Top Retailers

CINCINNATI — Kroger on Wednesday launched a new website in support of its Comforts line of baby products, the grocer announced. 

ComfortsForBaby.com will enable busy moms to access and exchange ideas online, offering a community where mothers can share their insights and experiences parenting newborns, infants and toddlers. The website is available in English and Spanish, with the Hispanic microsite specifically designed to engage Latina moms. 

CARLISLE, Pa. — The U.S. subsidiary of Dutch supermarket operator Royal Ahold has appointed Raymond McCall SVP pharmacy and health and beauty care, the company said Wednesday.

McCall will be responsible for strategic leadership, direction and business plan design and execution for the pharmacy and health and beauty care teams for Ahold USA, which operates the Giant-Carlisle, Giant-Landover and Stop & Shop chains. He will be based out of the company’s Carlisle, Pa., support office.

ORLANDO — The Network of Executive Women will induct the first group of honorees into the newly created CPG Retail Diversity Hall of Fame on Monday, Sept. 19, as part of the organization’s annual Leadership Summit.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Is this the nutritional Twilight Zone?

Despite the common perception that kids are always reluctant to eat their greens, a new survey by Midwest retailer Meijer found that almost 6-in-10 adults don’t think they’re eating enough fruits and vegetables, while kids seem to be eating enough.

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu on Monday issued a clarification that its Albertsons banners are not removing any self-checkout lanes from their stores.

Confusion was created out of an announcement at the top of July that Albertsons LLC, a separate entity that owns and operates 217 stores in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas and Utah, decided to remove self-checkout lanes from its stores.

PHILADELPHIA — Giant-Carlisle plans to open its first store in Philadelphia next week, the grocery chain said.

CHICAGO — Walgreens has acquired the 10-site retail pharmacy chain Carle Foundation, a pharmacy operator out of the Urbana-Champaign, Ill., area with the majority of stores located inside medical office buildings, according to Dresner Partners, which brokered the deal.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — Size matters, especially if it’s the size of the monthly fuel bill. Just because gas prices haven’t eclipsed $5 as many analysts had feared, doesn’t mean those lower-than-expected prices at the pump aren’t impacting buying and trip decisions, as evidenced by this latest survey.