Kroger vows better sourcing, less waste by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer. "The cage-free pledge was part of a slate of initiatives – from improving seafood and egg sourcing to cutting store and factory waste – Kroger announced as part of the release of its 10th annual sustainability report..." Read more | Read the release   Canada: Customers side with Walmart in Visa spat, but retailer may lose shoppers anyway by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. "A new survey from the Angus Reid Institute finds that 59 per cent of Canadians support the big-box retailer in its decision to stop [...]

  Costco June Comp Sales Flat / +3% (excluding gas & f/x) "Costco reported net sales of $11.33 billion for the month of June, the five weeks ended July 3, 2016, an increase of three percent from $11.03 billion during the similar period last year." Read the release   Target closes several portrait studios around the U.S. by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. "That front of store space is valuable real estate in our stores,” said Kristy Welker, a Target spokeswoman, adding that the company has been evaluating the best and most profitable use of that space as it remodels [...]

  Walgreens Q3 Net Sales +2.4% "Walgreens Boots Alliance's proposed acquisition of Rite Aid Corporation, which was announced 27 October 2015, is progressing as planned." Read the release   Minority stake in Barneys up for sale amid sagging sales, profits by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. "(Richard) Perry has hired Goldman Sachs to scout out a buyer, the source said. “The existing owners don’t want to put more money into Barneys,” said the source." Read more   Supervalu Snags Marsh Supermarkets by Mike Hughlett at Star Tribune. "In addition to distributing branded foods, Supervalu will sell its private label products to Marsh. [...]

  J.C. Penney to employ 1,000 at new tech center in India by Korri Kezar at Dallas Business Journal. "According to the Times of India, the Plano-based retailer expects to hire 450 people for the center by the end of the year. Staff will include engineers to manage internal information technology systems and develop digital, e-commerce and analytics solutions." Read more   MasterCard-Visa Settlement With Retailers Is Overturned by Rachel Abrams at NY Times. "The National Retail Federation, a trade group representing some of the country’s largest retailers, said it welcomed the ruling. “This ‘settlement’ was never a settlement on behalf [...]