Corporate Responsibility

New York -- White House officials have agreed to meet with members of the retail industry to discuss issues associated with implementation of the health reform law, responding to the industry's July 2 letter urging the administration to immediately release “long overdue” regulations that would allow employers to move forward on the law's requirements.

CINCINNATI — As part of its "My Story. Our Flag." project, Tide unveiled a special flag — created in honor of Team USA — in New York's Bryant Park on Tuesday.

The 117-ft.-by-52-ft. flag, a larger-than-life artistic rendition of the American flag, features nearly 1,500 stories collected from Tide's Facebook and Twitter followers. Each piece of fabric making up the flag was washed in Tide prior to being sewn together, the brand said.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR is going patriotic this weekend with many of its sponsors behind products and events designed to honor active servicemen and women, veterans and their families, ahead of the Coke Zero 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway (DIS).

Kendal King Group has created a unique event to be held in Northwest Arkansas later this summer that is designed to simultaneously benefit local charities while commemorating the firm’s 25th anniversary.

New York -- Sears Canada will deploy CloudApps’ sustainability performance management software across the chain’s 122 department stores, 48 home stores and 11 outlet locations. CloudApps said it will capture carbon, energy and waste data from the sites, encouraging site managers to be responsible for reducing usage.

Dennis Cohen was named VP and general manager of the responsible sourcing unit of global product safety company Underwriters Laboratories.

Cohen spent the past 14 years at Office Depot, most recently serving as senior director of private brand operations and global sourcing. In that capacity, Cohen directed five departments and was responsible for the strategy development and operational execution of Office Depot’s $3.5 billion private brand business. He also served as director of supply chain transportation and logistics at Office Depot.

WOONSOCKET, R.I — CVS Caremark has been selected by the National Business Group on Health as a platinum winner for its 2012 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles awards. CVS Caremark's workforce well-being program was noted to be a role model for other companies striving to improve employee health, productivity and well-being.

The award was presented at the Business Group's Institute on Innovation in Workforce Well-being Leadership Summit held in Washington, D.C.

Walmart observed its 50th anniversary in fine fashion this week as its share price hit an all-time high, even as the company faced familiar charges from vocal critics.

Walmart shares closed Tuesday at an all time high of $70.75, nearly 18% above the $59.97 level where they began the year and more than 46% above the 52-week low price of $48.31 seen late last summer. The move is nothing short of remarkable considering an investment in Walmart was dead money for the past dozen years as shares traded for a little more than $69 back in December 1999.

Throughout the retail industry and beyond, Walmart has earned a reputation as a leader in executing sustainable improvements that deliver positive results for consumers, communities and the company’s bottom line. Andrea Thomas, who joined Walmart in 2007, was appointed the company’s first senior VP sustainability in August 2010. Thomas talked with Chain Store Age contributing editor Connie Gentry about what sustainability means at Walmart and how the company leverages its scale to make the biggest possible impact for global good.

New York -- Energy cost savings, government/utility incentives and rebates, and enhanced brand or public image ranked as the top drivers of energy-efficiency decision-making in the United States and Canada, according to a global survey of building owners and operators and facility managers by Johnson Controls.