News

New York -- The NPD Group, Port Washington, N.Y., has signed an agreement with Wal-Mart Stores to receive and analyze its U.S. point-of-sale data.

 Under the terms of the agreement, NPD will receive sales data from Walmart U.S. stores and the retailer’s Web site. The deal covers a broad range of general merchandise categories, but does not include beauty. 

NEW YORK — Social conservatives and gay rights activists came to blows last week over JCPenney's choice of Ellen DeGeneres as a company spokeswoman.

ST. LOUIS — Ralcorp Holdings officially has turned its Post Foods cereal business into a tax-free spinoff to Ralcorp shareholders.

The deal, which was announced in July 2011, allows Ralcorp shareholders to hold shares of two stand-alone, publicly traded companies: Ralcorp and Post Foods. Now its own separate business, Ralcorp said it will produce private-label foods in the United States and also become a major producer of foodservice products.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — In honor of American Heart Month, Sam's Club  will be hosting free heart health screenings on Feb. 11 at all locations with a pharmacy.

The company annnounced that from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., members and guests can receive total cholesterol, HDL, glucose, body mass index and blood-pressure tests for. During the screenings, Sam's Club pharmacies also will offer free samples of related items, the company said.

New York — J.C. Penney Co. on Friday said it fully backs its partnership with the popular television star and comedian Ellen DeGeneres. Its support comes after One Million Moms, an extension of the conservative American Family Association group, asked the retailer to dump DeGeneres as a spokeswoman because she is a lesbian.

PHILADELPHIA — Urban Outfitters Inc. has appointed a former executive as CEO of its namesake brand. The company named Tedford Marlow as head of the Urban Outfitters Group, effective Feb. 6. Marlow had retired from the chain in 2010, after spending nine years as president of the Urban Outfitters brand.

The announcement came almost a month after Richard Hayne, the company's chairman and president, succeeded CEO Glen Senk, who resigned. Hayne co-founded the company in 1970.

Wayne, N.J. — Toys“R”Us has promoted two executives in its U.S. merchandising division. Richard Barry has been named SVP, chief merchandising officer for Toys"R"Us, U.S., and Lisa Harnisch has been appointed SVP general merchandising manager for toys, overseeing the merchandising function for the core toy, seasonal and learning product categories.

Chicago Sports Depot, a one-stop shopping destination for all things White Sox as well as other Chicago sports teams, offers consumers the ultimate in sports merchandising. The 15,000-sq.-ft. store was developed through a close collaboration between Delaware North Companies and the Chicago White Sox, with RGLA Solutions, Schiller Park, Ill., serving as the design architect.