News

ROCKFORD, Ill. — Lucky's Q took home the Midwest regional title in the Sam's Club National BBQ tour.

Based in Denver, Iowa, Lucky Q's competed with teams from Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota at the Aug. 4 regional event in Rockford, Ill.

WAYNE, N.J. — The "Hunger Games" craze is making its way through the retail industry, with Toys"R"Us being the latest to try and cash in on the popular franchise.

CINCINNATI — After delivering a 22% increase over the prior year in diluted per share for it second quarter (from 55 cents to 67 cents), Macy's Inc. has raised its full-year earnings guidance for 2012.

The company now expects earnings per diluted share to range from $3.30 to $3.35, compared with previous guidance for earnings per diluted share of $3.25 to $3.30. Guidance for same-store sales in fiscal 2012 remains unchanged at an increase of approximately 3.7%.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Kohl’s Department Stores has partnered with Elle magazine to offer a new line of apparel and accessories designed to raise money and awareness for the fight against breast cancer.

MISSISSAUGA, ON — Walmart Canada got some key insights into its core shoppers when it surveyed more than 2,000 Canadian moms with children under 18. And while the survey may have targeted Canadian shoppers, the results can easily be applied to shoppers in the United States.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Third-quarter sales for Stater Bros. rose more than $10 million during the period ended June 24, the retailer said Tuesday.

Third-quarter sales increased 1.14% to $949.8 million, compared with $939 million in third quarter 2011. Same-store sales also rose 1.14% during the third quarter. For the 39-week period ended June 24, sales rose 3.51% to $2.8 billion, compared with $96.7 million in the year-ago period. Same-stores sales for the 39-week period also rose 3.51%.

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. — The men’s grooming market continues to grow at a rapid pace as research shows that men’s grooming tools, such as electric shavers, men’s trimmers and home hair clippers, are among the largest dollar growth drivers in the overall personal care industry. Meanwhile, such product categories as men’s facial skin care continue to flourish.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Cookware Manufacturers Association (CMA) has partnered with NSF International, an independent global organization that writes standards, and tests and certifies products for the food, water and consumer goods industries, to provide quality and safety standards for cookware and other consumer products.

The retail industry in general may not be so keen on the new Affordable Care Act, but the nation's largest retailer has come out in support of a Democratic proposal to control spending.

Walmart stores is endorsing a new plan, co-authored by former Obama and Clinton administration officials that would slow healthcare spending and keep it in line with wage growth.

Read more from the Reuters report here.

NEW YORK — Supermodel Heidi Klum will serve as the face of Jordache's latest ad campaign.