Consumer Affairs & Relations

Savannah, Ga. -- Citi Trends announced the resignation of Elizabeth R. Feher, the company’s executive VP and chief merchandising officer.

Ed Anderson, the company’s board chairman, will temporarily resume his previous role as executive chairman and, in that capacity, oversee merchandising and marketing while the retailer searches for a chief merchant.
 

Issaquah, Wash. — Costco Wholesale's donations to a Washington state voter initiative that would legalize liquor sales by private retailers have broken state records, according to published reports.

CHICAGO — At an event Tuesday in Chicago, Supervalu announced that it will open a Save-A-Lot store in the Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago, bringing thae total number of Save-A-Lot stores in the Chicagoland area to 14. Supervalu, which said it is opening the store as part of its commitment to helping eliminate food deserts nationally, made the announcement alongside First Lady Michelle Obama and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The Lawndale store will open by the end of November. 

WAYNE, N.J. — The Toys"R"Us Children's Fund announced it will award $1 million in grants to 54 nonprofit organizations supporting children in the state of New Jersey. The grants will be distributed to the selected charities by Dec. 31 through the Fund's statewide giving initiative, which launched in March. According to the company, the grants will help to alleviate economic challenges and sustain organizations that favorably impact children across New Jersey, where both the Fund and Toys"R"Us Inc. are headquartered.

One thing retailers learn, some of them the hard way, is to take no competitor lightly. Consider the case of Dollar General and a toy promotion it is running for the holidays.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart announced that it is helping ensure customers pay the lowest price on holiday gifts with the launch of its Christmas price guarantee.

Customers who purchase eligible products at Walmart anytime between Nov. 1 and Dec. 25, and then find those same products advertised for less at another store, will receive a Walmart gift card for the difference through Dec. 25. 

WASHINGTON — The Grocery Manufacturers Association has highlighted the U.S. food and beverage industry's accomplishments on Food Day, which celebrates the more than 15 million Americans who work to provide billions of consumers with safe, healthy, convenient and affordable food.

Strongsville, Ohio -- The IBM Retail User Group has named Giant Eagle veteran Ron Ferri as its new president. The announcement was named at the group’s recent board of directors and 35th Annual Conference planning meeting in Las Vegas.

Ferri, a business process consultant with the supermarket chain, has participated in the IBM Retail Users Group for 12 years.