Distribution

BREA, Calif. — Health and natural products wholesale distributor Nature's Best has hired Amy Kirtland as the company’s VP of sales. Kirtland will be responsible for leading the company's sales team and executing the company's strategic growth plans.

Mississauga, Ont. -- Target plans to open the doors to an additional 20 stores in Canada between July 16 and July 30. The stores will be located in in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario
 
The openings mark Target’s first openings in Saskatchewan and follow the unveiling of 48 stores across Canada earlier this year. The new 20 locations officially push Target past the halfway mark for store openings this year. The retailer plans to open 124 stores across Canada throughout 2013.

CHELMSFORD, Mass. — Multichannel home furnishings specialty retailer has tapped Kewill, a leading provider of software for supply chain execution, to help it consistently manage domestic and international shipments from multiple shipping locations across North America.

Crate and Barrel will utilize Kewill's Flagship parcel shipping and Netship expense management software to streamline its supply chain and integrate a roster of carriers to ensure it selects the best available rate and service every time.

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — Leading home furnishings retailer Ikea has extended its partnership with ECOtality, a clean electric transportation and storage technologies company, and plans to add 24 Blink electric vehicle charging stations across eight more locations in the United States.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Anheuser-Busch’s Fort Collins brewery is celebrating its 25th birthday.

The brewery took nearly three and a half years to construct, and according to the company was designed based on generations of brewmaster expertise. The state-of-the-art fixture has since undergone three expansions, with the last one having been completed April 2003, and which included a brewhouse renovation, additional grain silos, expansion of the fermentation and aging cellars, an additional warehouse and a new truck entrance.  

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Kid Brands' board is going to see some changes, following Hugh Rovit's announcement that he will not be seeking re-election as a director at the company's annual shareholders meeting.

Indianapolis - The Finish Line's first-quarter net income plunged 59% amid start-up costs related to its deal to open branded in-store shops in Macy’s. But the retailer still beat Wall Street expectations. In other news, the company announced a new role for retiring president and COO, Steve Schneider.

The Finish Line earned $5.1 million for the period ended June 1, down from $12.3 million a year ago. Revenue rose 10% to $351.1 million, also beating expectations. Same-store sales were up 2.4%. 

Canton, Mass. -- Baskin Robbins has announced plans to develop locations in major metropolitan areas across South Africa and Germany.

The company is seeking qualified, multi-unit franchisee candidates to develop the brand with an initial focus in South Africa in the south, north and east regions. In Germany, the company will focus initially on Berlin and Munich followed by Hamburg, Frankfurt and Stuttgart.