OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Boulder, Colo. — Giant-Landover and ShopRite are shoppers' two favorite supermarkets, according to results of a survey released Tuesday.

Bentonville, Ark. — Walmart U.S. CEO Bill Simon will provide an update on the company's U.S. business at the Morgan Stanley Retail and Restaurants Conference in Boston on Wednesday, May 23.

The presentation will be webcast live through links at Walmartstores.com/investors and a transcript will be available later in the week. The materials will be archived for one year on the company’s website.

Toronto — That trip to the local restaurant is off the menu for consumers today, as are furnishings and electronics, Empathica reported on Thursday, citing its latest Consumer Insights Panel survey of more than 6,500 U.S. consumers. One-out-of-3 shoppers surveyed reported that the economy is still very much top of mind for them. But "need" items — gas, pharmacy and grocery — are not seeing declines in purchase intent compared to findings from this time the previous year, the report noted.

New York -- A 2010 law that gave the state of New Jersey the authority to claim the value of unused gift cards as revenue has been repealed by the state’s Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, according to the Newark Star-Ledger.

Seattle -- Starbucks Corp. announced a series of management changes that it said it was undertaking to accelerate its innovation and growth. The changes come after Starbucks missed its global sales forecasts in April, mainly due to a downturn in Europe.

The company named Craig Russell, the senior VP U.S. Store Services, as senior VP of the Global Coffee division.

Portland, Ore. -- Safeway launched an online and mobile shopping program, called Just for U, in the company's Oregon and Washington divisions. The program, which delivers targeted savings directly to a customer's Safeway Club Card, can be accessed through the new Safeway Mobile App for iPhone or Android.

New York -- Foot Locker Inc. said Thursday that current executive VP and retail group president Richard Johnson as been promoted to COO, giving the company veteran operational oversight of all the retailer’s banners. The appointment is effective immediately.

Along with its namesake Foot Locker stores, the company also operates Champs Sports, Kids Foot Locker and CCS.
 

Atlanta -- Commerce solution provider Innotrac Corp. said Thursday that Charlotte Russe has selected it to provide fulfillment and contact center solutions for the retailer’s growing e-commerce business.

Innotrac said it will provide e-commerce fulfillment and high-touch customer care services for Charlotte Russe, which also includes returns processing. Innotrac is working closely to integrate with Charlotte Russe's e-commerce platform powered by MICROS-Retail, ensuring a seamless customer experience across all major touch points.