eCommerce

Reston, Va. -- Online U.S. retail spending in second quarter 2011 reached $37.5 billion for the quarter, up 14% versus year ago, comScore reported Monday. This growth rate represented the seventh consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and third consecutive quarter of double-digit growth rates.

Strength in the apparel category continued at Target during July, with same-store sales increasing just below the company average of 4.1%, positioning the company as a winner in a month where performance among competitors was uneven.

SALISBURY, N.C. — New stores, higher retail inflation and positive calendar impact drove sales up for Delhaize America, the U.S. sector of the Delhaize Group, during the second quarter ended June 30.

The division, which operates such banners as Food Lion, Hannaford and Bottom Dollar Food, reported that revenues rose 4.3% to $4.9 billion, while comparable-store sales increased 1.6%. Operating profit, however, dropped 2.7% to $205 million.

Westfield shopping centers and the Westfield Family program have launched a “Give Back to School” community program, in which Westfield will donate $57,500 to the program by offering $2,500 to one school in each of 23 communities. The funds will be used to support such school programs as arts and music, sciences, physical education, libraries and technology resources.

Shoppers also will have the opportunity to help local students by donating new and gently used clothing or backpacks through a local community partnership with their Westfield shopping center.

Milan -- Luxottica Group announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Erroca, which operates more than 60 sunglass stores in Israel. Over time, the stores will be rebranded under the Sunglass Hut brand.

The deal marks Luxottica's entry into the Israeli sunglass specialty store market, although the company already has a solid presence in the country through its wholesale division.

Operating internationally is full of pitfalls and political peculiarity, as Walmart has again discovered in South Africa where various government officials are attempting to wring additional concessions from the company related to its acquisition of Massmart.

Minneapolis -- Best Buy Co.’s Best Buy Express plans to add nearly 100 kiosk locations in the next year spread over a variety of new channels.

The division has opened 150 Express locations in three years, and said it is adding two locations at Downtown Disney District in Anaheim, Calif., and multiple locations at college campuses, events and ferry hubs this year.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse revealed that online retail sales rose 14% over the year-ago period, marking the 24th straight month of year-over-year growth, as well as the ninth consecutive month of double-digit growth, with improvement in every subcategory except for electronics.