WALMART

You could call it a who’s who of the industry.

With a record-breaking crowd expected on hand, The Drug Store News Group has assembled an all-star lineup of some of the leading retail merchants and marketers in the industry for its 15th annual Industry Issues conference next month. All that and brand-building genius and TV celebrity Daymond John of ABC’s “Shark Tank” will deliver the exclusive lunchtime keynote.

WASHINGTON – Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon and Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced at the SelectUSA 2013 Investment Summit on Thursday that three suppliers have made new domestic manufacturing commitments that will create 385 jobs. The move is part of the retailer’s previously announced pledge to buy an additional $50 billion in U.S.-made products over the next decade.

Walmart said that Elan-Polo, Louis Hornick & Company and EveryWare Global will produce footwear, curtains and glassware, respectively.

FLINT, Mich. — An executive at Diplomat has been named VP corporate services, the specialty pharmacy said Wednesday.

Diplomat, which recently changed its name from Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy, announced the appointment of Lance Neill, who will be responsible for analytics, business intelligence, contracting management and project management.

BOSTON — For the second year in a row, Dollar General has topped Kantar Retail’s opening price point survey, narrowly beating out Walmart. 

HARTFORD, Conn. — Aetna on Thursday announced that Dijuana Lewis is joining the company as EVP responsible for the newly formed Consumer Products and Enterprise Marketing organization. In this role, she will be responsible for aligning consumer-focused businesses, products, services and capabilities to deliver a personalized end-to-end consumer experience that positions the company for long-term growth. 

CHICAGO — Being safe can make one sorry. Because it’s the unconventional that captures a consumer’s attention, and that’s just as true for designers of display units as it is for anything else. Indeed, it’s often the displays that deviate most from the norm that have the greatest impact and the greatest potential to get a shopper to stop, shop and buy.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart will be opening more small stores next year and beyond as the company pursues a vision of omnichannel retailing that it contends no other company is capable of executing.

LONGUEUIL, Quebec — The Jean Coutu Group reported sales of C$653.8 million in second quarter 2014, compared with C$658.7 million in second quarter 2013.