Business Analytics

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."

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.

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

New York -- The Wet Seal Inc. encouraged its shareholders on Wednesday to reject efforts by its third-largest investor, Clinton Group, to gain control of the board, Reuters reported. The company's board has eight seats, of which one is vacant.

Clinton, which holds approximately 7% of Wet Seal, said retailer earlier in the day backtracked on an offer, made via an investment banker, for four directors to resign in exchange for the activist investor ending its move, according to the report.

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.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens reported Wednesday that total sales for the month of September fell 7.8% to $5.48 billion. Front-end sales dipped 0.4% and same-store sales for the front decreased 1.5%.

Customer traffic fell off 2.3% in September, but the biggest factor in the slowed performance was the 10.3% decrease in same-store prescription sales for the month.

Overall, same-store sales dropped 11.1%.
 

FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. — The Wet Seal reported that total sales declined 9.9% to $48.3 million for the month of September. Comparable-store sales fell 12.7% compared with same-store sales that were essentially flat last year.

E-commerce sales, which increased 15% for the month, were a bright spot for the company.