Corporate Responsibility

Miami -- Ryder System announced that it and Staples have agreed to add 10 heavy-duty compressed natural gas (CNG) tractors to Ryder’s dedicated fleet servicing Staples. The tractors -- the first of their kind used in Staples’ third party dedicated operations -- will replace ten diesel tractors currently used by Ryder for Staples, and have been made available through Ryder’s natural gas vehicle project agreement with the San Bernardino Associated Governments in Southern California.

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. 

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.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys“R”Us announced that its Children’s Fund will make a $200,000 donation to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.

SAN ANTONIO — H-E-B announced that it has launched an early childhood literacy initiative to help educate Texas parents and caregivers about the importance of reading to children a minimum of three times per week and to provide families with the tools and resources they need to prepare their early learners for school.

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.

The economic challenges sweeping the country have been tough, but, like most things in life, it’s not the challenging times that define you, but what you do during them. For leaders in the retail industry the last few years have led to great innovation, providing the retail industry every opportunity to reinvent in areas across their operations including in the area of environmental sustainability. 

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Stater Bros. Supermarkets, which operates 167 stores in Southern California, announced that it will be the title sponsor of the largest car show on the West Coast as well as the largest Supermarket Chain sponsored event in America.  

The Stater Bros. Route 66 Rendezvous will be held from Thursday, Sept. 15 through Sunday, Sept. 18 along the historic streets of downtown San Bernardino.  This is the 15th straight year that Stater Bros. has been the title sponsor.

The retail world will lose one of its most colorful and respected CEOs when Costco Wholesale Club co-founder and chief executive Jim Sinegal steps down on January 1, 2012. Among retailers, Sinegal stands out for offering proof positive that a business could be good to its employees and customers and still make a hefty profit.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has never shied away from supporting causes he believes in. But he has really gone on the offensive with his latest passions: political gridlock and the jobs crisis.