Events

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Sears announced that it has launched the Sears Blue Tool Crew "Do It Together" program to honor unsung heroes who use their tools and talents for the greater good of the community. According to Sears DIT is the national expansion of the "Unsung Heroes: Dads Making a Difference" Father's Day initiative that recognized dads across the country in 2010.  

AUSTIN, Texas — Proving that natural food stores have a sense of humor, Whole Foods hosted a faux website homepage to celebrate April Fools' Day.

The homepage featured such items as "insects raised with compassion," stinky cheese lipstick and bizarre recipes. The retailer even featured a video about finding love at its stores on both the website and its Facebook fan page. Needless to say, it received many "likes."

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Friday announced the start of its companywide fundraising campaign for Easter Seals, Special Olympics, Rebuilding Together and a range of job training programs that help people with disabilities live fuller lives.

New York City -- Macy’s is undertaking a multi-million dollar remodel of its store in Chicago’s Water Tower Place, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The eight-floor, 227,000-sq.-ft. department store was last renovated in 1996, when it operated as Marshall Field’s. It became Macy’s in 2006.

The new décor will include a white ceramic floor, brighter lights and silver accents, the report said. The store’s first three levels will receive the lion’s share of the updates.

The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), managed by The Consumer Goods Forum, announced that Yves Rey, corporate quality general manager Danone, has been appointed chairman elect to replace current chairman, Jürgen Matern, Metro AG, once he completes his mandate in February 2012. Yves Rey will become the sixth chairman of the Global Food Safety Initiative. 

WASHINGTON --  The National Retail Federation has a new ally in its fight for swipe-fee reform. The group announced that Americans for Financial Reform, a coalition focused on financial services industry reform that includes the Consumer Federation of America, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and a number of other consumer organizations among its 250 national, state and local members, asked Congress Wednesday to reject proposals to delay swipe-fee reform.

MIAMI BEACH — While less consumers are seeking out private-label options this year, preplanning activities continue to be a priority, according to a new survey conducted by SymphonyIRI Group.

In SymphonyIRI's inaugural MarketPulse survey, the group found that 2-out-of-3 shoppers today are making shopping lists prior to visiting the store, while 56% are reading store fliers either before or at the store — statistics that are in line with trends noted in 2010.

Foxborough, Mass. -- Patriot Place shopping center, located in Foxborough, Mass., announced that Charming Charlie boutique opened today, its first location in Massachusetts.

Fort Worth, Texas -- The Weitzman Group/Cencor Realty Services announced that Cinemark Holdings will construct a 14-screen, all-digital movie theater that will feature the company's new Cinemark NextGen design concept.   

Cinemark has entered into an agreement to purchase 10 acres in Presidio Junction, a 300-acre master-planned mixed-use development of LNR Property LLC, located eight miles north of downtown Fort Worth, Texas.

WASHINGTON -- The National Retail Federation announced that it welcomed Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's commitment to complete final swipe fee reform regulations in time for retailers to begin offering customers discounts and other benefits this summer as scheduled.