News

Boston -- Powerhouse Dynamics, creator of the SiteSage enterprise energy and asset management system, is beefing up its mobile app with a series of control and reporting enhancements to provide facility  managers with complete facility energy and equipment operations management.   

New York -- The O Alliance, a new consulting firm helping retailers to create circular commerce, announced that it is expanding its senior management team with the appointment of retail industry veteran and multi-channel expert Walter Killough as a managing director. He will be responsible for business development, strategic partnerships and overall day-to-day management of the company.  

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and leading publisher Meredith Corporation have entered into a decade-long partnership that is being described as transformative.

Regional discounter Shopko has added a range of omnichannel capabilities to its retail operations just in time for what is expected to be the most digital Christmas ever.

Shopko announced the rollout of expanded omnichannel capabilities it said would provide shoppers more access to products, the ability to buy products on-line and ship them to store for free. The capabilities were extended to 310 of the company’s locations.

Branded packaged food supplier B&G Foods elevated EVP and CFO Robert Cantwell to the role of CEO effective Jan. 1.

Cantwell, 57, a long time B&G employee, succeeds David Wenner, 64, in the top job following Wenner’s decision earlier this year to retire. Wenner will remain on the board and the company has begun a search for a new CFO.

Retail advertising solutions provider Bonial International, parent company of Retale, has placed several executives in key roles as it looks to disrupt the traditional retail advertising universe.

Dan Cripe was name chief technology officer and Andrea Francesco Domeneghini was named chief marketing officer at Bonial and will be based in the company’s Berlin headquarters.

Amazon’s 50 fulfillments centers and 15 sortation centers are looking to hire 80,000 seasonal works to cope with an anticipated surge in U.S. holiday sales.

Amazon, like other retailers, touts the seasonal positions as an opportunity to get in on the ground floor with the company and establish a foundation for a career. Last year, Amazon said it converted thousands of seasonal employees into regular, full-time roles after the holidays, and expects to do the same this year.
 

Supervalu president and CEO Sam Duncan is encouraged with the progress the retailer is making and why not. Identical store sales in the company’s Save-A-Lot units were up 6.5% in the second quarter.

The company’s total sales for the period ended September 6, increased 1.8% to $4.02 billion while profits declined to $31 million, or 11 cents a share, from $40 million, or 15 cents a share. When adjusted for some non-recurring items, second quarter earnings were $34 million, or 13 cents a share.

Even if Dollar General doesn’t prevail in its efforts to acquire Family Dollar the company’s expanding distribution infrastructure is positioned to support future growth.

Dollar General said it plans to build the 13th distribution center in its nationwide network in San Antonio. The facility will measure more than 900,000-sq.-ft., employ roughly 530 people and serve more than 1,000 stores when it opens in October 2015, the company said.

Global branded play leader Hasbro, Inc. today announced the promotion of John Frascotti to the newly-created position of president, Hasbro Brands, effective immediately.

In this new role, Frascotti assumes the additional responsibilities of worldwide product development and now oversees all of the company’s global marketing and design and development teams.  By combining the teams, the company will continue to drive strong innovation, maximize operational efficiency, facilitate greater collaboration and streamline decision-making.