Kroger Q2 Total Sales +4.0% Press release   Fortune Names 2016 Most Powerful Women (Foulkes #12, Brewer #19, Campbell #20, McKenna #33, Ballard #42) See the top 51 list   MACY'S FIRST DEPARTMENT STORE TO HOST APPLE STORE by Phil Wahba at Fortune. "President and CEO-designate Jeff Gennette told Wall Street analysts on Thursday that Macy’s signed a deal with Apple to open an Apple store within its 1 million square-foot flagship at Herald Square in New York. Not only is Macy’s the first department store to host one of the tech giant’s emporia, but it will also be [...]

  Albertson's refuses to write 'Trump 2016' on cake by Marie Waxel at KSLA 12 News. "We just need an American flag cake with Trump 2016 on it, and right when I said Trump the lady just (makes face) kinda Trump? And she was like I can make you a flag cake but I'm not going to write Trump on it," explained Gill." See the video / Read more   Was massive Gap warehouse fire started by a disgruntled employee? by Wills Robinson at Daily Mail. "The shocking image circulated on social media after the enormous fire on Monday night. Staff [...]

  Hudson's Bay: Comp sales +1.9% but fell 1.3% on a constant currency basis by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. Read more | Press release   HD Supply Q2 Sales +4.1% "Operating income increased $14 million, or 6.3 percent, to $237 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2016." Press release   ...MarketWatch: HD Supply offers weak profit and revenue outlook Read more   Whole Foods Poaches Sam's Club VP of Marketing "As Global Vice President of Marketing, Sonya Gafsi Oblisk will lead the company’s marketing, advertising and brand development efforts...As Global Vice President of Team Member Services (HR), Martin Tracey [...]

  Costco doesn’t support Seattle’s proposed scheduling law by Janet I. Tu at Seattle Times. "Representatives from a number of companies, including Home Depot, JC Penney and Petco, have already spoken against the proposal at a public hearing last month." Read more   Wal-Mart buyers for cakes and pies discuss Patti LaBelle phenomenon by Robbie Neiswanger at Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. "Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s bakery partnership with singer Patti LaBelle began with a Google search..."I had the expectation that if I called anyone they would answer," (Kinna) Thomas said. "But the fact three days in I was on the phone [...]

  Retailers Seek U.S. Help With Shipping Crisis by Paul Ziobro & Costas Paris at Wall Street Journal. "While the situation is still developing, the prospect of harm is significant and apparent,” Sandra Kennedy, president of the Retail Industry Leaders Association, wrote in a letter to the Department of Commerce and the Federal Maritime Commission. Hanjin’s recent bankruptcy filing “presents an enormous challenge to U.S. shippers,” she said, and “could have a substantial impact on consumers and the economy at large.” Read more (subscription)   ...Hanjin, the world's seventh-largest container shipper, represents nearly 8 percent of the trans-Pacific trade volume [...]

  Costco August comp sales flat / +2.0% excluding gas & f/x "For the 16-week fourth quarter, the Company reported net sales of $35.7 billion, an increase of two percent from $35.0 billion in the fourth quarter last year." Press release   Amazon and Wells Fargo Terminate Student Loan Partnership by Shahien Nasiripour at Bloomberg. "It's another black eye for Wells Fargo's student loan business, which just last week agreed to pay $3.6 million to the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to settle claims that it misled borrowers..." Read more   Wal-Mart bets on 'Star Wars,' Barbie for the holidays [...]