Winter Holidays

BENTONVILLE, Ark., ISSAQUAH, Wash., MINNEAPOLIS and NATICK, Mass. -- The country's top mass retailers -- which also happen to be those giving many grocers a run for their money -- yesterday reported higher same-store sales for November.

NEW YORK -- Online grocer FreshDirect yesterday launched its new 500-Calorie Meals menu for the holiday season, to allow customers to easily and inexpensively shop for and prepare healthy meals that contain no more than 500 calories.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Stores here plans to give away a bag of cash to lucky loyalty card members this holiday season in a new promotion that begins today and runs through Dec. 23.

WASHINGTON -- Shoppers flooded stores and the Internet over the long Thanksgiving weekend, hunting for popular electronics, clothing, and books, and driving sales of $27.8 billion, according to an NRF survey conducted by BIGresearch. The total figure was an impressive 21.9 percent increase over last year's $22.8 billion.

SAN ANTONIO -- Regional retailer H.E. Butt Grocery Co. is kicking off the holiday season with a gift as big as Texas and 100 years in the making. As the last customer promotion of the company's yearlong Centennial Celebration, one lucky South Texas resident will win one of two new homes valued at $200,000 each, plus $50,000 in HEB's Texas Home Giveaway contest.

CINCINNATI -- About 2,000 Kroger-owned stores across the United States are now offering "A Gift For You" prepaid MasterCard debit cards in denominations of $25, $50 and $100 for the holiday season. The gift cards can be redeemed anywhere MasterCard debit cards are accepted, including online.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Marsh Supermarkets here, along with its hometown Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning are once again partnering for the 5th annual Handoff for Hunger campaign.

STILLWATER, Minn. -- The world's largest Salvation Army Red Kettle was recently unveiled at a Cub Foods store location here, as hundreds turned out to climb the 10-foot ladder and drop their cash donations into the giant Red Kettle.