COSTCO

NEW YORK — The semi-retired CEO of Costco Wholesale has been named as the recipient of the top award from the National Retail Federation at the trade group's upcoming trade show this month, the NRF said Wednesday.

Jim Sinegal, who stepped down as president CEO of the Issaquah, Wash.-based club retailer in 2012, after 29 years, but still plays an active role in the company and is a member of its board of directors, is scheduled to accept the NRF's Gold Medal Award for 2014 at Retail's BIG Show, which takes place from Jan. 12-15 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — A national gay-rights organization has given Walgreens top marks for its practices related to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

In its 2014 Corporate Equality Index, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation gave the Deerfield, Ill.-based retail pharmacy chain a "perfect" score of 100. 2014 is the ninth year that Walgreens has won a perfect score.

NEW YORK — Club retailers like Costco and Sam's Club may have some competition from Amazon.com, according to published reports.

USA Today reported Thursday that the Seattle-based online retailer was creating a new business called Pantry that would allow members of its Amazon Prime premium service to buy consumer packaged goods in large quantities in a box of a pre-set size. Members will be able to put in as many items as the box can fit, up to a certain weight limit, and Amazon will ship the box for a small fee, as long as everything fits and isn't too heavy.

NEW YORK — A company that helps people shop for groceries is expanding into another city after a successful run in two others, according to published reports.

TechCrunch reported that Instacart had launched in Boston. The company already operates in the San Francisco Bay Area and Chicago, and it plans to serve the entire Boston area in the next few months.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp. had sales of $24.47 billion in first quarter 2014, the club retailer said.

The results, announced Wednesday, were an increase from the $23.20 billion reported in first quarter 2013 and produced a profit of $425 million, compared with the $416 profit last year.

Same-store sales for the quarter increased by 3%, including 3% in the United States and 1% in stores abroad.

While profits increased over the last quarter, the company's earnings per share of 96 cents fell short of the $1.03 expected by analysts.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp.'s sales increased by 5% during first quarter 2014, which ended on Nov. 24, the club retailer said Thursday.

The company reported sales of $24.47 billion during the quarter, compared with $23.2 billion in first quarter 2013. For the month of November, sales were $8.78 billion, a 5% increase over the $8.4 billion reported in November 2012.

NEW YORK — Some members of club retailer Costco can have their items delivered to their homes under a new partnership between the retailer and Google, the Internet company said.

Google Shopping Express is partnering with Costco to offer the service to members in the San Francisco area. Customers can order items online or through their mobile devices.

The delivery service also has partnerships with such retailers as Target, Whole Foods Market and L'Occitane.

HAMILTON, N.J. — Dr Pepper Snapple Group will distribute a growing line of all-natural, antioxidant-infused beverages, the maker of the beverages said Tuesday.

Bai Brands, which makes the Bai 5 line, said the two companies had been working together for the last two years in select markets around the country and will now expand their partnership in most major markets.