Supermarket/Grocery

Walmart is furthering its $100 million commitment to industry workforce development with a big grant to the NRF Foundation.

An $800,000 grant from Walmart to the NRF Foundation will work with employers to determine the competencies needed in the industry and the potential for a new industry-validated credentialing program to help store and distribution center employees advance their careers.

Seattle – Amazon.com reportedly plans to launch a line of private label grocery products. According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon will add items such as milk, cereal, baby food and household cleaners to its Elements private label brand.

Currently, Amazon Prime members can purchase Elements baby wipes, and the retailer previously sold Elements diapers, as well. Amazon has recently applied for trademark protection for about two dozen Elements-branded products including coffee, soup, pasta, water, vitamins, dog food and razors.

Earlier this year, San Francisco sent shockwaves through the business community when it enacted the “Retail Workers Bill of Rights,” two ordinances that significantly burden retail employers operating in San Francisco by requiring large retailers to provide “predictability pay” to any employee who does not receive sufficient notice of scheduling changes.

Richmond, Va. - InvenTrust Properties Corp. has acquired Westpark Shopping Center, a 176,935-sq.-ft., 95% leased shopping center located in Glen Allen, Virginia, for $33.75 million.  
 

The seminal digital event that occurred in the year 2007 was the introduction of the first iPhone, but there was another noteworthy development that year involving Walmart e-commerce.

A few months after the iPhone made headlines, Walmart rolled out its buy online, pick up in store service branded as Site to Store and helped give meaning to the word omnichannel. In digital terms, 2007 was eons ago.

Memphis, Tenn. – Fred’s Inc. beat Wall Street expectations for profit despite swinging to a net loss of $29,000 in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 from net income of $6.1 million in the same period the prior year. The retailer missed on net income of $509 million, up 2% from $498.3 million.

Higher salary and benefit costs helped move Fred’s into the red. Same-store sales climbed 0.8%.

Jerry A. Shore, CEO, said pharmacy is a critical component of Fred’s strategy for profitability moving forward.

The Walmart Foundation is investing in job training efforts in Florida by giving more than $1 million in grants to 21 nonprofits across the state.

"Through these grants, more than 20 deserving nonprofit organizations will be able to continue funding vital local programs across the state,” said Senate President Andy Gardiner. “Thanks to Walmart and the Walmart Foundation for recognizing the impact these programs have on so many lives. We appreciate their continued investment in communities throughout Florida."