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OAKLAND, Calif. – The Clorox Co. on Tuesday announced that COO Lawrence S. "Larry" Peiros, 57, will retire from the company effective April 1, 2013.

Peiros, who joined Clorox in 1980 as a summer intern, was appointed a member of the company's executive committee in 1999 and then to the COO role in 2007. He also oversees the marketing, sales, research & development and product supply functions as well as Clorox's Eco office.

MELVILLE, N.Y. – The Hain Celestial Group, a natural and organic products company, announced Monday the closing of the acquisition of Premier Food's portfolio of packaged grocery brands and its Histon manufacturing based in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.

"This acquisition furthers our goal to expand in the United Kingdom, and positions the newly expanded Hain Daniels business in the top 40 of all food and beverage suppliers in the U.K.," said Irwin Simon, founder, president and CEO of Hain Celestial.

TORONTO — Shrink costs Canadian retailers almost C$4 billion per year, according to a new report.

The report, released Wednesday by PwC and the Retail Council of Canada and based on a survey of 34 retailers from across Canada, estimated that retailers in Canada lose about C$10.8 million per shopping day to theft by customers and employees, counting mistakes and organized crime. Cosmetics and fragrances, alcohol and women's clothing were the three most popular items to steal, according to the report.

LA JOLLA, Calif. – Kashi, a natural food and lifestyle company, announced Monday the national launch of its new Chocolate Almond Butter Cookies.

The indulgent yet nutritious snack combines rich cocoa and creamy almond butter with dark chocolate chips, crunchy almonds and Kashi's signature seven whole grains to create a soft-baked, natural cookie.

LOS ANGELES – Energy-X, a division of Pacific Shore Holdings, has introduced The Juice — the first neutral-tasting energy supplement mixer that consumers can add to juice, sports drinks, water and more.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – Sears Holdings said it was “rushing” emergency supplies to stores on the East Coast ahead of Hurricane Sandy.

The company, which operates the Sears and Kmart chains, said it would stock up on portable generators, chainsaws, gasoline cans, flashlights and other equipment at stores from North Carolina to Maine.

SAN ANTONIO — Consumers plan to buy more gifts this year, according to a recent survey commissioned by USAA and released Monday. The fourth annual USAA holiday spending survey indicated that consumer sentiment toward holiday budgeting has become more positive in 2012 when compared to 2011 (53% vs. 45%).

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble's Downy Unstopables brand is giving Americans their chance at "12 Seconds to Fame" with a contest that asks consumers, "How fresh are you?"