Consumer Affairs & Relations

SEATTLE — As Amazon prepares one of its distribution warehouses for a visit from President Barack Obama, and the economy continues on its path toward recovery, the Internet retailer has announced plans to create more than 5,000 new full-time jobs in its U.S. fulfillment network to meet growing customer demand. 

NEW YORK — Consumer confidence in July rose to the highest level in six years as Americans’ views of their finances and the economy improved, according to the the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan index of consumer sentiment.

The index increased to 85.1 in July from 84.1 at the end of June. It was the highest level since July 2007.

Consumers said they were move favorable toward making purchases, including automobiles and homes.

The nation’s largest egg producer, Cal-Maine Foods, said it sold 243.3 million dozen eggs in its fourth quarter ended June 1, and moved closer to surpassing the 1 billion dozen threshold for the full fiscal year.

The 243.3 million dozen eggs sold in the fourth quarter was an increase of 6.3% from 228.8 million dozen sold in the fourth quarter the prior year. The full year total of 948.5 million dozen was a 7.3% increase from 884.3 million dozen the prior year.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens is rebranding more than 370 former Take Care in-store health clinics as Healthcare Clinics. The national rebranding effort is already in process and expected to be complete by the end of August. Rebranding includes a new web page, walgreens.com/clinic.

ABILENE, Texas — Law firms Brodsky & Smith LLC and Levi & Korsinsky are investigating potential claims against the board of directors of Alco Stores Inc., in relation to a merger agreement between Argonne Capital Group, LLC and Alco. Under the terms of the transaction, announced July 25, Alco shareholders will receive $14 in cash for each share of Alco stock they own.

No one would dispute that Lakeland, Fla.-based supermarket is a wonderful operator, but a piece in the August 12 issue of Forbes takes things a little too far and characterizes the regional operator of 1,073 stores as, “the Wal-Mart Slayer.”
 

Menomonee Falls, Wis. – Bernstein Liebhard has filed a securities class-action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of all those who purchased shares of Kohl's Corp. between Feb. 26, 2009. and Sept. 13, 2011.

The $575 million acquisition of Maidenform Brands by HanesBrands would create a mass market intimate apparel powerhouse, but not everyone is happy with a sales price that is seen as undervaluing the takeover target.