Top Retailers

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Karen Roberts was named EVP and president of Walmart Realty on Friday, filling a position vacated by the company’s long-time real estate executive Eric Zorn, who retired after a 20-year career.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The Hispanic microsite on Kroger’s new website for its baby products line comes at a time when the country’s Hispanic population growth outpaces that of the country’s total population.

(THE NEWS: New website born for Kroger baby products line. For the full story, click here.)

WASHINGTON — The Department of Health and Human Services on Friday announced the winners of an awards program that highlights innovative health promotion projects that have demonstrated a significant impact on the health of the community within the past three years.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An e-cigarette brand announced that its disposable e-cigarettes now are available at H-E-B and Meijer stores.

The company said that this marks Blu Cigs' transition from online sales to retail by being sold in all of H-E-B's 329 stores across Texas and Mexico, as well as Meijer's 196 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. Each disposable e-cigarette equals about 20 to 30 traditional cigarettes, the company said.

DENTON, Md. — Walmart announced that it is breaking ground on a new supercenter in Maryland in September.

The company said that the 152,888-sq.-ft. supercenter, which will be located in Denton, Md., will offer customers broad product selections, including fresh quality food and everyday general needs, at value pricing. Additionally, the supercenter is expected to create at least 250 jobs.

CARLISLE, Pa. — The U.S. subsidiary of Dutch supermarket operator Royal Ahold is hoping to attract local and diverse suppliers to its stores in the markets in which it operates.

Ahold USA said Thursday that it had its first annual Local/Diverse Business Opportunity Fair last month. The fair attracted participants from more than 140 companies that were given the opportunity to have their products reviewed by Ahold USA procurement teams for placement in more than 750 stores throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Thursday announced the resignation of Don Keprta, president of its Chicago-area Dominick's Finer Foods division. 

"Don has contributed significantly to the Dominick's stores. His commitment and innovation helped the stores evolve to best serve the Chicagoland customers,” stated Steve Burd, Safeway chairman, president and CEO. “We are fortunate that he has produced a team that is prepared to continue to build on our current momentum.”

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is launching new flavors of its private-label Thrifty Ice Cream in California stores, the retail pharmacy chain said Wednesday.

The launch comes ahead of National Ice Cream Day on Sunday, which President Ronald Reagan launched in 1984.