Supermarket/Grocery

Although retail sales in August increased, they came in at a much slower pace than anticipated, according to the National Retail Federation. Sales (excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants) increased 0.1% seasonally adjusted from last month, and increased 3.9% unadjusted year-over-year.

Austin, Texas – The California Department of Pesticide Regulation is reportedly suing Whole Foods Market, Inc. for selling four pesticide products that allegedly fail to comply with state regulations.

An Associated Press report says the suit, filed Monday, Sept. 9 in Sacramento Superior Court, requests a court order to force Whole Foods to explain why it is selling the pesticides in question. If the court determines the pesticides are banned in California, the state could potentially fine the retailer.

MINNEAPOLIS — Yoplait yogurt has unveiled new packaging design for Go-Gurt, which features prominent health labels. 

"Our consumers expressed their need for a product that doesn't contain high fructose corn syrup for their kids and we listened and acted," said Justin Conzemius, Yoplait associate marketing director. "For the past year, we have been working on a product that would achieve those goals, yet continue to deliver a product that kids found fun and delicious."

CINCINNATI — Kroger achieved its 39th consecutive quarter of positive identical supermarket sales, and is raising its guidance as a result.

The company's total sales for the second quarter ended Aug. 17 increased 4.6% to $22.7 billion in the second quarter compared with $21.7 billion for the same period last year. Total sales, excluding fuel, increased 3.9% in the second quarter over the same period last year. 

New York -- In separate announcements on Thursday, Bi-Lo Holdings and Harris Teeter on Thursday announced plans to acquire select Piggly Wiggly-branded stores.

Bi-Lo said it has entered into a definitive agreement with Piggly Wiggly Carolina Company to acquire 22 Piggly Wiggly stores in South Carolina and coastal Georgia.  

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Toronto -- Shareholders of Canada’s Shoppers Drug Mart voted in favor of the drugstore chain’s proposed acquisition by Loblaw Cos.

The transaction was approved by approximately 99.89% of the votes cast by all of the Shoppers Drug Mart shareholders eligible to vote.

As previously reported, Loblaw Cos. and Shoppers Drug Mart announced on July 15 a definitive agreement under which Loblaw will acquire Shoppers Drug Mart for C$12.4 billion in cash and stock.

An already impressive speaker lineup was further strengthened this week when executives from Walmart.com, Salesforce.com, DataRank and Saatchi & Saatchi X were added to the lineup for the Emerging Trends in Retailing conference.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger C0.’s second-quarter net income rose 14%, helped by lower charges and increased revenue. The supermarket company also lifted the low end of its fiscal 2013 outlook for a key revenue metric.