Marketing Tactics

Pollo Campero, the fast-growing Latin chicken chain, unveiled a new prototype designed by Interbrand Design Forum. Created with the American consumer in mind, the new design debuted in Webster, Texas. Two other locations are due to open in the Houston area by yearend.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation announced that it has asked the Commerce Department to delay implementation of a controversial plan to vastly expand Internet domain names, saying retailers and other businesses need more information before moving forward.

WAYNE, N.J. — The Toys"R"Us Children's Fund announced it will award $1 million in grants to 54 nonprofit organizations supporting children in the state of New Jersey. The grants will be distributed to the selected charities by Dec. 31 through the Fund's statewide giving initiative, which launched in March. According to the company, the grants will help to alleviate economic challenges and sustain organizations that favorably impact children across New Jersey, where both the Fund and Toys"R"Us Inc. are headquartered.

AUSTIN, Texas — Whole Foods announced that in just six weeks, its shoppers donated more than $2 million in stores and online to support the School Garden Grant Program, the first major initiative of the Whole Kids Foundation. In partnership with FoodCorps, the Foundation will fund $2,000 grants for schools in the United States and Canada to support the launch or expansion of school gardens.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart announced that it has donated $5 million to the Smithsonian Institution to support the construction of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, D.C.

The NMAAHC was established in 2003 by Congress, making it the 19th Smithsonian Institution museum. It will be the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African-American life, art, history and culture.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys“R”Us announced it will once again offer 10% back on purchases made by new and current members of its loyalty program, Rewards“R”Us, this holiday season. Beginning Sunday, Oct. 30 through Christmas Eve, Rewards“R”Us members can earn 10% back in “R”Us Dollars for every dollar spent on qualifying purchases. “R”Us Dollars earned will be delivered to members via e-mail in January and can be used toward savings on future in-store purchases, the company said.

NEW YORK — Macy's announced that this week it will debut the new Giambattista Valli collection, the fourth in the retailer's series of limited-edition, designer capsules created exclusively for its Impulse department. 

Valli's first-ever collaboration will bring ultra-feminine, jet-set style to the affordable fashion arena for the holiday season, Macy's said. Giambattista Valli for Impulse only at Macy's" will be sold in approximately 225 Macy's stores nationwide and on macys.com/impulse beginning Oct. 26.

CHICAGO — At an event Tuesday in Chicago, Supervalu announced that it will open a Save-A-Lot store in the Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago, bringing thae total number of Save-A-Lot stores in the Chicagoland area to 14. Supervalu, which said it is opening the store as part of its commitment to helping eliminate food deserts nationally, made the announcement alongside First Lady Michelle Obama and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The Lawndale store will open by the end of November. 

Issaquah, Wash. — Costco Wholesale's donations to a Washington state voter initiative that would legalize liquor sales by private retailers have broken state records, according to published reports.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. confirmed Tuesday that its website crashed for the second time in six weeks, going down at approximately 12:50 p.m. EDT and then coming back up two hours later, at 2:50 p.m. EDT.

Target.com also crashed on Sept. 13, after the retailer’s online introduction of its new line of Missoni apparel and items.

Target has not yet said what caused Tuesday’s crash.