Ex-PetSmart CEO Named Interim CEO at GNC “Before joining PetSmart in 1999, (Robert) Moran was President of Toys “R” Us Canada following various executive positions across finance and merchandising with Sears, Roebuck & Company, including as President and CEO of Sears de Mexico.” Press release

 

Smart & Final Q2 Comp Sales -0.3% “Comparable store sales for the Smart & Final banner decreased 0.6% in the second quarter…Comparable store sales for the Cash & Carry banner increased 0.4% in the second quarter.” Press release

 

Honolulu: Costco notifies 2,700 customers of possible Hepatitis A exposure by Catherine Cruz at KITV 4 ABC. “Costco said it started notifying customers Thursday by mail and by phone. “While it’s possible that the employee may have handled your product, Costco has a very strict policy of no bare hand contact with ready- to- eat foods,” said Craig Wilson, Vice-President of Quality Control for Costco.” Read more

 

Amazon Second Quarter Sales up 31% to $30.4 Billion Press release

 

…Amazon added 23,700 employees worldwide in the second quarter, bringing its total employment to 268,900 by Nat Levy at GeekWire. Read more

 

Lowe’s builds massive direct-to-consumer fulfillment center in Tennessee by Nicole Young at The Tennessean. “Robertson County has been chosen as the site of Lowe’s first direct-to-consumer fulfillment center, a 1 million-square-foot, “state-of-the-art” facility that will bring 600 new jobs and a $100 million capital investment to Coopertown, Gov. Bill Haslam announced Thursday.” Read more

 

Tim Hortons plans expansion into Southeast Asia starting with the Philippines via Financial Post. “(CFO Joshua) Kobza hinted Tim Hortons would aim to match the level of some of its rivals in the local market — many of which boast hundreds of restaurants in the country, he said.” Read more

 

Q&A with Kroger’s Group VP of HR by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer. Read more

 

**A message from 2016 Sweets & Snacks Expo – The Most Innovative New Products winners have been announced! Winners were awarded in nine categories: chocolate, non-chocolate, sweet, salty, savory, novelty, seasonal, gourmet/premium and gum/mints. See the 9 winners & 36 nominees The 2017 Sweets & Snacks Expo is nearly 90% sold out and will take place May 23-25 at Chicago’s McCormick Place – Notify me when registration opens

 

Walgreens to shut down drugstore.com and beauty.com by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. “Walgreens acquired drugstore.com in 2011 for an equity value of $429 million, which at the time represented a 102 percent premium over the company’s 30-day average closing stock price.” Read more

 

Apple opens first Brooklyn store by Noah Kulwin at Recode. See the pics / Read more

 

Dollar Tree co-founder, wife donate $2 million to Cleveland Clinic at Crain’s Cleveland Business. “The gift from Macon and Joan Brock will establish an endowed chair bearing their names that will support lung transplant research and education…Macon Brock received the lung transplant in September 2014.” Read more

 

Justice Department protests Sports Authority’s plan to pay top executives $2.85M in bankruptcy bonuses via Denver Post. Read more

 

Grocery cooperatives Associated Wholesale Grocers and Affiliated Foods Midwest to combine by Steve Vockrodt at Kansas City Star. “Affiliated Foods Midwest…supplies 800 stores in 15 states. AWG is the larger concern in this combination by serving 3,000 stores in 30 states.” Read more

 

Love’s fuel-hauling fleet awards drivers with $3.4 million in safety bonuses via Overdrive. Read more

 

Lowe’s donates thousands of dollars’ worth of lawn equipment to teens who cut lawns for free by Emily Maher at WLKY Louisville. “It all started when Travis got in trouble and his mom told him to go cut the lawn at the abandoned house on their street. Travis realized he enjoyed the chore, so he got his two brothers and cousin involved. They’ve been cutting lawns across Louisville for months — for free.” See the video / Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

NY Post: Pasta maker in hot water for allegedly under-filling boxes

Amazon starts alcohol deliveries to Prime Now customers in Twin Cities

The Container Store launches private-label credit cards

Sears focuses on employee comms after Kmart liquidation reports

Ex-Walmart VP talks e-commerce

Home Depot’s senior director of talent acquisition offers 12 questions you should ask during an interview

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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