and other nutritious food to local food banks from Walmart stores, Sam's Club locations and distribution centers.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart and the Walmart Foundation announced $958.9 million in cash and in-kind contributions around the globe during the fiscal year ending January 31, 2012. The company's U.S. giving grew nearly 20%, largely due to increased donations of produce, meats, poultry and other nutritious food to local food banks from Walmart stores, Sam's Club locations and distribution centers.

Overall, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation's giving in the last fiscal year includes:

Atlanta -- InComm, a leading third-party gift card provider, is following the example of American Express and is pulling out of New Jersey, effective June 30, rather than comply with changes in the unclaimed property law.

InComm supplies some 2,500 retail locations throughout New Jersey with cards for such brands as Visa, iTunes, Macy's, Subway, Chili's, and Lord & Taylor. InComm also announced the removal of its Vanilla Visa Gift Card and Vanilla MasterCard Gift Card products from the state.

Target’s ability to replenish stores across a large swath of the central United States is poised to improve in the next two years as the company gains much needed new distribution capacity in Texas and Ohio.

By Christine Wheeler, [email protected]

Thanks to wireless technology, carts with on-board power supplies are opening up new frontiers of efficiency, productivity, and profitability in retail stores and distribution centers. These mobile powered workstations (MPWs) carry computers, barcode scanners, and printers of all kinds, reducing foot travel and paperwork wherever they go.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Mass merchandise chain Meijer has acquired a Michigan-based dairy, the company said.

Meijer announced the purchase of Bareman's Dairy, a family-owned company based in Holland, Mich., and the intention of investing more than $8 million into expansion of the plant.