RETAIL NEWS

WASHINGTON —  The nation’s major companies are advancing in record numbers vital policies and practices to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) workers around the world, according to the 2017 Corporate Equality Index released Monday by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target is celebrating 20 years of partnership efforts with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which helps save the lives of children battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases. 

KEASBEY, N.J. — Wakefern Food has promoted a 13-year veteran of the company to executive vice president, overseeing day-to-day operations and strategy planning.

Wakefern Food Corp. President and COO Joe Sheridan announced the promotion of Chris Lane, SVP of Product Divisions, to EVP of the company. 

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Rick Keyes, the president of Meijer, will become CEO on Jan. 1, the company announced Friday.

The announcement was made by Hank Meijer, who has held the role of CEO and will now serve as executive chairman of the Meijer board.

TORONTO -- Beginning Dec. 15, pharmacists in Ontario will be able to add 13 vaccinations to the list of immunziations they can administer to their patients as part of the province's new strategy, Immunization 2020, which focuses on improving access to immunizations, including leveraging the professional and convenient care that pharmacists offer to help improve vaccination rates.

LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix Super Markets has established a program to offer its customers and associates at its Tennessee stores a way to directly assist people in those areas affected by disasters like the wildfires in that state.

Customers may donate any amount by adding it to their grocery totals when checking out at Publix registers in its Tennessee stores. Donations will be channeled through the American Red Cross and designated specifically for disaster relief. The program will continue for a few weeks, based on customer response.

KEASBEY, N.J. – ShopRite is giving kids a new reason to be excited about eating healthy: a free fruit giveaway.

The supermarket chain announced that it has launched a “free fruit” program at 29 ShopRite Supermarket stores in Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. As part of the program, kids 12 and under will receive a free banana or clementine while shopping with a parent or guardian. The fruits will be located in the produce aisle, and the program will be overseen by each store’s individual in-store dietitian.