Warehouse

Washington, D.C. -- The Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates said that import volume at major U.S. container ports is expected to hit an all-time record in August.
 
Retailers concerned about the lack of a West Coast longshoremen’s contract are rushing to bring holiday season merchandise into the country, according to NRF.

Irving, Texas - The Michaels Companies Inc. has recognized Polygroup Limited as its overall Vendor of the Year for product innovation, customer education and inspiration, quality products, and efficiency in supply chain. Michaels has also named Con-way Truckload as domestic transportation Supply Chain Partner of the Year and Kintetsu World Express Inc. as international Supply Chain Partner of the Year.

Eleven vendor and supply chain partners were recognized for their contributions to Michaels' success over the past year.

Indianapolis - Lids Sports Group has acquired wholesale team sports company Nashville Sporting Goods and its production affiliate National Team Embellishment, both headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. The purchase includes Nashville Sporting Goods.

Philadelphia – Net income at Destination Maternity Corp. fell 36% to $5.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 from $8.6 million a year earlier. Expenses related to the planned relocation of Destination Maternity’s corporate headquarters and distribution facilities, as well as costs related to its proposed and withdrawn merger with Mothercare plc, drove the reduction in net income.

New York -- Uncertainty at the West Coast ports has caused a rush of activity, according to a monthly tracking service.

Import volume at major U.S. container ports is expected to total 1.5 million containers this month, says the Global Port Tracker from the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. That’s the highest monthly volume in at least five years and follows a trend of unusually high import levels that began this spring as labor strife pushed retailers to import merchandise ahead of any potential problems.

Milwaukee – Roundy’s Supermarkets Inc. is closing its distribution center in Stevens Point, Minnesota. The closure, expected to take place by Sept. 30, will eliminate 196 jobs.

Arlington, Va. – With the deadline to resolve the union contract negotiations at West Coast closing in, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) on Friday said that undertaking essential measures to avoid work stoppage and preserve reliable channels for retail supply chains should be the top priority.

RILA issued the following statement, which it attributed to Kelly Kolb, VP government affairs:

Trenton, N.J. -- TerraCycle, an international recycling company, and The North Face are working together to pursue a solution to the common problem of massive amounts of left over polyethylene bags that are used to protect merchandise through distribution and transit. The North Face has engaged 25 of its retail stores in TerraCycle’s The North Face Polybag Brigade, to ensure these plastic bags get recycled. Together the two companies have kept 1.5 million plastic polybags, equaling more than 62,000 lbs., of plastic out of U.S. landfills.