Content about Computing

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble has teamed up with Kroger to support the United Services Organization.

In line with Kroger's USO support campaign called Honoring Our Heroes, P&G will launch a Mega Event sales promotion through which customers at participating Kroger banner stores receive $5 instantly at checkout when they purchase 10 participating P&G Mega Event items.

NORWALK, Conn. — Pepperidge Farm is helping its classic Milano cookies evolve with a new addition.

New Milano Melts cookies combine crisp cookies with a soft chocolate cream filling, providing two textures in every bite. The cookies will be available in Dark Classic Crème and Chocolate Dark Classic Crème varieties.

Milano Melts cookies are available in major supermarkets, grocery stores and mass merchandisers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $3.49.

SALT LAKE CITY — One of the basic functions of humor is to make people feel better about difficult situations. A group of software developers has incorporated that idea into a new app for Apple iPhones, iPods and iPads for people living with diabetes.

The app, called “Shot in the Arm,” made by Nashsmile, delivers brief and simple diabetes management advice, as well as humor — for example, ways to handle an insulin reaction and jokes, such as “Whoever said ‘no man is an island’ has never seen my stomach in the bath tub.”

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart announced that through its charitable arm, the Walmart Foundation, it is committing $1 million in cash and in-kind donations to support emergency relief efforts following the recent Southern storms, Midwest floods and Texas wildfires.

MIAMI — Navarro Discount Pharmacy, which operates 28 stores in the Miami area, has launched a free pharmacy mobile application for its customers.

The new Navarro Rx App, m.navarro.com, is available for cell phones and smartphones, including iPhone, BlackBerry, Android and Windows Mobile 7 (coming soon), and also supports two-way interactive SMS messaging.

The mobile app enables customers to manage their prescriptions and related health information directly from their mobile device. Features include:

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Net income for Safeway dropped due to a tax charge and the retailer's decision to repatriate $1.1 billion from its wholly owned Canadian subsidiary, although the company noted revenue rose nearly 5%.

Net income for the first quarter ended March 26 dropped to $25.1 million, or 7 cents per diluted share, compared with $96 million, or 25 cents per diluted share, in first quarter 2010. Excluding the tax charge, Safeway said first-quarter net income was $105.3 million, or 29 cents per diluted share.

VISTA, Calif. — BioFilm on Wednesday launched Astroglide Natural product, a water-based and latex-safe personal lubricant made with all-natural botanical ingredients.

"Our enhanced Astroglide Natural is perfect for the consumer who desires all-natural or organic products," BioFilm CEO Lisa O'Carroll said. "Natural-themed stores and products continue to explode in popularity throughout the country, and we worked hard to be a part of that growth."

PURCHASE, N.Y. — PepsiCo is building on the social networking experience by providing consumers with a new kind of vending system.

The company announced plans to roll out an interactive vending machine, dubbed the Social Vending System, which features a full touchscreen that enables users to give a gift to a friend by selecting a beverage, entering the recipient's name, mobile number and a personalized text message. There's also the option to further personalize the gift with a short video recorded right at the machine.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Hallmark is touting postage-paid greeting cards for Mother's Day.

The greeting card maker said it has developed 90 postage-paid greetings specifically for Mother's Day, ranging from $2.69 to $3.99.

Hallmark postage-paid greetings feature the U.S. Postal Service's Intelligent Mail bar code on the front of the envelope, the company said. When the cards are processed at a Postal Service facility, the bar code automatically indicates to the Postal Service that the postage is paid.

Hallmark cards are available in retailers nationwide.

HAWTHORNE, N.Y. — Taro said that the Food and Drug Administration has declared the drug maker's manufacturing facility in Canada as having acceptable regulatory status.

The drug maker said it diligently worked to resolve issues noted in an FDA warning letter dated Feb. 5, 2009. The regulatory agency reinspected the manufacturing facility last February.

Beauty360 has been described as “a natural evolution” of CVS/pharmacy’s commitment to beauty, and there’s no denying that it is much different than any beauty department you’ll find in a traditional CVS/pharmacy store. As of press time, there were 25 Beauty360 stores in operation, located primarily in California. The first location was unveiled November 2008 at a Capitol district CVS store in the center of Dupont Circle.


SEATTLE — A company that makes tracking technology for retailers and drug companies is making an initial public offering.

Seattle-based Impinj, which makes ultra-high-frequency radio-frequency identification tags, made the announcement Thursday, saying it had filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to a proposed IPO.

Impinj’s tags, which are cheaper and smaller than regular RFID tags, are used by retailers to track inventory and by drug companies to keep counterfeit drugs out of the supply chain.