DSN Retailing Today articles from November 2005

DSN Retailing Today archives from November 2005

SPARC celebrates industry excellence.(Supplier Performance Awards by Retail Category)(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... CHICAGO -- The retail industry's leading merchants and manufacturers gathered last month for a healthy dose of mutual recognition at the 28th annual Supplier Performance Awards by Retail Category (SPARC). The event, which has come to be known...

AE reports record sales, ups 3Q forecast.(American Eagle Outfitters Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... WARRENDALE, PA. -- American Eagle Outfitters reported October sales up a record 22.7%. For the month ended Oct. 29, total sales were $157 million, compared to $127.9 million in the same period last year. The company has also revised its 3Q...

Whole foods sees 4Q income drop.(Whole Foods Market Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... CORONA, CALIF. -- Whole Foods Market said its fourth-quarter net income fell 67.8% to $9.1 million, compared with year-ago results, which it attributed to charges related to the expensing of stock options and costs from Hurricane Katrina. The...

Top gainers: for 2 weeks ended 11/9/05.(stock prices)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
November 21, 2005... TOP GAINERS For 2 weeks ended 11/9/05 Bon-Ton Stores 23.40% Cost Plus 22.51 Payless Shoesource 20.27 Gateway 19.25 Men's Wearhouse 18.97

Top losers: for 2 weeks ended 11/9/05.(stock prices)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
November 21, 2005... TOP LOSERS For 2 weeks ended 11/9/05 Dell (8.91%) Kirklands (7.60) Cabela's (7.33) Ahold (7.20) Liz Claiborne (6.98) Source: DSN Retailing Today research

Major indices.(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... MAJOR INDICES Close Close Net % 10/26/05 11/9/05 Change Change S&P 500 (GSPC) 1196.54 1220.65 24.11 2.01 Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) 10377.39 ...

Insider trades.(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... STOCKS BOUGHT INTERACTIVECORP: Steven Rattner, director, bought 10,000 shares on Nov. 11 at $27.04, now owns 14,252 shares. EBAY: William Clay Ford, director, bought 22,000 shares on Nov. 2 at $40.39, now owns 100,000 shares. ...

Linens 'N Things far from done deal.
November 21, 2005... CLIFTON, N.J. -- Linens 'N Things has ended at least some of the speculation about its fate by entering into a definitive agreement to be acquired by a company newly formed and controlled by Apollo Management L.P. Under the agreement...

Blockbuster faces uphill battle.(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... DALLAS -- Cash-strapped Blockbuster plans to sell stores and raise cash through a private stock offering to get out from under mounting debt. The chain made those announcements after posting a third-quarter loss of $9,4.6 million and a 3.8%...

Wal-Mart's push in CE threatens specialty retailers.(consumer electronics)
November 21, 2005... NATIONWIDE DSNRT REPORT -- Wal-Mart is like the EF Hutton of old: when it speaks everyone listens. During the course of its two-day analyst meeting this month, Wal-Mart revealed a newly aggressive stance in the CE category that includes...

Study says Wal-Mart is positive factor in economy.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
November 21, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Wal-Mart's domestic expansion efforts, under increasing opposition in recent years, received a major boost earlier this month with the release of a landmark study documenting the company's positive economic impact at the local,...

H&M's Stella McCartney launch draws big crowds.
November 21, 2005... Several hundred customers descended upon H&M's Fifth Avenue location in New York for a chance to shop the Stella McCartney for H&M collection the morning of Nov. 10. Customers began lining up at 6:30 a.m. The one-off, exclusive...

KB Toys hires retail vet Speranza as cmo.(chief marketing officer, Ernest Speranza)(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... PITTSFIELD, MASS. -- KB Toys continued to rebuild its management team this month when it appointed former Toys "R" Us executive Ernest Speranza as chief marketing officer. Speranza most recently served as senior vp and cmo at Circuit City and...

Tommy Hilfiger for sale? Gets 5 offers.(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... NEW YORK -- Tommy Hilfiger has received five separate takeover offers, according to published reports. Private equity firms Apax Partners and Oaktree Capital Management were among those that submitted bids. Details of all five offers were...

A&P cfo departs, Galgano takes over.(MARKET WATCH)(Brenda Galgano)(Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Inc)(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... MONTVALE, N.J. -- A&P announced that its cfo, Mitchell P. Goldstein, is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities, effective immediately. Brenda Galgano, previously vp and corporate controller, has been promoted to senior vp and cfo,...

A-B tests its first liqueur product.(MARKET WATCH)
November 21, 2005... NEW YORK -- Anheuser-Busch announced it is making its first move into the spirits market. Long Tail Libations, a subsidiary set up in September, has just begun test marketing in four U.S. cities "Jekyll & Hyde," a product composed of two...

Deal returns Saks to luxury and builds Bon-Ton muscle.(Northern Department Store)
November 21, 2005... BIRMINGHAM, ALA. -- Late last month, Saks Inc. announced an agreement to sell its Northern Department Store group to Bon-Ton Stores for $1.1 billion. Bon-Ton will also assume $85 million in liabilities, which includes $35 million in...

Steve & Barry's graduating to Manhattan and beyond.(Q & A)(Barry Pervor )(Interview)
November 21, 2005... NEW YORK -- Last month, Steve & Barry's University Sportswear celebrated the opening of its first retail store in Manhattan. Located in the Herald Square shopping district, the store marks the specialty retailer's first steps toward further...

IKEA builds store momentum, promotes one-stop image.
November 21, 2005... STOUGHTON, MASS. -- IKEA has opened its first store in Massachusetts--a step in a long march Northeast from the Elizabeth, N.J., and Nassau County, N.Y., locations opened a decade ago--as it pursues a new expansion initiative. Yet, IKEA's...

Schultz to head apparel design at Sears Holdings.(Lisa Schultz)
November 21, 2005... HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILL. -- Sears Holdings, on a continued quest to better its marketing and merchandising efforts, has named Lisa Schultz to the newly created position of evp of Sears and Kmart apparel design. Schultz will report to Sears...

Paperworld debuts on sour note.(School, Home and Office Products Association teamed with Messe Frankfurt to host new event Paperworld USA)
November 21, 2005... LAS VEGAS -- This year, the School, Home & Office Products Association's annual fall trade show was supposed to be different. After several years battling industry consolidation that had reduced the exhibitor and attendee base at its show,...

IKEA birthday celebration.(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... Last month, IKEA decorated its Schaumburg, Ill., store like a birthday cake to commemorate the company's 20th anniversary. At 450,O00-square-feet, this Schaumburg store is one of IKEA's largest and on a busy Saturday or Sunday will be visited...

Auto retailers target fuel efficiency, lower prices.
November 21, 2005... LAS VEGAS -- Higher gas prices often get blamed for soft sales, so if consumers are cutting back on spending and driving less, this could slam retailers of automotive products. So far this year, however, the automotive aftermarket appears to...

Fresh Summit promotes organic, fresh movement.
November 21, 2005... ATLANTA -- Health-conscious but confused consumers, the influence of world culture on American diets, innovations designed to make eating well easier and more fun, and the recent organic standards controversy were major trends impacting the...

Wal-Mart news from around the globe.(MARKET WATCH)(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... TOKYO -- Wal-Mart Stores will turn Seiyu into a group subsidiary Dec. 21, the Japanese supermarket chain operator announced. Seiyu also said its board approved the appointment of Ed Kolodzieski, currently coo of Wal-Mart International and a...

Wallack named evp for Gap baby, kids divs.(MARKET WATCH)(Pamela Wallack)(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- Gap Inc. has named Pamela Wallack evp for GapKids, babyGap and Gap Maternity. Wallack will report to Gap Brand president Cynthia Harriss, and will assume her new responsibilities effective Dec. 12. Wallack joins Gap after...

Safeway's Keprta promoted to evp.(MARKET WATCH)(Bruce Everette)(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... PLEASANTON, CALIF. -- Safeway announced Nov. 8 that Bruce Everette, evp, who has been responsible for leading the Dominick's division since September 2004, will be returning to the company's headquarters to take on "broader retail...

Food labeling standards need resetting.(Editorial)
November 21, 2005... Looking for a good book to give as a holiday gift? Why not try the "Fair Packaging and Labeling Act Manual" published and distributed by the Federal Trade Commission. Or better yet, the FDA's "A Food Labeling Guide." They're real page...

IKEA's story: commitment, charity, conservation.(IKEA Holdings U.S. Inc.)(Company Profile)(Editorial)
November 21, 2005... There is a program here at Lebhar-Friedman called "three days in the field" and what that means is editors and salespeople must go and visit a retailer or manufacturer and sit down with executives and also visit key stores within the chain....

RILA elects new executives, examines critical issues.(Retail Industry Leaders Association)
November 21, 2005... CHICAGO -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association elected new leaders of its own last month and continued on its mission to provide the retail industry with a forum for key issues. RILA elected Best Buy vice chairman and ceo Brad...

Retail relies on power of the people.(GUEST COLUMN)
November 21, 2005... For the second year in a row, ceos of some of the most successful retailers in the world stated that "talent" was the greatest factor enabling--or disabling--growth. Despite all of the great systems available, success in retail still comes...

Dollar channel too rich for mass retailers.(Dollar Store Report: Winter 2005)(Industry Overview)
November 21, 2005... The prime enemy from a competitive retail standpoint for years was Wal-Mart, but lately a new breed has earned this exclusive title--the dollar store. Growth of the public dollar chains, along with increasing consumer affinity for...

Small dollar chains compete with personal touch.(Dollar Store Report: Winter 2005)
November 21, 2005... As the fast-growing dollar store channel matures and consolidates, economics and history would seem to dictate that the strongest players get bigger at the expense of the weakest. Such may be the rule for many one-store independents, but...

Combo-store format a success.(Dollar Store Report: Winter 2005)(specialty stores expansion plans )
November 21, 2005... Merging a limited-assortment grocery format with a dollar store proved a winning formula for Save-A-Lot, a division of Supervalu. Save-A-Lot's so-called combination stores now total 489 units, or 38% of the chain's base of 1,285 licensed and...

SPARC 2005: supplier performance awards by retail category.(Supplier Performance Awards by Retail Category)
November 21, 2005... What started as a simple supplier recognition program some 28 years ago has grown considerably over the last few years, and today SPARC stands for so much more than vendor accomplishment. In addition to honoring Supplier Performance by Retail...

Consistency rewards with customer loyalty.(Publix Super Markets Inc. wins Supplier Performance Awards by Retail Category )
November 21, 2005... No one should be surprised that Publix is a SPARC award winner. In an industry back on its heels, Publix is one of the few major supermarket chains moving forward and winning consistent kudos. Publix has become a standard for supermarket...

Produce industry makes healthy enjoyable.
November 21, 2005... The retail tour that ended the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit demonstrated that vendors are building on trends that already are rooted in retail. By helping produce suppliers get the word out to consumers, by offering convenient...

Shopping outlook.(MERCHANT PLANNER: december POST-HOLIDAY/NEW YEAR'S)(Brief Article)
November 21, 2005... (Week prior to New Year's, Dec. 25-31) The holidays will trend quite cold, wet and snowy for much of the country for the first foil week of winter, especially in the Central United States. While cold and snowy weather will certainly help to...

Forecast by retail market.(MERCHANT PLANNER: december POST-HOLIDAY/NEW YEAR'S)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
November 21, 2005... FORECAST BY RETAIL MARKET AVERAGE LAST YEAR THIS YEAR City (30 YEARS) (ACTUAL) (FORECAST) Boston TEMP 30[degrees] 31[degrees] 32[degrees] ...

Wal-Mart pumps up marketing message for the holidays.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
November 7, 2005... ROGERS, ARK. -- Wal-Mart began its aggressive approach to the holiday season this week with an unprecedented advertising campaign that seeks to position Wal-Mart as consumers' "home for the holidays." The campaign employs well-known...

Staples keeps firm hold on dynamic market.(SPECIAL REPORT: LEADING OFFICE SUPPLY RETAILERS)(Industry Overview)
November 7, 2005... NATIONWIDE DSNRT REPORT -- Office products retailing is one of the most dynamic and competitive retail channels where the quest for growth spawns constant change, new initiatives and acquisition activity. That proved to be the case in 2005...

FedEx Kinko's set to redefine office superstore space.(SPECIAL REPORT: LEADING OFFICE SUPPLY RETAILERS)(FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Services)(Company Profile)
November 7, 2005... ORLANDO -- The opening last month of a FedEx Kinko's retail concept with an expanded assortment of office products positions the company as a direct competitor to conventional office superstore chains. The Dallas-based company best known...

Sears reshuffles leadership in effort to revamp marketing.(Sears Holdings Corp.)
November 7, 2005... HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILL. -- Sears Holdings continued its executive shuffle, shedding one big name and appointing several others to help bolster the retail company's roster in key areas, namely marketing and its Lands' End division. Luis...

GameStop expects sales rebound in 4Q.(FINANCIALS)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... GRAPEVINE, TEXAS -- GameStop said it expects same-store sales to drop in the third quarter but rebound in the fourth quarter. For 3Q05, it said it expects same-store sales to drop by 12% to 12.5% due to difficult comparisons with a year ago...

Study: check writing on the way out.(FINANCIALS)(MasterCard International Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... PURCHASE, N.Y. -- Automatic payments for the first time surpassed check writing as the dominant method for paying recurring bills, according a MasterCard International consumer research study. The study showed that more than two-thirds of...

Top gainers: for 2 weeks ended 10/26/05.(FINANCIALS)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
November 7, 2005... TOP GAINERS For 2 weeks ended 10/26/05 Hibbet Sporting Goods 18.33% Children's Place 15.93 Apple Computer 15.87 Tweeter Home Entertainment 14.20 Tractor Supply Co. ...

Top losers: for 2 weeks ended 10/26/05.(FINANCIALS)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
November 7, 2005... TOP LOSERS For 2 weeks ended 10/26/05 Casual Male (18.15%) Blockbuster (16.96) A.C. Moore (15.97) Cost Plus (11.98) Bon-Ton Stores ...

Major indices.(FINANCIALS)(stock price indexes)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
November 7, 2005... MAJOR INDICES Close Close Net % 10/12/05 10/26/05 Change Change S&P 500 (GSPC) 1184.87 1191.38 6.51 0.55 Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) 10247.40 ...

Insider trades.(FINANCIALS)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... STOCKS BOUGHT CIRCUIT CITY: Alan Kane, director, bought 1,022 shares on Oct. 17 at $16.88, now owns 9,822 shares. FAMILY DOLLAR: Janet Kelley, senior vp, bought 200 shares on Oct 17 at $21.52, now owns 200 shares. STOCKS SOLD...

Regionals raise brow as Wal-Mart opens N.J. supercenter.
November 7, 2005... TURNERSVILLE, N.J. -- Wal-Mart has crossed the Rubicon-more literally, the Delaware--opening its first supercenter in New Jersey. In response, supermarket chains in the Garden State are shoring up their financial positions in preparation for...

ShopKo accepts Sun Capital offer, puts end to bidding war.(ShopKo Stores Inc.)(Sun Capital Partners Inc.)
November 7, 2005... GREEN BAY, WIS. -- After a month-long bidding war and shareholder dissent, ShopKo stores has agreed to be acquired by private investment firm, Sun Capital Partners. On Oct. 18, the regional retailer signed a definitive merger agreement for...

Musicland's Graze concept seeks fountain of youth.(Musicland Group Inc)
November 7, 2005... MINNEAPOLIS -- Two years after being spun off from Best Buy and acquired by Sun Capital Partners, the Musicland Group is leaner and ready to unveil new merchandising initiatives that management believes will breathe new life into a format and...

Retail veteran Chadsey takes over top spot.(Musicland Group Inc. appointed Jack Chadsey)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... MINNEAPOLIS -- Jack Chadsey has been named chairman and ceo of Musicland Group, replacing Eric Weisman who has headed the company since its acquisition by Sun Capital Partners in 2003. Weisman has left the company to lead a new venture...

H&M to debut exclusive McCartney line.(MARKET WATCH)(H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB)(Stella McCartney)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... NEW YORK- Swedish fast-fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) has announced that its exclusive, one-off Stella McCartney fall collection will arrive at 400 select stores in 22 countries starting Nov. 10. The collection is described as a...

Goody's reaches buyout agreement.(MARKET WATCH)(Goody's Family Clothing Inc.)(GMM Capital LLC )(Prentice Capital Management LP)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... KNOXVILLE, TENN. -- Goody's Family Clothing has agreed to be acquired for $9.60 per share by two buyout firms after a three-way takeover battle. Goody's said it signed a definitive agreement with GMM Capital LLC and Prentice Capital...

Asher new vp, womenswear at Holt Renfrew.(MARKET WATCH)(David Asher)(Holt, Renfrew and Company Ltd.)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... TORONTO -- Caryn Lerner, president of Holt Renfrew & Co. Ltd. announced the appointment of David Asher to the role of vp, womenswear at the Canadian retailer, effective Jan. 1, 2006. Asher joins Holt Renfrew with 15 years experience in the...

Dollar general adds two exclusive lines.(MARKET WATCH)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... GOODLETTSVILLE, TENN. -- Dollar General announced it has added exclusive Fisher-Price and Bobbie Brooks apparel lines to its fail offerings in stores. The Fisher-Price brand is a line of infant and toddler fashions. The clothing sets for...

Analysts: more downs than ups in Kroger/Albertsons deal.
November 7, 2005... BOISE, IDAHO -- The growing list of suitors interested in buying Albertsons now includes Kroger. Published reports citing sources close to the deal say the nation's No. 1 grocer made a bid for the chain Oct. 24, joining a list that now...

Target adding touch of luxury to new offerings.(Target Stores Inc.)
November 7, 2005... MINNEAPOLIS -- Last month, Target announced it would be adding to its fast-fashion offerings by introducing limited-edition collections from international designers. The program, which Target calls Go International, will begin in...

Whole Foods goes Hollywood with Lifestyle Store.
November 7, 2005... LOS ANGELES -- Whole Foods Market chose the funky West Hollywood area of Los Angeles as the site of its first stand-alone Lifestyle Store, an outlet for all-natural, non-food merchandise ranging from clothing to housewares. The...

Pier 1 Kids plays up decor accessories for boys, girls.
November 7, 2005... FORT WORTH, TEXAS -- One look at the hot pink faux-fur pillows and leopard-print bedding on display at Pier 1 Kids proves that this store is anything but an ordinary children's furnishings store. In fact, this division of Pier 1 Imports goes...

Maple Leaf takeover bid takes Hudson's Bay by surprise.(Maple Leaf Heritage Investments)
November 7, 2005... TORONTO -- The timing of the unsolicited bid by Maple Leaf Heritage Investments to purchase all outstanding shares of Hudson's Bay Co. came down to the retailer's decision to sell the company's credit card business. The board of Hudson's Bay,...

Supervalu launches organic food store.(Sunflower Market)
November 7, 2005... INDIANAPOLIS Sunflower Market, a new grocery format from Supervalu being touted as the first value-priced organic and natural food store, opens in January in Indianapolis. The 15,000-square-foot store will be modeled after Supervalu's...

Domestics Week goes earthy, neutral.(Springs Industries Inc. introduced bedding lines)(trends in home textiles)
November 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- The latest Domestics Week will be remembered for several things, among them the reintroduction of Cannon and the contradictory yet simultaneous triumph of the tween and menswear looks in home textiles, but one of the main points...

WMT gets strict on environmental issues.(MARKET WATCH)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
November 7, 2005... BENTONVILLE, ARK. -- Lee Scott, ceo of Wal-Mart Stores, said the retailer will start holding its suppliers more accountable for environmental standards at foreign factories as public expectations in the United States rise. Scott said Wal-Mart...

U.S. shipping growing steadily.(OPERATIONS WATCH)(Port Newark Container Terminal)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... As part of dedication ceremonies for two post-Panamax cranes at the Port Newark Container Terminal in New York Harbor, PNCT president Don Hamm (above) noted that the shipping industry in the United States is envied by other sectors and...

A new address for Big Apple babies.(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- Toys "R" Us Inc. took a bold new growth initiative last week, its first since becoming private last March, by opening a renovated Babies "R" Us store in the heart of New York City. The store, which opened last week in a...

Of jingle bells and retail angst.(EDITORIAL)(Editorial)
November 7, 2005... Like a recurring scene straight out of the movie "Groundhog Day," the start of the holiday selling season has been reduced to a model of predictability. Analysts kick off their fourth-quarter outlooks with broad-stroke expectations of "low...

Scrooge-like analysts predict holiday disaster. And this time they may be right.(EDITORIAL)(Editorial)
November 7, 2005... At the end of October holiday sales had already started arriving in my mailbox-Pottery Barn wins kudos for first arrival status. This is also the time of year when predictions for holiday sales start coming in. Do a search on Google and...

A tax reform plan we can all disagree on.(GUEST COLUMN)
November 7, 2005... The worst nightmare of many retail industry leaders--a stiff new national sales tax that could drive up consumer prices and cripple American retailing--was soundly rejected by the blue-ribbon panel established by President Bush to streamline...

Shoppers reveal dirty little secret: loyalty is not forever.(SPECIAL REPORT: FAVORITE STORE: A CONSUMER SURVEY)
November 7, 2005... NATIONWIDE DSNRT REPORT A new study designed to gauge consumer loyalty and store preference underscores a significant development in today's retail market: Customer acquisition, which can be a vital part of any chain's success, is not...

Careful growth strategy fuels Staples' market leadership.(SPECIAL REPORT: LEADING OFFICE SUPPLY RETAILERS)(Company Profile)
November 7, 2005... Staples is on a roll and its status as the undisputed leader among office superstores is in no danger despite intense competition for consumers of office products and services. Staples' industry-leading performance is attributable to a stable...

Revamped Office Depot builds momentum.(SPECIAL REPORT: LEADING OFFICE SUPPLY RETAILERS)(Company Profile)
November 7, 2005... Recent actions by Office Depot suggest the company is leaving no stone unturned as it looks to reposition a business that at times shares similarities to Staples as well as OfficeMax. On the one hand, Office Depot is a financially stable...

After rough '05, OfficeMax optimistic about '06.(Company Profile)
November 7, 2005... As 2005 draws to a close at OfficeMax, the best thing that can be said about the year is that it is ending in a more positive fashion than it began. Back in January, OfficeMax was wrestling with a series of troubling and distracting...

A&P.(RETAILER NEWS)(Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... A&P said it enjoyed a boon from the sale of its Canadian operation in the second quarter, much of which will be invested in stores. The $14.40 per diluted share the company posted in this year's quarter, versus a loss of $1.67 per diluted...

7-Eleven.(RETAILER NEWS)( Formula 7)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... 7-Eleven has added a new line of fitness-oriented products under the private-label Formula 7. The new own-brand was created to compete with functional food products sold at gyms, health-products stores, natural food retailers and drug chains...

Safeway.(RETAILER NEWS)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Texas has long been tough territory for food retailers, so to compete Safeway is shifting strategy in the Lone Star State. The supermarket operator will close 26 under-performing stores (leaving it with just over 100), institute a remodeling...

Meijer.(VENDOR NEWS)(Highline Mushrooms)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Meijer has named Highline Mushrooms, an independent family-owned grower and shipper of fresh mushrooms, a vendor of the year. Highline specializes in growing mushrooms without the use of pesticides.

Co-branding.(Rockstar Inc. distribution agreements with Coca-Cola Co. Coca-Cola North America and Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc.)(Britney Spears endorsing Rockstar Energy Drink)(Love & Quiches partnership with The Hershey Co.)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Getting attention in the food business is tougher than ever, with vendors tumbling out line extensions and retailers looking further afield for ideas to differentiate themselves. For some consumables producers, the answer is co-branding. ...

Convenience fattens foodservice for Canadian retailers.(DELI UPDATE)(Industry Overview)
November 7, 2005... Dairy, deli and bakery all can contribute to satisfying an increasingly convenience-oriented consumer, particularly if retailers are willing to test various approaches to see which their customers prefer. Successful efforts may be extensive...

Target bows premium chocolate line.(food & consumables: WHAT'S HOT * WHAT'S NEW * WHAT'S HAPPENING)(Choxie)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Target has had its ups and downs with private-label food products, but it is taking a very deliberate approach to own-brand candy with its debut line of premium-crafted chocolates dubbed Choxie. Target's angle this time is combining...

Web sites help retailers expand offerings.(food & consumables: WHAT'S HOT * WHAT'S NEW * WHAT'S HAPPENING)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Many retailers have hesitated to expand their selection online, but some food retailers are recognizing that tastes are becoming so diverse that the benefits outweigh the risks. Many specialty sites are appealing to exotic tastes while...

Wal-Mart.(RETAILER NEWS)(stopped pre-orders for Microsoft Xbox 360)
November 7, 2005... Major retailers including Wal-Mart last month stopped taking pre-orders for X-box 360, with advanced orders that began in September fast approaching supply limits. The next-generation console from Microsoft is due to launch Nov. 22. BY...

Movie Gallery.(RETAILER NEWS)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Movie Gallery reported a 9% decline in revenue for its third quarter, a drop in line with expectations. For the quarter, same-store rentals fell 10.8% and rental revenues dropped 10.3%. Same-store rentals at Hollywood Entertainment declined...