OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

King of Prussia, Pa. -- Rigid technology can be a prohibitor in omnichannel growth, especially for mid-market retailers, according to a new study by eBay Enterprise. The report, 2014 Omnichannel Benchmark Study, found that that mid-sized retailers are behind their larger competitors in implementing omnichannel experiences and inflexible technology is the biggest factor in prohibiting retailer maturity and growth.

Other key findings include:

Minneapolis -- Supervalu Inc. said that it has named Gerald Storch, who served as CEO of Toys “R” Us from 2006 to 2013, as board chairman.

The supermarket company said Storch will replace Robert Miller, who is resigning as chairman in March to focus on “other demands.” Miller, then president and CEO of Albertsons, was named chairman last March after Supervalu completed the sale of five of its grocery chains.

Phoenix -- PetSmart Inc. announced changes to its management team in conjunction with the retirement of its president and COO, Joseph O’Leary.

PetSmart CEO, David Lenhardt, will assume the title of president and CEO when O’Leary steps down. The company will not replace the COO position. Instead it will realign the responsibilities among four newly created executive VP positions, with Lenhardt assuming the title of president and CEO, with the changes effective April 4, 2014.   

New York -- SAP AG  announced the launch of SAP Shopper Experience a personalized and engaging retail mobile app that transforms the entire consumer shopping experience with social media sharing, loyalty programs and a self-payment system for shoppers.

SAP also released the latest version of the SAP Retail Store Ops Associate mobile app, which allows store associates to execute core merchandising, inventory and customer service functions directly from the shop floor without leaving a consumer’s side.

Atlanta -- Christine Day, the outgoing CEO of Lululemon, has been appointed CEO at Luvo, a start-up frozen-food company that focuses on healthy, low calorie, low sodium meals. Day’s appointment is effective April 1.

Minneapolis -- Best Buy Co. announced the appointment of Thomas L. "Tommy" Millner to its board of directors. Millner is the president and CEO of Cabela`s Inc.

Washington, D.C. -- Two U.S. senators have written to Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel seeking "detailed information'' on the data breach that occurred during the holiday shopping season, Reuters reported.

"We ask that Target's information-security officials provide a briefing to committee staff regarding your company's investigation and latest findings,'' John Rockefeller, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Claire McCaskill, chair of the Commerce ubcommittee on consumer protection, wrote to Steinhafel.

Irvine, Calif. -- Statistics released by The Retail Equation, gathered during the seven days after Christmas, revealed that the Midwest states had the highest rate of returns, when comparing total dollars purchased to total dollars returned and exchanged.