Supermarket/Grocery

Walmart lowered its full year profit forecast early Thursday after reporting weaker that expected second quarter same store sales at its U.S. division and suggested global economic conditions remain challenging.

Total company net sales increased 2.8% to $116.7 billion on a constant currency basis and profits increased 1.3% to $4.1 billion while earnings per share grew 5.1% to $1.24. That was a penny below the consensus forecast of analysts, although earnings per share included a charge related to international operations that reduced earnings by a penny.

While the dust continues to settle from Walmart’s disappointing showing in the second quarter, it is worth noting positive developments and intriguing initiatives in key areas that got lost in the shuffle.

Target stores in the French-speaking Canadian province of Quebec will feature pharmacies under the Brunet banner based on an agreement reached with the McMahon Distributeur pharmaceutique division of Canadian food and drug retailer Metro, Inc.

The agreement comes as Target is preparing to open the first of 25 stores this fall in Quebec. Target entered Canada earlier this year and plans to open a total of 124 stores in its first year of operation.

NEW YORK — The Carlyle Group has appointed former Procter & Gamble executive Susan Arnold as an operating executive in the firm’s Global Consumer & Retail group. Arnold begins her new role at the firm in September. 

As an operating executive, Arnold will provide strategic guidance to Carlyle professionals throughout the investment process, from sourcing to acquisition to exit and advise portfolio company executives on management, operational, branding and growth strategies.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Winn-Dixie has its eye on back-to-school shoppers who are stretching budgets at the height of the back-to-school season. It plans on freezing prices throughout a 10-week period on hundreds of products across every category and department across the store. 

FAIRFIELD, Calif. — Halloween may still be a couple of months away, but Jelly Belly Candy Company has unveiled the third edition of its BeanBoozled collection of jelly beans.

The third edition features new flavors such as Stinky Socks and its twin Tutti-Fruitti and Lawn Clippings with its double Lime. BeanBoozled jelly beans come in 20 flavors — 10 “weird and wild flavors” which look exactly like 10 “tasty flavors,” according to the company. 

Washington, D.C. -- Following negative numbers in four of the last five months, import volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to grow 1.7% in August over the same month last year and should continue to see gains through the holiday season and the remainder of 2013, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released Tuesday by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. The year is expected to end with a 2.4% increase over 2012.

Sterne Agee chief economist Lindsey M. Piegza comments on July retail sales gain of 0.2%:

Headline retail sales rose 0.2% in July, slightly less than expected but last month’s sales were revised up two-tenths from 0.4% to 0.6%. This is the fourth consecutive monthly increase in retail sales. Excluding autos, retail sales rose 0.5%, the strongest monthly gain since February.

By Ron Menich, Ph.D., EVP and chief scientist, Predictix

Wherever you turn today, Big Data is impacting every facet of society and business — and retail is no exception. For example, consider the impact of weather patterns on retail sales.

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. retail sales edged up 0.2% in July from June, according to figures from the Department of Commerce. This followed a 0.6% month-over-month boost in sales in June, driven by strong auto sales. The slower sales uptick reflected a drop in purchases of automobiles, along with furniture and electronics.