Mass Merchant

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us has launched its annual nationwide fundraising campaign to benefit the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. The company has once agained teamed up with Shaquille O'Neal to encourage customers to "Give Back with Shaq."

Cambridge, Mass. — Target should be feeling confident about its upcoming entry into Canada, as a recent survey from Kantar Retail and TNS Canada revealed that 75% of Canadians are aware of the retailer.

Furthermore, 43% of Canadian consumers said that they were likely to shop at Target Canada for grocery or health and beauty aids and 50% were likely to shop at Target Canada for general merchandise or apparel.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Monday by the Commerce Department showed that retail sales in the U.S. climbed more than anticipated in September, boosted by unexpected increases in household spending.

Sales advanced 1.1% in September, on the heels on a 1.2% increase in August that was the biggest since Oct. 2010. The median forecast of 77 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a 0.8% rise in September.

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General has added several name brand items to its toy aisles this year.

“Offering our customers the name brand toys they want at great prices is a priority for Dollar General,” said Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s EVP, division president and chief merchandising officer. “Shoppers will be delighted by the hot toys and classics that are in our stores this season.”

A few of the name brand toys featured at Dollar General include:

Now you can have your cake and eat it with candy, too. Tastycake and Hershey's have teamed up to create Kandy Bar Kakes — part perfectly baked cake, part candy, made with quality ingredients.

Kandy Bar Kakes are available in 2.1-oz. single-serve sizes and 5-count multipacks in three varieties: s'mores, made with Hershey's Cocoa; peanut butter, made with Reese's peanut butter; and peppermint, made with York Peppermint flavor.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart and Humana have teamed up again to help Medicare beneficiaries afford their prescriptions. With annual enrollment open until Dec. 7, 2012, for 2013 Medicare plans, the Humana-Walmart Preferred Rx Plan announced that it offers one monthly plan premium of $18.50 a month for beneficiaries in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., regardless of where they live.

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- CBL & Associates Properties said Monday it will renovate and redevelop its Northgate Mall property in Chattanooga, Tenn., with the first phase adding Ross Dress for Less and Michael’s Arts & Crafts, as well as redeveloping the adjacent T.J. Maxx-anchored community center.

Construction will begin on the associated center in early 2013 with completion anticipated in fall 2013.

New York -- Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc. is set to begin trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on Friday after Sears Holdings Corp. completed a spin-off transaction of the home appliances, hardware, tools and garden equipment retailer.

Sears Holdings received $446.5 million in proceeds in the transaction, including a $100 million dividend paid by Sears Hometown prior to the separation and about $347 million from a rights offering.