Top Retailers

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club will offer free heart health screenings at 563 of its stores on Saturday, the club retailer said.

The screenings, taking place at stores with pharmacies, will include tests valued at up to $100 for glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index and vision screenings.

CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif. — Net sales at 99 Cents Only Stores increased 8.8% in third quarter 2013, the company said.

The dollar-store chain announced sales of $439.5 million, a $35.6 million increase over third quarter 2012, while comps increased 4.3%. For the first three quarters of fiscal year 2013, sales were $1.23 billion, an 8.7% increase over the same period last year, while comps increased 4.3%. Profit for the quarter was $12.7 million, compared with $22.2 million at the end of third quarter 2012.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp.'s sales increased 7% in January compared with January 2012, the club retailer said Thursday.

Costco reported sales for the five weeks that ended Sunday of $9.35 billion, compared with $8.74 billion a year ago. The month was one day shorter than last year due to the timing of the New Year holiday, which reduced total and same-store sales by about 2%, the company said. Comps in U.S. stores were up by 6%.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark has announced the extension of its Pharmacy Advisor program to cover an additional five chronic conditions, including asthma, breast cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression and osteoporosis.

NEW YORK — Verizon Communications on Thursday elected Greg Wasson, Walgreens president and CEO, to the Verizon board of directors, effective March 1.

"Greg Wasson brings to Verizon an in-depth knowledge of the retail and healthcare industries," stated Lowell McAdam, Verizon chairman and CEO. "He offers a unique perspective as the leader of a successful Fortune 50 company focused on innovation, traditional and nontraditional growth, operational and technical excellence, and multichannel integration. We welcome him as a valuable addition to our board."

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is promoting itself as a Valentine's Day shopping destination for women, the retail pharmacy chain said.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target Corp. reported net sales of nearly $6 billion in January, the company said Thursday.

The mass merchandise retailer reported sales of $5.97 billion, a 29.6% increase over the $4.6 billion reported in January 2012. Comps for the period, which ended Saturday, increased 3.1%.

ST. LOUIS — Walgreens last week awarded six area teens cash prizes of up to $2,000 for their participation in the Walgreens Expressions Challenge, according to a story published in The St. Louis American Tuesday. 

The winners were selected out of more than 1,000 entries.