Top Retailers

BALTIMORE, Md. — Indie beauty brand Oyin Handmade has announced that, starting in April, its products will be available in select Target stores across the country and online at Target.com.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco reported on Thursday a decrease in second-quarter net income, which it attributed to weaker sales and gross margin results in certain non-foods merchandise categories, weaker gross margins in its fresh foods business and lower reported international profits.

Net income for the quarter was $463 million, or $1.05 per diluted share, compared with $547 million, or $1.24 per diluted share, last year.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Cerberus won the bid for Safeway.

Safeway and Albertsons on Thursday announced a definitive agreement under which AB Acquisition will acquire all outstanding shares of Safeway in a deal valued at more than $9.1 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year. 

The companies will operate independently until closing. 

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid on Thursday posted a 1.5% increase in same-store sales for the five weeks ended March 1. February front-end same-store sales decreased 1.8%, of which 0.5% was attributable to a decrease in sales of flu-related over-the-counter products. Pharmacy same-store sales, which included an approximate 138 basis points negative impact from new generic introductions, increased 3.1%. 

CINCINNATI — Kroger danced around "the elephant in the room" in declining to discuss future merger and acquisition plans on its fourth-quarter conference call Thursday morning. While neither Kroger executives nor analysts actually referenced any potential Safeway transaction, Rodney McMullen, Kroger CEO did provide some color as to what strategic opportunities the company would be interested in: "The thing that was attractive about Harris Teeter as a transaction — it's a well-run company that overall we admired a whole lot," he said.

MINNEAPOLIS — In the wake of a huge data breach just before the Christmas holiday, Target’s CIO Beth Jacob is resigning, according to published reports.

According to a New York Times report, which cites a statement released to the Associated Press, the move is effective Wednesday and the company will look for an interim CIO.

BENTONVILLE, ARK. — On March 8, Sam's Club will host free allergy and health screenings to members and visitors at Sam’s Club locations with a pharmacy — 584 locations — to ease management of allergies this season, the club operator announced Wednesday.

WABAN, Mass. — Based on a study of 10,000 U.S consumers, H-E-B, Trader Joe's, Chick-fil-A and Publix earned the highest scores in the 2014 Temkin Experience Ratings, ranking 268 companies across 19 industries. Joining those firms in the top 14 spots are Aldi, Food Lion, Sonic Drive-In, credit unions, Dairy Queen, Kroger, Piggly Wiggly, Regions, Sam's Club and Starbucks.