Sustainability

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens said Thursday it plans to offer electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at approximately 800 locations across the country by the end of 2011, which would make the drugstore chain the country’s largest retail host.

The charging stations will feature either a high-speed direct current charger that can add 30 miles of range in as little as 10 minutes of charging time, or a Level 2 charger that can add up to 25 miles of range per hour of charge.

By Adam Siegel, VP sustainability, RILA

PITTSBURGH — Giant Eagle and the international nonprofit organization, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), have announced a partnership to develop a comprehensive sustainable seafood procurement strategy.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — SC Johnson is bringing together its cleaning brands in a new, lightweight sprayer.

The SC Johnson all-in-one cleaning system brings together Windex, Fantastik, Scrubbing Bubbles, Pledge and Shout Carpet. The cleaning system allows users to hold 3-of-the-5 concentrated cleaner cartridges at once in a single hand-held sprayer, allowing consumers to seamlessly clean each room and surface by instantly switching among the cleaners.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the first products recognized as "most efficient," as part of a new program launched in May under the Energy Star initiative.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Karen Roberts was named executive VP and president of Walmart Realty on Friday, filling a position vacated by the company’s long time real estate executive Eric Zorn who retired after a 20-year career.

Roberts most recently served as senior VP and chief compliance officer. She will report to Tom Mars,  executive VP and chief administrative officer, whose responsibilities were expanded to include oversight of real estate in the wake of Zorn’s retirement.

Pittsburgh — Giant Eagle on Thursday unveiled its first two compressed natural gas fueling stations in the Pittsburgh area at its Beechnut Drive retail support and distribution center, according to a report by Drug Store News.

MONTVALE, N.J. — A&P announced that it has introduced a new line of locally raised chicken, turkey and beef products exclusively available to customers at select A&P, Pathmark, Superfresh, Waldbaum’s and The Food Emporium stores. All Mid-Atlantic Country Farms products are raised by family-owned farms using humane and sustainable farming methods, reducing the environmental impact of shipping food products over long distances, the company reported.

San Francisco -- Old Navy will complete its 300th remodeled store in mid-July as it continues to overhaul its entire chain. The design has a racetrack layout and features improved visual merchandising with light wood and white shelving, walls and backdrops that spotlight the core Old Navy product categories. For more photos, click here.

Now that Walmart has completed its acquisition of a majority stake in South African retailer Massmart a major competitor contends it will need to lay off 8.6% of its work force to improve its competitive position.

That’s according to South African media reports indicating rival Pick n Pay Stores said it was looking to eliminate 3,137 of its 36,673 positions. Conversely, Walmart has said it will create 15,000 jobs in South Africa within five years, implying a fairly robust level of expansion.