DSN Retailing Today articles from April 2002

DSN Retailing Today archives from April 2002

Wal-Mart tests Neighborhood Market in China: Combo format is key to future expansion.(Wal-Mart to open Neighborhood Market store in Shenzhen, China)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... SHENZHEN, CHINA -- Wal-Mart may be able to successfully operate Neighborhood Market stores in the wide open spaces of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, but can the format work in a major city in the world's most densely populated market? Since...

Penske suit tops list of latest Kmart woes.(lawsuit with Penske Auto Centers regarding the unexpected shutdown of 554 automotive centers at Kmart stores)
April 22, 2002... TROY, MICH. -- The spotlight that Kmart has found itself under since filing Ch. 11 early this year is suddenly getting much hotter. In addition to having an executive management office with a perpetually revolving door (see sidebar on Lorna...

Nagler leaves Kmart to head Catherines.(Lorna Nagler to be president of Catherines Stores Corp.)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... BENSALEM, PA. -- Charming Shoppes is on the receiving end of one of the highest profile female executive defections in recent retailing history. Earlier this month, Lorna Nagler, former Kmart senior vp and gmm for apparel and jewelry, left...

ShopKo's Podany resigns: Chain to continue on path to profitability.(CEO William Podany)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... GREEN BAY, WIS. -- ShopKo president and ceo William Podany resigned earlier this month, exiting the retail chain just as it appears on the brink of recovery. Yet even though the chain more than doubled in size during his tenure, it...

Fred Meyer remodel ups ante in supercenter superiority race.(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... SEATTLE -- Like any retailer with an eye for perfection, supercenter pioneer Fred Meyer has demonstrated a remarkable willingness to accept change. So when it came to raising the profile of several key categories in a two-and-a-half-year-old...

Target to launch 'Starck Reality' with more than 50 products.(collection of everyday items from Phillipe Starck)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... MINNEAPOLIS -- Beginning in May, more designer product will grace the shelves of Target stores as the retailer plans to introduce Starck Reality, a collection of everyday items from Phillipe Starck. The new line, which is being...

Ames updates ad campaign: New TV, radio ads target New York City metro area.(Ames Department Stores)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... ROCKY HILL, CONN. -- Ames has updated and expanded the scope of its television commercials to boost the effectiveness of its traditional circular advertising. For a campaign that was initially launched to prepare for a March 29 and 30 sale,...

Ringing in 100 Years.(J.C. Penney Company Inc.; New York Stock Exchange opening bell)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... JCPenney ceo Allen Questrom, right, is joined in applause by New York Stock Exchange chairman Richard Grasso after Questrom rang the opening bell at the NYSE on April 12. The event was part of the retailer's 100-year anniversary celebration,...

Home Depot drops Villager's Hardware for new concept.(urban neighborhood stores)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- Home Depot has dumped Villager's Hardware in favor of a new concept it debuted earlier this month that is similar in appearance to its traditional stores, yet targeted to the urban market. Positioned as a neighborhood store,...

Save-A-Lot opens 1,000th store: Chain ups expansion in uptapped markets.
April 22, 2002... WATERBURY, CONN. -- Save-A-Lot may not be the best-known supermarket name in the United States, but with the opening of its 1,000th store, this division of Supervalu may become better recognized both for its size and the way it does business....

Best Buy converts On Cue stores to Sam Goody name.(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... MINNEAPOLIS -- Best Buy's On Cue stores are set to get a little more than the new product mix promised at the time of its acquisition. Beginning this summer, the chain will receive a new name, as well. All of the company's rural market On Cue...

Clubs benefit by adding new member perks.(warehouse membership clubs)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... NATIONWIDE DSNRT REPORT -- When the first warehouse clubs opened more than 20 years ago, members paid their annual fees just to get a card that allowed them in the door. But these days, the competition in the channel is growing intense and...

BJ's tests self-checkout systems. (Market Watch).(B J's Wholesale Club Inc.; Productivity Solutions Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... NATICK, MASS. -- BJ's Wholesale Club is experimenting with a self-checkout system manufactured by Productivity Solutions Inc. at its club in Framingham, Mass. Self-checkout systems have experienced a surge in popularity in recent years with...

Dollar General names Robbins to board. (Market Watch).(James Robbin named to board of directors and auditing committee)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... GOODLETTSVILLE, TENN. -- Dollar General has added new finance and accounting expertise to its board of directors. James Robbins was named to the retailer's board and also will serve as chairman of its audit committee. The company's accounting...

Target teams up with Tiger Woods. (Market Watch).(sponsor of the Tiger Woods Foundation's fund-raising golf tournament, the Target World Challenge)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... MINNEAPOLIS -- Target is deepening its involvement in professional golf. The retailer is the new title sponsor of the Tiger Woods Foundation's fund-raising golf tournament, the Target World Challenge, presented by Williams, which is held...

Kohl's debuts in Boston with 13 stores. (Market Watch).(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS. -- Kohl's arrived in Boston last week with the grand opening of 13 new stores. The stores are located in the Boston-area suburbs of Burlington, Chelmsford, Hingham, Medford, Milford, Nashua, Newington, North Andover,...

Pep Boys launches new ad campaign. (Market Watch).(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... PHILADELPHIA -- The Pep Boys chain of 628 auto parts and service stores has begun a new advertising campaign to reacquaint customers with the original Pep Boys--Manny, Moe and Jack--who founded the company The campaign, called "we're car...

Fred's adding DC to support growth. (Market Watch).(to build a new distribution center in Dublin, Ga.)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... MEMPHIS -- With the most aggressive expansion in company history planned this year, Fred's also is planning to build a new $25 million distribution center in Dublin, Ga. The 600,000-square-foot facility is expected to be operational by March...

Card and party retailer out of Ch. 11. (Market Watch).(Factory Card & Party Outlet emerges from bankruptcy protection)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... NAPERVILLE, ILL. -- Factory Card & Party Outlet has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The 172-store retailer obtained a $40 million credit facility from its existing lender, Wells Fargo Retail Finance. Under terms of an amended...

Bombay reaches out to parents with launch of Kids concept.(new Bombay Kids home furnishings stores)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... DALLAS -- A booming market for children's home furnishings has caught the eye of specialty retailer The Bombay Company, which recently launched Bombay Kids. The new concept, which features bedroom sets, accessories and other furnishings for...

Sears' Lacy excites Wall Street with rare talk of doubled earnings.(CEO Alan Lacy)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... CHICAGO -- When Sears ceo Alan Lacy took to the podium on April 10 and delivered the keynote address to a capacity crowd of investors at the Banc of America Securities conference in New York, the company's stock was enjoying some accolades of...

Online advertising expected to grow 11%. (e-Watch).(in 2002)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... NEW YORK -- Online advertising spending in the United States, which dropped 11% in 2001, is expected to make a comeback in 2002 and climb 11%, according to a report released today by eMarketer, a New York-based publisher of Internet and...

Amazon reports electronics trends. (e-Watch).(Amazon.com Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... SEATTLE -- While the much-hyped GameCube and X-Box were expected to sell like gang-busters, it has been an old standby, Playstation 2, that continues to fly off the virtual shelves of Amazon.com. It's the popularity of the controversial Grand...

Auction fraud tops Internet crime. (e-Watch).(according to Internet Fraud Complaint Center)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... RICHMOND, VA. -- Auction fraud topped the list of Internet-related crimes in 2001, according a report by the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC). Of the nearly 50,000 complaints filed to the IFCC last year, auction fraud comprised nearly...

AOL Time Warner names two new execs. (e-Watch).(Barry Schuler, AOL Time Warner Digital Services Development Group; Bob Pittman, America Online Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... DULLES, VA. -- Barry Schuler is leaving his post as chairman and ceo of America Online to take the helm at Digital Services Development Group, part of AOL Time Warner. The group will pursue interactive products, such as home networking....

Nordstrom.com may trigger charge. (e-Watch).(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... CHICAGO -- The future of Nordstrom.com was questioned on April 8 when the retailer announced that it may have an unspecified charge against earnings related to a Nordstrom.com investment. The charge could be eliminated, however, if the...

Ticketmaster launches ticket resale site. (e-Watch).(Ticketmaster Marketplace)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... NEW YORK -- During the NBA playoffs, ticketless fans may not have to resort to scalpers outside the stadium for a seat. Ticketmaster has announced the introduction of Ticketmaster Marketplace, an online feature that allows users to sell their...

Report shows online service still has room to improve.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 22, 2002... NEW YORK -- Now that the rapid growth of the e-commerce channel has been dropped as the hot topic from industry conference programs and replaced by sensible, albeit more mundane, talks of integration and long-term ROI, retailers have taken...

Customer Service Score Card.(100 popular online shopping sites were tested for their features and services)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 22, 2002... CUSTOMER SERVICE SCORE CARD Despite reams of market research that shows convenience and ease-of-use as leading motivators for most online shoppers, it seems Internet retailers still fall short in many convenience-related measures. In a...

Finance Watch.(insider stocks bought and sold)(Illustration)(Industry Overview)(Statistical Data Included)
April 22, 2002... INSIDER TRADES NATIONWIDE DSN REPORT -- The following are major insider trades as reported to the SEC. STOCKS BOUGHT AutoZone: Andrew McKenna, director, bought 2,000 shares on Feb. 28 at $66.25, now owns 14,000 shares. Home...

JCPenney is still worth watching. (Editorial).(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... A few years ago, some observers had described JCPenney as a retail dinosaur, while others believed it was poised for a major turnaround. Maybe it's appropriate now to describe this venerable company as the renaissance retailer. As...

Price-impact food stores carve a path. (Viewpoint).(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... In case anyone still questions the return on investment that comes with diversifying one's store formats and branching into new growth areas, look no further than the price-impact food sector. An investment by a mass retailer not more than...

Government shouldn't decide where consumers shop. (Capitol Concerns).(Annapolis, Maryland; retailers want new statewide zoning rules)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... In retailing, the most innovative and successful companies tend to draw the heaviest fire. In most cases, that's not because they're doing something wrong, but because they are doing a lot of things right. Their success is upsetting apple...

Humorous, feel-good advertising hits home with consumers. (Guest Column).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 22, 2002... In a slow economy, marketers need to work harder to gain a share of consumers' wallets, and retailers are no exception. And yet, in these tense times, questions of tone and tact have become more critical to advertisers of all stripes....

Food focus orients toward price-impact format. (Power Retailer).(Kroger Co.'s plans for Fred Meyer division)
April 22, 2002... The Kroger Company, in its recent actions and statements, continues to leave clues to the ongoing mystery of what it will do with its Fred Meyer division. The company has yet to expand the supercenter business beyond its traditional...

Remington Products Company. (Vendor News).(poor 2001 earnings to lead to reorganization)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... Following disappointing yearend results, Remington Products Company has taken steps to reorganize its business, such as consolidating its North American business, strengthening its operating team internationally and eliminating...

Revlon. (Vendor News).(Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., Eon Productions; Halle Berry, spokesmodel)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... In April, Revlon partnered with Metro-GoldwynMayer and James Bond producer Eon Productions in a promotional deal that centers around Revlon spokesmodel and soon-to-be Bond star Halle Berry. This global partnership includes advertising...

Max Factor. (Vendor News).(is introducing Lipfinity Shimmer Finish Moisturizing Top Coat lip color line)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... Following the success of Max Factor's Lipfinity, which launched last year, the company is introducing Lipfinity Shimmer Finish Moisturizing Top Coat, a line of six glossy hues intended to enhance any Lipfinity "Paint for Lips" color base....

Tween makeup. (What's Hot).(Kmart Corp., Love Always Magenta; Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Mary-Kate and Ashley)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 22, 2002... Young girls morph into makeup mavens by their tweens these days, and mom's matte powders and classic color palates won't do. For the younger set, shimmering shadows and glosses are the derigueur cosmetics. With this in mind, Wal-Mart and...

Value-priced bonus packs revive limp hair care segment. (H&BC).(Shampoo/conditioner twin packs double sales for 52-week period ended Feb. 24, 2002)(Statistical Data Included)
April 22, 2002... America's love affair with bundled packaging is making a strong impact in hair care these days. Despite the category's overall flat sales over the past 12 months, the shampoo/conditioner bonus-pack segment is giving the category lift by...

The times of Target: 40 years of innovative leadership and accomplishments.(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... 1962 The Dayton Company's first Target store opens on May 1 in Roseville, Minn., a St. Paul suburb. Openings follow in St. Louis Park, Duluth and Crystal, Minn., under the company's first president, Doug Dayton. The retailer starts...

Is Kmart betting too much on brands?
April 8, 2002... NEW YORK -- Proprietary and private-label brands are critical to Kmart's future, as evidenced by the emphasis put on them since Jim Adamson took the reins as Kmart's chairman. But they alone can't make the retailer effectively competitive...

Adamson team settles in, minus five key execs.(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... TROY, MICH. -- The turnover in Kmart's executive suite continues with five senior managers departing, according to a Detroit Free Press report. Kmart confirmed the departures with DSN Retailing Today, but had no additional comment. ...

Reporter's Notebook: Kmart in court.(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... CHICAGO -- There have been quite a few changes since Kmart last appeared in Bankruptcy Court, not the least of which is the appointment of a nearly entirely new executive team and the announcement of 283 store closings. And so, as the...

Sears' latest openings reveal simpler side of stores.(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... FORT WORTH, TEXAS -- Sears' first wave of store openings for the year revealed features aimed at simplifying the shopping experience, such as centralized checkouts, wide, clear aisles and easy-to-locate department signage. Sears opened...

JCPenney retrofits image: Dallas-area store shows off bold new look.(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... LEWISVILLE, TEXAS - Vibrant, colorful signage, an emphasis on branded sections and centralized checkouts are part of a new look in JCPenney stores. The pattern for this year's new decor program is being set by a small handful of units,...

Downtown N.Y. retail scene begins to see signs of renewal.
April 8, 2002... NEW YORK -- Lower Manhattan, devastated as it was by the events of last Sept. 11, is getting back on its feet thanks to the reopening of a landmark store, the expansion of another and the possible introduction of yet another legendary chain....

TRU-Japan faces positive '02 outlook: Decade of steady growth reaps rewards.(Toys "R" Us)
April 8, 2002... PARAMUS, N.J. -- For more than a decade, Toys "R" Us has advanced, store by store, through a forbidding Japanese market as one of the first foreign big-box retailers to hurdle numerous barriers erected by the nation's government, retailers,...

Humbled Dollar General rebounds with verve.(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... NASHVILLE, TENN. - The black cloud that has hung over Dollar General this past year due to accounting discrepancies hasn't stopped this value-oriented retailer from forging ahead with aggressive initiatives designed to enhance its long-term...

Galyan's '02 expansion most aggressive to date.(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... PLAINFIELD, IND. - With the planned opening of nine new stores this year, Galyan's is accelerating what was already an aggressive growth plan for a company its size. Company chairman and ceo Bob Mang said Galyan's will increase its current...

Sport Chalet sees slow 4Q as weather cools off sales.(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... LA CANADA, CALIF. - All types of retailers see their sales influenced by weather, but few are as exposed to the elements as Sport Chalet. This 26-unit sporting goods retailer is well-known throughout Southern California as a destination for...

West Coast's Big 5 sporting goods retailer set for IPO.(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... LOS ANGELES - Its 11,000-square-foot sporting goods stores may not be as sexy as competitors' larger units, but Big 5's track record of sales and profit growth is the envy of the industry. Now the company is preparing an initial public...

G.I. Joe's turns 50, outlines merchandising initiatives.(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... PORTLAND, ORE. -- G.I. Joe's is celebrating its 50th anniversary in fine fashion this month after its 18 stores generated record sales and profits last year. "We had our best year, top line and bottom line, that we have ever had,"...

Home Depot to test lawn, garden concept. (Market Watch).(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... ATLANTA -- As part of a growing effort to diversify its formats and capture a greater share of the pro/contractor market, Home Depot has announced plans to test three new 12,000-square-foot stand-alone lawn & garden nursery stores in its home...

Sony signs exclusive with Target. (Market Watch).(Sony Liv line of CD players, alarm clocks, radios and remote controls)(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... MINNEAPOLIS -- Falling in line with Tupperware and Mossimo, Sony is the next manufacturer to strike an exclusive deal with Target. Rolling out to stores this spring will be Sony Liv, a line of CD players, alarm clocks, radios and remote...

Share in Tuesday Morning on the block. (Market Watch).(Madison Dearborn Capital Partners to cut shareholdings from 70.2% to 55.2%)(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... DALLAS -- The majority shareholder of 480-store closeout retailer Tuesday Morning is looking to reduce its ownership stake to 55.2% from 70.2% by selling six million of its 27.9 million shares. Madison Dearborn Capital Partners II acquired...

Wal-Mart's domestic expansion slows. (Market Watch).(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... BENTONVILLE, ARK. -- Wal-Mart appears to be running behind schedule domestically on its strategy of front-loading store openings earlier in the year. By the end of the first quarter later this month, Wal-Mart is scheduled to have opened 47 of...

Petco's bite is worse than its bark. (Market Watch).(planning expansion)(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... SAN DIEGO -- Petco has big expansion plans this year following a fourth quarter that saw the company achieve a 9% same store sales increase. Petco completed an initial public stock offering in February and plans to open 60 new units in the...

Michaels fills senior marketing position. (Market Watch).(Michaels Stores names Amy Parker senior vp of marketing)(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... IRVING, TEXAS -- Michaels Stores named Amy Parker senior vp of marketing with responsibility for the 708-store retailer's market research, analysis, advertising and all aspects of the company's brand identity. She most recently served as...

Value City names Rossler as ceo. (Market Watch).(John Rossle named CEO of Value City Department Store)(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... COLUMBUS, OHIO -- John Rossler is Value City Department Store's new ceo following the resignation of former ceo and board member George Kolber. Rossler previously served as the company's president.

Albertson's reaffirms combo strategy, hints of strengthening GM position.(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... NEW YORK -- Albertson's is launching an offensive against competitors in several channels by pushing a dual-branding strategy designed to leverage its strength in combo stores. By concentrating on markets where it has a No. 1 or strong No. 2...

Big Lots starts to see dividends of single-banner, closeout-only plan.(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... COLUMBUS, OHIO -- A focus on becoming the best in the business at selling brand name closeouts is starting to pay off for Big Lots as part of a singular, unified strategy. Formerly known as Consolidated Stores, the company changed its...

Britney Spears, Pepsi click with AOL. (e-Watch).(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... NEW YORK -- Britney Spears has guzzled Pepsi in television ads and now she will be sipping soda online. AOL Time Warner is hooking up with the pop princess to promote her Pepsi-sponsored spring tour in all of its divisions, including its...

eBay makes a play for Chinese auctions. (e-Watch).(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... SAN JOSE, CALIF. -- eBay made a bid for the Chinese e-commerce market in March when the Internet auction site put up $30 million toward one-third of the stake in EachNet. Modeled after eBay, the Shanghai-based company, which was founded in...

Travelocity.com buys Site59.com. (e-Watch).(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... FORT WORTH, TEXAS -- Travelocitycom paid $43 million in cash for last-minute travel package company Site59.com. The deal will increase the accommodations offerings of Travelocity.com, which also specializes in airfares, train travel, car...

Amazon offers used items in Europe. (e-Watch).(Amazon's German and British Web divisions have begun selling used and collectible books, video games and other items)(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... SEATTLE -- Looking to increase sales, but without adding inventory, Amazon's German and British Web divisions have begun selling used and collectible books, video games and other items. In addition to the 15% commission Amazon charges to each...

Target plans 'common' site as part of new Amazon deal.(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... NEW YORK -- Mirroring its off-line strategy, Target Corp. will reorganize its three retail Web sites under the Target banner, naming the site and the strategy behind it Target.common. This initiative, which is slated to launch this summer,...

Hollywood Entertainment sees a rebound.(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... PORTLAND, ORE. -- The popularity of DVD and a recent surge in video rentals have helped the nation's second-largest video chain return from the brink of bankruptcy and get back on track to resume expansion. Hollywood Entertainment plans...

Insider Trades. (Finance Watch).(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... NATIONWIDE DSN REPORT -- The following are major insider trades as reported to the SEC. Home Depot: Richard Grasso, director, bought 10,000 shares on Feb. 27 at $50.92 to $52.12, now owns 10,000 shares. Party City: Walter Salmon,...

Retail IPO Scoreboard.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 8, 2002... RETAIL IPO SCOREBOARD Exchange/Company Gross Shares % Chg. proceeds sold since (in $mil.) (in mil.) offering Initial Public...

Major Indices.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 8, 2002... MAJOR INDICES Close Close Net Percent 3/8/02 3/22/02 Change Change DSN Retailing Today 5729.75 5828.63 98.88 1.73% Dow Jones Ind. Avg. 10572.49 10607.23...

Top Gainers & Losers.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 8, 2002... TOP GAINERS For 2 weeks ended 3/22/02 Goody's Family Clthg. (H) 10.29 Good Guys 9.80 ShopKo Stores (H) 8.99 Cato 8.78 Kmart 8.53 TOP LOSERS ...

Earnings Digest.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 8, 2002... EARNINGS DIGEST Barnes & Noble '01 '00 %Chg. 4Q 02/02/02 Sales 1,800.0 1,600.0 12.5 Net income 83.95 (34.0) NA '02 '01 %Chg. FY 02/02/02 ...

DSN Retailing Today Stock Analysis.(Statistical Data Included)
April 8, 2002... DSN RETAILING TODAY STOCK ANALYSIS CLOSING CLOSING NET PERCENT PRICE PRICE CHANGE CHANGE COMPANY 3/8/02 3/22/02 PERIOD PERIOD ...

Target's growth spurt at 40. (Editorial).(Brief Article)(Editorial)
April 8, 2002... Tony Lisanti As Target Stores celebrates its 40th anniversary, it is poised to add as much in sales over the next five years as it did since it opened its first store in Roseville, Minn., in 1962. During that first year of...

'Used' warrants a second look. (Viewpoint).(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... Forget for a minute all the talk you've heard about industry consolidation and the evolution toward a smaller, tighter retail market. While it's true there are fewer discount department store chains today than there were a decade ago, there's...

Looking forward to retail success. (Guest Column).(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... Now that the economy is recovering, we're awash in commentary about what went wrong--why the market plunged, why the dot-corn bubble burst, why so many high-flying corporations fell into bankruptcy. If you have a taste for irony, it might be...

Getting the blue light back in the black. (Guest Column).(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... Bankruptcy is Kmart's last hope to emerge as a competitor in the crowded retail landscape, but Chapter 11 will work only if it helps produce a clear vision of the role the big red "K" should play in America's shopping psyche. A trail of...

H.E. Butt Grocery. (Retailer News).(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... H.E. Butt Grocery recently opened its second upscale food store, Central Market, in north Texas. The new location in the Dallas suburb of Plano, which joins a store that opened in Fort Worth last year, is the second of three planned for the...

A pilot partnership between Stop & Shop and online food retailer Netgrocer kicked off last month. (Retailer News).(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... A pilot partnership between Stop & Shop and online food retailer Netgrocer kicked off last month. Stop & Shop, a division of Ahold, was to test Netgrocer's "Endless Aisle" program in select stores. This program, features an extended...

Whole Foods Market. (Retailer News).(to open first store outside U.S.)(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... Whole Foods Market will make its first venture outside the United States this year with a store opening in Toronto, Canada. The natural foods supermarket chain, which currently has 20 new stores in development, also will expand to new markets...

S'mores. (What's Hot).(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... Ready-to-eat variations of an old campfire treat combining chocolate, graham crackers and melted marshmallows, known as s'mores, are popping up in more treats lately. This gooey combination that appeals primarily to kids can be found in...

New offerings add relish to condiments category. (Food).
April 8, 2002... American consumers are getting saucier by the minute. Not only do they consume gallons of mustard, mayonnaise and peanut butter annually, but demand for gourmet, unique and sometimes wild variations in condiments is in vogue. Even H.J. Heinz...

Albertson's to close 92 units, exit four cities. (Food).(Brief Article)
April 8, 2002... BOISE, IDAHO -- What might be called the supercenter effect continues to impact grocers across the country, the latest example being Albertson's, which has decided to exit four major cities where its market share has dwindled. Although...