Consumer Affairs & Relations

Houston -- Stage Stores and Alliance Data Systems Corp. announced Monday they have forged private-label credit card renewal agreement.

PLANO, Texas — PepsiCo's Frito-Lay North America has launched of a gluten-free recipe section on its corporate website (www.fritolay.com) to help make snacking easier and more enjoyable for consumers with Celiac Disease or gluten sensitivities. The new recipe section on the company's website now features gluten free recipes that can be paired or made with Frito-Lay's gluten free snacks, such as Lay's Classic potato chips, Fritos Original corn chips and Tostitos Scoops! tortilla chips.

HOUSTON — Stage Stores has signed an agreement with Alliance Data Retail Services, making it the provider of a full suite of private label credit card services geared toward driving sales and brand loyalty to grow Stage Stores’ customer base. In addition, Alliance Data and Stage Stores will collaborate to develop and launch a new, simplified loyalty program, with enhanced benefits and incentives exclusive to cardholders.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- A report released Monday by the Associated Press said that Sears Holdings Corp. would be spinning off its Hometown and Outlet stores, along with some hardware stores, into a separate, publicly traded company.

Earlier this year, Sears had revealed it would split the companies but had not indicated the new organization would be a separate public entity.

There are approximately 1,238 Hometown, Outlet and hardware stores. Five Hometown stores have been closed, along with eight hardware stores and one Outlet unit.

SOLON, Ohio — Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing reported that the current drought conditions have yet to lead to an increase in food prices.

“We predict that the food-at-home index will decline for the month of July [however],” ECRM stated in a release Friday.

For a detailed look at ECRM's predictions on how drought conditions will impact food prices, click here.

New York -- Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. filed a notice of appeal in a lawsuit by Macy's Inc. in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, Bloomberg reported.

Macy’s sued Martha Stewart Living in January to stop the company from executing a sales agreement that it announced in December with J.C. Penney Company.  Macy’s said it had the exclusive right to sell Martha Stewart-branded products in certain categories.

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney Co. reported Friday a bigger-than-expected second-quarter loss of $147 million, compared with net income of $14 million in the same period last year.

Sales plummeted 22% to $3.02 billion from $3.9 billion, and same-store sales tumbled 21.7% after an 18.9% fall in the first quarter. Wall Street had forecast revenue of $3.2 billion.

Facing the investment community on Friday, CEO Ron Johnson admitted to some strategic pricing mistakes, but said he and his team will stay the course.

Stamford, Conn. -- GE Capital Retail Bank, a consumer lending unit of General Electric Co., and Sam’s Club announced their multi-year agreement to continue providing the Sam’s Club credit card program to their Advantage and Business members.

GE Capital’s Retail Finance business will continue to manage the Sam’s Club relationship and service the account.