OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to open 30 new China-based stores and remodel 55 of its 400 existing stores there during 2014, as well as open new China distribution centers. The China activity is part of Wal-Mart’s larger three-year plan for growth in the country.

Wal-Mart will spend $93 million on the store remodeling. The activity this year will be the first major initiative from new China CEO Sean Clarke.

Austin, Texas - Whole Foods Market earned the top spot in Greenpeace’s annual seafood sustainability ranking of U.S. supermarkets, claiming both the highest overall score and the strongest sustainable seafood policy. Whole Foods Market has been ranked first for the last two years in a row.

Minneapolis - Peter Glusker has joined Target as senior VP, new business integration and operations, effective May 19. In this role, Glusker will lead the integration of new acquisitions into Target and develop strategies that ensure a consistent and great guest experience.

Minneapolis – The vast majority of Target customers intend to continue spending the same amount of money or more there in the next year as they did before the December 2013 data breach. According to a new Bloomberg National Poll of 1,020 Target customers, 85% of respondents will spend the same amount of money, 7% will spend more and 7% will spend less, with 1% having no opinion.

Cambridge, Mass. – Hosted visual merchandising solutions provider RBM Technologies Inc. has hired Ken Sonberg as chief technology officer. Sonberg was previously VP development at enterprise mobility provider Mobiquity and also served as VP development at BCGI.

New York -- Apple is celebrating its 13th year as a brick-and-mortar retailer. The tech giant opened its first retail store on the morning of May 19, 2001, at Tysons Corner Center, McLean, Virginia. A second Apple store, at Glendale Galleria, Glendale, California, opened a few hours later.

To see an animated map (13 Years of Apple Stores in 60 Seconds) from Retale charting the expansion of Apple stores in the U.S., click here.

Woonsocket, R.I. – CVS Caremark has introduced a new corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy called “Prescription for a Better World” as part of its 2013 CSR report. Prescription for a Better World includes goals such as access to affordable health care; the environmental impacts of its operations, including those contributing to climate change; product stewardship; patient safety; employee engagement and workplace inclusion; and the safe disposal of prescription drugs.

Indianapolis - Papa John’s International Inc. has promoted senior VP of global operations Steve Ritchie to the position of COO. In addition, the company’s founder, chairman and CEO John Schnatter, will assume the additional role of president, continuing to focus on all aspects of the company’s business while also acting as brand spokesperson.