Consumer Affairs & Relations

When it comes to shopping, Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon knows a thing or two about the subject, which is why it was fitting that he was the keynote speaker at Consumer Reports’ ShopSmart magazine summit on May 11. The founder of the leading online retailer offered insights on the consumer and the future of the industry.

WASHINGTON — U.S. retail sales rose for the 10th consecutive month in April, increasing 0.5% to $389.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Thursday.

The government agency also disclosed retail sales experienced a 7.6% jump above the year-ago period. Across retail sectors, grocery stores during April rose 1.5% to nearly $45.9 million, up from $45.3 million in March, while health and personal care stores, which have experienced positive numbers over the past several months, saw a surprise drop of 0.3% to nearly $22.7 million for the month.

Plymouth Meeting, Pa. -- Fameco Real Estate is opening an office in Center City, Philadelphia, to better accommodate the growth of its clientele in the market.

Fameco will be fully operational in the center city office at 1425 Walnut Street in early June. Fameco partners Jeffrey Cohen, Brandon Famous and Rick Schuch will spearhead this new initiative.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz told Britain’s Sky.com that the chain’s focus on improving its offerings and encouraging innovation as opposed to cost-cutting and store-closings are the reasons for its turnaround.

“You can’t “cut your way to prosperity,” Schultz said. “You have to create growth and opportunity.”

BELLEVUE, Wash. — Drugstore.com on Tuesday announced the expiration of the waiting period under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, with respect to the proposed merger by which the company would be acquired by Walgreens in a cash transaction.

The deal previously was announced on March 24.

AUSTIN, Texas — Whole Foods Market announced that all fresh beef, pork and chicken sold in its U.S. stores is now certified under the 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating system.

LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix Super Markets announced that it has entered into a contract to sell Crispers, the fresh salads, soups and sandwiches restaurant company it purchased in February 2007, to Healthy Food Concepts, LLC, an affiliate of a Florida-based investment group.

SAN FRANCISCO and DULUTH, Minn. — DemandTec, an optimization network for retailers and consumer products companies, announced that it has partnered with the Labovitz School of Business & Economics at the University of Minnesota Duluth to support the university's new program training students with skills for careers in the retail and consumer products industries.

Woonsocket, R.I. -- CVS Caremark released its 2010 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, which provides an overview of the company's commitments to environmental stewardship, improving patient health outcomes, ensuring its continued status as an employer of choice, and positively impacting people's lives through its social investments.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. is researching a possible move of its headquarters and 6,200 jobs out of Illinois, a company spokesman said Monday.

The retailer has had preliminary discussions with the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates, where it is located, and has commissioned an economic impact study, according to spokesman Chris Brathwaite.