Top Retailers

CINCINNATI — Kroger on Thursday reported that same-store supermarket sales growth, without fuel, was 3.5% in the third quarter, marking the 40th consecutive quarter of same-store sales growth. It's a feat that Kroger achieved despite the slow economic recovery. "The resiliency of our Customer First strategy … was on full display during the quarter, even as our internal research shows that customers remain uncertain about the economy," Dave Dillon, Kroger chairman and CEO, told analysts Thursday morning. 

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 — The Environmental Protection Agency has recognized Target for its efforts to reduce its carbon emissions, the agency said.

According to the EPA, Target's technology center engineering team singlehandedly reduced the company's carbon emissions by 18,000 tons since 2006 and is committed to having 75% of Target buildings certified by the agency's Energy Star program by 2016.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's same-store sales increased by 2.8% in November, the retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

The increase included a 0.4% increase in front-end same-store sales and a 3.9% increase in pharmacy same-store sales, offset by 0.81% due to new generic drugs, which can reduce sales because of their lower price, but are good for a pharmacy retailer's margins. Same-store scripts increased by 0.1%.

Total sales for November were $2.434 billion, a 1.6% increase compared with the same period last year.

NEW YORK — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation celebrated its 15th Annual Foundation Dinner the evening of Dec. 3 in New York City, raising more than $1.8 million to support the Foundation’s research, education and medication adherence initiatives.

Walgreens and Duane Reade were the premier sponsors of the event.

NEW YORK — Sears Holdings chairman and CEO Eddie Lampert has pared down his stake in the retailing company, according to a regulatory filing Tuesday.

A Securities and Exchange Commission filing showed that Lampert reduced his stake in Sears Holdings to 48.4%, from a 55.4% stake reported in March. That leaves him with about 51.6 million shares in the company, whose stock was valued at $50.38 per share Wednesday morning on the NASDAQ, down from its opening price of $52.62.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark’s MinuteClinic has expanded to its 28th state with the opening of clinic locations inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in New Hampshire, and the clinic operator also has formed a new clinical collaboration with Dartmouth-Hitchcock, the largest healthcare system in New Hampshire.

Clinics are now open in Concord and West Lebanon. A Salem clinic will open Dec. 11, and locations in Hampton, Manchester and Nashua will open in early January, the company stated.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Wednesday reported November sales of $6.1 billion, an increase of 4.1% for the same month in fiscal 2013.

Total front-end sales increased 3.2%, while comparable store front-end sales increased 1.9%. Customer traffic in comparable stores increased 0.8% and basket size increased 1.1%.

The company said that a meaningful increase versus prior quarters in promotional investment contributed to the improvement in traffic and comparable store front-end sales for November and throughout the quarter.