OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Stein Mart said Tuesday that it has partnered with ad agency ArnoldNYC to launch a national campaign focusing on digital and social engagement.

"Love at First Find," which launched Monday, consists of digital, social media, TV, print and radio, and stars real Stein Mart customers with the goal of fostering an online community of fans via Facebook and Stein Mart's website.

Greensboro, N.C. -- Apparel giant VP Corp. announced that it has completed its previously-announced acquisition of The Timberland Company in a deal valued at $2.3 billion.

Timberland will become part of VF's Outdoor & Action Sports Coalition, which includes The North Face. The formerly family-held company will remain headquartered in Stratham, N.H.

Carlisle, Pa. -- Ahold USA said Tuesday it has appointed former Walmart executive Anthony Hucker to head its Landover, Md.-based Giant Food division.

Ahold, the U.S. subsidiary of Netherlands-based Royal Ahold, said Hucker has been named division president of Giant-Landover, effective Oct. 3, replacing interim president Don Sussman who will assume the role of executive VP supply chain for Ahold USA.

Hucker most recently served at Walmart as corporate VP and head of the Walmart Express division.
 

Winston-Salem, N.C. -- RockTenn and BVI Networks announced the debut of its first large-format ShopperGauge Retail Learning Lab at Family Dollar Stores.

The goal is to provide a state-of-the-art “learning laboratory” in a set of real stores where Family Dollar and its suppliers can test designs, displays and promotions with customers, ultimately improving the in-store shopper experience.

Washington, D.C. -- Applied Predictive Technologies said Tuesday that family restaurant chain Denny’s Corp. has licensed APT's Test & Learn Management System.  

Denny’s will use APT’s solution to test strategic and tactical initiatives across its 1,670 restaurants.

Andover, Minn. -- Twin Cities grocery/fuel chain Bill’s Superette said Tuesday it has launched store management solutions from LOC Software.

The new system, which was fully rolled out with the support of reseller North Country Business Products in the spring of this year, is helping the retailer improve the management of all store-level and headquarters-level activities such as POS transactions, POS/keyboard maintenance, labor scheduling, in-store promotions, complete price book maintenance and the company’s loyalty program.

New York City -- For every $100 in fraudulent transactions, retailers incurred a “true” cost of $230, according to a new study released Tuesday by LexisNexis Risk Solutions.

According to the study, retail merchants and financial institutions reported an overall decline in fraud rates and transactions while total retail sales rose. Consumers also experienced a decline in fraud losses overall but the average time it took to resolve fraud issues rose by 57% and the out-of-pocket costs of fraud rose by $244.

New York City -- Most than a quarter of Americans expect to spend less during the holidays this year, according to a survey by American’s Research Group, Reuters reported.

About 27% of people surveyed said they planned to spend less this year, while about 55% expect to spend only as much as last year. The question was one of several asked exclusively for Reuters as part of a larger America's Research Group survey.