News

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The nation’s largest automotive parts retailer announced another quarter of record results in which earnings per share advanced nearly 36% to $3.34 on same-store sales that grew 7.1% for the quarter ended Feb.12.

PITTSBURGH and BENTONVILLE, Ark. — GNC is making its foray into the warehouse club for the first time by offering select private-label products at Sam's Club locations.

GNC's products will boost Sam's Club's current health-and-wellness offerings by extending GNC's specialty retailing brand to mass-market customers.

VENTURA, Calif. -- The apparel industry has come together to form a coalition dedicated to reducing the environmental and social impacts of apparel and footwear products sold around the world. According to a press release, the group, to be known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition will consist of leading apparel and footwear brands, retailers, manufacturers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academic experts and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  

Profits at the nation’s largest pet specialty chain surged 26% during the fourth quarter as same-store sales advanced 6.3% and total sales grew 8.1% to $1.5 billion.

“Our third consecutive quarter of accelerating comparable transactions growth as well as a strong holiday performance led to better-than-expected results for the quarter,” said PetSmart president and CEO Bob Moran.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — As previously announced and widely reported, March 1 marks the day that Larry Merlo officially assumes the role of CEO of CVS Caremark. Merlo, who now serves as president and CEO, succeeds Tom Ryan, who remains nonexecutive chairman until his retirement at the company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders in May.

LOS ANGELES — A Kroger banner based in Los Angeles has kicked off a charitable campaign to benefit children's hospitals based in Southern California.

Ralphs on Monday said it is raising funds through its nonprofit, The Ralphs Fund, by asking customers and associates to donate their spare change in collection canisters located at Ralphs checkout stands.

Southern California children's hospitals that will benefit from the charitable fundraising drive include:

Children's Hospital of Orange County;

Children's Hospital of Los Angeles;

TOPEKA, Kan. -- Earlier today, Retailing Today reported that several apparel and footwear industry heavyweights were teaming up to promote best practices in sustainability, and now Payless has announced that it will support eco-model and Payless brand partner Summer Rayne Oakes who will wear the same little black dress throughout the month of March.

PITTSBURGH — A new leader has been named for a maker of shelf-stable seafood products.

StarKist named In-Soo Cho as president and CEO of the company. Prior to joining StarKist, Cho was the principal of his own consulting firm, Insight & Strategy, with a focus on consumer goods and the restaurant industry.

Cho will assume his new office on March 1.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- Stater Bros. chairman and CEO Jack Brown has joined the likes of Bob Hope, Will Rogers and Ronal Reagan as a recipient of the prestigious Patriot Award, the company announced. 

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society presented Brown with the award on Feb. 26 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., where 45 Medal of Honor recipients and other notable guests were gathered, the company reported.

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Publix Tuesday reported fourth-quarter sales of $6.4 billion, a 4.4% increase from last year’s $6.1 billion. Comparable-store sales for the fourth quarter of 2010 increased 3.2%.

Net earnings for the fourth quarter of 2010 were $342.1 million, compared with $284.2 million in 2009, an increase of 20.4%. Earnings per share for the fourth quarter increased to 44 cents for 2010, up from 36 cents per share in 2009.