Top Retailers

MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — Supervalu on Friday announced a new fleet of environmentally-friendly delivery trucks that operate on compressed natural gas. Contributing to a smaller carbon footprint across the East Coast, the recent purchase of 35 Class 8 Volvo trucks will operate out of Supervalu's Mechanicsville, Va., distribution center and serve approximately 500 grocery stores in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Washington, D.C. and North Carolina. 

CINCINNATI — In an effort to engender even greater shopper loyalty, Kroger has tied its loyalty card to the charity of a consumer's choice, according to a report in the Cincinnati Enquirer. 

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – Sears Holdings is spinning off its clothing business, the parent company of Kmart said Friday.

Sears said it had filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to spin off Lands' End. The company hopes that separating the management of Sears Holdings and Lands' end will make it easier for the latter to pursue opportunities on its own.

NEW YORK — Target has introduced a section of its website that features products popular on Pinterest.

The Target Awesome Shop includes products from several lines, including beauty, each of which is among those most-pinned on Pinterest in the last few days, but only if they have at least a four-star guest review.

The website is currently in beta testing and was put together "in a matter of a few weeks" by Target's Rapid Accelerated Development team, a small group of digital experts working for the company.

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General on Thursday reported $4.4 billion in sales, up 10.5%, for the company's third quarter ended Nov. 1. Same-store sales increased 4.4%, with increases in both customer traffic and average transaction value, the dollar store operator reported.

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.