Data & Analytics

WALTHAM, Mass. — Profitect, a provider of retail software, has appointed Mike Mitchell as its new director of global professional services.

Mitchell will lead the company’s project management and business consulting efforts. Prior to joining Profitect, Mitchell served as VP of customer service for Agilence, Inc., overseeing all product implementation, support and professional auditing services.

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — Ikea has received the green light from Merriam’s city council to go ahead with its Kansas City-area store.

Pending the land purchase, permits and demolition of on-site buildings, construction of Ikea Merriam can begin summer 2013, with the store opening fall 2014.

WATERBURY, Vt. — Green Mountain Coffee Roasters has implemented several changes to its board of directors.

GMCR has elected Norman H. Wesley as its new chairman of the board and appointed former Kellogg Company head A. D. “David” Mackay as an independent director. Michael J. Mardy, who had previously served as interim chairman, will continue in his role as audit committee chair.

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples Inc. opened its new Velocity Lab, in Cambridge, Mass. The lab houses teams responsible for designing and implementing innovative new e-commerce and mobile solutions across Staples’ global business units.

The move is part of the office supply retailer’s recently announced strategic plan to accelerate growth by integrating its retail and online offerings and increasing investment in online and mobile capabilities to provide business customers with a seamless multichannel shopping experience.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Staples plans to triple the size of its e-commerce and IT staff by 2014, and has unveiled a new Velocity Lab at Kendall Square in Cambridge, Mass., to kick off its accelerated online growth initiative.

Palo Alto, Calif. -- Retail and distribution optimization company Aldata said Tuesday it has merged with customer engagement specialist EYC.

Both companies are part of the Symphony Technology Group, and the merger will create a new company, Symphony EYC.

The merger is intended to combine EYC’s customer engagement analytics with Aldata’s retail and distribution optimization execution capabilities, linking customer insights and engagement strategies into retail assortment, merchandising and supply chain execution.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Kohl’s has activated its largest solar project to date at its million-sq.-ft. e-commerce fulfillment center in Edgewood, Md.

Kohl’s, a leader in renewable energy usage, opened the facility in 2011, and recently earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification from the U.S. Green Building Council at the gold level. The location is Kohl’s sixth solar site in Maryland. It is also the company’s first LEED-certified logistics facility.

New York -- Wal-Mart Stores’ ongoing investigation into bribery allegations was thrust into the spotlight again on Monday after the New York Times ran a lengthy piece detailing how an elaborate series of payments accelerated construction of a controversial store in Mexico City.