Consumer Affairs & Relations

In a major boost to member benefits, Sam’s Club announced a credit card cash back program that gives members the opportunity to earn 5% cash back on fuel, 3% cash back on dining and travel and 1% cash back on all other purchases, up to $5,000 annually.

Oak Brook, Ill. -- The J.D. Power 2014 U.S. Home Improvement Retailer Store Satisfaction Study has ranked Ace Hardware “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Home Improvement Retail Stores” for the eighth year in a row. Ace has captured this ranking ever since the organization began this study eight years ago.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Sam's Club announced it will launch a new credit card using EMV chip-enabled technology on June 23, beating Target as the first mass retailer to move to the new technology. The new card — co-branded with MasterCard Inc. and issued by GE Capital Retail Bank — has an embedded chip that makes the card more difficult to duplicate, which provides enhanced security from fraudulent activity, according to Sam’s Club.

As if having to deal with the rising threat of data breaches weren’t already enough for retailers, many continue to struggle to make sense of today’s rough patchwork of federal and state data breach laws.

Fortunately, while legislation that would establish a national data breach standard has yet to gain significant traction, the Obama Administration and Congress are ramping up joint efforts to establish a uniform, national law that would replace the current fabric of state requirements.  

San Jose, Calif. -- Hispanic supermarket chain Mi Pueblo Foods announced its formal emergence from Chapter 11 reorganization after having completed a necessary financial restructuring. The company also announced that Javier Ramirez has been named president and CEO. He will succeed Mi Pueblo founder Juvenal Chavez, who will be named chairman of the board.
 
Ramirez is a seasoned CEO in the Hispanic food and grocery sector.
   

Undeterred by bad weather and competitive pressures that took a toll on its first quarter performance, Dollar General is pressing ahead with plans for 700 new stores, recently opened its 12th distribution center and believes its full year profit forecast is attainable.

Lumber Liquidators has formalized its compliance and sustainability team headed by Raymond Cotton, who was appointed as chief compliance and sustainability officer in February and reports directly to president and CEO Robert M. Lynch.

Cotton manages the company’s quality assurance, sustainable sourcing, loss prevention, risk management and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements of global trade.  

New York -- Global brand agency CBX will help Friendly Express update the design and branding of its 42-store network of community-focused convenience stores in southeast Georgia.

Under the assignment, the firm will update the chain’s logo and redesign the interiors and exteriors of its convenience stores, which range in size from 2,000 sq. ft. to 3,500 sq. ft. Friendly Express stores, which also offer gasoline, are located in several different southeast Georgia communities, including Waycross, Jesup, Folkston, Brunswick, and St. Simons Island.