Walmart

Bentonville, Ark. – U.S. Magistrate Judge Erin Setser has recommended that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and former Wal-Mart CEO Mike Duke face a shareholder lawsuit alleging they concealed corrupt activities at Wal-Mart’s Mexican operation.

The suit, filed by a Michigan pension fund, claims Wal-Mart knew of bribery allegations involving its Wal-Mart de Mexico business in 2005 and conducted an internal investigation in 2005 and 2006, but never notified shareholders.

At an event with President Barack Obama, Walmart said that it will double the number of on-site solar energy projects at its U.S. stores, Sam’s Clubs and distribution centers by 2020. The commitment is part of Walmart’s global initiative to drive the production or procurement of 7 billion kWh of renewable energy by the end of 2020.

Walmart has gotten the green light to build its drive-in grocery center in Bentonville, Ark., near the intersection of S. Walton Blvd. and J St., according to an article in The City Wire.

The article reported that Bentonville’s Planning Commission approved Walmart’s request “to approve slight variations in its parking stall depths, number of curb cuts and the building materials . . . with no discussion.”

Walmart has named Technical Consumer Products as a 2013 Hardware/Paint Supplier of the Year in appreciation for the company’s support, outstanding contributions and overall operational fulfillment.

TCP, a leader in energy efficient lighting innovations, currently supplies more than 50 lighting products to Walmart, including LED and CFL light bulbs. Walmart has honored TCP with seven awards for supplier excellence in less than three years.

One topic that’s been on my mind lately is the growing Hispanic market in the U.S., and what its clout and purchasing power will mean for retailers — and, subsequently, for retail real estate — in the years ahead. “Emerging” is probably too mild of a word to describe the Hispanic market — exploding might be more accurate.

Cooking Light, Time Inc.’s leading epicurean brand, has expanded its prepared-foods line and co-branded SodaStream flavors to Target and Walmart.

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples Inc. said on Monday that it has agreed to buy PNI Digital Media, Canadian company whose software platform enables retailers to sell such personalized products as photo books, calendars, business cards, documents, wedding invitations, and stationery. The cash transaction is valued at approximately C$73.9 million ($67.5 million).

PNI’s software powers both online and in-store platforms. Its retail clients include Costco and Walmart Canada.

It has been about five months since the Target data breach made the vulnerability of retail POS data a hot topic. Investigation has since shown the Target breach did not involve POS terminals. However, high-profile thefts of customer payment card data from Target and other retailers including Neiman Marcus, Michaels and Sally Beauty Supply have highlighted the need for U.S. retailers to adopt the global Europass, MasterCard and Visa (EMV) standard for accepting payments from cards that store consumer information on secure embedded microchips, rather than on magnetic stripes.

Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) president and CEO Pamela G. Bailey said that the association will honor retired Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke with the 2014 GMA Hall of Achievement Award, the organization’s highest honor, at its Leadership Forum Aug. 23 at The Broadmoor.

Lighting plays a critical role in retail, and is rapidly evolving to meet changing regulations and customer needs. Dr. Laura Prestwood Thompson, director of the TCU Center for Lighting Education, Texas Christian University, discussed how stores and restaurants in 2025 will light their interiors and looked at the technologies and trends that will impact retail lighting during the SPECS workshop session, “Lighting 2025.”

“The quality of light is key,” Thompson said. “You create an aesthetic for your brand that impacts the customer experience.”