Warehouse

Seattle -- Amazon continues to expand its already formidable fulfillment center.

The online giant plans to open a nearly 500,000-sq.-ft. center in Joliet, Illinois. The site, which will create 1,000 full-time jobs when it opens, is the company’s first in the state.

Washington, D.C. — Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 3.6% in August 2015 from the same month in 2014 as retailers begin to bring in merchandise for the holiday season. According to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, imports for the year are expected to be up 4.2% from 2014.

Montvale, N.J. -- Benjamin Moore has opened a 90,000-sq.-ft. state-of the-art distribution space in the Landover Logistics Center in Landover, Maryland.

The new LEED-certified (Silver) center will accommodate expansion and enhance service in the fast-growing Mid-Atlantic and Southeast markets, as well as support distribution of an expanded line of Benjamin Moore & Co. latex products.

Milan, Italy – No matter how popular a company’s products might be, if they can’t reach consumers they won’t sell.

Global eyewear retailer Luxottica Group is recognizing this basic business fact with a new strategy to substantially increase distribution capacity in the U.S., China and Italy.

Atlanta - UPS is expanding the number of locations customers can pick up and drop off packages. The company is expanding the number of cities it offers the UPS Access Point network, which offers package pickup and drop-off at local businesses, primarily neighborhood convenience and grocery stores, dry cleaners and delicatessens with extended evening and weekend hours.

Toronto -- Lowe's Canada announced the appointment of Gregor Stuart to the new position of VP, supply chain, effective July 27.

Gregor joins Lowe's Canada with over 25 years of supply chain and logistics experience in the retail industry. He has held various senior roles with prominent Canadian retailers including Loblaw Companies Limited, The Bargain! Shop, Hudson's Bay Company, Canadian Tire Corporation LTD and National Grocers Co.

Toronto – Lowe’s Canada is in growth mode. In addition to completing the acquisition of 12 former Target sites, the company also plans to open two more locations in Ontario, which will bring its total store count to 54 from 40.

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has made it clear with recent promotions that it has Amazon.com in its sights, and the retailer is now boning up on back-end fulfillment capability for its e-commerce business. Wal-Mart is opening two new e-commerce distribution facilities Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.