Logistics

As we continue to witness the battle of brick-and-mortar versus online shopping, it’s interesting to see Walmart’s latest ploy to “one-up” their online competition. Their new Walmart To Go service is offering customers same-day delivery of online orders for just $10. While the initial test period is expected to last only through the holidays, the possibility that this could stick makes me think that Walmart To Go might ultimately have some huge implications for brick-and-mortar retail. The big question, of course, is will it work? Can Walmart pull it off?

As convenience store operator Wawa expanded, it faced a logistics challenge: The company was adding more new stores, and its manually operated chilled warehouse had run out of room. Its production had outpaced its storage capacity, and the chain’s products were now being produced, staged on the warehouse floor and quickly shipped to make room for milk, teas and juices that were newly coming off the line. The distribution center’s storage space had surpassed maximum capacity.

New York -- Multiple reports on Monday suggested that private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, which owns the struggling Albertsons LLC, may be putting together a deal to buy all or part of the grocery chain.

Cerberus is said to be seeking $4 billion to $5 billion in debt financing from banks to back a bid and is looking at investing $800 to $900 in equity in its takeover quest, a person familiar with the matter is reported to have said. That same source cautioned that the figures could change.

Tustin, Calif. -- Present Value Properties said it has negotiated a 10-year, 24,160-sq.-ft. lease for HomeGoods at the Sher Lane Shops, a 45,000-sq.-ft. community center in Huntington Beach, Calif.

TJX Cos.-owned HomeGoods, which joins Men’s Wearhouse, Stone Hedge Tiles and Vitamin Shoppe, is expected to open in spring 2013 in a former Office Depot space.

New York -- Murphy Oil is splitting in two in order to better focus on the separate tasks of exploration and production, and the sale of gasoline and other goods through its retail locations, the Associated Press reported.

Murphy USA will become a separate company focused on selling fuels. Murphy USA operates retail gasoline stations in 23 states. Murphy USA will also operate seven fuel distribution terminals and ethanol production facilities in North Dakota and Texas.

Minneapolis -- Target announced plans to open a store in Staten Island, N.Y., in July 2013. The 150,000-sq.-ft. store will be located at the Richmond Shopping Center.

In addition, Target said it will open its second CityTarget store in the city of San Francisco, in October 2013. The new, 119,000-sq.-ft. CityTarget will be located at the southwest corner of Geary and Masonic Streets. On Oct. 10, the retailer opened the doors to the city’s first-ever Target store, also a CityTarget, at the Metreon.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings has been honored with a SmartWay Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for being an industry leader in freight supply chain environmental performance and energy efficiency. The EPA SmartWay partnership is a public/private collaboration between the EPA and the freight transportation industry that helps freight shippers, carriers, and logistics companies improve fuel-efficiency and save money.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The pace at which Walmart adds new selling space globally will remain unchanged next year, but improved productivity, more U.S. stores and expanding multichannel capabilities are expected to produce sales and profit growth.