Corporate Governance

New York -- Costco Wholesale Corp. set the July same-store sales pace when it reported Wednesday a better-than-expected gain of 5%, and other discounters answered Thursday with similar positive results.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — HSN Inc. reported that total sales for the company grew 6% to $767.2 million for the second quarter. Sales at the company's HSN segment increased 4% to $501.9 million, including 8% growth in digital sales. Cornerstone's net sales increased 11% to $265.3 million, including 17% growth in digital sales.

Adjusted EPS increased 10% to 67 cents compared with 61 cents in the prior year. GAAP income from continuing operations per diluted share increased 13% to 61 cents compared with 54 cents in the prior year.

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Older Americans who still want to participate in the work force will be welcomed by Dollar General. The retailer has eaffirmed its commitment to experienced workers by supporting the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)’s “Work Reimagined” program and the 50-plus worker pledge.

WASHINGTON — Desire for more organic food, high-end products and mobile technologies were the driving trends of the fastest-growing retailers in the United States, according to the National Retail Federation's "Hot 100 Retailers" list. Published annually in the group's STORES August issue, the list consists of retail companies that reported the greatest increase in domestic sales between 2010 and 2011. All public and private companies with more than $300 million in sales were eligible for the list, which was compiled by Kantar Retail.

ATLANTA — Foot Locker has rolled out retail technology provider RedPrairie's Enterprise Work force Management (EWFM) solution at approximately 2,700 retail stores throughout North America. Foot Locker, which operates retail brands Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Footaction, CCS, and Champs Sports, partnered with RedPrairie to help enable store associates to offer exceptional, highly interactive customer service.

MINNEAPOLIS — General Mills has expanded its portfolio in Brazil with the acquisition of Yoki Alimentos.

“Today marks a new beginning for General Mills in Brazil,” said Sean Walker, General Mills SVPand president of its Latin America region. “Yoki has fantastic brands that have nourished Brazilian families for decades. We are honored that the family owners of Yoki are entrusting us with this fabulous business and its 5,300 people. We are poised to accelerate our growth in Brazil.”

Wayne Lutomski has joined Welch’s as vice president of the brand’s international division.

Welch's, the leading marketer of Concord and Niagara grape-based products, named Lutomski to the position following the retirement of Bill Hewins who spent 30 years with Welch’s.

PALO ALTO, Calif. — Retail shopping app, Shopkick has named Alexis Rask as its new VP and general manager brand partnerships. As the head of Shopkick's newest business unit, Rask is tasked with leading and further developing shopkick's relationship with major brands in the CPG, consumer electronics, entertainment, toy/game, financial services and automotive verticals.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Big 5 Sporting Goods is seeing the positive effects of its merchandising and marketing strategies, with its first positive quarterly comps increase since the third quarter of 2010. The company reported a same-store sales gain of 1% for its 2012 second quarter ended July 1.

LAS VEGAS — Epson America Inc., a supplier of value-added Point of Sale (POS) solutions, has received the Gold Award of Excellence in the hardware technology category during the Retail Solutions Providers Association's RetailNOW 2012 show.