Content about Top Retailers

DEERFIELD, Ill. — The board of directors at Walgreens on Wednesday declared a regular quarterly dividend of 27.5 cents per share, a 22.2% increase over the year ago dividend. The dividend is payable June 12, 2013, to shareholders of record May 21, 2013.

Walgreens has paid a dividend in 322 straight quarters (more than 80 years) and has raised its dividend for 37 consecutive years. Over the last five years, Walgreens annual dividend rate has increased from 38 cents per share to $1.10 per share, resulting in a compound annual growth rate of nearly 24%.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — Step by step, Walgreens of South Florida and the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation on Tuesday announced the third annual Walk with Walgreens Family Fun Day and Health Fair, which takes place April 20 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, home to both the Miami Dolphins and the University of Miami Hurricanes football teams. 

SAN FRANCISCO — ECOtality and Kroger on Monday announced an expanded partnership that includes the installation of more than 200 level-2 (quick-charge) charging stations, and 25 DC Fast Chargers, to be installed across key markets through the EV Project. This multimillion dollar expansion will bring the total number of Blink chargers at the Kroger Family of Stores to almost 300.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Blackhawk Network Holdings on Monday announced its intent to open its initial public offering of 10 million shares at an estimated offering price of $20 to $22 per share. The IPO will consist solely of shares to be offered by existing stockholders, including Safeway, and could raise as much as $220 million. 

ST. LOUIS — More than 90 runners signed on to join Team Walgreens/Team Tori last month at the 2013 St. Louis Undy 5000 in support of 24-year old Tori Riley. The team raised more than $1,000 in support, half contributed to the Colon Cancer Alliance and the other half to Team Tori, through T-shirt sales, raffles for Walgreens beauty bags and silent auctions that included St. Louis Cardinals tickets, among other items.

NEW YORK — In an exclusive sit down with Adweek, Amy Spiridakis, director of marketing for Diet Pepsi, spoke about recent rebranding efforts from the beverage maker, a new limited-edition can design for Diet Pepsi and an exclusive partnership with Target coming up in May.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Same-store sales at Rite Aid decreased 2% in March, including a 3.8% increase in same-store sales on the front end and a 4.5% decrease in pharmacy sales due in part to new introductions of generic drugs, the retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

The 4,621-store chain reported total sales for the month of $1.939 billion, a 2.5% decrease compared with $1.989 billion in March 2012, while same-store prescription count increased 0.3%.

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu on Wednesday announced additional changes at the senior level as Sam Duncan, Supervalu president and CEO, finalizes his executive leadership team.

Sherry Smith, EVP and CFO, will leave the company at the end of May. Smith has served as the company’s CFO since her appointment in December 2010. She has spent 26 years with Supervalu and previously served as SVP, finance. The company plans to announce a new CFO at a later date.

VALHALLA, N.Y. — Walmart has given Fujifilm North America its "Vendor of the Year" award for its photo-finishing services in the mass-merchandise retailer's stores, Fujifilm said.

The company, a division of Japan-based Fujifilm, said it received the award in the photo-finishing category at Walmart's Supplier Summit in Orlando, Fla., last month. Fujifilm said the award recognized its manufacturing, quality and distribution capabilities.

NEW YORK — Mad Money's Jim Cramer tabbed Safeway over Whole Foods in an interview with The Street published Tuesday.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Tuesday announced that walking, running and weight-management goals can be logged and tracked through Steps with Balance Rewards, the retailer's customer loyalty program. Members will receive 20 points per mile, as well as 20 points per day for tracking their weight. Users also can log individual frequent activities that will earn points when recorded. Additionally, members can sync wireless activity trackers such as Fitbit, Withings and BodyMedia to automatically load the number of steps taken — each device linked will earn 250 points.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway has launched its annual April fundraising campaign to benefit people with disabilities, the supermarket chain said Monday.

The company said The Safeway Foundation, its philanthropic arm, had launched the campaign to benefit Easter Seals, Special Olympics and other groups, saying its Support for People with Disabilities campaign had contributed more than $140 million.