"Costco's 'giant packs of kale' help draw in younger shoppers" by Angel Gonzalez at Seattle Times.  "Richard Galanti said on Thursday’s earnings call that organic beef and “giant packs of kale” help drive in younger customers. Costco can offer big savings on these relatively bigger ticket items and get better profit margins as well, Galanti said."  Read more   "Why Target Corp’s online strategy is missing the mark in Canada" by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post.  "I guess if a company can’t spend the money for a website that gives a strong impression of the products they carry, well [...]

  "Costco Same-Store Sales +5% in Q2"  "Net sales for the quarter increased six percent, to $25.76 billion, from $24.34 billion last year. Net sales for the first half increased six percent, to $50.22 billion, from $47.55 billion last year."  Read the release   "Costco Quarterly Profit Falls 15%" by Anna Prior & Josee Rose at WSJ.  "For the quarter ended February 16, Costco reported a profit of $463 million, or $1.05 a share, compared with $547 million, or $1.24 a share, a year earlier  Read more   "Kroger Reports Q4 Earnings This Morning"  Listen to Webcast at 10 am [...]

  "Wal-Mart's new store 'tethering' concept is "Sonic-like" by Kim Souza at The City Wire.  "This notion of drive-in has prompted Wal-Mart to explore and test the drive-in depots that are not attached to a supercenter. Simon described the drive-in modular as a “Sonic-like.” Simon did not give specifics about the timeframe for the depot concept, but said it is part of the retailer’s tethering efforts to fully connect its digital orders with its massive physical infrastructure."  Read more   "Excitement at P&G HQ:  Greenpeace Activists Get Past Security, Rappel Down Building, Hang 60 Foot Banner Protesting Head & Shoulders" [...]

  "Top Billionaires in the World (Walton's are top family, Jeff Bezos #18, HEB family #121)" at Forbes.  See the List   "RadioShack to Close 1,100 Stores; Same-Store Sales Down 19% in Q4" "For full year: Total net sales and operating revenue were $3.43 billion, compared to $3.83 billion last year. Comparable store sales were down 8.8%." Read the release   "Bold move:  Walmart to Allow Public Comments on Corporate Website Blog" by Kim Souza at The City Wire.  "The retailer plans to unveil a new blog on its corporate website sometime Monday (March 3), according to Chad Mitchell, senior director [...]

  "Home Depot’s New President Craig Menear Said to Be Groomed as CEO" by Matt Townsend at Bloomberg.  "Home Depot Inc.’s promotion of Craig Menear to president of its U.S. retail division is part of a succession plan for Chief Executive Officer Frank Blake, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.  Menear, 56, is the leading candidate to become the next CEO of the largest U.S. home-improvement chain, said the person, who asked not to be named because the talks are private."  Read more   "Home Depot Names Craig Menear President, U.S. Retail, Mark Holifield EVP, Supply Chain [...]