News

SALT LAKE CITY -- Walmart and Sam’s Club announced that they will be accepting donations for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a charity that raises funds for children’s hospitals, at all Walmart and Sam’s Club locations between May 1 and June 13. Last year the six-week fundraising campaign surpassed the $15 million goal, raising $20 million for children’s hospitals across America, the company reported.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid’s same-store sales for April increased by 0.5%, compared with April 2010, the pharmacy retailer said Wednesday.

This included a 0.4% decrease in sales at the front end and a 1% increase in pharmacy sales, offset by 133 basis points due to new introductions of generic drugs. Prescription count at comparable stores increased by 0.7%.

Roseville, Calif. -- Revionics, Roseville, Calif., a leading provider in retail life cycle price-optimization solutions, announced that Fairway Market has selected the Revionics Price Optimization solution for base pricing.

Minneapolis -- Grocery Shopping Network has announced the launch of newly enhanced consumer websites for Milwaukee based Roundy’s Supermarkets.

The launch includes the websites of Roundy’s five store banners: Pick ’n Save, Rainbow Foods, Copps Food Centers, Metro Market and Mariano’s Fresh Market.

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Office Depot reported a first quarter loss of $5.4 million, down from a profit of $29.5 million in the prior-year period, amid weaker sales and a higher tax rate.

Total company sales for the quarter were $2.97 billion, down 3% from last year.

New York City -- Speaking at the Barclays Capital analyst conference in New York City on Tuesday, Kroger Co. chairman and CEO David Dillon said grocery prices are rising slightly. He also said the chain may benefit from rising fuel prices because the discounts it offers on gasoline could attract more shoppers.

Grocery prices have gone up approximately 2%, Dillon said, in what he called "the low side of moderate" inflation, since late last year as suppliers deal with higher commodity and energy costs, the Associated Press reported.

MINNEAPOLIS  -- Target announced that it will adopt green refrigeration technologies in its stores as part of its new membership in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) GreenChill program. 

CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif.  -- Retailers have been taking advantage of the much-anticipated "Royal Wedding" to promote their own wedding services, but one of the more surprising of the bunch is 99 Cents Only Stores, which used the hoopla around the upcoming union of Prince William and Kate Middleton to announce the launch of its "Bridal Registry" for couples.