News

SEATTLE — Walmart announced that ihas been selected as one of the Washington Green 50 list by Seattle Business Magazine as part of its annual Green Washington Awards competition. Walmart was a finalist in the retail category.

Washington, D.C. -- Halloween celebrations will be booming this year as more people than ever are expected to partake in traditional festivities. According to NRF’s 2011 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey conducted by BIGresearch, seven in 10 Americans (68.6%) plan to celebrate Halloween, up from 63.8% last year and the most in NRF’s 10-year survey history.

Oak Brook, Ill. -- Ace Hardware Corp. has selected Suffolk, Va., for the company’s new 336,000-sq.-ft. Import Re-Distribution Center (RDC). Construction is scheduled for completion May 1, 2012.

The facility will allow the company to reduce import and logistics costs and provide an even higher level of service to East Coast retailers, making it possible for Ace stores to more effectively respond to consumer needs dictated by hurricanes and other weather emergencies in the region.

Atlanta -- Mobile commerce enabler Firethorn Mobile, a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm, announced Cabela's as its latest retail partner for its Swagg mobile application.

"Our customers are increasingly expecting a mobile experience to assist with their shopping and gift-giving needs," said Mindy Knight, merchant relations manager of Cabela's, Sydney, Neb. "Swagg is the perfect fit for our country's outdoor enthusiasts who lead a mobile lifestyle while hunting, fishing or camping."

Encinitas, Calif. -- U.K. retailer ASDA Stores Ltd., a division of Wal-Mart, will roll out Single Touch Systems’ mobile-based Grocery Delivery Notification Program. It is Single Touch’s first business win outside the United States.”

Matthews, N.C. -- Family Dollar Stores announced Wednesday that it plans to open 450 to 500 new stores in fiscal 2012, a 50% jump compared with the number of openings in fiscal 2011, and will renovate, relocate or expand over 1,000 locations. The discounter also reported that its fiscal fourth-quarter net income rose 8%.

“In fiscal 2012, we intend to accelerate investments to drive sales and profitability,” said Howard Levine, chairman and CEO.

Cincinnati -- Macy’s is ramping up its adoption of RFID technology. The retailer announced that its Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores are adopting the technology on an accelerated timeline to more precisely manage item-level merchandise inventories. The company expects that by the third quarter of 2012, it will begin using RFID in all stores nationwide to count size-intensive replenishment goods, which accounts for about 30% of the company’s total sales.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Lowe's announced that for the 2011 to 2012 school year it will donate more than $4 million to support education. 

Through its Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation, the company is providing funds for school systems across America through Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grants; Teach for America; Project L.I.F.T; Hispanic Scholarship Fund; Thurgood Marshall College Fund; Lowe’s Scholarships and Carl Buchan Scholarships.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot has fired the president of its international business for "having an improper relationship."

Charlie Brown, president of the international division, has left the organization, effective Monday, the company announced in a press release.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores announced that it has named Michael Bloom to the position of president and COO and promoted Dorlisa Flur to the position of vice chair strategy and chief administrative officer. Both Bloom and Flur will report to Howard Levine, chairman and CEO. These appointments follow the announced retirement of R. James Kelly as Family Dollar’s president and COO after 15 years with the company.