Trading Partners

Issaquah, Wash. - Costco Wholesale Corp. has entered into a new co-brand credit card program agreement with Citi and an acceptance and co-brand incentive agreement with Visa. Under the arrangements, Citi, an issuer of consumer credit cards, will become the exclusive issuer of Costco's co-brand credit cards and Visa will replace American Express as the credit card network for Costco in the U.S. and Puerto Rico beginning April 1, 2016.

The 2,200 store Bridgestone Retail Operations group is refining its approach to a key supplier relationship with a new deal involving Shell Lubricants Americas.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2016, Bridgestone Retail Operations (BSRO) said Shell would serve as its supplier of choice for automotive lubricants at the company’s more than 2,200 U.S. tire and automotive service centers.

New York – A state appeals court in New York has revived two claims Macy’s Inc. made against J.C. Penney Co. Inc. in a long-running dispute between the two department store chains about who has the right to sell Martha Stewart Living home products.   

 According to Reuters, in a unanimous decision, judges in the Manhattan Appellate Division ruled that Penney breached confidentiality provisions of Macy’s contract with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and Penney’s actions amounted to unfair competition.

Chicago – Charles Talbot, CFO of food service retailer Potbelly Corp., is leaving the company for a position outside the restaurant industry. Talbot will continue to serve as Potbelly's CFO while an external search is underway, until his departure on March 27.

A week after announcing that it would boost wages for its employees, Walmart is stepping up again in a big way with a commitment to close the skills gap of entry level workers.

The Walmart Foundation is making an initial investment of $16 million to seven national nonprofits as part of the Opportunity initiative, a $100 million commitment to help increase the economic mobility of entry level workers in retail and adjacent sectors.

Washington, D.C. -- Walmart and the Walmart Foundation announce an initial investment of $16 million to seven national nonprofit organizations, as part of a new Opportunity initiative, a $100 million commitment to help increase the economic mobility of entry level workers in retail and adjacent sectors. The $100 million commitment was first announced last week by Walmart president and CEO Doug McMillon, in conjunction with the roll out of new opportunities and enhanced benefits for Walmart associates.

Walmart is all about leveraging its scale to drive performance, but the application of that mindset can play out in many different ways, as Kathleen McLaughlin, president of the Walmart Foundation, will explain on March 3.

Chico’s FAS Inc. has revealed plans to close more stores, cut jobs and decrease its capital spending to $100 million for fiscal 2015, a 29% decrease to its three-year average.