Marketing

New York -- A San Diego judge ordered Rite Aid Corp. and its California subsidiary Thrifty PayLess Inc. to pay $800,000 to settle a complaint alleging false advertising, the Associated Press reported.

Prosecutors claimed Rite Aid led consumers to believe they would pay less for items bought using the company's Wellness Card, the report said. However, they were given a coupon and told it was for a future purchase that would expire and was subject to other restrictions.

Organized labor was crowing this week about a protest, or was it a strike, involving 88 Walmart employees at 28 stores in 12 states who didn’t show up for work on Tuesday.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart plans a modest acceleration of its small format stores in the coming years as investors were assured Wednesday morning that financial returns are now comparable with the company’s large supercenters.

MINNEAPOLIS — More unsettling news from Best Buy this week, as the company announced the departure of EVP and CFO Jim Muehlbauer.

Muehlbauer, who joined the company in 2002, will support the company through 2013 as it searches for a new finance chief.

Green Bay, Wis. -- Shopko Stores announced Wednesday that Mike Bettiga has been named interim CEO to replace Paul Jones, who resigned to pursue another opportunity.

Bettiga is a 35-veteran of the company, and most recently served as executive VP and COO. Shopko is owned by private investment firm Sun Capital Partners.

Issaquah, Wash. -- Costco Wholesale Corp. reported Wednesday that net income for the quarter ended Sept. 2 jumped 27% to $609 million, from $478 million in the year-ago period. The warehouse club operator credited strong sales and higher member fees for the improved profit performance.

Sales climbed 14% to $31.52 billion, and same-store sales rose 5%. Membership fee revenue rose 18% to $694 million. The company said it plans to open up to 14 new warehouses before the end of calendar year 2012.

FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. — The Wet Seal has named four new members to its board of directors and Lynda Davey as chairman of the board.

The new members, who joined effective Oct. 4, include: Dorrit Bern, Lynda Davey, Mindy Meads and John Mills.

Atlanta -- The Sembler Co. said that Charlie Heard has joined the firm as VP development and southeast market leader for the company. He will be based in Atlanta.

Heard’s duties consist of pursuing new shopping center development opportunities in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.  He has been involved in development projects for retailers such as Publix, Kroger, Target, Home Depot, Best Buy, CVS and Walgreen's and has worked with top-tier retailers on site selection across industry sectors.