OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Coventry, U.K. -- Retail IT services-provider PCMS said Thursday it has launched a pilot of mobile sales devices for Bass Pro Shops.    

New York City -- CVS/pharmacy announced on Thursday that it is providing several free services, educational information and special product offers during February's American Heart Month.

New York City -- San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a proposal to expand the city’s bag on plastic bags from grocery stores and pharmacies to all retailers, including restaurants.

The expanded regulations also call for customers to pay a 10-cent surcharge for paper bags at the point of purchase. The businesses charging the fee will keep the money to use how they see fit.

New York City -- The popular television talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres said she was “proud and happy” that J.C. Penney remained committed to her after One Million Moms asked the retailer to dump her as a spokesperson because she is gay.

The group, a division of the conservative American Family Association, warned they would boycott J.C. Penney stores if the chain did not go along with their request.

DeGeneres addressed the issue on Tuesday at the taping of her television show. The show will air on Wednesday.

Schaumburg, Ill. -- Survey results released Tuesday by Nielsen found that nearly half (49%) of U.S. online consumers believe their personal finance prospects will be good or excellent over the next 12 months.

According to Nielsen’s Q4 global consumer confidence findings, the quarter’s results were the highest for 2011 and a six percentage point increase from Q3 2011. The number of U.S. respondents who described their job prospects as “bad” dropped from 28% to 19% between the third quarter and fourth quarter of last year as well.

Hong Kong -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Tuesday it has named Greg Foran as president and CEO of Walmart China. Foran, who joined Walmart last October, is a long-time veteran of Australian retailing group Woolworths, where his areas of experience included operations, merchandising, marketing and replenishment.

Foran succeeds Ed Chan, who resigned last year after a food scandal that involved mislabeled pork and the forced temporary closures of a dozen stores in central China.

Minneapolis -- Supervalu said Tuesday that will reduce its national work force by approximately 800 positions as part of its long-term turn-around strategy and ongoing efforts to reduce costs. The reductions include both current positions and open jobs that will not be filled.

Bentonville, Ark.  -- Wal-Mart Stores on Monday announced that the company’s 2012 Annual Shareholders meeting will be held on Fri., June 1, 2012 at 7 a.m. CDT, in Bud Walton Arena at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark. 

The meeting also will be webcast on the company’s website at http://walmartstores.com/investors. Following the meeting, there will be an informal 30-minute live question and answer session with company executives for shareholders.