"Home Depot CEO's Interview with Fortune" by Geoff Colvin at Fortune. "Retailing is among the industries most disrupted by technology. How is Home Depot adapting its business model?  The Internet does a number of things to retailers. There's a general rule that software eats hardware, so some retailers are very disrupted -- think books, CDs, DVDs, and things like that. Not so much an issue for us: You can't digitize drywall. On the other hand, the expectation of our customer has increased."  Read the full interview   "Retail stores become shipping hubs to battle Amazon" by Alistair Barr at USA [...]

  "It’s Target Versus Amazon in the Battle for Moms" by Brad Tuttle at Time.  "Target wants its moms back. This week, Target rolled out a new diaper-delivery plan and a family friendly on-demand video streaming option. Both services are aimed at wooing moms—in particular, moms who might otherwise give their business to Amazon.  While rivalries among competing retailers are rarely friendly, Amazon.com and Target have a history of confrontation."  Read more   "Home Depot Expands Redbeacon to Boost ‘Do-It-for-Me’ Services" by Chris Burritt at Bloomberg.  "Redbeacon, which connects consumers with painters, plumbers, carpenters and maids, expanded this week through [...]

  "McMillon, Simon top picks as next Wal-Mart CEO" by Kim Souza at City Wire.  "The Wal-Mart Board of Directors meeting scheduled for later this week may include the selection and announcement of Doug McMillon or Bill Simon as the new top boss at Wal-Mart Stores.  A majority of insiders that include analysts, academics, service providers and consultants recently interviewed for this story give the nod to 46-year-old Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart International. If McMillon is not selected, the insiders say Bill Simon, 53, CEO of Walmart U.S., will be promoted to the top job."  Read more   "Wal-Mart Cutting [...]

    "Wal-Mart 'Made in America' drive follows suppliers' lead" by Jessica Wohl at Reuters.  "An examination of the company's "Made in America" campaign suggests Wal-Mart's caught on to a reshoring phenomenon that was already underway.  In many cases, Wal-Mart's suppliers had already decided to produce in the United States, as rising wages in China and other emerging economies, along with increased labor productivity and flexibility back home, eroded the allure of offshore production.  Though wrapped in the stars and stripes, the world's largest retailer's push to bring jobs back to the United States also makes business sense both for [...]

  "Walmart Launches Online Reality Series" at Seeking Alpha.  "The five weekly "webisodes," which go live on Tuesdays beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET from Sept. 24 through Oct. 22, feature a group of finalists under the same theme, such as Kid Stuff or Great Gadgets. The webisodes give viewers a chance to learn more about the entrepreneurs behind the inventions and watch as they pitch their product to a panel of Walmart.com judges."  Read more   "Sears Canada CEO Departs" by Marina Strauss at Globe & Mail.  "The departure was sparked over differing views with parent Sears Holdings Corp., whose [...]

  "Kroger CEO to retire at start of 2014, COO to replace him" at Reuters.  "Kroger said on Friday that David Dillon, the grocery store's chief executive officer for a decade, plans to step down from that job in January and that President and Chief Operating Officer Rodney McMullen will replace him as CEO."  Read more   "Q&A: W. Rodney McMullen, next Kroger CEO" by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer.  "On Kroger’s strategy: McMullen said he’s not planning any major changes in strategy. He noted the company has prospered in the past decade with its Customer 1st strategy that emphasizes [...]

  "Why Target’s New Digital Video Service Could Face Complications" by Todd Spangler at Variety.  "But on the eve of Target’s big digital video launch, the company faces a potential wrinkle: The core system it is using just changed ownership.  On Sept. 1, entertainment technology firm Rovi completed the sale of its money-losing Rovi Entertainment Store, a one-stop shop for video e-commerce that powers Target Ticket, to an entity called Reliance Majestic Holdings — a Beverly Hills startup that is staying silent as to its plans."  Read more   "Rite-Aid Swings to Unexpected Quarterly Profit" at WSJ.  "For the period [...]

  "Walmart Loses Share to Dollar General" by Kim Souza at The City Wire.  "Kantar found Dollar General had the least expensive total basket by far; driven by lower opening price points in its edible and non-edible baskets...Long said Dollar General is blanketing the country with rural stores, while Wal-Mart is still in the first inning of its Walmart Express format, which began in rural areas but more recently has been gravitating toward denser populated regions...“A trip to a Walmart Supercenter is a commitment, but a Dollar Store trip is quick and easy with a little bit of a treasure [...]