Consumer Affairs & Relations

The Chronicle of Philanthropy is out with its ranking of the leading charitable donors and Target ranked eighth in 2011.

Target donated $146 million in cash and $63 million worth of products last year, according the Chronicle. It is a significant sum that and equates to roughly 4.7% of the retailer’s pretax profits.

Orlando, Fla. -- Darden Restaurants reduced restaurant water usage by 17% on an aggregate basis between fiscal years 2008 and 2011, exceeding its 2015 goal of reducing water consumption in each of its restaurants by 15% on aggregate and is more than half way toward meeting the same goal for reducing energy consumption in its restaurants, according to the company’s second annual sustainability report.

LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix sales grew $6.8 billion in the second quarter, a 3.2% increase from $6.6 billion for the same period last year. Same-store sales rose 1.9%.

Net earnings took a slight hit, declining 0.2%, to $381.6 million from $382.4 million in 2011. However, earnings per share for the second quarter increased to 49 cents for 2012, up from 48 cents per share in 2011.

New York -- Consumer confidence unexpectedly rose in July as Americans were more optimistic about the short-term outlook than they were about their current conditions, according to a report released Tuesday by The Conference Group, private research group. The report showed that while consumers are feeling better about the economy, they remain wary about the labor markets.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation and its National Council of Chain Restaurants division joined a coalition of manufacturers, shippers and transportation providers to file an amicus brief before the U.S. Court of Appeals opposing new federal trucking regulations on drivers’ hours-of-service, stating the regulations were arbitrary and capricious.

New York -- Coach Inc. reported Tuesday that net income for the quarter ended June 30 rose 24% to $251.4 million, from $202.5 million in the same period last year, topping Wall Street projections.

The company’s revenue in the quarter rose 12% to $1.16 billion, below analysts’ expectations of $1.2 billion. Slowing growth at the company’s factory-outlet stores impacted sales. Coach reinstated coupons at its factory stores late in the quarter amid increasing discounting among retailers.

San Antonio -- A Tuesday report by Bloomberg said that Valery Energy Corp. has unveiled plans to sell or spin off its network of 1,000+ gas and diesel stations across the United States and Canada, valued at up to $5 billion.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Walmart has unveiled its 100th solar-powered store on College Avenue in San Diego. By working with California-based SolarCity, the company’s focus on solar power has generated more than 3,000 contract construction jobs in California. In turn, SolarCity has hired 1,213 employees since announcing its first Walmart projects in September 2010. The San Mateo, Calif.-based company will install, manage, and maintain 70 of the 100 new solar power systems.