Business Analytics

Issaquah, Wash. -- Costco Wholesale Corp. reported Wednesday that net income for the quarter ended Sept. 2 jumped 27% to $609 million, from $478 million in the year-ago period. The warehouse club operator credited strong sales and higher member fees for the improved profit performance.

Sales climbed 14% to $31.52 billion, and same-store sales rose 5%. Membership fee revenue rose 18% to $694 million. The company said it plans to open up to 14 new warehouses before the end of calendar year 2012.

Transplace, Dal-Tile, Whirlpool, Convermex and Werner Co. were recipients of Supply Chain Innovation Award presented recently at the annual meeting of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP).

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens on Tuesday received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2012 SmartWay Excellence Award, the organization's highest recognition for demonstrated leadership in supply chain goods movement. The award — recognizing Walgreens as an industry leader in freight supply chain efficiency, performance and environmental sustainability — was announced at the American Trucking Associations Annual Management Conference and Exhibition in Las Vegas.

New York -- The Conference Board Employment Trends Index decreased again in September, following a downward revision in August. The index now stands at 107.86, down from the revised figure of 108.23 in August. The September figure is 5.4% higher than a year ago.

CINCINNATI — Kroger was honored by the Alliance to Save Energy this week. The company received the group's top award, the "Galaxy" Star of Energy Efficiency.

"We are honored to receive this recognition from the Alliance to Save Energy," said David Dillon, Kroger's chairman and chief executive officer. "This is a real tribute to Kroger's 339,000 associates who bring our energy saving programs to life every day. We will continue to work tirelessly in all areas of our business to reduce energy consumption."

Chelmsford, Mass. -- The Kronos Retail Labor Index (RLI) rose to 4.5% in September, the highest reading in four years. (The Index is defined as the ratio of hires to applications within a given month, expressed as a percentage. A level of 3.0% means that for every 100 applications received, three hires occurred.)

Wall, N.J. -- Wakefern Food Corp. and NJR Clean Energy Ventures, a subsidiary of New Jersey Resources, have started work on the installation of a rooftop solar system at a Wakefern Food Corp. distribution center in Keasbey, N.J. The 2.4-megawatt solar system will supply power to a refrigerated warehouse, helping lower Wakefern’s long-term electricity costs and its greenhouse gas emissions.

Target this week joined the ranks of retailers who will no longer provide monthly sales and in the process denied Walmart merchants insight into the performance of a chief rival.

New York -- Target Corp. will soon join the ranks of retailers who are no longer reporting monthly same-store sales. The discounter on Thursday said it will no longer report comparable sales, beginning in fiscal 2013.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. has received the Alliance to Save Energy’s top award, the “Galaxy” Star of Energy Efficiency.