CINCINNATI — Kroger Co. is responding to the historic retail disruption wrought by the coronavirus pandemic by doubling down on its values and purpose. “Throughout the public health crisis, our entire team of 500,000 associates has worked tirelessly to provide a safe environment for our customers and each other, with open stores, e-commerce solutions and
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sean Slovenski, who led the development and early rollout of the Walmart Health Center as senior vice president and president of Walmart U.S. health and wellness, has left the retailer. A replacement is expected be named within weeks. “We will miss Sean, but we are excited to continue building and expanding on
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance is searching for a new chief executive officer following last month’s announcement that Stefano Pessina will step down from that role. Once a new CEO is appointed, Pessina will become executive chairman, succeeding Jim Skinner, who will remain on the board of directors to help facilitate a smooth leadership
WASHINGTON — Retail sales continue to bounce back from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the National Retail Federation (NRF) said. Sales in July grew more slowly than in June, but the trend continued to be positive. “Retail sales for July were another positive step in the right direction as our economy continues to slowly
NEW YORK — The COVID-19 pandemic is turning out to be good business for food retailers. While consumers are making fewer grocery shopping trips, they are driving enormous growth in e-commerce and omnichannel options, such as home delivery and store pickup. Despite, in most cases, making substantial unplanned investments related to the outbreak, international, national
NEW YORK — The conversation on racial injustice that has been taking place since the video of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis has reached all corners of the country, including corporate America. During a panel discussion sponsored by WE, an organization dedicated to empowering women leaders in the retailer and supplier communities, Kathleen
CINCINNATI — Kroger Co. this month launched a pilot to test contactless payments, becoming the latest mass retailer to adopt technology that’s become increasingly popular with shoppers since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Kroger introduced contactless payments across its Bellevue, Wash.-based QFC supermarket division, allowing customers to pay at checkout using a contactless chip
NEW YORK — Heading into this year, the ranks of the fastest-growing retailers in the United States had shown considerable year-over-year stability, according to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) Hot 100 Retailers list for 2020. The list, which is compiled for the NRF by Kantar Retail, annually ranks the nation’s fastest-growing companies in terms of
Retailing, it can be safely and accurately argued, appears to have emerged as the least cohesive segment of the U.S. business community. A case in point: the brouhaha over the wisdom of compelling customers and staffers to wear protective masks while on the premises. By any standard of measurement, wearing masks will do no harm.
The impact on retailers of the COVID-19 pandemic has varied considerably, even among sellers of essential products. Ahold Delhaize is one of the companies that, in the words of president and chief executive officer Frans Muller, has managed to “translate this unprecedented demand … into outstanding results.” Speaking after the release of Ahold Delhaize’s second
American shopping habits have changed in many ways during the COVID-19 pandemic. People who had not previously tried shopping for groceries online have embraced the practice, for example. And consumers worried about contracting the virus by touching things have helped drive the increased use of contactless payment methods. The big question for retailers is whether