TARGET

MINNEAPOLIS — Target is getting an early jump on Black Friday this year, announcing that it will open its stores at midnight on Nov. 25.

“The holidays bring hectic schedules and tight budgets, so extending store hours and offering lots of additional ways to save makes Target a great choice for affordable, one-stop holiday shopping,” Target EVP stores Tina Schiel said.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target opened on Monday three new retail-based health clinics in the Twin Cities as part of its expansion plan announced earlier this year.

As previously reported by Drug Store News, Target announced earlier this year plans to open eight new clinic locations this year in the Twin Cities (four clinics), Chicago (three clinics) and Fort Lauderdale-Davie, Fla., areas (one clinic) by the end of July. The first of the new clinics opened in the Twin Cities on March 2.

MINNEAPOLIS — Responding to customer feedback, Procter & Gamble announced that it has improved its Pampers Cruisers diaper line to include improved softness, a 20% longer absorbent patch and new "Sesame Street" designs.

"We are really excited to offer these new and improved diapers," said Tricia Higgins for Pampers external relations. "We have listened to what parents really like about our diapers and responded by adding those features, such as the softness from Swaddlers, to our Cruisers diapers, which are available in sizes 3 and 4."

MINNEAPOLIS — The 4.5% increase in same-store sales Target reported for June was at the higher end of the company’s expectations and came on top of a prior-year increase of 1.7%.

The gain primarily was driven by an increase in average transaction size, while growth in the overall volume of transactions appeared to be somewhat moderate.

Target chairman, president and CEO Gregg Steinhafel said he was very pleased with the company’s performance at the upper end of a guidance range that called for a low- to mid-single-digit improvement.

Overdrive.


Increasingly, chains that traditionally have not been major forces in food retailing are making bigger commitments than ever to fresh — including meat, produce and dairy — in an effort not only to help solve the nation’s growing health crisis and expand Americans’ access to nutritious food options, but also to create new reasons for customers to shop their stores.


YONKERS, N.Y. — Important safety information often is missing from drug labels, while some pharmacies don’t include medication guides required by the federal government, according to a new investigation by Consumer Reports.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Walmart Canada has agreed to assume leasehold interests from Target Canada in up to 39 sites that currently are operated by Zellers.

Specific locations will be identified later this fall. Terms of this transaction were not disclosed.

The sites are among up to 220 possible sites whose leasehold interests Target is acquiring as part of a real-estate transaction announced in January. In May, Target selected its initial group of 105 sites, the vast majority of which will become Target stores.

LA JOLLA, Calif. — Natural food company Bear Naked is giving consumers a boost with a new breakfast cereal.

Bear Naked Nut Cluster Crunch is a blend of hearty flakes and energy-dense, crunchy clusters made with toasted nuts, whole-grain oats and puffed wheat. The company said that the cereal, which is available in honey almond and maple nut varieties, was designed to give busy, active people the natural energy they need to make the most of their morning.