WALMART

NEW YORK — Walmart topped the list of retailers on the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands, according to a study commissioned by WPP Group and conducted by Millward Brown Optimor.

The BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands study identifies and ranks the world's most valuable 100 brands by their dollar value, an analysis based on financial data combined with consumer measures of brand equity.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — First-quarter profits at Walmart exceeded analysts’ estimates as same-store sales increased 2.6% and the company said its strategy of low prices on a broad merchandise assortment is resonating again with shoppers.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart and Sam's Club will be among the first retailers to offer a generic version of an antiplatelet drug.

Clopidogrel, the generic version of Plavix, will be available at both banners pharmacies on May 19. The patent for the Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi drug officially expires Thursday.

TAMPA, Fla. — Sam's Club has signed a deal with Triad Retail Media to provide pet care information on its website, Triad said Wednesday.

NEW YORK — Consumers gravitate toward traditional pharmacies for their everyday health-and-wellness needs, according to the "2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend" survey released Monday. Among retail pharmacy operations, Walgreens enjoyed the greatest brand equity among consumers based on top consumer scores in "familiarity" and "purchase consideration" categories. Overall, Walgreens' brand equity was tabulated at 69.9, CVS/pharmacy came in at 67.4 and Rite Aid 62.5.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — More retail websites this year achieved a "threshold for excellence" on customer experience analytics firm ForeSee's annual Top 100 E-Retail Satisfaction Index.

ForeSee reported that 36-out-of-100 online retailers achieved a satisfaction score of 80 or higher, compared with 28-out-of-100 websites that received the distinction last year. Although Amazon.com topped the list with a 2012 satisfaction score of 89 — up three points from 2011 — many other retailers, particularly retail pharmacies and grocery retailers, earned a high score:

NEW YORK — Club retailer Costco Wholesale is looking to grow its online retail presence, according to published reports.

According to The Seattle Times, the company plans to introduce apps for Apple and Android devices this month in order to boost its online sales, which, at about $2 billion a year, are behind companies like Walmart and Amazon.

Citing industry statistics, The Seattle Times reported that Costco ranked 17th among online retailers, while Amazon had the top spot, and Walmart was fourth.

SAN BRUNO, Calif. — HumanKind Water, PlateTopper and SnapIt Eyeglass Repair Kit have the distinction of being the winners of Walmart's Get on the Shelf contest — beating out more than 4,000 inventors, entrepreneurs and small businesses to claim the coveted prize of being carried in Walmart's U.S. stores, as well as on Walmart.com.