Logistics

San Diego – On Jan. 30, 2014, PriceSmart, Inc. acquired approximately 147,000 usable sq. ft. of land in the city of Medellin, Colombia, and leased approximately 126,000 usable sq. ft. of land in the city of Bogota, Colombia, upon which the company plans to construct two new warehouse club stores. These two warehouse clubs are currently planned to open before the end of calendar year 2014.

Kenco, a leading provider of integrated logistics solutions, real estate services, and material handling equipment, has named Frazer Middleton as chief information officer.
 
In this newly created role, Middleton will direct the technology strategy of the company and lead the IT team to enhance performance and functionality. Middleton will also focus on opportunities to expand Kenco’s technological capabilities.
 

New York -- In a study of the returns and refunds performance of the 25 largest online retailers, StellaService found that the majority of retailers evaluated aren’t meeting consumer expectations.

StellaService analysts ordered the same product from each retailer to be delivered to the three separate regions of East, West and Midwest. They then returned the product, tracking metrics such as the presence of a prepaid, adhesive return label, total time to receive a return authorization and refund speed. The average refund speed of was 10.7 days.

In a study of the returns and refunds performance of the 25 largest online retailers, StellaService found that the majority of retailers evaluated aren’t meeting consumer expectations.

StellaService analysts ordered the same product from each retailer to be delivered to the three separate regions of East, West and Midwest. They then returned the product, tracking metrics such as the presence of a prepaid, adhesive return label, total time to receive a return authorization and refund speed. The average refund speed of was 10.7 days.

Gary Maxwell has joined the Supply Chain Management Research Center as an executive in residence.

Maxwell retired from Walmart last year after serving as SVP of the global business process team. He held a variety of senior supply chain and logistics roles at Walmart after joining the company in 1999 from the now defunct regional discount chain Caldor. Since his retirement, Maxwell launched Maxwell Value Chain, to provide replenishment and supply chain services to retail suppliers.

New Orleans — Smoothie King Franchises has announced that it is targeting Atlanta for franchise expansion. The company, which will unveil its new store design next month in South Florida, plans to open 25 new locations in the Atlanta region over the next five years.

Fort Wayne, Ind. -- Do it Best Corp. announced that VP of retail logistics John Snider will retire, effective June 30, 2014. The company’s VP of marketing, Tim Miller, will move into the role.

Colorado Springs, Colo. -- Accellos, Inc. has released multiple updates to Mile.com, a website dedicated the transportation industry and Prophesy Transportation Solutions. The new website features enhanced content including industry white papers, case studies and videos.

In addition, the new site includes the free commercial mileage tool, Prophesy webMiler.