News

Epicor Software Corporation and True Value Co., announced the continuation of an agreement naming Epicor as True Value's recommended Epicor(R) Eagle(R) point-of-sale (POS) solution provider.

This 3-year agreement provides more of True Value's retailers the opportunity to benefit from Epicor solutions, according to the companies.

Newell Rubbermaid’s net sales declined 1.9% to $1.52 billion in the second quarter ended June 30. Net income declined 23.8% to $111.8 million. But those declines didn’t prevent CEO Michael Polk from looking at the bright side and pointing to momentum.

Core sales, which exclude the impact of changes in foreign currency translation, grew by 0.4%. And net sales for the first six months were $2.85 billion, up 1.0 % from the first-half results last year.

Walmart and Target should see an influx of parents in the coming months, as both retailers topped the list of where consumers plan to do most of their back-to-school shopping this year, according to The NPD Group.

NPD asked the the open-end question:  “Where do you plan to do most of the back to school shopping for your child(ren)?" Out of 1,760 mentions of retailers where parents plan to do back to school shopping on behalf of their kids, Walmart secured 36% of them, followed by Target at 20%.

ATLANTA — Coca-Cola has streamlined its operating structure and the senior leaders for those businesses, the company said.

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu on Monday named Wayne Sales, a Canadian hall-of-fame-caliber retailer, as the company's president and CEO, replacing Craig Herkert.

“In my new role, I will work closely with our leadership team to improve our sales and earnings trajectory and generate long-term shareholder value, focusing relentlessly on identifying factors that will drive meaningful improvements in our strategy execution and overall performance,” Sales stated.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — O'Reilly Auto Parts reported that sales for its second quarter ended June 30 increased $84 million, or 6%, to $1.56 billion from $1.48 billion for the
same period one year ago. The company posted a 9% increase in net income to $146 million from $134 million for the same period last year. Diluted earnings per common share for the second quarter increased 20% to $1.15 on 127 million shares versus 96 cents for the same period one year ago on 140 million shares.

Former Walmart chief merchandising officer John Fleming was named to the board of advisors at the online shopper engagement firm Jingit.

LONDON — Unilever has put its North America frozen meals business on the sales block.

NEW YORK — Gap has launched its Shine On campaign, which features a ballerina, comedian, DJ, violinist and anti-bullying advocate alongside the winners of Gap’s sixth annual casting call contest.

SECAUCUS, N.J. — Panasonic Corporation of North America has launched a new communication campaign designed to bring attention to the brand's broad scope of products and solutions designed to meet consumer, business-to-business, and industrial needs. The campaign will also underscore Panasonic's global commitment to becoming the electronics industry's leader in green innovation by its 100th anniversary in 2018.