Consumer Affairs & Relations

The growth of gift cards has been nothing less than phenomenal. But while gift cards have come to provide a critical source of earnings, they also face an intensifying regulatory environment, including tax and financial reporting for gift cards, that has become increasingly complex.


New York City -- Winn-Dixie Stores has filed suit against Dolgencorp, the parent company of Dollar General. The grocer confirmed that the suit was filed because Dolgencorp “knowingly violates legal, noncompete provisions of Winn-Dixie leases in shopping centers in which both businesses operate,” Winn-Dixie told the Jacksonville Business Journal in an email.

NEW YORK— Winn-Dixie Stores has filed suit against Dolgencorp, the parent company of Dollar General. The grocer confirmed that the suit was filed because Dolgencorp “knowingly violates legal, noncompete provisions of Winn-Dixie leases in shopping centers in which both businesses operate,” Winn-Dixie told the Jacksonville Business Journal in an email.

New York City -- J.C. Penney Co. on Monday detailed the timeline of its upcoming change in executive management with the news that current CEO and chairman Myron “Mike” Ullman will leave the company and the board in February 2012 after a three-month transition period during which he will hand over the reins in full to his successor, Apple retail guru Ron Johnson.

San Francisco -- Best Buy Co. has reportedly agreed to pay $10.2 million in a settlement related to a job discrimination class-action lawsuit, Reuters reported.

The lawsuit, filed in 2005 in U.S. District Court in Northern California, alleged that the retailer discriminated against women, African-American and Latino employees by denying them promotions and more lucrative sales positions. Best Buy has denied any wrongdoing.

Cincinnati -- Macy’s has entered into a $1.5 billion bank credit agreement that will mature on June 20, 2015. It replaces a previous $2 billion facility, which was set to mature on August 30, 2012. Joint lead arrangers for the new agreement are J. P. Morgan, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo.

New York City -- Even in today’s digital world, a store’s physical appearance matters -- and it does so significantly, according to market research firm Morpace’s latest Omnibus survey. The study shows that consumers form an opinion of a business based on physical presence, which heavily influences their decision whether or not to shop at a location.

New York City -- Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel met with executives from six grocery chains, including Walgreen Co. Wal-Mart Stores and Aldi about eliminating food “deserts” in six Chicago neighborhoods, the Associated Press reported.

Emanuel showed a detailed map of Chicago food deserts and made business cases to the grocery executives for specific properties in each food desert area. He said 450,000 Chicagoan's don't have access to fresh food.