Consumer Affairs & Relations

A fresh round of unionization efforts appear to be in store for major retailers next spring after organized labor won a favorable ruling regarding how elections are conducted.

Consumers who love chocolate may have been waiting for the day someone unveiled a chocolate 3-D printer. Well, thanks to Hershey Co., that day has come.

The company has announced the debut of its 3-D Chocolate Candy Printing exhibit at Hershey’s Chocolate World in Hershey, Pa. Consumers who visit the store will have the opportunity to interact with Hershey scientists and the breakthrough technology.

Struggling consumer electronics retailer RadioShack Corp. has named Carlin Adrianopoli, a consultant with strategic advisory and interim management services firm FTI Consulting, as its new interim CFO.

Adrianopoli replaces Alix Partners managing director Holly Etlin, who was named interim CFO in September to replace previous CFO John Feray after he resigned.

Adrianopoli, 39, has been a senior managing director in the FTI Consulting Corporate Finance/Restructuring practice since 2010 and joined FTI in 2002.

Walmart said the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ordered it to pay about $151 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by employees who claim their meal and rest breaks were cut.

Walmart said the ruling, which it may appeal, would reduce its fourth-quarter earnings from continuing operations by about 6 cents per share.

The suit, filed in March 2002, represented about 187,000 Wal-Mart employees who worked in Pennsylvania between 1998 and 2006.

New York - Wal-Mart Stores on Tuesday said that it might appeal the decision of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which ordered the discounter to pay $188 million to settle a class-action suit over worker pay.       The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld a 2007 lower court ruling in favor of  workers  who said Wal-Mart failed to pay them for all hours worked and prevented them from taking full meal and rest breaks.   

After weeks of exploring “strategic alternatives,” PetSmart has agreed to be acquired for about $8.7 billion by a consortium led by London-based BC Partners.

"We are pleased to have reached this agreement with BC Partners, which maximizes value for all of our shareholders and best positions PetSmart to continue to meet the needs of pet parents," said Gregory Josefowicz, chairman of PetSmart. "This transaction represents the successful conclusion of our extensive review of strategic alternatives." 

San Leandro, Calif. - The U.S. retail sector will add nearly 30,000 jobs through the end of December as the country heads into a strong holiday shopping season. According to a study from HR services provider TriNet, recent job growth in the U.S. retail sector is built on positive consumer confidence, increasing retail spending, and positive job market outlook.   

Phoenix – PetSmart Inc. has agreed to be purchased for about $8.7 billion by a consortium of buyers led by private equity firm B.C. Partners and also including pension fund manager La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and private equity firm StepStone. The total figure represents an acquisition price of $83 per share, a 39% premium over PetSmart’s closing price on July 2, 2014.