Appliances

Minneapolis -- Best Buy Co. announced it will free delivery and no interest financing if paid in full within 18 months on all appliance purchases over $429.

Columbus, Ohio -- Casto announced that Menards has purchased 20 acres of land at Columbus Corporate Center, on the east side of Columbus, Ohio.

According to Menards, construction on its 160,000-sq.-ft. store will commence later this spring. This will be the second Menards location in Columbus. The first location, situated at Northland is scheduled to open this spring.

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Panasonic has introduced a new bread maker that makes it easier to make raisin, nut and other more complicated breads. According to a company press release the SD-RD250 Bread Maker features a new raisin/dried fruit/nut dispenser, which allows for the ingredients to be added at the beginning of the baking process and conveniently dispersed evenly at the optimum time, during the bread-baking process.  The new dispenser, which holds approximately 5.3 ounces, is removable for easy washing.

Walmart and Target are said to be among major corporations working with the Department of Energy on the development of a new breed of energy-efficient air conditioners. The DOE recently announced that as part of a voluntary program, it worked with members of the DOE Commercial Building Energy Alliances, including Walmart and Target, to develop new performance criteria for 10-ton capacity commercial air conditioners, also known as rooftop units that are 50% to 60% more efficient than existing equipment.

KRONBERG, Germany  -- Braun celebrated its 90-year company anniversary on Feb. 1. Founded by Max Braun in 1921, Braun today is a globally successful brand and the world market leader in the foil shaver, epilator and handblender segments, according to the company.

New York City -- January saw strong growth across most retail categories, continuing the positive performance from fourth quarter 2010, albeit at a slightly slower pace, according to MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse, a report on national retail and services sales that is based on aggregate sales activity in the MasterCard payments network and survey-based estimates for other payment forms, such as cash and check.

ATLANTA -- Home Depot will make a bigger push for the female shopper this spring, largely through the introduction of coordinating Martha Stewart merchandise, company merchant Gordon Erickson told the New York Times in a Jan. 28 interview.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- Whirlpool has introduced an induction cooktop that can boil water up to 52% faster when using the product's "boost" element, the company reported. In addition, the cooktop only generates heat to the cookware it touches making it more efficient and easier to clean than earlier Whirlpool models.

The Whirlpoolinduction cooktop (model GCI3061XB) is available at retailers nationwide with an MSRP of $1,349.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Sears Holdings announced that as part of the continuing transformation of the company, Scott Freidheim has been appointed EVP, president Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard.

"Scott is a strong leader who will heighten our focus on our Kenmore, Craftsman and Diehard brands," said Bruce Johnson, interim CEO and president of Sears Holdings. "I believe he will be a tremendous asset to this business as we drive new ideas forward."    

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- Whirlpool Corporation announced fourth-quarter net earnings of $171 million, or $2.19 per diluted share, compared with $95 million, or $1.24 per diluted share reported during the same period last year.  Fourth-quarter adjusted diluted earnings per share totaled $2.11 compared with $1.67 in the prior year.  Sales of $5 billion increased 4% from the fourth quarter of 2009.

Fourth-quarter operating profit totaled $202 million compared with $199 million in the prior year.