Top Retailers

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Sales and profits continued to pile up at Dollar General during the first quarter as shoppers sought value at the retailer’s 9,500 stores.

The company reported a 5.4% increase in same-store sales and said total sales increased 10.9% to $3.45 billion during the quarter ended April 29. Profits adjusted to account for several one-time items increased 14% to $166 million, while earnings per share of 48 cents were 2 cents shy of analysts’ consensus estimate due to gross margins pressures.

IRVINE, Calif. — A line of popped whole grain crisps has expanded to include three new varieties.

Dr. Sears Family Essentials' Popumz now includes barbecue, ranch and cheddar varieties. The all-natural crisps are packed with protein, fiber and omega-3 DHA, the company said. The new flavors join the current lineup of sweet Popumz flavors of chocolate, vanilla and caramel.

The new Popumz crisps will retail for $3.99 per box of five 0.75-oz., single-serve bags.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer announced that its most recent food pantry donation program has exceeded $2 million in total food donations.

According to the retailer, its latest Simply Give program, which ran from March 20 through May 14, garnered more than $270,000 in donations for 195 local food pantries. Overall, the program, which debuted in November 2008 and aims to replenish the shelves of local food pantries in each city and town where a Meijer store is located, has helped to feed more than 250,000 families throughout the Midwest.

IRVINE, Calif. — Dr. Sears Family Essentials on Tuesday announced the flavor line extension of its Cool Fuel ready-to-drink shakes, adding chocolate banana to its lineup.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale EVP, CFO and director Richard Galanti told investors during the company’s third quarter 2011 earnings call last week that average prices in pharmacy probably would decline due to the introduction of generic versions of branded drugs.

“[The] only area where you are going to see some average price declines is probably in pharmacy where, and we've all read about it, there is some very well-known branded items that are going to become generic this coming year,” Galanti said.

SEVERN, N.C. — Hampton Farms is offering fans of in-shell peanuts a new snack.

New Hickory SmokeHouse-flavored in-shell peanuts unite the taste of dry roasted peanuts with a "straight from the smokehouse" taste, the company said.

Available in 10-oz. packages, Hickory SmokeHouse peanuts will be available at such supermarkets as Food Lion, Giant, Kroger, Publix, Ralphs, Stop & Shop and Wegmans for a suggested retail price of $1.99.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target has unveiled the first wave of the Zellers sites it will be taking over in Canada, representing 105 locations in all 10 Canadian provinces.

The vast majority of the sites will become Target stores after securing the necessary construction approval for extensive renovation. The stores will open beginning in 2013.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — In a major win for its pharmacy benefit management business, CVS Caremark will handle the $3 billion mail-order and specialty prescription drug benefit for the Federal Employee Program starting January 2012, which, for the last three years, had been handled by rival Medco Health Solutions.