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MINNEAPOLIS — The 4.5% increase in same-store sales Target reported for June was at the higher end of the company’s expectations and came on top of a prior-year increase of 1.7%.

The gain primarily was driven by an increase in average transaction size, while growth in the overall volume of transactions appeared to be somewhat moderate.

Target chairman, president and CEO Gregg Steinhafel said he was very pleased with the company’s performance at the upper end of a guidance range that called for a low- to mid-single-digit improvement.

MINNEAPOLIS — Fiber One is adding a breakfast choice to its lineup of products.

New Fiber One 80 Calories cereal is a honey-flavored cereal that provides 10 g of fiber per serving, in addition to calcium, iron, B vitamins, folic acid and zinc, according to the company.


MINNEAPOLIS — Target is poised to become an even more significant player in the world of health, wellness and beauty in the coming years, assuming the company can execute a range of initiatives designed to grow sales to $100 billion and double earnings per share to at least $8.


MINNEAPOLIS — Target has unveiled the first wave of the Zellers sites it will be taking over in Canada, representing 105 locations in all 10 Canadian provinces.

The vast majority of the sites will become Target stores after securing the necessary construction approval for extensive renovation. The stores will open beginning in 2013.

MINNEAPOLIS — First-quarter sales at Target increased 2.8% to $15.6 billion, and same-store sales increased 2%, the company reported.

The modest sales growth translated into earnings per share that advance 9.8% to 99 cents, 4 cents better than analysts’ consensus estimate of 95 cents, and net income that increased 2.7% to $689 million. Share repurchase activity contributed to the earnings-per-share growth as Target spent $819 million during the first quarter to buy back 15.4 million shares at an average price of $53.32.

MINNEAPOLIS — The 13.1% increase in same-store sales Target reported for April was toward the low end of the company’s projection of an increase in the mid-teens, and begs the question whether Walmart’s mid-month launch of a new marketing campaign contributed to the weakness.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Diabetes patients who adhere to their medication therapies have a significantly lower risk of hospitalization, according to a new study scheduled for presentation this week at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy’s 23rd annual meeting and showcase in Minneapolis.

The study, conducted by pharmacy benefit manager Prime Therapeutics using data from more than 15,000 patients, found that medication adherence among diabetes patients cut the risk of hospitalization by 31%, compared with patients who were not compliant.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target announced that it will adopt green refrigeration technologies in its stores as part of its new membership in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's GreenChill program.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target said that its in-store recycling stations collected and recycled more than 170 million shopping bags, weighing more than 1,800 tons, between April and December 2010.

The retailer also said that its in-store recycling stations, which were launched to make it easier for guests to recycle common household items, also collected and recycled more than 700 tons of bottles and cans, as well as nearly 2 million units of such small electronics as MP3 players and cell phones during the nine-month period.

MINNEAPOLIS — Nash Finch, a food distribution company, on Monday named retired CVS Caremark president Chris Bodine to the company’s board.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target's March sales dropped 4.5% to $5.95 billion, compared with the year-ago period.

The retailer also disclosed that comparable-store sales for the five weeks dropped 5.5%, which was in line with expectations, as they reflected the later timing of the Easter holiday, according to the company's chairman, president and CEO, Gregg Steinhafel.

"Our stores are well-prepared for the upcoming Easter season, and we continue to expect a mid-teens increase in Target's April comparable-store sales," Steinhafel noted.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target announced that as part of its Earth Month celebration, it is offering customers the chance to win a "Refresh Your Nest" home makeover worth up to $50,000 with the help of LEED-accredited designer Sabrina Soto, as well as hundreds of other sustainable prizes.

Guests can log on to Target.com/Eco to enter the sweepstakes.