News Briefs

Tractor Supply Company has been honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The nation’s largest rural lifestyle retailer has received a 2024 SmartWay Excellence Award from the EPA for its efforts to implement operational practices that save fuel, lower costs and reduce adverse environmental impacts of its supply chain. The award is the EPA’s highest recognition for demonstrated stewardship of resources and efficiencies in shipping.

Tractor Supply was one of 18 companies to receive this distinction, representing the best performers among SmartWay’s partners. (SmartWay is an EPA program that helps the freight transportation sector improve supply chain efficiency.)

In the past two years, Tractor Supply has opened distribution centers in Navarre, Ohio and Maumelle, Ark., to better serve its growing customer base and reduce transit time and miles traveled. 

“Every year, Tractor Supply moves billions of pounds of product through our supply chain as we serve our customers and more than 2,200 stores,” said Roc Hodges, director of outbound transportation at Tractor Supply. “This recognition demonstrates our long-term commitment to continually seek new and more efficient ways to get our customers the products they need for Life Out Here while saving costs.”

Tractor Supply first became a SmartWay partner in 2014 and has been a SmartWay High Performer every year since 2019. The retailer requires that all contract carriers be SmartWay certified.

More than 4,000 companies participate in the SmartWay program, including retailers, manufacturers, distributors, cargo owners and other freight shippers, as well as for-hire and private fleets, commercial truck and rail carriers, freight brokers, third party logistics providers and other organizations.

As of June 29, the company operated 2,254 Tractor Supply stores in 49 states.  

JCPenney’s holiday hiring plans are on par with last year.

The department store retailer is ramping up for the 2024 holiday season with plans to hire more than 10,000 seasonal associates across all locations nationwide. Penney will host a national hiring event, Wednesday, Oct. 16 through Friday, Oct. 18, in stores and online.

Other retailers that have announced holiday hiring plans include Target, which plans to hire 100,000 workers, Macy's and Burlington Stores. 

The Penney event will be focused on hiring for truck teams in October and customer service roles specific to holiday in November. The company will be offering employment on the spot during the hiring event.

[READ MORE: Challenger forecasts 2024 holiday hiring will be down]

The retailer noted that it offers shift flexibility to support “work-life balance.” Also, seasonal associates have the opportunity for continued employment and advancement post-holiday. And all associates will receive an employee-discount of up to 25% off any purchase

“Our seasonal associates play a critical role in making the holidays memorable for our customers,” said Andre Joyner, chief human resources officer for JCPenney. “Whether it is assisting customers in-store, fulfilling orders, or keeping shelves stocked, we offer flexible scheduling, employee discounts, and opportunities for temporary associates to transition to permanent roles after the season. We look forward to finding new team members that embody JCPenney’s Golden Rule – to treat others as we want to be treated.”

Penney also offers unlimited referral bonuses, an inclusive team environment, associate recognition and in-home daycare concierge services.

Health-focused fast-casual chain Sweetgreen is continuing its expansion plans by entering another new state.

Sweetgreen has opened its first store in North Carolina in the Uptown section of Charlotte. Accommodating up to 42 diners inside and 26 diners on the restaurant's patio, the 2,479-sq.-ft. store will offer customers fresh salads, bowls and protein plates.

The expansion into North Carolina comes less than a month after Sweetgreen opened its first store in Ohio. The chain recently said that for fiscal year 2024, it expects to open between 24 and 26 new restaurants.

“We’re so grateful for the warm welcome and excitement around Sweetgreen coming to North Carolina to join the Queen City," said Jonathan Neman, co-founder and CEO of Sweetgreen. "As we expand across the Carolinas, we're looking forward to teaming up with local partners in the Southeast to serve fresh delicious meals to the community."

[READ MORE: Sweetgreen taps new chief development officer; plans double-digit new stores this year]

Since opening its first location in 2007, Sweetgreen now operates over 230 locations across the United States, selling salads and bowls that prioritizes organic, regenerative and locally-sourced produce.

Sweetgreen saw positive growth in its most recent quarter. For the fiscal period ended June 30, 2024, total revenue was $184.6 million, compared to $152.5 million in the prior year period, an increase of 21%. Same-store sales grew 9%, an increase of 6% from the second quarter of 2023.

A family-owned and operated chain of convenience stores in Michigan is deploying a single platform for space, operations and supply chain planning.

Wesco, which operates 55 convenience stores throughout Michigan, is implementing Relex Solutions technology to shift from its previous multiple disconnected ERP systems that managed supply chain and space planning with a tool that supports unified supply chain and space planning.

As a result, Wesco aims to enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction by increasing product availability, optimizing inventory management, minimizing product spoilage.

Working with Relex implementation partner Logic, the retailer will automate tasks across all functional areas for corporate and store-level employees using the single Relex platform, replacing its previously fragmented task management approach based on disparate enterprise systems. The platform also provides dynamic space and floor planning with store-specific planograms. 

"We chose Relex because it deeply understands the convenience store business and is focused on building lasting partnerships," said George Barnhardt, VP of revenue at Wesco. "We're excited about rolling out Relex's integrated and unified planning tools across our 55 stores. This step is going to streamline our operations significantly, enhance our customer service, and empower our employees by optimizing our inventory management and reducing spoilage."

In addition, Wesco will adopt the Relex Mobile Pro solution, which streamlines inventory management, automates routine in-store processes and provides real-time access to product data. 

[READ MORE: Lowe’s plans seasonal inventory with Relex AI]

Wesco operates 55 convenience stores throughout Michigan, open 24/7/365. The company also owns and operates a private distribution center, a bulk fuel and propane business, a private label deli and bakery operation, and nine Subway locations.

Editor’s Note: Photo courtesy of Anucha Tiemsom.

Hobby Lobby Stores is raising its minimum wage — again.

The arts-and-crafts retailer is raising its minimum full-time hourly wage to $19.25, effective Oct. 1. Hobby Lobby noted that, in 2009, it was one of the first retailers to establish a nationwide company minimum hourly wage well above the federal minimum wage. The company has since raised its minimum wage thirteen times over the last fifteen years.

“For decades, we have closed our stores on Sundays, and at 8:00 p.m. the rest of the week, to help employees balance their work and personal lives, and have time for rest, family and worship,” said Hobby Lobby founder and CEO David Green. “We work hard to provide some of the best wages and benefits in retail, which allows us to attract and retain a great team of associates to serve our loyal customers. We have worked hard to hold our prices down, and are thankful for our continued success as a company.”

Founded in 1972, Hobby Lobby currently operates 1,035 retail stores stocked with over 60,000 arts, crafts, hobbies, home accent, seasonal and custom framing products. The company is based in Oklahoma City, Okla.

A California grocery chain has entered an agreement to generate on-site renewable energy at one of its stores.

Vallarta Supermarkets has partnered with GreenStruxure to design, build, operate and maintain an on-site renewable energy microgrid at its store in Ventura, Calif. The project will deliver clean energy, providing 60% of the energy needed to the store. Vallarta Supermarket says the project will help it avoid significant energy costs from the first year of operation, and limit the impact of rising utility prices. 

“By partnering with GreenStruxure, Vallarta Supermarkets is taking significant steps towards sustainability and reducing our environmental footprint,” said Joel Silva, chief financial officer at Vallarta Supermarkets. “We look forward to offering this service to additional locations in the future.”

GreenStruxure will design, build, operate and maintain the microgrid solution utilizing solar panels, battery storage and advanced energy management systems to deliver a clean, reliable and affordable energy supply to the Ventura store. Vallarta Supermarkets will receive the zero-carbon energy, peak demand management and optimized use of energy from the grid and its onsite system, along with complete performance insights through GreenStruxure’s AI platform BeyondtheGrid.

[READ MORE: Vallarta Supermarkets leverages AI for planning]

“We are thrilled to partner with Vallarta Supermarkets in their transition to clean energy,” said GreenStruxure CEO Jose Lorenzo Lista. “Our onsite microgrid supplies clean, reliable, affordable energy and optimizes energy costs to deliver the best outcomes. We believe this partnership will inspire other mid-size companies to embrace clean and affordable energy.”

As of 2024, Vallarta operates 55 stores throughout California.