News

Brentwood, Tenn. -- Tractor Supply Co. reported Wednesday that profit for the third-quarter surged 43% to $42.7 million, compared with $29.9 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 18% to $977.8 million, credited partly to a boost in emergency supplies as Hurricane Irene hit the East Coast in August, and surpassing Wall Street’s expected $931.6 million in revenue.

Same-store sales rose 11.5%.

Sam’s Club home office last week hosted 50 competitive barbecue teams who traveled to Northwest Arkansas for the final round of competition in the inaugural Sam’s Club National BBQ Tour. The event kicked off back in April when teams battled for a spot in the championship, which was sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society.

The winner of the event, TippyCanoe BBQ Crew of St. Ansgar, Iowa, received a cash prize of $35,000, while a total of $400,000 in prize money was awarded to teams throughout the course of the tour.

Dollar stores get a lot of the credit for negatively impacting Walmart’s U.S. sales the past few years and it’s no wonder. The big three – Dollar General, Family Dollar and Dollar Tree – have grown rapidly and collectively operate more than 20,000 conveniently located units that offer sharp prices on an expanding assortment of food and consumables.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — In honor of Adopt-a-Dog Month in October, Sam's Club announced that it is pledging $20,000 of Simply Right branded pet food, supplies and Sam's Club gift cards to four U.S. animal shelters in need of support following recent natural disasters. The pet food is part of Sam's Club's new proprietary brand Simply Right line of quality and affordable pet care products, available exclusively to Sam's Club members.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot announced that it has launched a new Android app designed specifically for Office Depot business account customers. The Office Depot Business Solutions mobile application is now available for free download on the Android Market.

Seattle -- AccessVia announces that Modell's Sporting Goods deployed AccessVia Web dSignShop Software as a Service (SaaS) for the retailer’s in-store signage publishing system. Implementation was complete in only six weeks. 

"It's the best decision we've made in a long time,” said Mitch Modell, CEO, Modell’s Sporting Goods. “We've had nothing but great reactions and store feedback. It's been phenomenal."

Columbus, Ohio -- Limited Brands told investors Wednesday that it would up its capital spending to $590 million next year, a 39% increase over the $425 million it will spend this year and double what the retailer spent in 2009 and 2010.

Limited CFO Stuart Burgdoerfer, in his address at the company’s annual investor update meeting in New York City, said that most of the increase will be used to expand or remodel Victoria's Secret stores in the United States.

WASHINGTON — The Grocery Manufacturers Association has named Robert Burns, Ph.D., as VP health and nutrition policy. Burns was most recently owner of Nutrition Implications, a consulting firm focused on helping companies develop strategic approaches to nutrition and health, including engagement with external stakeholders and development of research and communications initiatives.