NEW YORK — Walmart is increasingly becoming a technology company, seeing its transformation into an omnichannel retailer as critical to its continued growth. But Walmart president and chief executive officer Doug McMillon insists that retailing is still a people business, and “our people will ultimately be the way that we win.” McMillon spoke about people
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Judith McKenna has been named president and chief executive officer of Walmart International. McKenna, who has been executive vice president and chief operating officer of Walmart U.S., will take charge of Walmart’s second-largest operating segment on February 1. She succeeds David Cheesewright, who has headed Walmart International since 2014 and will retire
BOISE, Idaho — After 40 years of service, Albertsons Cos. president and chief operating officer Wayne Denningham is stepping down at the end of the fiscal year, the company announced earlier this month. The company also named Susan Morris as executive vice president and chief operations officer, overseeing the company’s supply chain, manufacturing and operations
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Health is bringing more transparency to beauty care marketing with the introduction of the CVS Beauty Mark, a watermark that highlights imagery that hasn’t been materially altered. Plans call for the CVS Beauty Mark to begin appearing on CVS Pharmacy-produced beauty images — including imagery for stores, websites, social media and
WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation (NRF) and the Retail Industry Leaders Association each welcomed the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to reenter the dispute over whether states should be able to require online retailers to collect and remit state sales taxes. Retailers and others had been expecting the court to take up the
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings Corp. has raised $100 million in new financing and is pursuing an additional $200 million. The company also amended existing notes to increase its borrowing base advance rate for inventory and defer its collateral coverage test and restart it with the second quarter of 2018. Sears Holdings furthermore is
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Lidl’s entrance into the United States last June prompted rival grocers to lower prices on key staples by as much as 55% at stores in the vicinity of the Lidl outlets, according to a study released January 10 by the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School. The study was led
SEATTLE — Retail veteran Kathi Lentzsch has been appointed chief executive officer of Bartell Drugs. She succeeds Brian Unmacht, who resigned last spring. Unmacht was the first person outside of the Bartell family to head the company. Lentzsch has more than three decades of retail experience, with executive positions in companies including Pier 1 Imports
NEW YORK — Consumers have specific demands, especially when shopping online, according to the most recent issue of “Consumer View,” a report issued by the National Retail Federation. Online shoppers, the NRF finds, expect to get their merchandise delivered quickly and for free. “Consumers today want what they want when they want it and they
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Stater Bros. Markets has promoted George Frahm to company president, in one of a series of leadership changes at the privately held grocery chain. Frahm, who reports directly to chief executive officer Pete Van Helden, began his grocery career in 1973 as a clerk’s helper and janitor at the Stater Bros.
Consumers have more choice than ever before about where to shop and what to buy. And that is a growing challenge for retailers. So argues a report from FGRT (formerly Fung Global Retail & Technology) called “18 Retail Trends for ’18.” The report sees more rapid change ahead for retailers, as consumers who want to
The mash-up of retailing and technology commanded the spotlight at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show in New York City earlier this month, giving attendees additional evidence, if any were needed, that in the future the intersection of those disciplines will have a decisive impact on how people shop for, purchase and receive consumer products.