Mass Merchant

New York City -- Wal-Mart Stores will donate as much as $5 million to New York City’s cash-strapped Summer Youth Employment Program, Crain’s New York Business reported. The donation will reportedly save 3,400 jobs.

SAN FRANCISCO— At an investor conference on Thursday, Gap CEO Glenn Murphy announced the company will close 200 of its 900 U.S. namesake stores even as it expands its outlet presence.

 While the company did not identify which stores will close, Gap said the 200 Gap brand closures over the next two years will be accompanied by a push to expand its Gap Outlet and Banana Republic factory chains.

Matthews, N.C. -- Activist investor William Ackman on Thursday disclosed ownership of an 8.9% stake in Family Dollar, according to a regulatory filing.

The investment makes Ackman and his Pershing Square Capital Management investment fund the largest owner of Family Dollar stock, increasing his holdings from 4.7% to the nearly 9%.
 

The latest installment in the dramatic collaboration between Procter & Gamble and Walmart is set to air this Saturday on NBC at 8 p.m. EST. The made-for-TV family movie called “Field of Vision” involves the topical subject of bullying, and in keeping with prior films offer viewers a heavy dose of morality.

With a topic of “Building stronger relationships with Walmart,” the room should be packed with suppliers next week when Walmart SVP Laura Phillips takes the stage at the Doing Business in Bentonville speaker series. The event will be held from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 15 at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers, Ark. Click here for more information.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target ended last year with sales of $67.4 billion and earnings per share of $4, but if company chairman, president and CEO Gregg Steinhafel has his way, within six or seven years earnings per share will double to $8 and sales will top $100 billion.

New York City -- Two private equity firms are teaming up to make a bid to purchase BJ’s Wholesale Club, the New York Post reported.

Leonard Green & Partners and CVC Capital Partners are reportedly set to offer $2.8 billion to purchase the club retailer, according to the Post.

Rumors that BJ's Wholesale could be sold have been circulating for months. In March, the chain revealed in an SEC filing that it entered into a "confidentiality agreement" with Leonard Green to evaluate a possible purchase.

New York City -- Brazil jumped to first place in A.T. Kearney’s annual ranking of the top developing economies for global retail expansion, followed by Uruguay and Chile respectively.

The 10th annual Global Retail Development Index reflects the dramatic changes that have taken place in global markets, and the varying impacts they have had on different emerging economies. Notably, countries in South America, which fared well during the recession, posted an impressive 6% growth in 2010.