Wal-Mart Shakes Up Grocery Management in Bid to Improve Food by Renee Dudley at Bloomberg. “Jack Sinclair, who has been executive vice president of the U.S. grocery division since 2007, will retire on March 20, according to a note that the Bentonville, Arkansas-based company sent to U.S. employees. Senior Vice President Tony Airoso, who runs the dairy and fresh-food strategy, will become a California-based senior vice president of global food sourcing.” More changes

 

Target hints at more layoffs to come by Tom Webb at Twin Cities/Pioneer Press. “Asked Friday whether the layoffs are finished, Target responded with a Zen-like statement: “We see Target’s transformation as not a moment in time, but an ongoing journey. As a part of that, we will continue to review opportunities to fuel our growth.” Read more

 

Amazon’s CTO got hilariously shut-down at SXSW panel when he tried to describe the company as a startup by Jillian D’Onfro at Business Insider. “When he started asking (Jordan) Krechmer about his hiring practices, the fun began:  “How much time do you spent time on hiring?” (Amazon’s Werner) Vogels asked. “At Amazon, of course, we’re a 20 year-old startup by now —” “Uh… startup?” Kretchmer interrupted. The crowd burst into laughter. Vogels stuck with his description: “Ehh, startup,” he said over the crowd, “We’re still a startup! “Awww, that’s really cute,” Kretchmer fired back in a faux-sweet voice.” Read more

 

As Whole Foods ventures to Englewood (Chicago), many eyes on Detroit store by Lolly Bowean at Chicago Tribune. “This has really never been done before, so our store will be a prototype. We’re about to be the model that allows Whole Foods to see how to come into an underserved community and help us help ourselves.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart will be Exclusive U.S. Seller of Premium-Priced German Laundry Soap Persil by Serena Ng at WSJ. “A war is bubbling up in the laundry aisles at Wal-Mart…it has stacked the brand, Persil, on store shelves right next to the reigning champion of high-end laundry detergent: Tide. Expanding its premium-priced offerings may seem a puzzler given Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s ultra-frugal customer base. But it makes more sense in the context of Tide maker Procter & Gamble Co.’s lock on the laundry business.” Read more (Subscription)

 

Feds move to stop fishing crimes by tracking seafood imports at LA Times. “U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Bruce Andrews announced the initiative at the Seafood Expo conference in Boston on Sunday, describing an action plan to stamp out imports of illegally caught fish.” Read more

 

Target Canada to permanently shut down 16 stores through 3/22/15 at Toronto Star. “Ontario is home to half of the stores that have been notified of closures between March 18 and 22. The remainder include three in Alberta, two in B.C., two in Quebec and one store in Manitoba.” Read more

 

…See the list/location of stores at Financial Post. Read more

 

Dollar Tree outlines risks, benefits to its pending purchase of Family Dollar by Jennifer Thomas at Charlotte Business Journal. “There’s a chance the transaction could close as soon as April, but the Federal Trade Commission has yet to approve the deal, according to the SEC filing.” Read more

 

Sears Hometown & Outlet Stores Q4 Comp -7.7%  Read the release

 

Wayfair Announces 2015 Trade Tastemaker Award Winners Read the release

 

Blue Bell products recalled, three deaths reported by Olivia Pulsinelli at Houston Business Journal. “Five adult patients at one hospital in Kansas were infected with similar strains of the bacteria, and four of them were served ice cream from Blue Bell’s prepackaged, single-serving products or milkshakes.” Read more

 

Meth lab found in Muncie Walmart restroom by Douglas Walker at The Star Press. “The ISP release said meth cooks “are now often leaving behind the deadly explosive chemicals in public places to return later to get the finished product,” rather than risk explosions and contamination of their own homes.” Read more

 

Dispute over prime Costco parking spot lands 80-year-old man in court by Steve Mayes at Oregon Live. “The push forced her back a step and caused pain in her neck and an ankle, Gabriel said. Kathleen Elesha, the woman driving the van, said Schricker took the parking spot before she had finished backing out. Elesha stopped. “I sat there because I was in shock,” she testified. “He had to have seen she was waiting.” Read more

 

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