Logistics

Bentonville, Ark. — In the wake of an accident involving a truck driver for Wal-Mart Stores on the New Jersey Turnpike on Saturday, June 7 that left comedian Tracy Morgan critically injured and killed one of Morgan’s associates, comedian James McNair, Wal-Mart Stores has released a fact sheet about its trucking safety guidelines, as well an official statement regarding the crash.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. — Dollar General plans to expand its nationwide presence into three new states within the next year, increasing the company’s presence to 43 states across the country. The discount retailer will begin construction on stores in Maine and Rhode Island in fall 2014, with plans to expand into Oregon in early 2015.

Washington, D.C. — Import volume at major U.S. container ports is expected to increase 7.5% in June as retailers bring unusually high quantities of merchandise into the country early to avoid any potential disruptions after the labor contract with West Coast dockworkers expires. According to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, in June U.S. ports followed by Global Port Tracker are expected to handle 1.46 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEU), up 7.5% year-over-year.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. – Dollar General Corp. has opened its 12th distribution center in Bethel, Pennsylvania. Dollar General announced plans to build the 930,000-sq.-ft. facility in 2012 and broke ground on the facility in fall 2012 with Kinsley Construction.

Playa Vista, Calif. — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the sale of The Shops at Concert Park, a portfolio of two 100% triple-net leased retail condominium shopping centers in Playa Vista, California, a master planned community in the Westside region of Los Angeles.

The buyer paid $16.9 million for the properties. That equates to $743 per sq. ft. The Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp. arranged $10,815 000 in CMBS financing to facilitate the sale.

Washington, D.C. — The Fairfax, Virginia, City Council has approved a rezoning application for Combined Properties’ Fairfax Circle Plaza. The project aims to redevelop the current strip retail center and replace it with a mixed-use development with up to 400 new apartments and 88,000 sq. ft. of retail including a grocery store.

The project is located at the intersection of two major routes just over a half mile from the Vienna, Virginia, Metro station.

New York - Imports to the U.S. were up in April from March. According to data from supply chain research firm Panjiva, April 2014 showed levels of imports that were 9% higher than imports in April 2013. The numbers of these shipments coming into the U.S. changed 11% from March 2014 to April 2014.

United Stationers’ wholly owned subsidiary, United Stationers Supply Co., has completed its acquisition of CPO Commerce.

Established in 2004, CPO is a leading online tool retailer. CPO's fiscal year 2013 sales were $78 million, with a sustained track record of double-digit annual growth. The e-retailer partners with top manufacturers and sells their products through independent brand-focused online stores. CPO online stores carry a full selection of new products and an industry-leading selection of factory-reconditioned products.