Supermarket/Grocery

WASHINGTON — Halloween will be a popular holiday this year, according to the National Retail Federation, as more consumers this year are expected to partake in traditional festivities. 

Encinitas, Calif. -- U.K. retailer ASDA Stores Ltd., a division of Wal-Mart, will roll out Single Touch Systems’ mobile-based Grocery Delivery Notification Program. It is Single Touch’s first business win outside the United States.”

Washington, D.C. -- Halloween celebrations will be booming this year as more people than ever are expected to partake in traditional festivities. According to NRF’s 2011 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey conducted by BIGresearch, seven in 10 Americans (68.6%) plan to celebrate Halloween, up from 63.8% last year and the most in NRF’s 10-year survey history.

VEVEY, Switzerland — Wan Ling Martello, who currently serves as Walmart's EVP global e-commerce of emerging markets, has been named EVP and CFO of Nestlé, effective April 1, 2012. Martello will replace Jim Singh will retire in March 2012 after 35 years with the company.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Winn-Dixie on Wednesday expanded its Fuelperks! rewards program throughout central Florida, incorporating 62 Winn-Dixie stores in Orlando and Daytona, Fla., areas into the program.

As part of the program, the Winn-Dixie customer reward card has been redesigned to include a magnetic stripe on the back, similar to a debit or credit card.

Chicago -- Burberry, Walgreens, Ralph Lauren’s Roger Farrah and Tesco were among the winners at the annual Oracle World Retail Awards, which took place on Tuesday during the annual World Retail Congress in Berlin.

Burberry took home the Retailer of the Year Award. The luxury brand was cited for its far-sighted leadership, professionalism and a compelling offer across multiple platforms.

SEATTLE — Walmart announced that ihas been selected as one of the Washington Green 50 list by Seattle Business Magazine as part of its annual Green Washington Awards competition. Walmart was a finalist in the retail category.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens reported Tuesday that profit for its fiscal fourth quarter surged 69%, in part due to gains from the $525 million sale of its pharmacy benefits management business Walgreens Health Initiatives during the quarter.

Net income for the quarter ended Aug. 31 rose to $792 million, up from $470 million in the year-ago period and surpassing Wall Street expectations.

Revenue rose 6.5% to $18 billion and same-store sales increased 4.4%.