Two U.S. retailers took home top honors at the 2012 World Retail Awards in London, with Costco Wholesale Club named “Retailer of the Year,” and Macy’s recognized as “Multichannel Retailer of the Year.”

PeopleAnswers announced a new agreement in which BJ’s Wholesale Club will use the PeopleAnswers’ solution to help select team members in all locations across 15 eastern states.

The nation’s leading warehouse club operator maintained its momentum in November by posting a 6% increase in same-store sales at U.S. clubs excluding the beneficial effect of higher year-over-year gas prices.

Costco Wholesale Corp. turned in a strong September performance, leading the category with a 12% rise in same-store sales for the month.

Sam’s Club run of six consecutive quarters of accelerating same-store sales growth will come to an end in the third quarter unless the warehouse club operator exceeds guidance provided earlier this week after reporting a 5% second-quarter comp increase.

Costco and BJ’s Wholesale Club continue to produce solid sales growth aided by high gas prices, shoppers desire to save money and their ability to pass through food price inflations.

Costco Wholesale and BJ’s Wholesale reported strong sales growth and produced impressive comps even without the benefit of fuel sales.

BJ’s Wholesale Club reported net income of $33.7 million, or 62 cents per diluted share, for the first quarter ended April 30.

The shifting of Easter to April this year impacted the warehouse club sector last month, as both Costco and BJ’s reported March comps that were negatively impacted by the calendar change.

GNC is making its foray into the warehouse club for the first time by offering select private-label products at Sam's Club locations.

BJ’s Wholesale Club this week formally announced that it planned to explore strategic alternatives and confirmed what had been speculated about in the market place for at least four years. The possible sale of BJ’s and its 189 clubs isn’t likely to have a meaningful impact on the marketplace and could potentially benefit the likes of Sam’s Club and Costco. Assuming a deal involving a private equity buyer, they typically are not keen on injecting millions in fresh capital to open new stores and generally look for ways to enhance the cash generating capabilities of existing operations. Look no further than the situation with Sears Holding and try to recall the last time a new Sears or Kmart store opened. Should BJ’s go the private equity route it is conceivable there could be a further streamlining of the store base and less aggressive pricing as margin preservation becomes more of a priority than fighting a losing price battle with Sam’s and Costco.