News

CANTON, Mass. and STAMFORD, Conn. — Nestle Waters North America has signed a five-year contract making it the exclusive water supplier for Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins restaurants nationwide.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Interactive multichannel retailer HSNi has appointed BBC executive Ann Sarnoff to its board of directors.

Sarnoff will also serve on HSNi’s Compensation and Human Resources Committee. Her appointment expands the number of board members to ten.

Reston, Va. -- comScore reported Thursday that the most recent week achieved record-setting levels of online spending, eclipsing $7 billion in sales for the first time ever. Four individual days surpassed $1 billion in spending, led by Green Monday at $1.275 billion.

According to comScore, holiday season retail e-commerce spending for the first 46 days of the November–December 2012 holiday season has reached $35 billion, marking a 13% increase vs. the corresponding days last year.

Valspar will become the new paint supplier for Ace Hardware, according to Retailing Today sister publication Home Channel News.

Said to be in the final stages of inking the deal, Valspar would replace Ace Hardware’s signature brand Benjamin Moore.

Walmart’s ongoing investigation into bribery allegations was thrust into the spotlight again this week after the New York Times published results of its own investigation.

Karen Roberts was named EVP and general counsel for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. on Thursday amid the retailer’s ongoing investigation in possible violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Roberts, 42, is a 17 year Walmart veteran who most recently served as EVP and president of Walmart Realty for Walmart U.S.. However, prior to that, she held the position of SVP and chief compliance officer for Walmart U.S. where she oversaw the establishment of food and product safety programs and a recycling program.

Former Sam’s Club SVP and GMM Huey Long and former Target EVP of stores Troy Risch have joined forces to right the ship at RadioShack.

Union, N.J. -- Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. reported Wednesday that profit for the quarter ended Nov. 24 rose almost 2% to $232.8 million, from $228.5 million last year, edging Wall Street expectations.

Revenue increased 15% to $2.7 billion, just missing analysts’ forecasted $2.73 billion in revenue. Same-store sales rose 1.7%.

The retailer said it estimates Hurricane Sandy lowered comps by about 0.9% during the period.