News

NORTHFIELD, Ill. — Kraft Foods on Monday announced that its EVP and CFO, Timothy McLevish, will leave the company in mid-2011.

McLevish, who served as EVP and CFO for Kraft since 2007, will shift his CFO responsibilities to EVP operations David Brearton. Prior to his exit, McLevish will report the company's first-quarter financial results.

WASHINGTON -- The National Retail Federation said legislation introduced today to delay swipe fee reform scheduled to go into effect this summer would block retailers from giving discounts to consumers who use debit cards and would cost merchants and the public more than $1 billion per month.

San Francisco -- Williams-Sonoma announced that net revenues for fourth quarter 2010 increased 9.7% to $1.195 billion versus $1.09 billion in fourth quarter 2010, including Internet net revenue growth of 27.2% and a comparable-store sales increase of 5.2%.

Diluted earnings per share on a GAAP basis were $1.05 for the quarter, compared with 81 cents for the same period last year.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Beginning in mid-March, the AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour will embark on another 10-month tour to provide an expected $14 million worth of free health tests.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Label-lovers aside, designer shoes -- even discounted designer shoes -- are considered discretionary items by most consumers, and the fact that DSW had such a strong quarter is indeed a good sign that the middle-income consumer is feeling more confident about her economic situation.

Columbus, Ohio -- DSW has announced net income of $18.5 million on net sales of $468.5 million for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 29, compared with net income of $13.4 million on net sales of $402.6 million for the quarter ended Jan. 30, 2010. Same-store sales increased 14.9% for the comparable period versus an increase of 12.9% last year. 

Diluted earnings per share were 41 cents for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 compared with diluted earnings per share of 30 cents last year.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — The CVS Caremark Charitable Trust has announced the donation of $100,000 to the American Red Cross in support of relief efforts under way in Japan following last week's tragic earthquake and tsunami, with a potential total donation of up to $300,000 through the matching of CVS Caremark employee donations.

Tamasakai, Japan -- Costco Wholesale said Tuesday that two people died when a parking garage collapsed at its warehouse in Tamasakai during the earthquake, according to a report by the Seattle Times.
 
The store sustained significant damage and will remain closed for several months for inspections and repairs, said Costco.