News

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – ShopYourWay, the digital loyalty, marketing and shopping platform of Sears and Kmart, is partnering with YouTube celebrities Ricky Dillon and Jenn McCallister. The two social media stars will serve as “curators of cool” on the Shop Your Way site.

Dillon and McCalister collaborated with Shop Your Way to deliver their first semester fashion picks, creating catalogs members can like, follow and share. They have nearly 10 million fans combined on social media networks such as YouTube, Instagram and Twitter.

New York - Imports to the U.S. were up in July from June, and there was a measurable year-over-year increase. According to a new report from supply chain research firm Panjiva, July 2014 showed levels of imports 2% higher than imports in July 2013.

San Paulo, Brazil -- NCR Corporation announced that Formosa Supermarket, one of the biggest supermarket chains in Brazil, chose an NCR hardware solution to expedite service in its stores.

Formosa Supermarket enjoys some of the highest revenues per store and by checkout in Brazil. Increased store activity, combined with hot and humid weather conditions required Formosa Supermarkets to incorporate a solution that not only handled large volumes but could also stand up to the climate.

Nashville, Tenn. - Cybera Inc., a provider of virtual application network services, has completed a new National Bankcard Service (NBS) payment Virtual Application Network (VAN) that enables connectivity between POS and NBS payment processors. With this new partnership, Cybera has given NBS the ability to process payment through POS systems that emit payment through serial interface.

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group recently introduced its U.S. e-commerce site, 11Main.com. Like its parent company Alibaba, 11 Main operates by letting other retailers and businesses sell goods through its platform in exchange for a small portion of the proceeds. 11 Main offers shops in a variety of categories including fashion & style, home & outdoor, jewelry & watches, baby & kids, collecting & art, and crafts, hobbies & toys. Buying and/or selling goods on 11 Main requires an invitation.

By Jared Isaacman

New York -- Burger King Worldwide is in discussions to buy Canadian coffee and doughnut chain Tim Hortons. The two companies said in a joint statement on Monday that the new publicly listed entity would be based in Canada. The move comes as the White House is calling on Congress to take steps to prevent U.S. companies from moving outside the country (“tax inversions”).

The two restaurant companies are currently worth a combined total of about $18 billion, according to media reports.

Two industry retailers were honored for their political advocacy and grassroots support at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Political Involvement Reception during the NACDS Total Store Expo.

NACDS chain member H-E-B received the NACDS RxIMPACT “Leader of the Year” award for its efforts to engage in practically every program of the NACDS RxIMPACT brand, including congressional meetings during the annual NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill, conducting numerous NACDS RxIMPACT Pharmacy tours and hosting pharmacy advocacy training programs.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has presented retired Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke with its 2014 Hall of Achievement Award at the GMA Leadership Forum at The Broadmoor. The Hall of Achievement Award represents the highest honor given by the more than 100 year-old association.

Hudson’s Bay has appointed John Caplice to the position of SVP, treasury and investor relations, effective Sept. 2.