“Wal-Mart Shareholders recap: Customers and new tech are the focus” by Kim Souza at The City Wire.  “(Doug) McMillon said the goal (of Click & Collect) is to adopt something like he saw at ASDA recently. He said the grocery order was placed online to pick up at the store. But on the way to the store, the shopper remembers three or four items left off the online order. When arriving at the store, the shopper can run inside and gather the three items left of the list and have them packaged with their online order and loaded in their vehicle.” Read more

 

“Pharrell Brings Happy Dance to Walmart Shareholders Meeting” by Tom Gara at WSJ.  “Pharrell put things more simply. “Put your hands together for Wal-Mart, guys,” he says at the end of his first performance, “for making the world a happier place.”  Read more

 

Walmart’s Bill Simon on Small Format Stores:  “If there are 300 of these small stores in the universe it’s not very exciting, but if there is 2,000 (his vision) it gets much more interesting,” Simon said.”  Read more via The City Wire

 

Report:  “Home Depot Looks to Expand Atlanta Area HQ” by Douglas Sams at Atlanta Bus. Journal (Subscription).  “Home Depot, whose 1.7 million-square-foot headquarters sits northwest of Atlanta in Vinings, could seek up to 300,000 square feet of additional office space near the campus, according to two real estate executives familiar with the plans.  In recent weeks, Home Depot executives and its real estate broker have floated the requirement to building landlords along the northwest Perimeter.” Read more

 

“Target’s annual meeting is on Wednesday, and there’s plenty to talk about” by Kavita Kumar at Star-Tribune.  “Annual meetings are often scripted, placid affairs that don’t result in big outcomes. But this shareholder gathering could prove more contentious…Jason Long, a retail consultant with Shift Marketing Group, said the shareholders meeting will obviously be closely watched, but in some ways, the retailer has already been letting some air out of the balloon leading up to it.”  Read more

 

“Costco under fire from dog lovers for continuing to sell pet jerky treats from China” by Kathy Tomlinson at CBC News Canada.  “(Costco) sent Wirsche an email, saying Costco is sorry Rosie died, but because the treats are tested, it sees no problem. “There’s no way Costco can test for something when they don’t know why the dogs are dying from these treats. Even the FDA doesn’t know why they are dying,” said Wirsche.”  Read more

 

“Walmart ‘profoundly sorry’ for Tracy Morgan crash” at CNBC.  “A Wal-Mart truck driver has been charged with death by auto and four counts of assault by auto in connection with the Saturday morning accident that critically injured actor Tracy Morgan and killed a fellow comedian.  The driver, 35-year-old Kevin Roper, of Jonesboro, Georgia, apparently failed to slow for traffic ahead and swerved at the last minute to avoid a crash, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s office said.”  Read more

 

“Walmart’s Bill Simon Issues Statement on Morgan Accident”  “The facts are continuing to unfold. If it’s determined that our truck caused the accident, Walmart will take full responsibility.”  Read the release

 

“Investor Carl Icahn takes 9.4 percent stake in Family Dollar” by Jennifer Thomas at Charlotte Bus. Journal.  “Icahn intends to have conversations with members of Family Dollar’s senior management and board of directors “to discuss the Issuer’s business and strategies to enhance shareholder value, which may include the pursuit of operating initiatives or the exploration of strategic alternatives.”  Read more

 

Target’s Next CEO:  “Sam’s Club CEO Rosalind Brewer could be on the short list” by Brian Sozzi at The Street.  “Sam’s Club CEO Rosalind Brewer shined on stage, once again. From her background as a former 22-year executive at Kimberly Clark, to running over 1,000 Walmart stores, to now infusing the tech revolution into Sam’s Club to fight back against Amazon, Brewer is a highly impressive executive destined for bigger things.”  Read more / See the video

 

“Aretha Franklin Walks in Super Walmart Stores to Stay in Shape” by Billy Heller at NY Post.  “I have a walking regimen — about three times a week, at least a mile or so. I walk the super Walmarts, the biggest ones. If people are in the aisle and the store happens to be crowded that day, I go to other aisles.”  Read more

 

“Amazon expands middleman role in latest online payments push” by Deepa Seetharaman at Reuters.  “Amazon has been testing the new service over the last several months with start-ups including Ting, a mobile phone company that is part of Tucows Inc. Those who used recurring payments by Amazon spent 30 percent more on Ting’s website.”  Read more

 

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