News

PITTSBURGH — Giant Eagle is looking to ease the fears of consumers concerned about risig food costs by promising not to raise prices on hundreds of items through the holidays.

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. — It seems that consumers' holiday spending intentions are more positive than last year, according to NPD's 11th annual holiday retail study.

New York -- Carrefour SA reported that its revenue edged up in its third quarter, driven by strong sales in its convenience stores and markets in Asia and Latin America.

The company said Thursday that sales rose 2.1% to €22.6 billion ($29 billion) in the July to September quarter.

Recessions in Spain and Italy impacted Carrefour’s revenue in Europe, where sales were down 2.2%. Sales in Asia and Latin America increased, however, rising 12.3% and 5.2% respectively.
 

Port Washington, N.Y. -- The majority of consumers intend to spend the same (67%) this holiday season than last year, and 10% plan to spend more while fewer that say they plan to spend less, according to the NPD Group’s 11th Annual Holiday Survey.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings has been honored with a SmartWay Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for being an industry leader in freight supply chain environmental performance and energy efficiency. The EPA SmartWay partnership is a public/private collaboration between the EPA and the freight transportation industry that helps freight shippers, carriers, and logistics companies improve fuel-efficiency and save money.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart is introducing a first-of-its-kind Centers of Excellence program that will offer its associates quality health care with no out-of-pocket cost for heart, spine and transplant surgeries at six of the leading hospital and health systems in the United States. 

SHANGHAI, China and PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Hasbro has entered into a partnership with Alpha Animation, a toy and entertainment company in China, to form a Chinese joint venture company for the co-development of toys and games.

If approved, the joint venture will focus on developing toys from Alpha's popular Blazing Teens brand. A brand from Hasbro’s global portfolio also will be selected for development. Hasbro and Alpha Animation will in turn collaborate to develop these brands for China and global markets.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us has expanded international shipping for online orders on Toysrus.com and Babiesrus.com to more than 60 countries across Asia, the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, North America and South America. The company is providing this service to its customers in partnership with i-parcel, a leading international air express company that facilitates global shipping capabilities.