News

Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission disclosed Thursday that the Sam’s Club warehouse division of Wal-Mart Stores will pay $440,000 and other relief to settle a harassment lawsuit filed by the EEOC.
 
The agency disclosed the settlement in a statement on its website.

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. -- Kraft Foods announced that its premium coffee brand, Gevalia, will be available for purchase in supermarkets, mass merchandisers and other retail outlets across the United States beginning in August.  

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.  -- HSN announced that Betsy Olum has been appointed general manager beauty and merchandising strategy.  She will report directly to Lynne Ronon, HSN EVP merchandising.

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Office Depot announced that, from April 17 through April 23, it is inviting customers to trade in their used writing instruments regardless of brand to any of its retail stores nationwide. In exchange for ten pens, pencils or markers, customers will receive a coupon toward a new product from Newell Rubbermaid Office Products. The collected instruments will be sent to TerraCycle to be turned into new office supply products ranging from trash cans to desk organizers.

The nation’s leading retail and restaurant chains came together to share ideas, discuss opportunities and find new solutions at Chain Store Age’s 47th annual SPECS conference, in Grapevine, Texas. Reflecting a renewed sense of optimism in the industry, overall attendance was up significantly, among retailers as well as exhibitors. All segments of the industry were in attendance, from discounters and specialty stores to supermarkets and home-improvement outlets to casual-dining restaurants.

PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Safeway announced that it has been named the most sustainable national U.S. grocer for seafood by Greenpeace. Greenpeace's retailer scorecard ranks the top 20 grocery retailers on the sustainability of their seafood practices.

The "Carting Away the Oceans" report and scorecard, released on April 11, rates retailers' existing seafood policies, initiatives, product labeling/dissemination of information about products, and practices surrounding the sale of certain unsustainable or "red list" species.

Paris -- French retail giant Carrefour SA reported Thursday that sales in its fiscal first quarter inched up 3.9% to $35.7 billion.

Stronger showings in Brazil and China helped the retailer counteract weaker performance in Western Europe.

Carrefour's sales figures come ahead of a key shareholder vote in June on the company's plans to spin off its discount chain Dia and some European property assets into separately listed companies.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. --Staples announced that it will be selling Barnes & Noble's Nook Color tablet e-reader, making it the first office superstore to offer the device. The Nook will be available at Staples stores nationwide and at Staples.com for $249, beginning May 1.