Top Retailers

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Late last year, Walmart rolled out the pilot program for a new mobile initiative called "Scan & Go" to 70 stores in the Atlanta and Bentonville, Ark. areas, where the company is based. Now, the mass merchandise retailer is expanding the program after a successful test run.

CHICAGO — The Network of Executive Women, whose mission is to attract, retain and advance women in the retail and consumer products industry through education, leadership and business development, has unveiled its "2012 Annual Report."

The report opens with the personal stories of 10 network members, who explain how their engagement with NEW changed their companies, careers and lives. Among those features are Kim Tisdale, manager of expense payables at Wal-Mart Stores, and Chris Albi, VP merchandising at Kroger.

AMSTERDAM — Royal Ahold expects its deal to sell its share of the European supermarket chain ICA to Hakon Invest to be completed next Wednesday, the Dutch supermarket operator said Thursday.

Ahold said the conditions for the sale of its 60% stake in ICA to Swedish investor group Hakon Invest had been met.

WASHINGTON — According to a new spending survey from the National Retail Federation (NRF), consumer spending for Easter 2013 will be flat when compared to the holiday last year.

The NRF 2013 Easter Spending Survey, conducted by BIGinsight, was designed to gauge consumer behavior and shopping trends related to Easter. The poll of 5,050 consumers was conducted from March 5 to 11, 2013.

NEW YORK — Rebates on healthy foods may lead patients to purchase them more frequently, according to a new study by researchers in South Africa.

The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, examined a program offered by Discovery, South Africa's largest health plan. The HealthyFood program provides a cash-back rebate of up to 25% on healthy food purchases in more than 400 designated supermarkets around the country.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid raised $5.9 million for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals in 2012, the retail pharmacy chain said.

The company said the amount marked a record and was 41% higher than the year before. Rite Aid has supported the organization for 18 years, and the money funds critical care, research and equipment at 95 Children's Miracle Network Hospitals in communities served by Rite Aid.

NEW YORK — Google is looking to launch a competitor to Amazon Prime, according to published reports.

TechCrunch reported that Google was dogfooding a service called Google Shopping Express, which would offer same-day delivery from brick-and-mortar stores in the San Francisco Bay Area, but so far only to Google employees. Target, Nob Hill Foods and Babies'R'Us have been named as possible partners in the service, as well as five other stores in the area.

BOISE, Idaho — Supervalu’s sale of Albertsons stores to Cerberus Capital Management will reportedly close Thursday at midnight, according to a published report by StateImpact Idaho.