Corporate Responsibility

SAN FRANCISCO -- Walmart’s U.S. VP of benefits, Chris McSwain, was elected chairman of the Integrated Benefits Institute, the organization announced Monday.

“Chris McSwain has played an important leadership role in the health benefits community, and we look forward to his continued leadership with IBI,” said Thomas Parry, president of the non-profit health and productivity research organization.

Pompano Beach, Fla. -- Winn Dixie Stores has contracted Green Secure Solutions to clean, sanitize and protect shopping carts, hand baskets, handicap carts, food trays and other equipment at the grocer’s 484 stores.

San Diego -- Target Corp. was ordered by a California judge to pay $22.5 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that the chain illegally disposed hazardous waste at hundreds of stores throughout the state, prosecutors said Thursday, according to the Associated Press.

The settlement puts Target under tight scrutiny to ensure that it properly disposes waste at its nearly 300 stores in California, the report said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Ever grab a shopping cart and think about the hundreds of hands and millions of germs that have touched it? Winn-Dixie Stores has, and the company announced that it recently signed an exclusive agreement with Green Secure Solutions Inc. to use its patent-pending process to clean, sanitize and protect shopping carts, hand baskets, handicap carts, food trays and other equipment at the grocer’s 484 stores.

The National Governors Association named Walmart the recipient of its annual Public-Private Partnership Award at the closing of its 2011 Winter Meeting. The award is now in its fifth year and honors companies that have partnered with a governor's office to implement a program or project that positively affects the state's citizens. Walmart was nominated by Arkansas Gov.

DENVER -- Walmart announced that it has donated $100,000 to continue the Walmart Tribal College Scholarship Program. This program is providing 33 greatly needed scholarships for the spring 2011 semester, supporting one student at each of the nation's 33 tribal colleges and universities.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has entered Northern California with the opening of its first store in San Jose. The grocer also opened another Bay Area store in Danville today.

New York City -- Seiko Epson Corp. ("Epson") has been named a Sustainability Leader and awarded Silver Class status in the SAM "Sustainability Yearbook 2011.”