News

SALT LAKE CITY -- Walmart and Sam’s Club announced that they will be accepting donations for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a charity that raises funds for children’s hospitals, at all Walmart and Sam’s Club locations between May 1 and June 13. Last year the six-week fundraising campaign surpassed the $15 million goal, raising $20 million for children’s hospitals across America, the company reported.

Austin, Texas -- T. Stacy & Associates, who has been involved with some of Austin’s most iconic buildings, announced that it will reconfigure street-level space in its headquarters building at 823 Congress Avenue to a size and quality sufficient to attract a major retailer and that it has begun an aggressive search to find the “perfect tenant.”

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid’s same-store sales for April increased by 0.5%, compared with April 2010, the pharmacy retailer said Wednesday.

This included a 0.4% decrease in sales at the front end and a 1% increase in pharmacy sales, offset by 133 basis points due to new introductions of generic drugs. Prescription count at comparable stores increased by 0.7%.

New York City -- Wal-Mart Stores CEO Mike Duke said rising gas prices are hurting the chain’s main customers, who are having an even harder time stretching their dollars to the next payday than they did a year ago.

"There's no doubt that rising fuel prices are having an impact on our customers," said Duke at an event that was part of The Wall Street Journal's executive breakfast series,  according to the Associated Press. "There's more pressure."

New York City -- Jones Group's net income fell 34% in the first quarter, weighed down by higher costs and charges tied to an acquisition.

Jones Group earned $25.9 million, compared with $39.4 million a year ago.

Jones Group said its quarterly results included about $11 million in costs and charges tied to its Stuart Weitzman acquisition and other restructuring and strategic review costs. Last year's quarter included costs and charges totaling approximately $3 million.

NEW YORK -- Consumer confidence recovered somewhat in April, though the impact of rising gasoline prices is still evident, according to data released Tuesday by the Conference Board.

The confidence index hit 65.4 in April, from an upwardly revised 63.8 in March. The reading is still below the 72.0 mark of February.

CINCINNATI -- Kroger has named Keith Dailey director external corporate communications. According to the company, Dailey will be oversee national media communications for Kroger, which operates 2,458 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banner names.

Serving as the spokesman for such a large company should come easy to Dailey. As the communications director for former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, he likely had his fair share of media issues to tackle.

Camp Hill, Pa. -- Rite Aid's April sales rose thanks in part to bustling business at its pharmacies.

Rite Aid’s same-store sales rose 0.5% over the four weeks ended April 23, with pharmacy revenue up 1%. Sales of nonpharmacy fell 0.4%. Prescriptions filled at those stores rose 0.7%.

Total April sales fell 0.4% to $1.95 billion from $1.96 billion. The company had 4,705 stores as of April 23, 68 less than a year ago.