Consumer Affairs & Relations

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway announced that it has raised $10.4 million during a five-week campaign to help the Muscular Dystrophy Association develop treatments and assist people coping with neuromuscular diseases.

Beaumont, Texas -- Conn's said Wednesday it lost $3.4 million in the second quarter, compared to net income of $1.6 million the year before. The company said that the loss was due to one-time charges, which included $3.7 million for closing three stores and $11.1 million for repaying a loan earlier than expected. Without those items, the company would have earned $5.5 million.

Revenue fell 13% to $184.4 million on declining sales of TVs and computers.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. and BOCA RATON, Fla. — OfficeMax and Office Depot had very different things to say about their respective back-to-school sales performances during presentations at the Goldman Sachs Annual Global Retailing Conference.

OfficeMax has been experiencing slower sales as consumers continue to be price conscious. In addition, Ravi Saligram, president and CEO of OfficeMax, reported that back-to-school sales are soft and the company is experiencing weaker technology sales.

Chicago -- General Growth Properties, along with more than 130 of its malls, is encouraging employees and local residents in communities across the country to join them as they take pause to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of September 11. 

New York City -- A Friday report by Reuters said that a former Borders Group employee is attempting to represent a class of about 300 Ann Arbor, Mich., workers in suing the bankrupt retailer for not giving proper notice of impending mass layoffs.

SALISBURY, N.C. — Bottom Dollar Food invited customers to contribute to its Hurricane Irene disaster relief campaign.

The campaign, which ended Tuesday, supported efforts of the American Red Cross to raise funds that would serve those impacted areas by the hurricane. Bottom Dollar Food accepted register donations at stores in Virginia and Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas, as well as stores in the greater Philadelphia region. Bottom Dollar Food donated $4,000 to the American Red Cross.

CINCINNATI — Kroger has announced the promotion of Joe Fey as president of the Quality Food Centers (QFC) division.

Fey, 57, has been VP merchandising for the company's Michigan division. He succeeds Donna Giordano, who was recently promoted to president of the Ralphs division in California.

Target last week announced the donation $250,000 in cash and product to assist with Hurricane Irene relief efforts, pushing the total amount the company has committed to domestic disaster relief to more than $1 million. The donations will be distributed among relief agencies including The Salvation Army and the American Red Cross. In addition, Target is giving gift cards and 10,000 relief kits to other local, regional and national nonprofit organizations for such essentials as water and food.