News

Advance Auto Parts has appointed David Allen as SVP, supply chain management. Allen will report to Charles Tyson, EVP, merchandising, marketing and supply chain, and will be based in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Allen will lead the supply chain function in its efforts to support Advance’s stores and commercial customers. This includes developing strategies to support the integration of Advance’s supply chain with Carquest.

Sellpoints, a pre-marketing platform that touts itself for help brands generate sales online, has acquired the 360° technology patent for videos and photos. 360° technology is used in e-commerce to give in-depth product tours and educate consumers about product benefits online.

According to Sellpoints, the previous patent owner sued multiple big brands to prevent them from using this technology on their websites. Sellpoints reportedly worked for five months to obtain the patent and open up its use to the e-commerce industry.

Scanbuy, a leading mobile engagement solutions provider, has upgraded its ScanLife app for Android and iOS devices, giving consumers the opportunity to receive personalized deals and promotions as well as rewards based on their scanning activity via the app’s recommendation engine.

The nonprofit charity arm of Stater Bros. Markets has promoted Nancy Negrette to executive director.
 
In her new position, Negrette will work with Stater Bros. Charities CEO Sally Atkinson to oversee the nonprofit’s efforts in the areas the company’s employees work.
 

Sobeys is leveraging social media to drive Canadian shoppers to its stores. The operator of retail banners that include Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods and Lawton's Drug Stores has enlisted Chef Jamie Oliver for the campaign.

The company’s next #BetterFoodForAll challenge asks Canadians to share their favorite side dish this summer for a chance to win a cooking lesson with Oliver in Toronto. Sides can include coleslaw, corn on the cob, grilled vegetables and fresh salads.

The Container Store saw same-store sales in the first quarter slip 0.8%, putting an end to a 16-quarter streak.

“We thought our sluggish sales were all because of weather and calendar shifts that began last November and continued into the spring, but now we’ve come to realize it’s more than weather and calendar. Consistent with so many of our fellow retailers, we are experiencing a retail ‘funk,’” said chairman and CEO Kip Tindell.

Mars has named Debra A. Sandler as its chief health and wellbeing officer and elevated Tracey Massey to the role Sandler previously held as the acting president of Mars Chocolate, North America.

The creation of the chief health and wellbeing officer role is a reflection of the strategic priority that the company is placing on issues such as global food security, safety and quality, as well as on improving the nutritional value of its portfolio.

Cal-Maine Foods isn’t due to report its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended May 31 until the end of the month, but already it has reached annual sales of more than 1 billion dozen eggs for fiscal 2014 with an expected total of 1.014 billion dozen fresh eggs sold.

The milestone marks a new record year of sales for Cal-Maine Foods and the first time any domestic or world egg supplier has surpassed annual sales of more than 1 billion dozen eggs.

ECRM compared retail circular advertising in June 2013 versus June 2014 and noted trends occurring across top retail chains. Both Walmart and Toys “R” Us experienced some extreme shifts versus last year. Toys “R” Us did not run any circulars during the month of June, down from two last year. Instead, it ran only web and email promotions. The inverse occurred in January, when it ran no print ads in 2013 and only a single short circular in 2014.

Coppel, Texas -- The Container Store on Tuesday posted a 0.8% decline in same-store sales in the first quarter, its first decline in the metric in 16 quarters.

“We thought our sluggish sales were all because of weather and calendar shifts that began last November and continued into the spring, but now we’ve come to realize it’s more than weather and calendar. Consistent with so many of our fellow retailers, we are experiencing a retail ‘funk,’” said Kip Tindell, chairman and CEO.