News

WASHINGTON — In an effort to assure customers that private-label products are meeting the proper nutrition criteria, Walmart is implementing a transparent initiative called "Great For You," an icon that calls out healthy foods sold in Walmart stores, Walmart announced on Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Wal-Mart Stores isn’t about to let the grass grow under its feet in Canada. The discounter plans to spend about $753 million this fiscal year to expand its store presence in Canada, before rival Target Corp. begins its push in the country.

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu continues to implement its strategic plan to remove permanent expenses and cut down operating costs with plans to reduce its national work force by an estimated 800 positions. The affected positions include those at all company offices and crosses most departments, excluding, for the most part, store level associates.Associates whose positions are eliminated will be eligible for severance and outplacement services based on the company's eligibility guidelines.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Staples is bringing a bit of Martha Stewart style to its stores through an exclusive line of home office products.

The Martha Stewart Home Office with Avery product line is now available at Staples stores across the United States and Canada and on Staples.com. Products range in price from $1.99 to $16.99 and include accordion files, journals and organization binders.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Representatives of the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust, a private foundation created by CVS Caremark, kicked off a "Day of Giving" on Tuesday by surprising several nonprofits with the grant funding they had requested.

The visits, hosted by several of the company's executives, were timed to coincide with the announcement that $4.3 million has been awarded in grants to 98 nonprofit organizations across the country in 2011, which includes multiyear grants from previous years.

HONG KONG — Walmart's Greg Foran will be packing his bags and heading to China. The SVP for Walmart International has been named CEO of Walmart China, effective March 1, and will relocate to China, pending work visa approval.

New York City -- Target Corp.’s launch of its latest limited edition collection, by designer Jason Wu, went off relatively problem-free compared with its Missoni launch last fall.

New York City -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market is testing a mobile self-scanning device at its store in Burbank, Calif., according to a report on Fresh & Easy Buzz, an independent blog that follows the chain.

The scanning system, from Motorola, features a hand-held scanner device, which customers carry with them as they shop the store, the report said. Shoppers then scan the product codes on the items they purchase as they shop. The system allows shoppers to keep real time track of their purchases as they shop.
 

Dallas -- 7-Eleven said Tuesday it has completed its acquisition of 55 Sam’s Mart stores in the greater Charlotte, N.C., area, part of the c-store operator’s plan to accelerate its growth in the region.

Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Cary, N.C. -- The Pantry reported Tuesday that it narrowed its loss in the quarter ended Dec. 29 to $2.9 million, from $12.2 million in the year-ago period.

Total revenue increased to $1.96 billion, beating Wall Street's expected $1.93 billion in revenue.

Same-store merchandise revenue increased 2% in the quarter.