Content about United States

REDMOND, Wash. — Best Buy has landed a partnership with Microsoft Corp. that will allow the retailer to offer a Windows Store at 500 of its locations in the U.S. and more than 100 Future Shop locations in Canada.

WASHINGTON — Americans are going to stretch their budgets and spend a little more on dad this year, according to NRF’s 2013 Father’s Day spending survey conducted by BIGinsight. The average person is expected to shell out $119.84 on gifts this year, an increase of 2% from $117.14 last year. 

Total spending by people 18 and older in the United States for Father’s Day is expected to reach $13.3 billion.

Organized retail crime may have decreased very slightly last year, according to a new National Retail Federation study, but it remains a massive problem and the nation’s largest cities are especially prone to organized activities.

CHICAGO — Cause Marketing Forum on Wednesday named America’s Checkout Charity Champions, a first-of-its-kind study ranking the largest consumer checkout donations in the United States last year.

CAMDEN, N.J. — Campbell Soup Company has entered into an agreement to acquire Plum Organics, a provider of premium, organic foods and snacks that serve the nutritional needs of babies, toddlers and children. 

The company is based in Emeryville, Calif. Plum is the No. 2 brand of organic baby food in the U.S. and is currently the No. 4 baby food brand overall. Baby food is an approximately $2 billion category in the United States. From 2010 to 2012, the premium and organic segments grew at an average annual rate of 43%.

CARY, N.C. — The Pantry, an independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern United States, has appointed former Big Lots executive Boris Zelmanovich as the company’s SVP and CMO. 

Zelmanovich will join the Pantry’s executive leadership team Monday, June 3, and will lead merchandising. He served as VP of merchandising strategy at Big Lots, where he was responsible for the development of strategic merchandising plans and repositioning the merchandising portfolio to drive market differentiation.

LENEXA, Kan. — Balance Innovations, a provider of reconciliation and cash office management solutions for the retail industry in the United States and Canada, has named former Safeway executive Steve Rempel president and CEO. 

In this role, Rempel will lead the company as it further develops its core products and evolves to the next generation of cash office reconciliation solutions for the retail industry.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Kohl’s has donated $1.5 million to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin on behalf of Kohl’s Cares, the company’s philanthropic arm. 

The money will fund the Kohl’s Cares Grow Safe & Healthy program designed to make Wisconsin kids and families aware of safety risks in and out of their homes, and the necessary steps to help avoid injury. The $1.5 million gift represents the largest corporate donation to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin this year.

SALT LAKE CITY — As part of its philanthropic efforts, Walmart is holding a fundraiser between now and Friday, June 21 benefiting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Walmart is inviting customers and Sam’s Club members to make a $1 donation or more at the retailers’ more than 4,600 U.S. locations. Participants can add a “Miracle Balloon” donation during checkout, and 100% of all funds raised will go directly to the member hospital in the area. 

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Senate approved the long-debated Internet sales tax proposal, known as the Marketplace Fairness Act, by a bipartisan vote of 69 to 27. The Obama administration has already endorsed the bill, but before it can become law it must be approved by the House, where Republicans are split on the bill.

OMAHA, Neb. — Hayneedle, a leading online home furnishings retailer in the United States, will begin offering special, curated sales events from its independent flash sale site, the Foundary, at hayneedle.com starting May 6.