News

Vista, Calif. -- Consumer electronics recycler E-World Online said Wednesday that it has teamed with Costco Wholesale Corp. on the launch of a national program to make managing merchandise returns more sustainable.

E-World Online’s Retail Return Program will track returned merchandise and find markets for reusable or recyclable products. Costco has implemented, trained and deployed E-World Online’s RRP program in all of its U.S. warehouses, making it the largest such retail return program, according to E-World Online.

Minneapolis -- Supervalu Inc. announced Thursday that it has reached a deal to sell its Albertsons, Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's and Star Market stores and related Osco and Sav-on in-store pharmacies to a private equity group in a transaction valued at $3.3 billion.

AB Acquisition, a consortium of investors led by Cerberus Capital Management, will get 877 stores across the various banners in the deal. The investor group also includes Kimco Realty Corp., Klaff Realty LP, Lubert-Adler Partners and Schottenstein Real Estate Group.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — Designer Shoe Warehouse will use VendorNet’s StoreNet Live tool to strengthen its e-commerce position by improving fulfillment for online sales.

NEW YORK — Value priced apparel and accessories retailer Uniqlo continues its U.S. expansion with the opening of two stores in the Northeast.

The global clothing retailer is strengthening its toehold on the Northeast with two new stores opening at Palisades Center in West Nyack, N.Y., and Westchester’s Ridge Hill in Yonkers, N.Y., by spring 2013.

Total U.S. Shopper Traffic in Retail Stores and Malls for December 2012

Holiday shopping reached its seasonal peak in December, driving a 36.6 percent retail foot traffic increase over November. Further, December 2012 continued a trend of year-over-year improvements in the number of shoppers visiting stores with a 1.2 percent increase in foot traffic when compared to the same month last year.

Frank McGuigan is the new EVP of operations at Transplace, a leading third party logistics provider.

McGuigan joined Transplace in 2011 as SVP of contract logistics after the fast-growing, Dallas-based company acquired SCO Logistics where McGuigan served as president and CEO.

NEW YORK — A major renovation may be underway at Lululemon’s flagship store in Manhattan, but the fast growing retailer isn’t missing a beat.

The Vancouver, B.C.-based operator of 201 stores has set up a temporary store at 1142 Third Ave., across from its flagship location to satisfy the New Yorkers’ needs while the four-month renovation is underway.

The global data management organization known as 1WorldSync named Gary Lo as its new CFO.

Lo spent the past 15 years in finance roles at Johnson & Johnson and other leading companies. At 1WorldSync he will be responsible for global finance, accounting, treasury, internal controls and legal functions.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Select Kmart locations will carry apparel and accessories collections developed by pop superstars Adam Levine and Nicki Minaj in an effort to boost sales. Both collections will also be available via the ShopYourWay.com social shopping platform.

NEW YORK — Tecate and Tecate Light announced the launch of their national retail program focused on helping U.S. Hispanics 21 and older celebrate their passion for football. The brand equity will place bilingual thematic POS materials with the slogan "A Man Knows How to Choose His Team," cross-merchandise and consumer promotions at off-premise locations across the country between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15, 2013.