Logistics

It’s been a long time, but Rite Aid Corp. is opening a new distribution center.

Located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the facility is the company’s first new distribution center in 16 years. Rite Aid is currently awaiting regulatory approval for a proposed $17.2 billion merger with Walgreens Boots Alliance.

Letting customers pick up online orders at physical stores may be a hot retail trend, but Target has reportedly decided to terminate a test of the offering.

Sports Authority’s remaining 320 store leases will be auctioned in June.  

Amazon.com is starting to appear like the ‘Teflon e-tailer.”  

Amazon.com is starting to appear like the ‘Teflon e-tailer.”   According to eMarketer data, Amazon captured $79.3 billion in U.S. e-commerce sales between April 2015 and April 2016, growing 13% year-over-year. Its next-closest rival, Walmart, took in just $13.5 billion online in that period. However, Amazon may not be invincible.    Here are three retailers who could pose a real challenge to Amazon’s e-commerce dominance:   

Ikea has broken ground for its second store in Ohio.

The new Ikea will open in summer 2017. The 355,000-sq.-ft. store is being built on 33 acres at the northeastern corner of Interstate-71 and Gemini Place in the Polaris Centers of Commerce development, approximately 15 miles north of downtown Columbus.

The retailer has contracted with Pepper Construction to build the project. The chain also will evaluate potential on-site power generation to complement its current U.S. renewable energy presence at nearly 90% of its U.S. locations.
 

Amazon.com Inc. is supporting continued growth in California with fulfillment centers launching in the cities of Tracy and Eastvale.

The nation’s leading auto parts retailer produced modest sales and profit growth during its third quarter but managed to achieve double digit earnings per share growth thanks to stock buyback activity.

AutoZone sales increased 4% to $2.6 billion during the quarter ended May 7, thanks to the addition of new stores and a 2% same-store sales increase. Net income increased 6% to $327.5 million, while earning per share increased 12.6% to $10.77 as the company spent $533 million to repurchase 687,000 shares.