Consumer Affairs & Relations

Arlington, Va. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association on Tuesday expressed support of this week's announcement by President Barack Obama and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk that the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement will enter into force on May 15.

Bentonville, Ark. -- A report by the Associated Press on Monday said that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. CEO Mike Duke was compensated with an $18.1 million pay package in 2011, down 3% from the prior year.

According to AP, the pay decline is attributed to a smaller performance-based cash bonus for the year.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — DreamWorks has become the latest studio to offer its titles through Walmart's in-store, disc-to-digital service powered by Vudu. At more than 3,500 Walmart stores, customers can convert such DVD and Blu-ray titles as Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon into digital copies that can be accessed from any web-enabled device.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Significant waste reduction and greater use of renewable energy are detailed in Walmart’s just-released fifth annual Global Responsibility Report (GRR). Entitled “Beyond 50 Years: Building a Sustainable Future,” the report highlights the chain’s global top 10 list of achievements to reduce its impact on the environment, improve efficiency in its supply chain and stores, and address social issues.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores announced that its board of directors has nominated Marissa A. Mayer of Google Inc., for election as a new member of the company’s board at Walmart’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on June 1, 2012. If elected, Mayer would become the sixteenth member of the board.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Significant waste reduction and greater use of renewable energy are detailed in Walmart’s just-released fifth annual Global Responsibility Report (GRR). Entitled “Beyond 50 Years: Building a Sustainable Future,” the report highlights the chain’s global top 10 list of achievements to reduce its impact on the environment, improve efficiency in its supply chain and stores, and address social issues.

Minneapolis -- Best Buy on Saturday announced the locations of the 50 stores that it is closing this year, including seven in California, six in Illinois and six in the company’s home state of Minnesota. The chain has already closed two locations: one in Missouri and one in Arizona.

Most of the remaining 48 stores will close by May 12, with three stores scheduled to close this summer.

Walmart should shorten its checkout lines and improve the store experience in Canada prior to the arrival of Target next spring. That was the advice of Diane Briesebois, president and CEO of the Retail Council of Canada who spoke Wednesday at a dinner in Toronto, which preceded Walmart’s annual international meeting for the financial community.

Following her prepared remarks, Briesebois was put on the spot by Walmart International president and CEO Doug McMillon who asked during a question and answer session, “What can we do to improve in this market?”

Minneapolis -- Best Buy announced that it is creating a committee to run a global search for a new CEO to replace Brian Dunn, who resigned on Thursday. The retailer said the search could take six to nine months to complete.

The committee will be headed by Kathy J. Higgins Victor, a board member and chairwoman of Best Buy's nominating committee. Six search firms will be interviewed and the final search firm partner will be selected in the next few weeks, the chain said in a statement.

The Canadian consumer is a value conscious, “tough nut to crack,” who is already well-served by existing retailers, according to Diane Briesebois, president and CEO of the Retail Council of Canada, a trade association founded in 1963 that represents retailers that operate more than 45,000 stores and account for 85% of Canadian retail sales.