Sustainability

President Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton visited Kanombe school in Kigali, Rwanda, to see the P&G Purifier of Water packets at work as part of Procter and Gamble’s Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action to provide clean drinking water to those who need it most. 

By Colleen A. Conry, Jane D. Goldstein, Natalie Logan and Alicia Suarez

On April 24, 2013, 1,127 people were killed when Rana Plaza, a garment manufacturing complex in Savar, Bangladesh, collapsed. This tragedy highlights the working conditions that may exist in Bangladesh and other countries. It also draws attention to the challenges faced by U.S. companies that want to conduct their business in an ethical and socially responsible way, particularly when operating through third-party suppliers in foreign countries.   

Staying on top of emerging supply chain trends is critical in today’s global marketplace. Understanding current trends enables us to stay relevant, remain competitive and manage our businesses proactively, rather than reactively.

New York -- AT&T unveiled its newest store design, at a new location in LaGrange, Ill. The store is built around the customer experience, with a goal of providing a glimpse of what the future of retail will look like. The new design will be rolled out at new and redesigned store locations across the country, and continuing into 2014. (For a video tour of the store, click here.)

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble plans to remain focused on keeping existing and potential customers and shareholders happy, following its net sales for fiscal 2013 which increased 1% to $84.2 billion, including a negative two-point impact from foreign exchange. 

Diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations were $3.86, up 24% compared with the prior year.

AUSTIN, Texas — Whole Foods Market sees demand for 1,000 new stores in the U.S. and thinks Canada and the U.K. hold great promise as well, based on its sales increase of 12% to $3.1 billion for the third quarter ended July 7, from $2.7 billion for the same year-ago period.

DENVER — Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage is opening two new stores in August, as it looks to accelerate growth following last year's initial public offering.

Chicago — Argo Tea has opened a greenhouse-inspired café in Chicago’s newly restored Connors Park. Argo and the city worked together on the park restoration, which includes chamomile and hibiscus tea bushes and native drought-tolerant plant varieties.

Argo Tea opened its first café in Chicago in 2003 and now operates 27. Plans call for 15 new locations over the next 12 months.