News

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club is encouraging customers to protect their eyes by offering free vision screenings at its stores nationwide on Aug. 13.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., both adults and children can receive a vision acuity screening, as well as a quick take-home test called an Amsler Grid, which tests for blurred or missing areas of vision.

NORTHFIELD, Ill. — Kraft Foods is planning to create two independent public companies, which will include a global snacks business and a North American grocery business.

The company expects to create these companies — the high-growth global snacks business, which carries an estimated revenue of approximately $32 billion and the high-margin North American grocery business, which touts an estimated revenue of approximately $16 billion — through a tax-free spinoff of the North American grocery business to Kraft Foods shareholders.

July same-store sales at Fred’s declined 0.5% and that’s not a particularly good sign for Walmart, as the company prepares to release its quarterly results on Aug. 16. Fred’s appeals to lower income shoppers at its 672 stores in the Southeastern U.S. where the company has considerable overlap with Walmart.

By Scott Zimmerman

The days of collecting customer feedback through an annual survey are over.  Today, retailers are utilizing online and mobile tools that not only serve as “real-time” feedback mechanisms, but also act as bustling hubs of customer conversations and activity online.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Costco announced that it is bringing its Kirstie Kelly wedding gowns to the South during limited-time trunk shows at select locations. 

New York City -- Warehouse club operators  Costco and BJ’s Wholesale Club continue to benefit from high fuel prices and bargain-seeking consumers, with both chain reporting solid results.

Costco reported a 10% rise in same-store sales In July, beating Wall Street's expectations for an 8.6% increase.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark posted second-quarter results that were at the high end of its guidance and narrowed its 2011 outlook on continued confidence. But it was the PBM business — and the potential merger of PBM rivals Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions — that was top of mind for many industry observers, and was a topic that CVS Caremark president and CEO Larry Merlo hit head on at the start of Thursday morning’s conference call.