Content about Top Retailers

NEW YORK — Acosta Sales and Marketing has appointed two new executives, the company said.

Patrick O'Reilly has been hired as VP and team leader for the company's CVS team. O'Reilly previously spent 25 years working for Eastman Kodak as director of sales for the drug channel and CVS team leader and was also VP sales for the drug channel at Foster Grant International.

Kevin Downey has been hired as director of Acosta's CVS team. He previously spent 25 years working for Mars North America and was the Mars CVS team leader.

CARLISLE, Pa. — A division of Ahold USA is donating millions of dollars to local schools.

Giant Food Stores and Martin's Food Markets, also known as Giant-Carlisle, announced Wednesday the donation of $3 million to 2,868 public and private schools through its A+ School Rewards program for the 2012-2013 school year. The program has donated more than $16 million since 2005. The program allows local schools to earn money for technology, scholarships, school programs, field trips, playgrounds and other needs.

WASHINGTON — Walgreens Take Care Health Systems and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties are sponsoring a new program to support the clinical education of nurse practitioners, the two announced.

"NONPF is very pleased to have the support of a strong clinical leader such as Take Care Health Systems," president Debra Barksdale said. "The important role that NPs play by providing care at Take Care Clinics and the clinical education of NP students makes this a natural partnership."

AMSTERDAM — Royal Ahold has appointed Ben Wishart as group chief information officer, the Dutch supermarket operator said Tuesday.

In the newly created position, Wishart will report to CFO Jeff Carr and will work out of the company's Amsterdam headquarters. He previously worked at U.K. food retailer Morrisons as chief information officer. Ahold operates the Stop & Shop, Giant-Landover and Giant-Carlisle supermarket chains in the United States, as well as the Peapod online grocery service.

ST. LOUIS — Aisle411, a mobile retail navigation service, on Tuesday announced that its mobile shopping and searchable store maps smartphone app is available to use within more than 12,000 retail stores throughout the United States. 

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Tuesday announced that its board of directors approved an increase to its regular quarterly cash dividend from $0.175 per share to $0.20 per share, reflecting a 14% increase. 

The board also declared a cash dividend of $0.20 per share payable on July 11, 2013 to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 20, 2013.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — A study conducted by researchers at CVS Caremark and Brigham and Women's Hospital and published in the May issue of the American Heart Journal found that non-white patients had 50% greater odds of statin medication nonadherence compared with white patients, while women had 10% greater odds of statin nonadherence compared with men.

UTRECHT, Netherlands — Nearly all of Royal Ahold's Albert Heijn stores in the Netherlands will have pick-up points for the company's Bol.com online grocery service by this summer, the company said Monday.

 DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Monday extended its agreement as a network pharmacy provider in the CVS Caremark pharmacy benefit management national retail network. The companies are not disclosing the financial and other confidential terms of the agreement.

MIAMI LAKES, Fla. — Fuse Science on Thursday announced extended distribution for its PowerFuse and ElectroFuse energy drops across select Walgreens stores in the Ponte Verde, Fla., market for the Players Championship Tournament. Point-of-purchase displays feature NFL's Arian Foster and David Ortiz of MLB's Boston Red Sox. 

The Fuse Science distribution strategy is focused on rolling out product lines within Walgreens locations situated near select PGA tournaments around the country up until, and including, the 2013 U.S. Open in June.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp.'s sales grew 7% in April over April 2012, the club retailer said Thursday.

Costco reported sales of $7.98 billion for the four weeks that ended Sunday, compared with $7.48 billion during the same period last year. Sales for the 35-week period that ended Sunday were $69 billion, 9% higher than the $63.59 billion recorded last year.

Sales in the United States at continuously open stores since last April increased by 4%, while same-store sales for the 35 weeks that ended Sunday increased 6%.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Today, CVS/pharmacy announced the official launch of Total Home, a new home care product line built on performance, reliability and premium quality that is now available exclusively at CVS/pharmacy stores nationwide.