International Business

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- Whirlpool announced that it was awarded  the 2011 Energy Star Sustained Excellence award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The award recognizes the company's leadership in offering consumers energy and water efficiency through its leading home appliance brands, Whirlpool reported. According to the company, Whirlpool was the only appliance manufacturer to receive the Sustained Excellence award, the highest possible Energy Star award. This is the company's 12th top Energy Star award and sixth consecutive Sustained Excellence win.

PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- Hasbro announced that it has signed a strategic development agreement with Jagex Limited to jointly create a new online game based on the Transformers brand. Under the agreement, the two companies are slated to launch the Transformers online game in 2012 in North America, Latin America, Europe, New Zealand and Australia.

CINCINNATI -- Procter & Gamble announced that Keith Harrison, global product supply officer, will retire effective Sept. 1, after more than 41 years of service.  Until his retirement, Harrison will serve as officer on special assignment, reporting to Bob McDonald, chairman of the board, president and CEO.

The company announced that Yannis Skoufalos currently VP product supply, global operations, has been elected global product supply officer, succeeding Harrison effective July 1.

London -- Wm. Morrison Supermarkets PLC said Thursday that it has acquired a 10% stake in U.S. online grocer FreshDirect, based in New York City.

According to Morrison, the U.K. fourth-largest supermarket chain, the acquisition marks its debut in the online food market.

Morrison has also announced plans to test a c-store format and to expand its grocery store counts in order to increase its presence in the U.K grocery market.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- The Walmart Foundation announced that is committing more than $2.5 million in grants to various projects aimed at improving the lives of women in Latin America. 

"We believe that when women achieve economic empowerment, their voices are also empowered," said Eduardo Solorzano, president and CEO of Walmart Latinoamerica. "So not only will they be able to create more stable futures for their families, they will play transformational roles in bettering the lives of women and children across Latin America."

There have been dozens of books written about Walmart, but none from the perspective of Ron Loveless. He is an Arkansas native from a small town who was hired by Walmart founder Sam Walton in 1964. His first job was that of stock boy, but he would go on to hold positions of increased responsibility in operations and merchandising and was the executive charged with opening the first Sam’s Clubs in the early 80’s. Loveless retired in 1986.

Everett, Wash. -- Zumiez reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Jan. 29 almost doubled to $15 million, compared with net income of $8.8 million in the year-ago period.

Sales increased 17.9% to $156.2 million, from $132.4 million. Same-store sales increased 13 %.

For the full year, sales rose 17.5% to $478.8 million, from $407.6 million. Profit rose to $24.2 million, from $9.1 million in fiscal 2009.

Same-store sales increased 11.9% in fiscal 2010.

Shareholders of Wal-Mart de Mexico elected three new female board members at the company’s annual meeting yesterday, bringing to six the number of women on the company’s eleven-member board.

The new members include Shelley Broader, chief merchandising officer of Walmart Canada, Olga Gonzalez, Walmart’s VP audit services for Latin America and Kristin Oliver, SVP people for the Walmart International division. Other women on the board include Cathy Smith, Blanca Trevino and Kristin Oliver.