Baker & Taylor Expands Relationship with Shopko
#Baker & Taylor #shopko
- Distributor to be retailer's sole provider of books and to offer comprehensive merchandising and inventory services -
CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Baker & Taylor, Inc., the world's largest distributor of physical and digital books and entertainment products, is proud to announce an expanded relationship with retail partner Shopko. Baker & Taylor, which already supplies music to Shopko's stores in 13 states, will now be the retailer's sole supplier of books and will also provide Shopko with both field merchandising and vendor managed inventory services.
"We are thrilled that Shopko, a premier retailer, has chosen to outsource its book program to Baker & Taylor," said David Cully, President Retail Markets/EVP Merchandising for Baker & Taylor. "It truly speaks volumes about our expertise as merchandising professionals."
The agreement with Shopko represents Baker & Taylor's latest expansion of its comprehensive vendor-managed inventory services and in-store service program for specialty and general merchandise retailers.
"Shopko chose Baker & Taylor for its unmatched abilities as book merchants," said Bob Couch, Divisional Merchandise Manager at Shopko. "By partnering with Baker & Taylor, we will create a highly focused, relevant and on-trend book assortment for our customers."
John Lindsay, Baker & Taylor's Senior Vice President, Merchandising, added: "Baker & Taylor delivers complete solutions for its retail partners. We offer superior merchandising and a complete suite of solutions for any and all retailers who sell books and entertainment products."
About Baker & Taylor
Baker & Taylor Inc. (www.baker-taylor.com) is a global information services company that offers print and digital books and entertainment products along with value-added services to libraries, educational institutions and retailers. Based in Charlotte, N.C., the company has been in existence for more than 180 years, developing long-term relationships with major suppliers, including book publishers, movie studios and music labels. Baker & Taylor maintains one of the largest combined in-stock book, video and music inventories in the United States, and services the broadest customer base in the industry. Baker & Taylor is majority owned by Castle Harlan Partners IV, L.P., an institutional private equity fund managed by Castle Harlan Inc., a leading private equity investment firm.
About Shopko
Shopko Stores Operating Co., LLC is an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., a leading private investment firm focused on leverage buyouts, equity, debt and other investments in market-leading companies that can benefit from its in-house operating professionals and experience. Shopko is a $2 billion retailer of quality goods and services headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., with stores in 13 states throughout the Midwest, Mountain and Pacific Northwest regions. Retail formats include 135 Shopko stores, providing quality name-brand merchandise, great values, pharmacy and optical services in small to mid-sized cities and five Shopko Express Rx stores, a convenient neighborhood drugstore concept, and two, soon to be introduced Shopko Hometown stores. For more information, please visit www.shopko.com.
SOURCE Baker & Taylor, Inc.
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