Consumer Affairs & Relations

New York City -- Union leaders on Monday said they reached a tentative agreement with The Vons Cos. Ralphs Grocery Co.; and Albertsons, to head off the threat of a strike in Southern California by more than 60,000 workers, the Associated Press reported.

The union said the agreement, which still must be approved by the rank and file, would protect workers' health policies.

Toronto -- Katz Group Canada has announced the retirement of industry veteran Andy Giancamilli as CEO, effective Feb. 2, 2012.  Katz is Canada’s largest integrated pharmacy network, operating more than 1,800 chain, franchise and independent pharmacies,

Giancamilli will remain in an advisory role until May 2012. He will be succeeded by Frank Scorpiniti, who joined the company in April as COO.

Giancamilli came to Katz after serving as executive VP at Canadian Tire. Prior to that, he was president and COO of Kmart.
 

Los Angeles -- The union representing many of the 62,000 workers at Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons supermarkets in Southern California has issued a required 72-hour notice of its plan to cancel its extended contract, Reuters reported. The move that could pave the way for a strike.

WASHINGTON — A report released Thursday by Bloomberg said that U.S. consumer confidence held last week at the second-lowest level of 2011 as the highest number of households in three years said it was a bad time to spend. 

The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index was minus 49.3 in the period to Sept. 11, near the 2011 low of minus 49.4 reached in May. The buying climate gauge slumped to the lowest level since October 2008.

According to the report, the majority -- nine out of 10 -- of Americans polled had a negative view on the economy.

New York City -- Costco Wholesale Corp won a federal appeals court decision that blocks women who accused the company of gender bias from suing as a group. Although the ruling overturns a judge’s decision to expand a suit filed by three women to include hundreds of female workers, the court left open the possibility that the case could again be brought as a class action.

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- A Wednesday report by Detroit News said that Borders Group Inc. has appointed turnaround specialist Ojas Shah as its CFO to lead the company toward final liquidation.

Shah has been a director of Alix Partners, the firm providing financial restructuring and bankruptcy services to Borders.

Borders, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February, is slated to close all stores effective Sunday, Sept. 18.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart announced that it is launching the Latina Smart Fund in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Promoted through Kmart's Latina Smart Facebook page, the Latina Smart Fund will award $25,000 in scholarships to graduating high school seniors and/or students currently enrolled in college, technical or trade schools.   

Hong Kong -- On the heels of a 98% drop in its yearly earnings, Esprit Holdings said it is divesting its North American businesses and exiting three major European markets.

The company said it is actively looking for a partner willing to acquire its North American operations, which include 93 stores in the United States.