Consumer Affairs & Relations

By Howard Paster, [email protected]

St. Louis -- Brown Shoe Co., parent to the Famous Footwear chain, reported Thursday a loss of $4.6 million for the second quarter, compared with a profit of $5.3 million in the year-ago period.

Sales increased 7.2% to $628.1 million, from $585.8 million.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer announced that it has opened a new, smaller-format grocery store in the Chicago area. The 90,000 sq. ft. Meijer Marketplace store in Melrose Park, will feature national and Meijer own brand grocery items, along with a full-service pharmacy offering a variety of national and Meijer brand health and beauty products, the company reported.  

By Liana Hill, [email protected]

Woonsocket, R.I. -- CVS Caremark said its board has approved a $4 billion stock repurchase program and that it intends to complete an earlier $2 billion program before the end of this year.

Under the new authorization, the retailer said it expects to repurchase about $1 billion in shares by the end of the year.
 

New York City -- Former Duane Reade CEO Tony Cuti was sentenced on Monday to three years in prison in connection with accounting fraud at the New York-based drug store chain.

Cuti, who is to report to prison on Jan. 31, 2012, also must pay a $5 million fine.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Monday named Thomas Sabatino Jr. EVP, general counsel and corporate secretary, effective Sept. 12.

Sabatino replaces Dana Green, who is retiring after 37 years with the company, Walgreens stated.

Cary, N.C. -- The Pantry said Monday that CEO Terrance M. Marks plans to resign within two months.

In a statement, Marks said that his decision was driven by personal reasons, and that he had accepted "an opportunity that will enable me to return to my home and family in Atlanta."