Content about Economy of the United States

MINNEAPOLIS — Target will dedicate about 10,000 sq. ft. at nine of its stores in the Detroit area to fresh groceries, the mass merchandise chain said Monday.

The company said the remodeling effort was part of its ongoing effort to remodel stores across the country, and the new layout also would include reinventions in departments such as beauty, home, shoes and baby. Fresh foods will include produce, packaged meat and prepackaged baked goods, as well as frozen and dry food offerings.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble posted a boost in sales and earnings for the second quarter and raised its outlook for the fiscal year, the company announced on Friday.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Beauty retail veteran Cheryl Mahoney has assumed a new post at CVS Caremark, and the company has brought onboard Alex Perez-Tenessa to serve as VP retail merchandising – beauty/personal care, according to CVS Caremark.

MINNEAPOLIS — Pampers, part of Procter & Gamble, is expanding its line of Swaddlers diapers, the company announced this week. Previously available only up to size 3, the company will now offer sizes 4 and 5 at Target stores nationwide. From Jan. 27 through Feb. 2, Target guests will receive a free $20 Target gift card with an in-store purchase of two Pampers Swaddlers, Cruisers or Baby Dry economy packs.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Johnson & Johnson expects to return about 75% of its OTC brands to the marketplace over the course of 2013, Alex Gorsky, J&J chairman and CEO told analysts Tuesday. "I’m very pleased with the progress that we’re making in that," he said. "We mentioned to you that the consent decree that we had designed in conjunction with the FDA was approved and reviewed in October, with very few comments. And given the breadth and scale of that agreement, we felt very good about that. We’ve had teams working hard since then.

LANDOVER, Md. — A customer of Giant Food of Landover, Md., received $7,800 in Giant gift cards after winning an online sweepstakes, the Ahold banner said Tuesday.

Giant, also known as Giant-Landover to distinguish it from fellow Ahold banner Giant Food Stores of Carlisle, Pa., awarded the cards to customer Sarah Calamore and her family as part of its "Coupon to end All Coupons" sweepstakes, which encouraged customers to "like" the retailer's Facebook page.

DALLAS — Paper-products manufacturer Kimberly-Clark has appointed Jennifer Sepull as its chief information officer and VP information technology services, the company said Monday.

Sepull, who will report to SVP and CFO Mark Buthman, previously was VP and chief information officer of the information systems division at American Honda Motor Co. She also previously worked for IBM and pursued several business ventures.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club has hired cookbook author Katie Workman to recommend simple and healthy foods to influence people to eat better, the club retailer said Monday.

Workman is the author of "The Mom 100 Cookbook," and the retailer has hired her to join its Sam's Club Simply Delicious Chef Brigade and give people healthy recipes and encourage them to add fish and vegetables to their diets.

NEW YORK — Costco has entered the pharmacy benefit management business, according to published reports.

In an article in the January 2013 issue of Costco Connection magazine, the club warehouse retailer is promoting the new PBM, Costco Health Solutions, to small business owners. Pharmaceutical industry consultant Adam Fein noted on his blog, Drug Channels, that Costco was seeking to emulate the tactics already used by CVS Caremark, Walgreens and Walmart to drive prescription growth.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark has announced that it is working to resolve service issues related to its SilverScript Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan. 

CHICAGO — United Airlines on Friday announced the opening of the airline’s new employee health clinic at O’Hare International Airport. The clinic, managed by Walgreens, will serve a broad scope of employees’ health needs, such as urgent care for routine illness, travel and other immunizations including flu shots, prepackaged medications, job-related physical training and pre-employment physicals, at no cost to employees. 

BRUSSELS — The Delhaize Group shakeup continues as news circulates that its Sweetbay Supermarket division will shutter 33 underperforming stores in Florida by mid-February, according to a report on Tampa Bay Online.

The closures, which are part of a broader reorganization plan, will results in the loss of about 2,000 jobs in Florida and changes for its pharmacy customers. Following the closures, Sweetbay will operate 72 locations.