Distribution

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kroger's mid-south division president John Hackett is retiring, after 50 years of service with the company. Hackett began his career with Kroger in 1963 as a store clerk in London, Ohio, while working his way through college at The Ohio State University.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Responding to Monday’s tornado in the Oklahoma City area, Walgreens mobilized increased shipments of essential supplies to its area stores, made an initial donation of three semi-trailers of food, water and first aid supplies to the Oklahoma chapter of the American Red Cross and offered customers an opportunity to make donations at its Oklahoma drugstores.

Ace Hardware reported first-quarter revenues of $923.2 million, up 1.7% from the same quarter in 2012. Net income of $4.4 million was down from $10.2 million earned in 2012.

CAMDEN, N.J. — Campbell Soup Company has entered into an agreement to acquire Plum Organics, a provider of premium, organic foods and snacks that serve the nutritional needs of babies, toddlers and children. 

The company is based in Emeryville, Calif. Plum is the No. 2 brand of organic baby food in the U.S. and is currently the No. 4 baby food brand overall. Baby food is an approximately $2 billion category in the United States. From 2010 to 2012, the premium and organic segments grew at an average annual rate of 43%.

Pittsburgh -- American Eagle Outfitters Inc. earned $28 million in its first quarter, down from $39.7 million in the same quarter last year, as cooler weather hurt demand for its spring fashions and some special charges cut into its results. But the retailer still beat market expectations.

In related news, American Eagle Outfitters will invest more than $160 million to construct a new direct-to-consumer distribution center in Hazle Township, Pa.

ST. LOUIS — Anheuser-Busch is providing 2,156 cases of emergency drinking water — or 51,744 cans — for use by relief workers and residents affected by the tornado in Oklahoma City and its surrounding suburbs.

A truck loaded with emergency drinking water left Cartersville, Ga., and will be arriving in the region this week. Anheuser-Busch is working with the American Red Cross to get the water where it's most needed. Additionally, the company has made a $25,000 donation to the Red Cross to assist in their relief efforts.

Memphis – AutoZone reported net sales of $2.2 billion for third quarter fiscal 2013, representing a 4.5% increase from $2.1 billion during the same period in fiscal 2012. Meanwhile, net income increased almost 7% from $248.6 million to $265.6 million. Same store sales experienced a slight 0.1% dip compared to third quarter fiscal 2012.

Columbus, Ohio – Footwear/accessories retailer DSW Inc. opened a new store in Braintree, Mass., on May 18. The new store is located at 250 Granite Street.

DSW currently operates 377 stores in 42 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

SHANGHAI — Hershey is heading to China to launch a candy brand called Lancaster, marking the first time in its 120-year history that the company has launched a new brand outside of the United States. It’s also the first time in 30 years that Hershey launches a brand that is neither a brand extension nor an acquisition.

The brand will be available in the cities of Wuhan, Hangzhou and Chengdu in June, with wider distribution following next year. 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — AutoZone reported net sales of $2.2 billion for the 12-week third quarter period ended May 4, an increase of 4.5% from $2.1 billion for the same period last year. Domestic same-store sales decreased 0.1% for the quarter.