Content about Chicago metropolitan area

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings has appointed former Eli Lilly CIO Jeff Balagna as its new EVP and CIO. In his new role, Balagna will be responsible for all technology and infrastructure initiatives for the company in its support centers and in-store.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Among the highlights of the first Sears Holdings shareholder meeting since Edward Lampert became chairman and CEO were details on the company's progress in combining its brick-and-mortar and online businesses.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — An armed robber allegedly stole sensitive electronic information on pharmacy customers from a Kmart store in Little Rock, Ark., last month, the mass merchandise retailer said.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart and Shop Your Way are teaming up with New York Times bestselling author Sandra Lee to support the Share Our Strength Bake Sale for No Kid Hungry campaign. The national fundraising initiative encourages people to host bake sales in their communities to help end childhood hunger in the United States.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- OfficeMax Inc. has unveiled a new format in downtown Milwaukee to better serve local small business customers.

The 5,000-sq.-ft. OfficeMax Business Solutions Center OfficeMax Business Solutions Center is located in The Shops of Grand Avenue. The new format replaces the previous OfficeMax store.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart has launched its 30th annual fundraising campaign to benefit the March of Dimes. Donors can contribute in-store at any Kmart and online via a link at kmart.com/marchofdimes. M

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized Sears Holdings with a 2013 Energy Star Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Award for its continued leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. This year, Sears Holdings is being awarded for both its role as a retailer of Energy Star certified products and for energy management in its stores. Sears Holdings' accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on March 26.

BOISE, Idaho — Albertsons named the division presidents who will lead the 877 stores it will acquire from Supervalu after the purchase agreement closes next month, the company said. The two companies agreed to the purchase in January.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart has partnered with Essence Magazine's finance expert, Tanisha Sykes, for the sixth-annual Share the Word campaign to provide financial empowerment to African-Americans.

"Financial empowerment is extremely important within the African-American community," Sykes said. "This year's Share the Word campaign will provide the tools, information and resources to help pave the road to financial success."

ITASCA, Ill. — Jewel-Osco announced that it is celebrating Black History Month this February with the company’s 14th annual “A Taste of Black History” program.

The initiative will kick off with a VIP shopping event for customers on Jan. 24 at the Jewel-Osco at 1655 E. 95th St., in Chicago. “A Taste of Black History” customer tasting events will continue throughout February at select stores.

MINNEAPOLIS — In a move that will reunite all Albertsons stores under one operator, Supervalu on Thursday morning announced a definitive agreement under which it will sell 877 stores across the Albertsons, Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s and Star Market banners and related Osco and Sav-on in-store pharmacies to AB Acquisition, an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management, in a transaction valued at $3.3 billion.

Just when things seem to be looking up for Sears Holdings, chairman Edward Lampert will assume the additional responsibilities of CEO following the revelation that current chief executive Lou D’Ambrosio will leave the company for family medical reasons.

News of D’Amrosio’s departure comes as the Sears Holdings preannounced improved profitability for the fist nine weeks of the fourth quarter and fiscal year ending February 2, D’Amrosio’s last day.