CINCINNATI — Kroger Co. is expanding the reach of its grocery delivery service into Oklahoma, a state where it does not have physical stores. Earlier this month Kroger said it was adding an automated “spoke” order fulfillment center in Oklahoma City, powered by the Ocado Group. When the 50,000-square-foot facility becomes operational later this year,
NEW YORK — Musab Balbale has left his position as vice president and general manager of Walmart beauty to take the top merchant role at CVS Health. Starting at the end of the month, he will fill the post that has been vacant since senior vice president and chief merchant George Coleman left in July.
WASHINGTON — Omicron, inflation and bad weather in much of the country were not enough to stop consumers from shopping in January, according to figures from the Census Bureau and the National Retail Federation (NRF). Retail sales posted strong gains in January despite those and other challenges. “January’s numbers show that 2022 is starting very
ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp. has named Ron Vachris president and chief operating officer. Vachris, 56, previously served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of merchandising, a position he was named to in June 2016. Vachris succeeds Craig Jelinek in the role of president, while Jelinek remains chief executive officer and a
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart is testing a new store format that is designed to make the shopping experience more engaging and enjoyable for consumers. Unveiled at the retailer’s incubator location, Store 4108 in Springdale, Ark., the concept is called Time Well Spent. It aims to make Walmart’s physical stores into destinations where customers want to
SEATTLE — Amazon posted a profit of $14.3 billion in the fourth quarter, nearly doubling year over year despite heavy spending to ensure prompt deliveries. Amazon also announced it will help offset rising fulfillment costs by raising the price of Prime, increasing the annual fee for U.S. members by $20 to $139. Amazon’s profit in
CINCINNATI — Kroger Co. senior vice president of retail divisions Mark Tuffin is retiring after more than 26 years, effective April 1. He will be succeeded by Kenny Kimball, who is currently president of the Smith’s division. Kimball joined the organization in 1984 as a courtesy clerk in the Smith’s division. He went on to
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart wrapped up its 2022 fiscal year on a resoundingly strong note, beating Wall Street’s expectations for fourth quarter adjusted earnings, revenues and same-store sales. The flagship Walmart U.S. division, moreover, topped $100 billion in quarterly sales for the first time. “We had another strong quarter to finish off a strong year,”
ZAANDAM, Netherlands — Ahold Delhaize USA provided most of the growth momentum for its parent company, Ahold Delhaize Group, in 2021, as robust e-commerce sales drove solid top-line results while operating profit soared by triple digits. Net sales for the U.S. business, which provided 60% of its parent’s top line and more than two-thirds of
ST. LOUIS — Save A Lot has completed its transformation to a pure-play wholesale model with the sale of nearly 300 corporate-operated locations to independent retail operators, who will continue to operate the stores under the Save A Lot brand. “Becoming a wholesaler was an important step in Save A Lot’s mission to lead as
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Health’s fourth quarter sales and earnings beat Wall Street’s expectations, as demand for COVID-19 tests and vaccines drove customers to stores. Revenue for the three months ended December 31 jumped 10.1% from a year earlier to $76.6 billion, topping analysts’ projection of $75.67 billion. Adjusted earnings per share climbed 52% to
The retail pharmacist, backbone of the retail community’s battle with COVID-19, is pushing back against the punishing demands being exacted in the war against the current pandemic. With good reason. In their unending war with COVID, U.S. retailers are, understandably, asking more of the in-store pharmacist than can reasonably be requested — or demanded. In