News

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark announced that it has donated approximately $40,000 in monetary and in-kind donations to support residents of Joplin, Mo., who were impacted by the recent tornado. CVS Caremark and CVS/pharmacy colleagues in the region collected and donated first aid and personal care supplies valued at approximately $35,000 to local relief efforts in Joplin. In addition, CVS Caremark has made a $5,000 donation to the American Red Cross to further support relief efforts in the area.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — After nearly four hours of music, cheering, celebrity appearances and brief presentations by senior executives, Wal-Mart Stores president and CEO Mike Duke wrapped up the company’s annual shareholders’ extravaganza Friday morning by sharing five priorities associated with serving what he called the next generation of customers.

Given all the talk of EDLP at Walmart’s annual shareholders’ meeting, it was understandable the company chose Maki Nakamura, chief merchandising officer at Walmart Japan, as the recipient of the Sam M. Walton Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Walmart’s Seiyu stores in Japan have been implementing every day low prices for several years, and the company’s patience has finally paid off with improved business results in what has been a challenging market.

TORONTO — McCain Foods announced that it has named Dirk Van de Put as president and CEO and a director of the company, succeeding Dale Morrison, effective July 1.

Dirk  joined McCain Foods from Novartis where he was President of the $3-billion global Over-the-Counter Consumer Health business. Prior to joining Novartis, Dirk held executive positions with Group Danone and Mars Inc. 

CARLISLE, Pa. — Royal Ahold banner Giant Food Stores is giving its private-label products a new look.

ATLANTA — Customer service, glue traps and corporate democracy were among the issues on the table at a wide-ranging Home Depot annual shareholders meeting in Atlanta Thursday.

 Home Depot’s shareholders approved the company's recommendations for its board of directors and executive pay structure. And it defeated a shareholder proposal regarding shareholder control of corporate political gifts.

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Hong Kong -- Italian fashion house Prada, which is preparing for an initial public offering of about $2 billion in Hong Kong, said it plans to use most of the proceeds on expansion and renovation of its stores over the next 18 months.

The Milan-based company said it plans to add a net total of about 80 directly operated stores by the end of January 2012, most of them in the Asia Pacific region, where it sees "substantial potential for growth," Prada said in the a regulatory filing.

Los Angeles -- Sporting goods chain Sport Chalet reported Thursday that it swung to a profit in its fiscal fourth quarter of $0.3 million, from a net loss of $0.3 million in the year-ago period.

Sales increased 8.8% to $98.2 million. Same-store sales edged up 1.3%.

The fourth quarter profit was the chain’s first in 13 quarters.
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By Harry Herget, syntelllc.com