Supply Chain & Merchandising

Corpus Christi, Texas -- Shopping mall La Palmera said that one of its major tenants, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, received a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold certification, the restaurant’s first, for its location at the Corpus Christi, Texas, mall.

New York City -- Walgreens said same-store sales rose 5.6% in August, better than expectations, helped by a calendar day shift.

Same-store front-end sales  rose 4.8%, while same-store pharmacy sales rose 5.2% in August. Overall, net sales rose 7.8%, to $6.1 billion. Total sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, which ended Aug. 31, were $17.94 billion, up 6.4% from the year-ago period.

CINCINNATI — Kroger has announced the promotion of Joe Fey as president of the Quality Food Centers (QFC) division.

Fey, 57, has been VP merchandising for the company's Michigan division. He succeeds Donna Giordano, who was recently promoted to president of the Ralphs division in California.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens reported that total sales for August were $6.1 billion, an increase of 7.8% from $5.66 billion for the same month in 2010. Total front-end sales increased 6.8% in August, while comparable store front-end sales increased 4.8%. Customer traffic in comparable stores increased 2.5% and basket size increased 2.3%.

Walgreens said Hurricane Irene had no significant net effect on total sales.

Los Angeles -- A report released Tuesday by commercial real estate firm C.B. Richard Ellis said that 59% of U.S. retailers plan to open more stores due to the attractive rental rates available in the current market environment.

Target last week announced the donation $250,000 in cash and product to assist with Hurricane Irene relief efforts, pushing the total amount the company has committed to domestic disaster relief to more than $1 million. The donations will be distributed among relief agencies including The Salvation Army and the American Red Cross. In addition, Target is giving gift cards and 10,000 relief kits to other local, regional and national nonprofit organizations for such essentials as water and food.

Armonk, N.Y. -- Apparel sales are expected to post year-over-year gains during the fall shopping season (August, September and October), with especially big increases in children's apparel, according to an analytics-based forecast by IBM.

Sales in children's apparel this fall are expected to total $2.6 billion, an 11.1% increase over the prior-year period. Women's apparel sales are projected to total $9.2 billion, up 3.1% over last year.

New York City -- In the wake of the power outages caused by Hurricane Irene and other powerful summer storms, Price Chopper is reviewing its back–up plan and considering buying bigger generators, according to The Business Review.

To read the article, go to bizjournals.com/albany/morning_call/2011/09/more-bigger-generators-may-be-in.html