OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

New York City -- With global e-commerce estimated to reach nearly $1.4 trillion in 2015, more and more retailers are looking to gear up or expand their online operations. A new report by Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG) sizes up the challenges and opportunities -- and outlines best practices -- for retailers who want to take advantage of e-commerce growth by going global.

New York City -- Kenneth Cole Productions announced that effective June 20, 2011, Paul Blum will be appointed to the position of CEO. Kenneth Cole will continue as chairman and chief creative officer, maintaining his creative role over design and advertising.

Hired in March as vice chairman, Blum brings over 25 years of experience in footwear, accessories, apparel, wholesaling and retailing to the position. He most recently held the position of CEO at luxury jewelry company David Yurman.
 

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Safeway and Coinstar announced Thursday an agreement to install approximately 1,400 Coinstar kiosks in Safeway's stores in the United States and Canada by the end of 2011.

Coinstar kiosks are to be installed in Safeway stores and its banners including Vons, Dominick's, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Genuardi's, Pavilions, Carrs and Pak N' Save. Installations are planned to begin this month, according to the companies.

New York City -- NCR is adding 800 Blockbuster Express kiosks to Food Lion grocery stores despite litigation over the Blockbuster Express trademark with Blockbuster and Dish Network Corp., which bought Blockbuster out of bankruptcy in late April.

The kiosks will be added to Food Lions across the mid-Atlantic and southeastern U.S. regions.

Washington, D.C. -- On Wednesday, the Senate rejected the Tester-Corker amendment to delay swipe-fee reform.

Dayton, Ohio -- A report Wednesday by the Business Courier said that Petco has purchased a 29-store Complete Petmart chain, based in Dayton, Ohio.

Financial terms of the purchase were not disclosed. San Diego, Calif.-based Petco said all of the chain's 230 employees will become employees of privately held Petco Animal Supplies.

Petco said it will be making changes to the former Complete Petmart store layouts over the next few weeks.

Hingham, Mass. -- The Talbots said Thursday it has named Lesli Gilbert as senior VP stores, effective June 27.

Gilbert will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of Talbots core retail operations in the United States and Canada, as well as supporting the implementation of the company’s store reimage and rationalization programs. She will report to president and CEO Trudy F. Sullivan.

Gilbert was most recently regional VP East for T-Mobile USA, and, prior to that, was senior director of sales and customer experience at Gap.

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market announced the addition of Blake W. Nordstrom to the company's board of directors, increasing the size of the board to 12 members. He will serve on the audit committee.

Nordstrom, 50, has been president of Nordstrom since 2000 and has served as a member of the company's board of directors since 2005.