Retail

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Members of the military can enjoy savings at Sam's Club with the introduction of a new membership offering.

The retailer said that when military personnel — including those active or retired, their spouses and civilian military employees — join or renew as an advantage member or advantage plus member, the company will provide them with a $15 Sam's Club gift card to each primary membership.

Proof of military identification is required and the offer cannot be combined with any other membership offers, Sam's Club noted.

It’s working. That was the message Walmart EVP merchandising Duncan Mac Naughton shared this week with those who attended several events in which Walmart’s head merchant offered his perspective on the back-to-basics operational and merchandising philosophy on which the company’s U.S. strategy is once again dependant.

LOS ANGELES — Food 4 Less and Ralphs Grocery announced that they are inviting customers to help support local food banks and families in need through a special fund-raising campaign that kicks off Nov. 6. In addition, Food 4 Less' Foods Co Division is also collecting donations for food banks in Central and Northern California.

SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion announced that this year's fundraising campaign to benefit Children's Miracle Network Hospitals totaled $4.2 million.

This year's donation represents a 43% increase over last year, Food Lion said. The supermarket chain, which has supported CMN Hospitals since 1991, has raised more than $40 million for the organization.

Economists may be feeling good after a government report that showed third-quarter GDP grew at 2.5%, but try telling millions of Americans who shop at Walmart stores at 12:01 a.m. on the first of the month that the nation is no longer in a recession.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — OfficeMax Friday announced that Ryan Vero, EVP and chief merchandising officer will be leaving the company effective Dec. 2. The company, which did not specify the reason for Vero's departure, said it has already started its search for a replacement. Michael Lewis, EVP and president of retail, will continue to provide oversight to the marketing and merchandising teams.

MONTVALE, N.J. — A&P will be able to emerge from chapter 11 next year, thanks to an agreement to receive $490 million of debt and equity financing from private investors comprised of The Yucaipa Companies LLC, Mount Kellett Capital Management LP and investment funds managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management L.P., the company announced Friday. The agreement is subject to approval of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

Walmart EVP merchandising Duncan Mac Naughton spoke at two events this week in Northwest Arkansas, and he said essentially the same thing on both occasions. Two weeks earlier during a supplier summit event at the retailer’s home office, he said basically the same thing, according to those in attendance. And the comments at the supplier summit were essentially the same as those shared with members of the financial community during a mid-October analysts’ meeting or back in August.