Supermarket/Grocery

Waban, Mass. – Publix, Aldi and H-E-B share something besides all operating in the grocery sector. Based on a study of 10,000 U.S consumers, the three supermarket chains earned the highest scores in the 2015 Temkin Experience Ratings that ranks 293 companies across 20 industries.

Joining those firms in the top 12 spots are retailers Chick-fil-A, PetSmart, Amazon.com, Trader Joe's, Papa John's, Walgreens, and Hannaford's.

Publix continues to be a blockbuster in its industry, as the grocery chain posted a 7.4% increase in profits in the fourth quarter.

The Florida-based retailer reported a profit of $453.3 million in the fourth quarter, compared to $422 million in 2013. Earnings per share for the fourth quarter increased to $0.58 for 2014, up from $0.54 per share in 2013. Publix reported net sales of $7.9 billion; same store sales increased 6.4%.

New York -- It takes a scorecard these days to keep up with the fast-moving mobile payments industry. On the heels of Samsung’s announcement that it would roll out Samsung Pay in the United States this summer, PayPal announced it is buying mobile wallet technology start-up Paydiant.

Regional discount retailer Shopko will experience its most dramatic growth in many years later this month when its Hometown stores division takes over locations from the now defunct Alco Stores chain.

Matthews, N.C. – Howard Levine, CEO of Family Dollar Stores Inc., intends to reduce his holdings of company stock for the second time in a month. In an SEC filing, Levine said he will sell up to two million shares of Family Dollar stock in an effort to diversify his portfolio.

In February 2015, Levine sold about 1.77 million shares of Family Dollar stock for $134.5 million. Family Dollar is in the process of being acquired by Dollar Tree Inc.

Publix continues to be a blockbuster in its industry, as the grocery chain posted a 7.4% increase in profits in the fourth quarter.

The Florida-based retailer reported a profit of $453.3 million in the fourth quarter, compared to $422 million in 2013. Earnings per share for the fourth quarter increased to $0.58 for 2014, up from $0.54 per share in 2013. Publix reported net sales of $7.9 billion; same store sales increased 6.4%.

Lakeland, Fla. -- Publix Super Markets turned in another great quarter, a 7.4% increase in profits and a 6.9% increase in sales in the fourth quarter.

The reported a profit of $453.3 million in the fourth quarter, compared to $422 million in the year ago period. Net sales totaled $7.9 billion; same store sales increased 6.4%.

NPD Group and Slice Intelligence have announced a partnership that the companies say will create a more comprehensive data offering for retailers.

Specifically, as the announcement explains, mobile and e-commerce data from Slice Intelligence will be included in NPD’s existing checkout tracking service.