News

Midwestern discounter Meijer is looking to a former store pharmacist who worked his way up in the company to take over the reins as president.

The company announced that Rick Keyes has been appointed as president of the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer. Keyes, who joined the company 26 years ago as a pharmacist in Columbus, Ohio, takes the reigns of the multi-state Midwestern retailer after this week's announcement that J.K. Symancyk is leaving the company to join a Texas-based retailer.

Retailers know the Internet of Things (IoT) is coming and will bring significant changes. But their preparedness for it is less certain.

The importance of expense control at Walmart became evident on Friday when the retailer confirmed it planned to eliminate 450 positions as part of a broader restructuring effort.

Gasoline/convenience retailer Thorntons Inc. maximizes its customer “convenience” with 24-hour service at many locations. This requires the Louisville, Kentucky-based, 175-store chain to operate robust network security that can handle heavy transaction volume at all times.

“We needed a simple and effective whitelisting (file and application approval) product to prevent outbound Internet access except to desired places,” said David Caudill, VP of IT for Thorntons.

Citing favorable market conditions and a desire to “de-risk” its pension plan, nearly 14,000 participants in J.C. Penney’s retirement plan opted to receive lump sum payments.

Peoria, Ill. -- Cullinan Properties announced the addition of Vic Pildes as senior VP of development and anchor leasing. In this role, Pildes will be responsible for development and municipal related activities for new projects, assist in the identification of new acquisition opportunities and lead anchor leasing efforts throughout Cullinan’s portfolio.

On the heels of opening its Digital Innovation Labin Boston in June, CVS Health is furthering its innovation efforts with two new outside partnerships.

Walmart offered a sneak peek of its new fulfillment center in the Atlanta area on Thursday on the heels of announcing that it would bring grocery pickup to the region this month.