Sustainability

By Roy Higgs

Outdoor retailer REI reached new heights in 2014 thanks to unprecedented membership growth which fueled a 4.2% same store sales increase and a record financial performance.

The same store sales increased and addition of seven new stores helped the company increase total sales 9.9% to $2.2 billion. The company ended the year with 5.5 million active members, 945,000 of whom joined the retail cooperative in 2014.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- Dollar General Corporation announced that Rhonda M. Taylor, currently senior VP and general counsel, has been promoted to executive VP and general counsel.

“Rhonda is a valuable member of our executive leadership team and is a trusted advisor on legal and business issues impacting Dollar General. In addition, she provides outstanding leadership and I look forward to her continued success at Dollar General,” said Rick Dreiling, chairman and CEO.

Just two years after starting the job, the general counsel at Dollar General has been promoted to executive vice president.

Gainesville, Fla. -- The developer of Celebration Pointe, a 225-acre mixed-used regional development located in Gainesville, Florida announced that its work on the public infrastructure improvement phase of the $200 million project is on schedule. Celebration Pointe partner Ralph Conti made the announcement.

Whole Foods Market is trying to increase its share of the explosive growth in the beauty industry by hosting its first ever “Beauty Week.” 

Canada’s leading grocer has developed a novel idea that its supermarket competitors in the U.S. may want to think about using.

Loblaw has introduced Naturally Imperfect-labeled produce. The company describes the new line as the smaller, misshapen produce that still tastes great and is good for you. The produce will now be available at stores in Ontario and Quebec.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Shoppers interested in purchasing products from women-owned companies will find it easier to do so at Walmart with the introduction of a new logo and related promotional effort. The new initiative launched March 11 will see a unique logo featured on retail packaging of products from women-owned businesses, available both in-store and online.