OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

New York -- Tesco has opened its first all-LED store as the United Kingdom’s largest retailer continues its drive to reduce carbon emissions from its operations. Tesco expects that the use of the LEDs in its new Express location, in Loughborough, England, will produce a 30% energy savings compared to its other Express stores.  

Stockholm, Sweden -- Ikea said Monday that its CEO Mikael Ohlsson will step down effective Sept. 1, 2013, and will be succeeded by Peter Agnefjall, current country manager of Ikea Sweden.

To prepare Agnefjall for his new role, Ikea said that he will serve as VP of the company beginning in 2013 until his September transition.

Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- Kohl’s Corp. said Tuesday it plans to hire more than 52,700 associates this holiday season, about a 10% increase over last year’s holiday hiring numbers.

Kohl’s said it anticipates hiring an average of 41 associates per store, a 4% increase over 2011, as well as 5,700 seasonal DC positions and more than 30 seasonal credit operations positions.

Hiring began this month, and most jobs will be filled by mid-November, said the retailer.

New York -- Survey results released Tuesday by WSL/Strategic Retail found that Canada represents a strong expansion opportunity for U.S. retailers.
 
The “How Canada Shops” research study revealed that 64% of Canadians can still afford to shop beyond the basics – versus half of Americans, who say they cannot.



Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens announced Tuesday several senior-management shifts intended to capitalize on its new partnership with Swiss drugstore chain Alliance Boots.

CFO Wade Miquelon is assuming an expanded and global leadership role at Walgreens as executive VP/CFO and president, international, leading a newly named Value Creation Services and International Division.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens on Tuesday announced several new senior management roles, including an expanded role for CFO Wade Miquelon and the appointment of current senior VP and chief strategy officer Robert Zimmerman as the lead executive responsible for the Walgreens-Alliance Boots' "synergy team." Succeeding Zimmerman as chief strategy officer will be Brad Fluegel.

Corte Madera, Calif. -- Restoration Hardware announced Monday it has rebranded the company as RH, in a move to better position itself as a multichannel operation.

According to RH creator Gary Friedman: "Today's RH is a far cry from the hardware and nostalgic discovery item based business it once was.  … The new branding positions us for the future and reflects our belief that we can curate a lifestyle beyond the four walls of the home."

New York -- Saks Inc. said Monday it has launched AT&T Wi-Fi at all 44 retail locations nationwide.

The AT&T Wi-Fi network connects shoppers with mobile tools such as the new Saks Fifth Avenue app, which offers features such as shareable wish lists, fashion look books, event calendars and more. AT&T customers with select Wi-Fi enabled devices will auto-authenticate to the in-store Wi-Fi service, so frequent shoppers will be automatically connected to Saks Fifth Avenue’s Wi-Fi each time they re-visit the store.