Supermarket/Grocery

New York -- Costco Wholesale Corp. reported a better-than-expected 6% rise in September same-store sales, helped by higher gasoline prices and a stronger dollar. Excluding the impact of gasoline prices and foreign exchange, comparable September same-store sales rose 5%.

Net sales rose 8% to $9.31 billion in the five weeks ended Sept. 30. Costco, which currently operates 608 warehouses, said it plans to open up to 14 new warehouses prior to the end of calendar year 2012.

Cincinnati -- Throughout the month of October, Kroger is lighting up its Cincinnati headquarters with pink spotlights and 150-ft. banners, celebrating breast cancer awareness month.  

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Wednesday posted a 7.8% decline in its September sales to nearly $5.5 billion, compared with $5.9 billion for the same month in fiscal 2012.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of Postconsumer Plastics Recyclers has launched new online resources to help grocery chains recycle more of the plastic containers they use and empty onsite. The program is aimed at recycling the more than 350 million pounds of plastic containers that are discarded annually by grocery stores across the United States.

In case you missed it, Retailing Today published its annual Insights 2013 issue recently and while Target is currently the nation’s sixth largest retailer that position is likely to change in 2013.

It is conceivable Target could become the nation’s fourth largest retailer by this time next year, overtaking both Home Depot and Walgreens.

London -- British retailer Tesco reported Wednesday that profit dropped 6.8% in its first fiscal half to $2.06 billion, weighed down by costs associated with its turnaround strategy.

Revenue for the period inched up 1.6% to $51.9 billion, but costs were up as well for the world’s third-largest retailer. Same-store sales fell off 0.7%.

"The plan is a long course of treatment for us, not a single dose," new CEO Philip Clarke said of the turnaround plan.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway is calling on its associates and customers to take simple steps toward a better life.

The company has launched the "Heart of Safeway Pledge" as a personal call-to-action to take simple, everyday steps – such as using energy-conserving light bulbs, taking a 15-minute walk three times a week or eating healthier foods – that benefit pledge-takers and their communities.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The holiday hiring boost continues, this time at Meijer.

The retailer is preparing to hire thousands of new employees for its stores as it prepares for this year's holiday season and continued growth throughout the Midwest.

PURCHASE, N.Y. and QUINCY, Mass. — Coinstar, an operator of change collecting kiosks, announced that customers utilizing its service at all Stop & Shop stores, now have the option of placing the full value of their coins, without fees, onto a Stop & Shop gift card. In addition, customers also have the option to select a gift card from a variety of national retailers and e-retailers. The gift cards are immediately activated and can be used the same day.

Nashville, Tenn. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is facing its third regional gender bias lawsuit since the Supreme Court rejected a nationwide class action filed by female workers in California and Texas.

Three female employees sued Wal-Mart in federal court in Tennessee on Tuesday, claiming discrimination against female workers in the company’s Region 43 which consists of Tennessee and parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia and Mississippi.