News

The ABF Freight division of Arkansas Best Corporation was named a “Carrier of the Year,” for the second consecutive year by a leading supply chain organization.

The Fort Smith, Ark.-based company received the National LTL Carrier of the Year Award from the National Shippers Strategic Transportation Council (NASSTRAC). ABF also won the award in 2013, 2011 and 2010.

Longtime Hallmark executive Michael Goodwin was named chief information officer at the nation’s largest pet specialty retailer.

Goodwin will become SVP and CIO at PetSmart effective June 2, after previously serving as SVP and CIO of technology and business enablement at Hallmark, a $4 billion company with more than 2,600 stores and an extensive online presence. PetSmart operates 1,333 stores.

Teen specialist Aéropostale lent credence to the “malls are dying” voices by announcing the closure of 125-mall based stores and the elimination of 100 headquarter positions.

Citing changing shopping patterns among moms, Aéropostale said it planned to close 125 of its 150 P.S. from Aéropostale stores which focus on kids ages four through 12. The move is part of a larger cost reduction program related to a turnaround strategy that is expected to result in annual savings of $30 to $35 million.

Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- Kohl’s Department Stores has been awarded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2014 Energy Star Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award for the company’s continued leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency initiatives. The retailer currently has more than 860 Energy Star-certified locations, more than 70% of its stores nationwide and more than any other U.S. retailer to date.

New York -- Coach Inc. third-quarter net income dropped 20% to $190.7 million, from $238.9 million a year earlier, amid increased competition from Michael Kors and others.

Revenue for the quarter ended March 29 fell 7.4% to $1.1 billion, compared to analysts’ $1.13 billion estimate. Same-store sales in North America fell 21%. Sales will continue to fall through the rest of the year, the company said.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart on Tuesday joined with CEOs from more than a dozen global companies to sign new commitments that accelerate innovation in sustainable agriculture and recycling. The pledges kicked off Walmart’s first-ever Sustainable Product Expo, a three-day collaboration to expand the availability of products that sustain people and the environment. Together, the participating suppliers represent more than $100 billion in sales at Walmart.

Washington, D.C. - Consumers this year will celebrate Mother’s Day keeping practicality in mind. According to NRF’s 2014 Mother’s Day Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, Americans will spend an average of $162.94 on Mother’s Day in 2014, down 3.5% from a survey high of $168.94 in 2013. Total spending is expected to reach $19.9 billion.

Chicago -- Consumer confidence rose significantly in the first quarter of 2014, according to a MarketPulse survey from IRI. All age groups are reporting a more positive outlook — especially Millennials. A distressed consumer segment since the economic downturn began, this age group is showing the greatest rise in confidence.

Atlanta - Buxton is launching its Market Share solution for U.S. retailers. Executives in the retail, restaurant and grocery industries can compare their market share performance to that of an aggregated peer group, giving them insights into how their business is performing to others in their market or industry.

Ottawa, Canada - 360pi has unveiled the latest generation of its 360comparables solution targeted to address private label brands. This release augments 360pi’s attribute-based matching algorithm with the option for customer-controlled product matching.