Walmart

Bentonville, Ark. -- For the first time in the retailer’s history, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said that, through Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, it has given more than $1 billion in cash and in-kind contributions.

The Monday announcement makes Walmart the first U.S. retailer to achieve the $1 billion in giving mark, up from $872.7 million last year. The growth in global giving was largely due to increased in-kind donations in the U.S. to local food banks and families impacted by disasters.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart and its foundation gave more than $1 billion in cash and in-kind contributions throughout the last fiscal year, the company announced Monday. 

It’s the most money and in-kind donations given by Walmart or any U.S. retailer in a fiscal year ever , according to the company. The growth in global giving was largely due to increased in-kind donations in the U.S. to local food banks and families impacted by disasters.

Hong Kong -- The Asia arm of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Monday it has achieved energy savings of 20% across 210 supplier factories in China.

According to Walmart Asia president and CEO Scott Price, the factories have “cut their energy consumption by a minimum of 20% as of December 2012, saving approximately 2.168 billion kWh, a number equivalent to powering 1.46 million homes for an entire year."

Walmart has rolled out a new line of Disney paints and specialty finishes available exclusively at select Walmart stores.

The Disney Paint line consists of “112 exclusive colors grouped into three palettes, with imaginative Disney-themed names, designed to give parents and children options at every stage, from infant to tween,” said Jason Stewart, director of softlines product development for Disney Consumer Products. 

Target may not cater to exactly the same shopper as Walmart, but there is enough overlap between the two companies to know that reports of weakness out of Minneapolis are never a good sign in Bentonville.

FORT WORTH — RadioShack has named Jennifer Warren as its new SVP and CMO, and Michael DeFazio as its new SVP of store concepts. 

With 6,700 stores in 12 markets, Tesco is a formidable competitor globally, but Walmart won’t have to worry about competing with the company on its home turf.

Denver -- Brixmor Property Group said that Walmart Neighborhood Market will open a 55,669-sq.-ft. store at Villa Monaco, located in Denver.

The addition of this market will revitalize the shopping center, said Brixmor, attracting new retailers, restaurants and services to the center, and providing the community residents a convenient place to shop within their own neighborhood.