Sam's Club

WABAN, Mass. — Based on a study of 10,000 U.S. consumers, Sam's Club and Amazon earned the top spots in the retail sector of the "2013 Temkin Experience Ratings," the Temkin Group announced Tuesday. 

Six additional retailers were in the top 20 overall, including Costco, which was tied for the No. 13 spot with Nordstrom. Four retailers tied for the No. 20 spot, including BJs Wholesale, Dollar Tree, PetSmart and Walgreens. Thirty-six out of the 44 retailers in the study earned a "good" or "excellent" rating.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club will offer free allergy and health screenings at all of its stores that operate pharmacies, the club retailer said.

The screenings will take place late Saturday morning and into the afternoon, and include up to $200 worth of tests, including allergy screenings for milk, eggs, pet dander, mold, dust mites, wheat, ragweed, mountain cedar, Bermuda grass and Timothy grass, as well as tests for blood pressure, body mass index and vision.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Several pharmacy retailers got top place in a recent consumer satisfaction survey.

A report released Tuesday by the American Customer Satisfaction Index ranked Rite Aid at the top among drug store chains, with a score of 77, a 3% improvement over last year. Walgreens gained 1%, for a score of 76, while CVS ranked 75, a 3% gain. The survey noted that CVS hit a low two years ago due to cost-cutting efforts.

PITTSBURGH — GNC is ramping up its reach beyond its 6,100 retail outlets, Joe Fortunato, the company's chairman, president and CEO, told analysts last week. The company's relationship with Sam's Club, which incorporated a branded shelf in July, is expanding; new products are being introduced to PetSmart, suggesting potential growth in pet supplements; and GNC's Marked line, co-developed with action movie star Mark Wahlberg, has been launched through Rite Aid and Walgreens. 

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club will offer free heart health screenings at 563 of its stores on Saturday, the club retailer said.

The screenings, taking place at stores with pharmacies, will include tests valued at up to $100 for glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index and vision screenings.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club has hired cookbook author Katie Workman to recommend simple and healthy foods to influence people to eat better, the club retailer said Monday.

Workman is the author of "The Mom 100 Cookbook," and the retailer has hired her to join its Sam's Club Simply Delicious Chef Brigade and give people healthy recipes and encourage them to add fish and vegetables to their diets.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart and Sam's Club are introducing a new contact lens program for 2013, the retailers said Thursday.

The new program will allow customers to visit Walmart's or Sam's Club's website or call a toll-free number to place contact lens orders and have them delivered to their homes, with free shipping available for orders of more than $50. In addition, the two are offering low prices for certain Acuvue, Air Optix and Biofinity lenses, while Walmart is planning to launch its private-label Equate brand in February.

WASHINGTON — Several retailers got top scores from a gay-rights organization for their efforts to prevent discrimination against and to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

The Human Rights Campaign released its 2013 Corporate Equality Index, which gives companies ratings of up to 100% based on their policies regarding LGBT employees and also released a buyer's guide for LGBT consumers.