Logistics

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway has transitioned to using reusable product containers (RPCs), rather than corrugated boxes, to ship many types of produce from the farm fields, through the distribution channel and to final store destination. This transition eliminated the use of over 17 million pounds of corrugated boxes.

New York -- Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th announced that it plans to open a store in Merrimack, Mass., on June 14.

The 28,032-sq.-ft. store is located in Merrimack Premium Outlets, a new shopping center 55 miles northwest of Boston. The store’s launch will coincide with the outlet’s grand opening celebration, which will last from June 14 until June 17. Operated by Simon Malls, the Outlet Center will be home to a collection of 100 designer and name-brand outlet stores, up to four restaurants and a food court.

Washington, D.C. -- Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 4.8% in June compared with the same month last year, and year-over-year increases are expected to continue into the holiday season shipping cycle, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.


Conshohocken, Pa. -- Ikea has announced plans to install solar energy panels on two distribution centers in the Eastern United States. Installation will occur this summer on the chain’s center in Perryville, Md., and Westampton, N.J. Both projects will rank among the largest commercial rooftop solar installations in the United States, and their implementation will extend the Ikea solar presence to nearly 89% of its U.S. locations.

FULLERTON, Calif. — A store-level workforce reduction is planned for Albertsons' Southern California division.

St. Louis -- Save-A-Lot announced plans for a new 250,374-sq.-ft. food distribution center in Pompano Beach, Fla.

The center located is expected to open by the end of fiscal year 2013 (FY13 ends February 23, 2013) and employ more than 30 employees initially, with the potential for hiring additional employees once the facility is at full capacity. The project is the result of collaboration with KTR Capital Partners and Butters Construction.
 

ST. LOUIS — Save-A-Lot is poised for substantial growth in South Florida when it completes its new distribution center in Pompano Beach. The 250,374 sq. ft. DC is expected to open by February 2013 and will and employ more than 30 employees initially, with the potential for hiring additional employees once the facility is at full capacity, the company said. The project is the result of collaboration with KTR Capital Partners and Butters Construction.

By William Gindlesperger, [email protected]

Innovation is required if the United States is to regain the level of productivity that it enjoyed toward the end of the 19th Century through the mid-20th Century. However, innovation by itself is not enough. Just as our parents and grandparents adopted electricity, the automobile, credit cards and airplanes in the period from 1870-1950, businesses and organizations of the 21st Century must embrace change.