Consumer Affairs & Relations

Salisbury, N.C. - Bottom Dollar Food will close its 66 store locations in the greater Philadelphia and greater Pittsburgh markets by Jan. 15 and retire the banner's operations. Upon the closing of stores, Bottom Dollar Food will offer every associate severance, and eligible associates will be offered career transition services.

Woonsocket, R.I. - CVS Health now offers the ScriptAbility prescription accessibility system through its mail service pharmacy to CVS/Caremark members who are blind or visually impaired. The system includes ScripTalk talking prescription labels, as well as braille and large print labels.  

New York -- A federal judge recommended approval of a revised settlement of a lawsuit that challenged the pay of former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries. The action comes three months after a different judge rejected a settlement that appeared to offer few benefits to the company and “broadly released shareholders' claims," Reuters reported.

New York -- The minimum wage rose in 20 U.S. states and in the District of Columbia on Jan. 1.

The increase brings the total number of states with a minimum wage above the federal wage floor to 29, according to the New York Times. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.

Nine states are increasing their minimum wage levels through automatic adjustments for cost-of-living expenses and other economic factors. Increases in the other states occurred through legislative or ballot changes.

Atlanta -- The new year has brought news of a possible new data breach. Chick-fil-A acknowledged on Friday that it has received reports of potential “unusual activity” involving payment cards used at a few of its restaurants and that it was investigating whether a data breach had taken place.

“We take our obligation to protect customer information seriously, and we are working with leading IT security firms, law enforcement and our payment industry contacts to determine all of the facts,” the company said in a statement.  

The new year has brought new news of another data breach, this time involving fast food chicken giant Chick-fil-A.

Chick-fil-A Inc. confirmed it is investigating reports of potential unusual activity involving payment cards used at its restaurants. The Atlanta-based chicken chain said it received the initial report from its payment industry contacts late on Dec. 19.

Washington, D.C. - The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and six other merchant associations have sent a letter rebutting recent comments about payment card security from the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA). Specifically, the letter outlines three points.  

The new year will bring more fraud than ever before, but also more tools to prevent it, according to three experts from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).

The experts at ACFE were asked for their top fraud predictions for 2015. They weighed in on digital currencies, information security and other issues that will help shape the effort to prevent and detect fraud in the new year:

Brawny paper towels are known for being tough, but now the brand is standing strong with wounded service members in need of help.

Georgia-Pacific, the maker of Brawny, announced it has raised $2 million for the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) following its third year of partnering together. WWP is a national organization dedicated to honoring and empowering wounded service members transitioning back to civilian life through unique, direct programs and services.

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores has reinforced its support of the military by introducing an everyday 10 percent discount for all past or present members of the armed forces and their families.

The nation’s leading fabric and craft specialty retailer with 850 stores said all military members, past or present, and their families qualify for the 10 percent everyday discount. To receive the discount, customers must provide proof of military service or military dependent ID upon checkout. The discount is valid in-store only.