News

NEW YORK — Victoria's Secret announced that it has launched a new line of workout gear called "VSX Sexy Sport." The collection will feature sports bras, yoga pants, tank tops, athletic shorts, accessories and other workout clothing pieces all designed with fit in mind, the company reported. 

The collection is available in a variety of colors in sizes XS to large. Items are priced from $24.50 to $68.50.

Former Walmart chief information officer Linda Dillman is among a group of 10 executives who will be recognized for outstanding achievement in driving diversity and inclusion in the consumer product and retail industry when the Network of Executive Women gathers next month in Orlando for its annual meeting.

The world is full of powerful women, but a recent listing of the 100 most powerful by Forbes indicates that, with a few exceptions, they don’t think many are involved in the retail and consumer packaged goods world.

Seeing as how the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks falls on the final day of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G, tournament officials faced the delicate challenge of developing a respectful way to observe the event.

What they came up with was the following: 

Suppliers to Walmart will have plenty of opportunities to hear from Walmart EVP merchandising Duncan Mac Naughton in the months ahead.

First up is Walmart’s annual meeting for financial analysts held each fall and slated for Oct. 11 to 12 this year. An agenda isn’t yet available, but Mac Naughton presumably will be a featured participant, or at least he should be considering Walmart’s ongoing efforts to revive U.S. sales and recent moves Mac Naughton has made to the structure and leadership of the merchandising organization.

Just in time for football season, Procter & Gamble and Walmart are out with yet another installment in their collaborative, family movie night entertainment initiative. The new movie, the eighth in the series, which first aired in April 2010, is titled, Game Time: Tackling the Past.

“This exciting sports drama showcases how a person’s true value is measured and is sure to get families revved up in time for the 2011 season opener,” according to promotional materials for the film set to air Saturday, Sept. 3 at 8 p.m. eastern time on NBC.

St. Louis -- Brown Shoe Co., parent to the Famous Footwear chain, reported Thursday a loss of $4.6 million for the second quarter, compared with a profit of $5.3 million in the year-ago period.

Sales increased 7.2% to $628.1 million, from $585.8 million.

Evansville, Ind. -- Shoe Carnival reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended July 30 dropped to $2.7 million from $4.1 million in the year-ago period. Sales edged up 0.8% to $166.7 million, and same-store sales dipped 1.1%.

The shoe retailer said it expects to open 17 new stores and close four stores in fiscal 2011.
 

Amsterdam -- Royal Ahold NV reported Thursday that net income in the second quarter declined to $287 million from $290 million a year earlier, dragged down by performance of its U.S.-based Stop & Shop grocery stores.

The company cited increased competition in the U.S. for its lackluster quarter. Ahold said it will seek to limit price increases and cut costs in the United States, particularly at its Giant-Carlisle chain, which competes with Wal-Mart Stores.

Second-quarter sales declined 3.5% to $9.9 billion.

 

By Howard Paster, [email protected]