OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Costco gets down to business with SMB payments
Costco Wholesale Corp. is getting down to business on processing payments from small-to-mid-sized business (SMB) customers.

The wholesale chain is extending an existing relationship with payment processing solutions provider Elavon aimed at improving service and security for SMB members.

The payment processing program for Costco’s SMB members includes POS, mobile and e-commerce solutions, all of which adhere to EMV and PCI compliance requirements. Costco members can obtain program services online and in-store.
Food Lion founder gives leadership gift for 95th birthday
Lessons in Leadership is the name of a new documentary film profiling the life and contributions of Food Lion co-founder Ralph Ketner who turned 95 this month.

Report: EMV will double online retail fraud

A new survey reinforces what many already know: EMV makes in-store fraud much harder, but it drives would-be criminals online.

Based on the experience of other predominantly English-speaking nations that switched to EMV-compliant payment cards, terminals and processors, online retail fraud will more than double in the U.S.

According to a new infographic from online fraud prevention technology provider Trustev, online retail fraud will rise 106% in the U.S. in the first three years after the Oct. 1 EMV compliance deadline.
Smart & Final shuffles board

Smart & Final Stores Inc. is shuffling the membership of its board of directors. The discount grocer has elected Paul N. Hopkins and Kenneth I. Tuchman to the board.

Hopkins is the former chairman of the board of directors of insurance company Farmers Group Inc. and CEO of its Americas operations, including Latin America and shared services operations.
Hudson’s Bay names digital exec

Hudson's Bay Co. has appointed Dion Rooney to executive VP, HBC digital. Rooney will be responsible for leading the HBC digital business and delivering online experience across all banners.

Rooney brings more than 30 years of senior experience in the IT field. Prior to joining HBC, Rooney served as CIO of Toys “R” Us, where he was instrumental in building a global state-of-the-art omni-channel offering. He has been developing e-commerce strategies and building digital businesses for more than a decade.
Major retailer CEO joins Yum Brands board

The CEO of one of America’s most prominent discount retail chains has joined the board of directors of quick service restaurant operator Yum Brands. Target CEO Brian J. Cornell, 56, is now a member of the Yum Brands board.
Report: How ready are U.S. retailers for EMV? Not very.

The overwhelming majority of merchants are not ready for the shift to EMV.

Only 27% of U.S. merchants will be EMV-ready by the October 1st liability shift, down from the 34% estimated in March, according to a survy by The Strawhecker Group (TSG).

By December 2015, 44% of U.S. merchants are expected to adopt EMV, however EMV-readiness will not reach a threshold of least 90% until 2017— more than 15 months after the shift.
Walmart details seasonal hiring plans

More associates working more hours to elevate the customer experience is the pledge Walmart COO Judith McKenna is making to holiday shoppers this season.

The day after Kohl’s, Toys “R” Us and UPS announced ambitious holiday hiring plans, Walmart said it would add 60,000 seasonal workers after giving existing workers the opportunity to pick up extra hours.
National Labor Relations Board ‘Joint Employer’ Stipulation Could Change Franchisor Model

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is questioning whether to use a broader definition of the term “joint employer,” a move that could bring sweeping changes to the restaurant and retail/wholesale franchisor model. Whether a large fast-food company exhibited more control than it should have over its franchisees was the most recent catalyst for the proposed change, but several earlier cases have challenged the more than 30-year-old standard for determining joint employment.
NRF: Chip-and-signature not cutting it with customers

While the financial industry is supporting the use of chip-and-signature cards to meet the upcoming Oct. 1 EMV mandate, consumers are less convinced.

According to a new survey released by the National Retail Federation (NRF), 62% of U.S. consumers believe new credit cards being issued by banks don’t go far enough to protect card data or prevent fraud.