Marketing

It’s been more than five years since Walmart introduced its goals of being supplied 100% by renewable energy, creating zero waste and selling products that sustain people and the environment. These audacious goals initially fell under the umbrella of sustainability, but now we get word out of Miami that sustainability has been transformed to “sustainagility.”

Los Angeles -- Ralphs Grocery Co. has pleaded no contest to overcharging customers for prepackaged and weighed products at stores in Los Angeles, according to a Thursday report by the Associated Press.

The grocery chain entered pleas before the case was scheduled to go to trial. The no contest plea was entered for 62 misdemeanor charges, including false advertising, mislabeling and selling items that weigh less than they should.

A sentencing date will be set Thursday.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark announced on Thursday an increase in fourth-quarter same-store sales and a boost in retail pharmacy revenues as pharmacy comparable-store sales benefited from the Maintenance Choice program.

"I'm pleased with our earnings this quarter, which were in line with our expectations. Our retail business continued to produce industry-leading same-store sales and achieved an all-time record operating margin," stated Larry Merlo, who currently serves as president and COO and will be taking the reins as CEO in March.

WASHINGTON -- The National Retail Federation announced that it has promoted Carleen Kohut, who has served as NRF SVP and CFO for the past ten years, to COO, as part of board-approved restructuring plan. Additionally, Susan Newman, VP conferences, has been promoted to SVP conferences and Mike Gatti, formerly SVP communications, has been named SVP member relations.

BURLINGTON, N.J. -- Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp. announced that net sales for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 29, 2011 were $1.188 billion compared with $1.12 billion for the comparative period ended Jan. 30, 2010, a 6.1% increase. Comparative-store sales increased 1.2% for the quarter.

New York City -- Dylan’s Candy Bar has opened an outpost in Marriott’s Shadow Ridge in Palm Desert, Calif.

With its bright turquoise walls with a candy-coated ceiling, custom candy-themed light fixtures and signature “Whirly Pop” Tree with its branches of lickable lollipops and candy-inspired apparel and accessories, the shop is modeled after Dylan’s Manhattan flagship. Other Dylan’s stores are located in East Hampton and Roosevelt Field, N.Y.; Orlando, Fla.; and Houston.

Slowly but surely the headwinds Walmart has faced for years in its domestic expansion efforts have begun to diminish to the point where major victories are now being scored. Two examples stood out this week on opposite sides of the country. The highest profile of these is the situation in New York where it may not seem like Walmart won a victory this week, but it did. Walmart’s entry into the city has been the subject of considerable and heated debate for at least five years, but the situation has come to head in recent months.

Sunbury, Pa. -- Weis Markets reported Thursday that net income for fiscal 2010 increased 8.7% to $68.3 million, compared with $62.8 million in the prior year.

Sales for the year increased 4.1% to $2.6 billion. Same-store sales edged up 1.0%.

Weis Markets currently operates 164 stores in its home state of Pennsylvania and in Maryland, New York, New Jersey and West Virginia.