News

Former Walmart exec to lead SpartanNash supply chain
A grocery distributor and retailer is expanding its supply chain management team. SpartanNash named Tom Lee as senior VP, supply chain. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing SpartanNash’s supply chain, logistics, transportation and inventory management departments.
Bankrupt Gander Mountain acquired
The largest U.S. chain dedicated to recreational vehicles and a group of liquidations have come together to thrown a lifeline of sorts to outdoor retailer Gander Mountain.

Trendy online sneaker brand eyes physical stores

Following in the footsteps of Warby Parker, Bonobos and the like, another online startup is ready to plant some brick-and-mortar roots. Brooklyn, New York-based sneaker brand Greats plans to open at least 10 locations over the next two years, according to The New York Business Journal.
Pizza giant links deliveries to customers’ smart technology

Domino’s Pizza now lets customers sync their smart home devices with the ETA of their pizza deliveries. The pizza giant is partnering with If This, Then That (IFTTT), a free platform that allows users to create connections — or applets — between digital devices and services. By integrating its digital Domino's Tracker, which enables customers to monitor orders from preparation to delivery, into the platform, the company has created Domino’s-branded applets.
Online made-to-measure menswear brand focusing on brick-and-mortar expansion

Indochino is growing its fledgling store footprint and has the U.S. market in its sights. The Vancouver, Canada-based online retailer has opened its 13th store, at Metropolis in Metrotown in Burnaby, a suburb of Vancouver. The approximate 2,000-sq.-ft. store follows the recent openings of additional locations at West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton, and Chinook Centre, Calgary.
Q&A: Online home furnishings brand goes high-touch, high-service

Eighteen year-old online home décor and furnishings brand ATGStores.com has a new name, a new look and a new focus on personalized, one-on-one service.
Supermarket retailer to remodel 71 stores

Food Lion has announced a $110 million investment in its stores as part of its ongoing remodeling initiative. The chain announced it will remodel 71 stores in the greater Richmond, Va., market in 2017. Looking to make shopping easier and more affordable for its customers, the grocer said it will make a $110 million investment that includes remodeling the Richmond-area stores, additional price investments throughout the year and investments in associates and the community through its hunger relief initiative.
Report: Automation could propel Amazon’s grocery operation

Automation could drive Amazon’s grocery business in more ways than one. Not only will a focus on automation prime the online giant’s AmazonFresh operation to disrupt the grocery industry, but it could also help the endeavor reach a breakeven point, according to CNBC.
Update on Walgreens-Rite Aid deal

The battle for Walgreens to acquire Rite Aid may be entering its final stage. Walgreens is expected to certify compliance within days, giving the Federal Trade Commission 90 days to either clear the $9.7 billion deal or sue to block it, reported the New York Post. The newspaper added the certified compliance period would expire roughly the same day as the Walgreens-Rite Aid merger agreement terminates on July 31. The proposed transaction was first announced in October 2015.
Sheetz on hiring spree

A fast-growing convenience store operator has announced a major hiring initiative. Sheetz said it is looking to hire more than 3,400 employees companywide. The hiring initiative aims to increase Sheetz's total employee count and number of full-time positions by creating and filling jobs at stores throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina.