Consumer Affairs & Relations

New York -- With an overall branded basket 4% less expensive than Target’s, Walmart assumes the strongest overall lead in Kantar Retail’s semi-annual pricing study since the study began in 2009.
   
While strategic price discounts on key items continue to be a cornerstone of Target’s price competitiveness, rather than everyday low prices, Target’s overall basket has not been lower than Walmart’s since the January 2011 iteration of this study.

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — American fans of Ikea’s Swedish meatballs can rest easy following clarification from the company regarding the origin of beef and pork found in meatballs sold at U.S. stores.

Insight Beverages has named Sharon Porter as director of national sales effective Feb. 25, 2013. 

“As director of national sales, Sharon will lead our organization in its efforts to expand our core convenience store business, distribution and national accounts.  We are very excited to have a person of Sharon’s caliber at our company as we continue to expand our business in convenience stores and other foodservice channels,” said Bill Flack, VP sales for Insight Beverages.

New York -- Leonard Riggio, founder and chairman of Barnes & Noble, has told the company’s board that he wants to make an offer for its retail business. Riggio is Barnes & Noble’s largest shareholder, owning nearly 30% of the company.

The offer would not include Nook Media, Barnes & Noble’s e-book division.

Barnes & Noble said in a statement that it had formed a special board committee of three directors to consider Riggio’s proposal. There is set timetable for the process.

The head of the Grocery Manufacturers Association took exception this week to a new book which portrays consumers as hapless victims preyed upon by food industry giants that peddle addictive products.

In “Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us,” author Michael Moss paints an unflattering picture of food companies who pursue a win at all costs strategy by artfully manipulates salt, sugar and fat to addict and fatten consumer with disastrous results.

Canton, Mass. -- Casual Male Retail Group will formally change its corporate name to Destination XL Group, Inc. to reflect the company's transition to its Destination XL format stores and DestinationXL.com e-commerce site. The name change will be effective as of Feb. 25.
   
As previously announced, the company's ticker symbol was changed to "DXLG" effective Dec. 5, 2012.
 

Healy Family Holdings, parent company of the iconic Turtle Wax brand, named Steve Knoop as CEO.

A statement by Healy Family Holdings indicated that Knoop "will be responsible for emphasizing the family’s leadership position in investments by growing the businesses through innovation and nimble enterprise with solutions that address building shareholder value."

Walmart overcame a meager 1% same stores sales increase at U.S. stores to deliver better than expected fourth quarter profits on Thursday.

The company said total sales increased 3.9% to $127.1 billion compared to $122.3 billion last year. Without the benefit of a favorable currency exchange situation, sales would have increased a lesser 3.7% to $126.8 billion. Full year sales increased by 5% to $466.1 billion compared to last year’s total of $443.8.