Sales & Marketing

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Walmart Canada has invited more than 550 kids and 350 parents to participate in the first-ever Great Big Toy Testing Event. Taking place on July 21, the event gives kids and parents the opportunity to interact with more than 100 toys and will help the retailer determine the top toy list for the 2012 holiday season.

Deerfield, Ill. -- After months of slumping sales following its split with Express Scripts Holding Co., Walgreens said it has forged a new multi-year contract with the prescription provider and will begin filling Express Scripts prescriptions on Sept. 15.

Walgreen had stopped filling prescriptions for Express Scripts after a contract between the companies ended last year. Express Scripts ended the contract because it said Walgreens wanted a premium compared to what Express Scripts paid other pharmacies.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Revenue at eBay soared 23% to $3.4 billion during the company's second quarter, thanks to strong performances in its Marketplaces and PayPal businesses.

By Eileen F. Mitchell, [email protected]

Boise, Idaho -- Albertsons LLC said it has teamed with Recall InfoLink to manage its recall process.

The supermarket chain is launching the Recall InfoLink deployment in its pharmacy operation. Recall InfoLink improves efficiency by providing standardized messages, automated communications, inventory tracking and reports for compliance efforts. 

MINNEAPOLIS — Fiber One has introduced new snack bars for kids.

Fiber One Chewy bars tout 110 calroies or less and 8 g or less of sugar and do not contain high-fructose corn syrup, Fiber One said. The bars are available in chocolate and strawberry PB&J varieties and are complete with a peanut butter or chocolate-flavored bottom.

Washington, D.C. -- A survey released by the National Retail Federation and conducted by BIGInsight found that the average parent will spend $688.62 on back-to-school items this year, compared with $603.63 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $30.3 billion.

NRF cited an increased number of children entering elementary and middle school this fall, as well as necessary back-to-school replenishments after last year’s cutbacks, for the predicted improvements.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Royal Ahold's American division has split its EVP marketing and merchandising position in two, the company said.

Ahold USA announced the appointment of Erik Keptner to the newly created position of EVP marketing. The search for an EVP merchandising is ongoing, the company said. Ahold USA operates the Giant-Carlisle, Giant-Landover and Stop & Shop chains and the online grocery service Peapod.