Supermarket/Grocery

BRADFORD, U.K. — Walmart took home an award for its private-label pet food package design at the Store Brand Decisions third annual Retailer Innovation Awards. The package label for Pure Balance was created by Parker Williams, Sun Branding Solutions’ creative design agency.

Minneapolis -- Supervalu on Friday said it would implement a pay freeze for all employees at its corporate headquarters and said it would also reduce or suspend matching contributions to workers’ 401(k) plans, effective next year.

Some of the biggest names in the retail and consumer packaged goods industry were recognized by the American Cancer Society with 2012 Excellence in Philanthropy Awards.

Austin, Texas -- Online coupon site RetailMeNot.com on Friday released its second annual Black Friday edition of the Shoppers Trend Report, which showed that 71% of holiday shoppers plan to spend “about the same” or “more” than they spent last year versus 63% who said "about the same" or "more" in 2011.

Baltimore -- Danfloss,  a manufacturer of high-efficiency electronic and mechanical components and controls for air-conditioning, heating, refrigeration and motion systems, and provider of energy management and control solutions for the food retail industry, was chosen by Supervalue to provide a range of energy-saving products and support for a remodel project that has resulted in the development of the company’s first grocery store operating 100%  on natural refrigerants.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands -- Royal Ahold announced Thursday it has named James McCann as COO of Ahold USA, effective Jan. 1.

McCann, who is the company’s current chief commercial and development officer, replaces Carl Schlicker, who is retiring.

Portland, Ore. -- The city council of Portland, Ore., voted to expand the city's one-year old plastic bag ban, voting 5-0 to phase out plastic checkout bags at an estimated 5,000 restaurants and retailers.

The ban will impact retailers larger than 10,000 -sq.-ft. on March 1, 2013, and the remaining retailers on October 1, 2013. Portland's 2011 rule affected fewer than 200 businesses.

Retailers will still be able to provide plastic bags for bulk items, produce, meats, dry cleaning and prescription drugs.

A 2.7% third quarter same store sales increase at Sam’s Club was below expectations for a 3% to 5% increase. President and CEO Rosalind Brewer explained what went wrong yesterday morning during a pre-recorded message.