Sustainability

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores announced that board chairman Rob Walton is stepping down and will be succeeded by vice chairman Greg Penner, who is Walton's son-in-law. Walton relinquished the position of chairman at the company's annual meeting on June 5.

The retail industry is more competitive than ever, but Walmart CEO Doug McMillon told a gathering of more than 14,000 associates and shareholders that he is more worried about the enemy within the company than competitors.

“The truth is the real villains are lurking within the company,” said McMillon. “Our real villains are things like bureaucracy, complacency, a lack of speed, or a lack of passion.”

Bentonville, Ark. -- Speaking at Wal-Mart Stores’ annual shareholders meeting in Bentonville, Arkansas, president and CEO Doug McMillon told the more than 14,000 assembled associates and shareholders that he is more worried about the enemy within the company than competitors.

“The truth is the real villains are lurking within the company,” said McMillon. “Our real villains are things like bureaucracy, complacency, a lack of speed, or a lack of passion.”

Kohl’s is joining Walmart and other retailers in stepping up to help with flood relief efforts in Texas and Oklahoma.

Kohl’s has announced it will be donating $100,000 to the American Red Cross, which is delivering much-needed emergency supplies and services in the impacted areas. In addition to a financial contribution, Kohl’s encourages its associates to volunteer in support of cleanup efforts through its Associates in Action volunteer program.

Minneapolis -- Best Buy’s five-year-long initiative to reduce its carbon footprint by at least 20% by 2020 was commended by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) at White House ceremonies in Washington, D.C. The reduction is part of Best Buy’s organization-wide effort to address climate change.
 

Arlington, Va. – As part of the Department of Energy’s ongoing efforts to increase energy efficiency in buildings across the country, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) was recently awarded a three-year $750,000 grant to support its Retail Energy Management Program.

RILA was one of eight recipients of the DOE’s total $6 million investment.

Brussels, Belgium – Delhaize Group has released its 2014 Sustainability Report. Among the sustainability achievements in 2014 across the organization were: obtaining 35% of Delhaize America private brand food sales from products with high nutritional value up from 33% in 2013.