Top Retailers

AMSTERDAM — Royal Ahold CEO Dick Boer expressed condolences for the victims of Monday's bombing of the Boston Marathon in a meeting with shareholders Wednesday.

"The Boston area is, of course, one of our main U.S. markets, and our thousands of employees are shocked by Monday's events," Boer said. "Our thoughts are with everyone in the city of Boston and the surrounding communities, and especially the families and friends of those affected."

The company's Stop & Shop banner has a prominent and long-standing presence in the area.

CHICAGO — Costco and IRI announced Wednesday that they will change a program that the club retailer describes as a single, global solution for category, point-of-sale and supply chain tracking, as well as extend the program to Mexico.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target Corp. has lowered its earnings expectations for first quarter 2013, the mass merchandise retailer said Tuesday.

The Minneapolis-based chain said it expected same-store sales growth in the quarter to be about flat over first quarter 2012 due to sales trends that have been weaker than expected, particularly in seasonal and weather-sensitive merchandise categories. As a result, earnings-per-share guidance is expected to be less than $1.10; the company's original guidance had stated earnings would be $1.10-$1.20 per share.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — A former executive of Supervalu has been tapped for a top position at Stater Bros. Markets, the supermarket chain said.

Stater Bros. announced that former Supervalu EVP retail operations Peter Van Helden had been hired as president and COO of the privately owned San Bernardino, Calif.-based chain, which operates 167 stores in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

LANDOVER, Md. — Giant Food of Landover, Md., is planning to raise $1.6 million for children's cancer research, the supermarket chain said Tuesday.

The Ahold USA-owned banner, also known as Giant-Landover, announced it would launch its ninth annual Triple Winner game on Friday to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Division at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and The Children's Cancer Foundation. The annual game has helped raise $11.5 million to support pediatric cancer research since its inception in 2005.

NEW YORK — The Jean Coutu Group sold 72.5 million of its 178.4 million shares of Rite Aid stock, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Monday and company announcement Tuesday.

The Canadian retail pharmacy group said it sold the shares for $158.5 million and would record a gain of $49.7 million in its net profit during first quarter 2014. The sale brings Jean Coutu's stake in Rite Aid down to 11.7%, the company said.

LAKELAND, Fla. — During its annual stockholders’ meeting today, Steve Knopik was elected to Publix Super Markets’ board of directors.

“We are pleased to have Steve join the Publix board,” said Publix chairman of the board Charlie Jenkins, Jr. “His strong retail and financial background and commitment to the community will make him a strong addition to our board.”

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club offered free oral care and health screening events at all 564 of its stores that have pharmacies, the club retailer said.

Sam's Club, owned by Walmart, said the events, which took place on Saturday, included non-invasive oral health questionnaires, dental tablets, glucose, total cholesterol, blood pressure, body-mass index and vision tests.

According to WebMD, oral health issues are often identifiers of diabetes and heart disease.