Walmart

Bentonville, Ark. – Walton Enterprises LLC, the corporation which holds Wal-Mart stock for the Walton family, plans to sell off some of its ownership stake in the discount giant. In a brief statement on the Wal-Mart investors webpage, Walton Enterprises said its stake in Wal-Mart has risen to about 50% as a result of stock buyback programs.

Starboard Value, the investment firm driving change at Staples, pushed the retailer to merge with Office Depot and now has achieved another of its goals with the addition of a new board member.

Amazon’s Prime membership is starting to crowd out traditional retailers like Walmart and Target, according to Forbes.

The magazine reports that research consultant Millward Brown Digital found that consumers with Prime accounts –- of which there are reportedly 40 million subscribers –- are less likely to visit other retail sites when making online purchases.

Union, N.J. – Bed, Bath & Beyond Inc. missed Wall Street expectations with its fourth quarter 2014 profit and sales results. In addition, the company indicated that it may join Walmart and other retailers in raising wages for employees.

During the fourth quarter, Bed, Bath & Beyond reported net earnings of $321.1 million, down 4% from $333.3 million a year earlier. Higher cost of sales and selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses helped drive down earnings.

Walmart is beginning to raise wages for workers in several states as part of its employee initiative for fiscal 2015.

Bed Bath & Beyond indicated in its fourth quarter earnings report that it may be joining Walmart and other retailers with plans to increase wages.

The company said it is lowering its 2015 earnings guidance due to "an increase in investments in compensation and benefits in 2015 beyond those historically planned."

Walmart is looking to increase its support of community food programs with a new "Fight Hunger. Spark Change." campaign this spring.

The national initiative will invite the public to take action in the fight against hunger. Working with some of the nation’s leading food companies –- Campbell’s, ConAgra Foods, General Mills, Kellogg Company, Kraft, and Unilever–- Walmart is offering the 140 million customers that shop at its stores each week three easy ways to help families in need in their local communities.

San Francisco — Omnichannel solutions provider RichRelevance has hired Mahesh Tyagarajan, a former WalmartLabs executive, to serve as its chief product officer.