News

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General has pledged its support of the White House’s Joining Forces initiative, which promotes private sector employment for members of the military community.

ABILENE, Kan. — Duckwall-ALCO Stores fourth-quarter net sales increased 1% to $137.5 million, compared with the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. Same-store sales, excluding fuel center sales, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 decreased 0.6% to $133.4 million, compared with the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. Net sales from continuing operations for fiscal year 2012 increased 4.4% to $482.8 million, compared with fiscal year 2011. Same-store sales, excluding fuel center sales, for fiscal year 2012 increased 3.0% to $467.7 million.

Walmart and healthcare partner Humana are out with a new prescription drug program called Rx4Value that guarantees saving and relies on the proven strategy of improving affordability by restricting choice to generic drugs.

Hingham, Mass. -- Talbots Inc.’s fourth-quarter loss widened to $53.2 million for the period ended Jan. 28, not as bad as analysts expected, compared to a loss  of $2.8 million in the year ago. Its results were pressured by restructuring and executive retirement costs, as well as increased mark-downs and promotions. The chain also forecast first-quarter revenue that missed analysts' expectations. Revenue for the quarter slipped 1% to $289.4 million from $292.6 million, but beat Wall Street's estimate of $267.9 million. Same-store sales were flat.

Walmart should shorten its checkout lines and improve the store experience in Canada prior to the arrival of Target next spring. That was the advice of Diane Briesebois, president and CEO of the Retail Council of Canada who spoke Wednesday at a dinner in Toronto, which preceded Walmart’s annual international meeting for the financial community.

Following her prepared remarks, Briesebois was put on the spot by Walmart International president and CEO Doug McMillon who asked during a question and answer session, “What can we do to improve in this market?”

Plenty of televisions in Northwest Arkansas will be tuned to CNBC the evening of April 26. That’s when the financial news network airs a one-hour special called, “The Costco Craze: Inside the Warehouse Giant.”

CNBC has turned its cameras on Walmart in the past, twice actually, and more recently Best Buy and Target. Previews for the show on Costco promise to uncover the science and secrets behind the Costco craze.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Despite running fewer stores, Rite Aid grew its sales and narrowed its losses during the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2012, thanks to a boost in its loyalty card program membership, a longer fiscal year and the continuing dispute between Walgreens and Express Scripts.

The way we pay and with what has and will continue to change. “Retailers may soon find themselves trying to figure out the most efficient way to convert such things as Facebook credits into cash and back again,” according to Eddie Myers, president of the Electronic Transactions Association.