Top Retailers

PLEASANTON, Calif. — The Vons division of Safeway on Wednesday announced a new program with Chevron to offer a joint Reward Points loyalty program. Customers who earn gas rewards by shopping with their VonsClub Card at Vons stores and their ValuePlus Card at Pavilions stores will now be able to use their Rewards for up to 20 cents off per gallon when filling up at participating Chevron and Texaco branded locations in southern and central California. 

NEW YORK — Recognizing the importance of meeting the needs of its ethnic beauty shoppers, Target has in recent years been working to bolster its ethnic sets in-store, and that effort continues, as evidenced by a media event held here Tuesday evening.

The event was held at the Target Studio in New York and served as a showroom to highlight new and existing products, from such ethnic beauty brands as Kinky Curly, Mixed Chicks, Milani, Iman, Camille Rose and Shea Moisture. On hand to greet beauty editors was style expert Tai Beauchamp.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark’s MinuteClinic has opened three walk-in clinics inside CVS/pharmacy stores in the Asheville, N.C. area, and three additional locations are expected to open by year-end.

The new clinics are located in Arden, Asheville and Hendersonville. Three additional clinics are expected to open by the end of the year in Asheville, Brevard and Waynesville.

WHEELING, Ill. — “When you create something for [our various retail concepts], you are creating a new experience and environment that makes us different than our competitive set. Exclusivity of the experience is a large differentiator.” That was a key message that keynote retail speaker Shannon Curtin, Walgreens divisional VP and GMM for beauty, personal care and seasonal, had for attendees of the latest Mack Elevation Forum.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Nearly one year after launching an initiative to help create more job opportunities for people with disabilities in Connecticut, 62 participants have completed training under the Walgreens Retail Employees with Disabilities Initiative program, the retailer announced on Wednesday.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club, via its Simply Right wellness brand, has donated $500,000 to Vitamin Angels, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing availability, access and use of micronutrients among at-risk populations in need. The monetary donation will help Vitamin Angels expand their efforts to reach at-risk children age five and under with vitamin A and daily multivitamins and pregnant or breastfeeding women with prenatal vitamins around the world and domestically.

NEW YORK — Cerberus Capital Management, which owns Albertsons LLC, may be looking to reunite the stores as it has reportedly emerged as a possible suitor to acquire all or part of Supervalu, according to published reports. 

Cerberus is reportedly seeking $4 billion to $5 billion in debt financing from banks and is looking at investing equity of $800 million to $900 million, a person familiar with the matter reportedly said, although the source cautioned that the figures could change, according to reports.

StoreBoard Media — a company that places advertising billboards on the security pedestals at the entrance of chain stores nationwide — is launching its StoreBoard Wellness Program throughout New York's 259 Duane Reade stores.

Through the program, Duane Reade stores will feature StoreBoard Media's billboards and in-store kiosks advertising brands like Eau Thermale Avene — a hypoallergenic skin recovery cream from Pierre Fabre USA — and encouraging customers to use the Purell hand sanitizer at the kiosk.