Mass Market Retailers articles from August 2008

Mass Market Retailers archives from August 2008

Stop & shop perks up.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 11, 2008... Stop & Shop Cos. is unveiling a brighter logo this month and upgrading their black-andgreen employee uniforms with more tailored getups in "eggplant" and yellow, according to a report in the Boston Heraid. The chain is also testing a Choose and...

'Guiding Stars' tour.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 11, 2008... Food Lion LLC has announced a mobile marketing tour to complement its launch of the Guiding Stars Nutrition navigation system in Food Lion and Bloom stores. Traveling in a special vehicle the Guiding Stars 3 Star Kitchen team will visit stores...

Mervyn's money woes.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 11, 2008... Mervyn's LLC has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as it secured $465 million in financing, allowing it to continue operating its department stores in California and the Southwest while it restructures.

Plastic bags banned.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 11, 2008... The Los Angeles City Council has voted to ban plastic carry-out bags in the city's supermarkets and other stores by July 2010 if the state fails to impose a 25 cents fee on every shopper who requests one, according to a report in the Los...

Fresh & easy revamp.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 11, 2008... In a move that will incorporate local and community designs Tesco PLC will give a makeover to more than 60 Fresh & Easy stores in California, Nevada and Arizona. First in line is the store in Fresno, Calif., which will include a mural...

Court revives Whole Foods merger case.(NEWS)
August 11, 2008... WASHINGTON -- A United States appeals court late last month reversed a lower court's ruling that had allowed Whole Foods Market Inc. to purchase rival Wild Oats Markets Inc. A three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the...

Wal-Mart gains ground in Rx.
August 11, 2008... COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Walgreen Co. remains the retailer of choice in the prescription drugs category, but Wal-Mart Stores Inc. appears to be closing the gap. That is the trend evident in the July Retail Ratings Report from BIGresearch, which...

Costco lowers view.(SPOTLIGHT)
August 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Costco Wholesale Corp. warned that earnings per share for its fiscal fourth quarter ending on August 31 will be "well below" Wall Street's expectations, sending a tremor through both the financial...

Sale sharpens Minyard's focus.(NEWS)
August 11, 2008... COPPELL, Texas -- Minyard Food Stores Inc. has agreed to sell 37 stores and its Hispanic-oriented Carnival brand to a group led by wholesaler Grocers Supply Co., owner of Houston-based supermarketer Fiesta Mart Inc. Grocers Supply will get...

Apparel mix is bolstered by Shopko.(NEWS)
August 11, 2008... GREEN BAY, Wise. -- Shopko Stores Operating Co. has added national apparel brands to its Junior and Young Men's assortments. The new branded merchandise, on display in time for back to school, provides more trend and fashion as well as the...

Target adds 43 units to store base.(NEWS)
August 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MINNEAPOLIS -- Target Corp. opened 43 stores on July 27, bringing its total to 1,648 stores in 47 states. The grand openings were geographically diverse, involving stores in 19 states. The greatest concentration...

Correction.(NEWS)(Correction notice)
August 11, 2008... The 2008 Marketplace Showcase in the June 23 issue of MMR listed incorrect contact information for Beiersdorf Inc. The correct contact is Tom Cheek director of sales, (704) 488-1660.

College memberships.(WAL-MART NEWS)
August 11, 2008... As part of a strategy to boost membership numbers, Sam's Club is offering a special annual membership to college students for $40, plus a $15 gift card. The collegiate membership also includes a second membership card, so that a college student...

Wal-Mart drops Z.B.D.(WAL-MART NEWS)
August 11, 2008... Wal-Mart's online division has dropped the upscale women's clothing line z.b.d., which it had been selling on a test basis for the past year on its web site. Wal-Mart's online customers tend to have higher incomes than those who shop in its...

Dell offers tech help.(WAL-MART NEWS)
August 11, 2008... In a pilot program Wal-Mart is opening Solution Stations staffed by Dell employees, who will offer repair services and advice on home theater systems sold in Wal-Mart stores. The program, which has introduced kiosks in 15 stores in the Dallas...

Sam's taps Geek team.(WAL-MART NEWS)
August 11, 2008... Sam's Club has begun a pilot program with Geeks On Call Holdings Inc. in which it will advertise Geeks On Call at-home computer services. Under the plan a sticker is placed on computers sold in participating Sam's Club stores, which will also...

Wal-Mart inks it deal.(WAL-MART NEWS)
August 11, 2008... Wal-Mart has selected Oracle Corp.'s Oracle Business Intelligence Suite Enterprise Edition Plus to provide data intelligence and analysis across the retailer's operations. Wal-Mart plans to use the system to administer its logistics,...

Scoreboard.(MONEY: NEWS)(Statistical table)(Financial report)
August 11, 2008... SCOREBOARD Quarter Dollar % Net Income % RETAILERS ended Sales Change (Loss) Change Family Dollar 05/31 1.7 bil +2.9 64.7 mil +7.1 A&P (1) 06/14...

Biggest gainers.(MONEY)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... BIGGEST GAINERS Close Change % Stock 07/25/08 vs. 06/27/08 Change Weis 39.63 +6.97 +21.3 Family Dollar 22.74 +3.32 +17.1...

Biggest losers.(MONEY)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... BIGGEST LOSERS Close Change % Stock 07/25/08 vs. 06/27/08 Change Office Depot 6.71 -4.33 -39.2 Circuit City 2.22 -1.04 -31.9 A&P 15.97 ...

Most active.(MONEY)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... MOST ACTIVE Vol. (000) As a % % Change 1Wk. Ended of Total vs. Stock 07/25/08 Shares 1 Wk. Ended A&P 13,146 34.4 +170.6 Costco ...

Safeway net up 7.4%.(SPOTLIGHT)
August 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Bolstered by rising gas prices and increased private label sales, second quarter net income grew just enough to beat analysts' expectations at Safeway Inc. However, although management confirmed...

Rite Aid is hit with a big loss.(MONEY)
August 11, 2008... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Store-conversion costs and narrowed profit margins for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 drove Rite Aid Corp. to a much deeper loss than analysts had expected, even with top-line growth of almost 50%. Wall Street reacted by...

Another good quarter for SDM.(MONEY)
August 11, 2008... TORONTO -- Repeating what has become a familiar litany, Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) recorded double-digit earnings growth in the second quarter of fiscal 2008, as continued solid sales gains combined with an effective sales mix and cost-cutting...

Kroger adapts to economy.(MONEY)
August 11, 2008... CINCINNATI -- Discounts on food, drugs and fuel sparked customer traffic and drove double-digit increases in both sales and net income at Kroger Co. during the first quarter of fiscal 2008. The results exceeded Wall Street's expectations, and...

More red ink expected in fiscal '09.(MONEY)(Financial report)
August 11, 2008... CAMP HILL Pa. -- In a conference call with analysts Rite Aid management confirmed its prior guidance on sales, same-store sales, adjusted EBITDA and capital expenditures for the full fiscal year despite posting a first quarter loss that took...

Quarterly earnings off 29.3% at Weis.(MONEY)(Financial report)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... SUNBURY, Pa. -- Despite solid sales growth, Weis Markets saw second quarter earnings drop nearly 30%. Net income at the regional grocer fell 29.3% to $12.8 million for the 13 weeks ended June 28 as sales gained 4.3% to $603.4 million....

Profit outlook affirmed.(MONEY)(Financial report)
August 11, 2008... PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Although Safeway Inc. confirmed its earnings guidance for fiscal 2008, it revised downward its forecast for identical-store sales growth, and investors responded by driving down the grocer's stock price the day its second...

Proceed with care.(Federal Trade Commission )
August 11, 2008... A federal appeals court decision has cast a shadow over the nation's leading retailer of natural and organic food. In a 2-to-1 ruling, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found that Judge...

Wal-Mart at the top of its game.(OPINION)
August 11, 2008... The possibility exists that Wal-Mart is today a more effective and impactful retailer than was the case during its halcyon days of the 1980s and '90s, while occupying a more influential position in the U.S. retail community than it has exerted...

Letter to the editor.(Letter to the editor)
August 11, 2008... To the Editor: [David Pinto's] editorial in the June 23rd issue, "Fresh & Easy Is Here to Stay," is most generous. Having watched Tesco "invade" the USA reminded me of the action of the British in the War of 1812. Fighting in the...

Waitrose investment.(GLOBAL: NEWS)
August 11, 2008... Waitrose is investing 6 million [pounds sterling] (about $12 million) in a new design for its stores. The seven-week project, which started late last month, will see the British grocer roll out a more upscale look to all of its 190 stores.

Soriana profit down.(GLOBAL: NEWS)
August 11, 2008... Rising expenses from a recent acquisition and an advertising campaign that boosted sales sharply have caused second quarter profits at Organizacion Soriana SA, the second-largest retailer in Mexico, to fall 27%. Soriana reports that it earned...

Delhaize looks East.(GLOBAL: NEWS)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... Belgian supermarket group Delhaize says it is looking to Eastern Europe for expansion as the prices of companies there have come down. "We are in no rush, and we will certainly not pay any price," chief executive officer Pierre-Olivier Beckers...

Canadian Tire format.(GLOBAL: NEWS)
August 11, 2008... Canadian-Time opened the doors of its first two small-market stores last month with the grand debuts of units in Hearst and Deep River, Ontario. The two new stores are the first of four test locations planned for 2008 and include an...

Wal-Mart China pact.(GLOBAL: NEWS)
August 11, 2008... Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has completed collective bargaining agreements with unions in two Chinese cities. The pacts reached with government-approved unions in Shenyang and Quanzhou come less than two years after the official All China Federation...

PriceSmart net up.(GLOBAL: NEWS)
August 11, 2008... Warehouse club operator PriceSmart Inc's third quarter profit doubled as sales at its outlets surged. The company reported net income for the period of $10.6 million, or 36 cents a share, up from $5.2 million, or 18 cents a share, a year...

Tesco extends its reach in banking, other services.(GLOBAL)
August 11, 2008... LONDON -- Tesco PLC says it will make a major push into banking and other services with a 950 million [pounds sterling] (about $1.9 billion) deal to buy out the Royal Bank of Scotland from the companies' finance joint venture. Tesco says...

Expectations for year cut by Delhaize.(GLOBAL)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... AMSTERDAM -- Belgian supermarket group Delhaize reduced its 2008 outlook last month, joining the ranks of retailers worried about a slowdown in consumer spending in the United States and Europe. The retailer lowered its expectations for...

Hudson's Bay changes hands.(SPOTLIGHT)
August 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TORONTO -- For the second time within three years Hudson's Bay Co. (HBC) has a new owner. NRDC Equity Partners announced on July 16 that it had acquired the remaining 80% of the shares of Canada's historic retailer...

Strong sales increases generated by Casino.(GLOBAL)
August 11, 2008... PARIS -- French supermarket operator Groupe Casino SA saw its sales climb 14.6% in the second quarter. Same-store sales were up 6.3%. The company reports that the gains were helped by strong international sales and by its discount outlets...

Loblaws still has more work to do.(GLOBAL)
August 11, 2008... TORONTO -- Second quarter profit at Loblaw Cos. increased 18% as the company was able to dramatically reduce its restructing costs from $73 million a year ago to just $1 million in this year's period. Still six to nine months behind...

Energing markets full of promise.(GLOBAL)
August 11, 2008... The credit crunch that began in the United States and quickly spread globally has slowed retail growth and added to the financial stress of retailers worldwide. U.S.-based retailers in particular are grappling with lower same-store sales...

Onetime-Use camera.(SUPPLY SIDE: NEWS)
August 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fujifilm U.S.A. Inc. has expanded its specialty-theme onetime-use camera line to include the Peanuts Flash One-Time-Use camera. Featuring such Peanuts cartoon characters as Snoopy, Woodstock and Charlie Brown on the...

Coca-Cola's full Throttle Hydration.(SUPPLY SIDE: NEWS)
August 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Coca-Cola Co. has announced the launch of Full Throttle Hydration, a noncarbonated energy drink. The beverage is being initially released in the Southeast. Its tropical mix flavor is available in 16-ounce aluminum...

Freeman Beauty's Good Stuff Organics.(SUPPLY SIDE: NEWS)
August 11, 2008... Freeman Beauty, a division of pH Beauty Labs, has introduced its Good Stuff Organics line of face, body and hair products, which the company says contains only the "good stuff." The products are formulated without the use of harmful synthetic...

Christmas games.(SUPPLY SIDE: NEWS)(Anton Publications Inc.)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... Anton Publications Inc. has introduced its collection of old-fashioned Christmas board games and card games. Selling at suggested prices of between $9.95 and $22.95, the games can be used for holiday parties, family gatherings, office parties...

ACE offers travel excursion bag for men.(SUPPLY SIDE: NEWS)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... As part of its travel gear line, ACE has introduced its ACE Excursion Bag for men, said to combine style and convenience. The bag is designed with ample storage space and features two divided compartments to separate grooming tools from...

Goody Ouchless hair accessories.(SUPPLY SIDE: NEWS)
August 11, 2008... Goody Products Inc. has expanded its Ouchless hair accessories collection to include three new items designed to overcome the headaches that can come from wearing some hair accessories: New Ouchless Claw Clips, which have curved teeth and...

New facility a reflection of Mason's ongoing growth.(SUPPLY SIDE)
August 11, 2008... MIAMI LAKES, Fla.--Mason Vitamins Inc. has launched a 147,000-square-foot facility here. The opening signifies continued progress and expansion of Mason in the supplements industry, says president Ofelia Perez. The building allows...

B-T-S season will test retailers.(SPOTLIGHT)
August 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- While children traditionally dread the back-to-school (B-T-S) season, this year retailers may have reason to dread it even more. That being said, studies show that discount retailers may be in a unique...

Jewelry line for hair is introduced.(SUPPLY SIDE)
August 11, 2008... ATLANTA -- Newell Rubbermaid has launched the Goody Luxe line of hair jewelry designed to address global hair trends while offering functional benefits. Equipped with StayPut Hold technology, the Luxe collection promises to hold steady to...

'The perfect fit for elite athletes'.(SUPPLY SIDE)
August 11, 2008... SOLANA BEACH, Calif. -- Bond Laboratories Inc. sponsored the H.I.T. (Hughes Intensive Training) Squad's "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler in his rematch with Scott Smith. "Fusion 6+ Hour Energy Shot products have been, and will continue to be, the...

Some revealing products.(SUPPLY SIDE: NEW AT MARKETPLACE)
August 11, 2008... Del Pharmaceuticals Inc. showed off two products designed to help children fight dental plaque more effectively. Orajel Kids Plaque Revealing Rinse is designed to be used before brushing. The liquid turns blue on teeth, showing children where...

Portable pain relief.(SUPPLY SIDE: NEW AT MARKETPLACE)
August 11, 2008... Alcis Health Inc. has introduced a new 1.25-fluid-ounce travel version of its Alcis Daily Relief product, an over-the-counter pain-relieving cream.According to the company, the product works in as little as five minutes, and the active...

Natural solutions gain wider distribution.(SUPPLY SIDE: NEW AT MARKETPLACE)
August 11, 2008... WN Pharmaceuticals Inc. is rolling out its Holista line of nutritional supplements and topical treatments, previously only available through natural or health food specialty stores, to drug stores, supermarkets and other mass retail outlets....

Pain-relieving patches.(SUPPLY SIDE: NEW AT MARKETPLACE)
August 11, 2008... Hisamitsu America Inc. has developed new versions of its Salonpas brand of pain-relieving patches. Salonpas Pain Relief Patch and Salonpas Arthritis Pain are the first over-the-counter pain-relieving patches on the market to be proven effective...

Gum for stronger teeth.(SUPPLY SIDE: NEW AT MARKETPLACE)
August 11, 2008... Cadbury Adams USA LLC has introduced Trident Xtra Care, which promises to actually rebuild tooth enamel, strengthening teeth and making them more resistant to plaque acids. According to the company, the product is the only chewing gum on the...

Targeted skin care products.(SUPPLY SIDE: NEW AT MARKETPLACE)
August 11, 2008... DermWorx Inc. has developed a collection of specialized skin care products that take advantage of the company's unique delivery systems. AcneWorx, for example, incorporates Novasome Technology, which DermWorx describes as "a breakthrough...

Fresh approaches in oral care.(SUPPLY SIDE: NEW AT MARKETPLACE)
August 11, 2008... Dr. Fresh Inc. has introduced a new line of toothbrushes, dental floss and mouthwash under the Aim Oral Care brand name. The company's licensing initiatives, meanwhile, include Dentyne Mouthwash, which promises the same taste as that of the...

Focus is on the new.(MARKETPLACE)(National Association of Chain Drug Stores )
August 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SAN DIEGO -- New products were the stars at the recent National Association of Chain Drug Stores Marketplace Conference here, which featured nearly 600 exhibiting companies. The ultimate success or failure of the...

Energy shots catch eye of retailers.(SUPPLY SIDE)
August 11, 2008... SAN DIEGO -- Energy shots were a hot category at NACDS Marketplace. Living Essentials, whose 5 Hour Energy is credited with creating the category, was on hand with two new versions: Decaf and Extra Strength. Like the original, they promise...

Zerosmoke signs Miss America.(SUPPLY SIDE)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... SAN DIEGO -- Zerosmoke, the creator of a new product that helps smokers quit, has announced a partnership with Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund. She will support the product as its official spokesperson in her national travels. "We...

Supreme protein touts 'phenomenon'.(SUPPLY SIDE)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... SAN DIEGO -- Supreme Protein Inc. used the NACDS Marketplace show to keep the momentum going on the product it bills as a"runaway sales sensation." What makes the company's Supreme Protein bar unique, according to vice president Kelly...

Supplements on growth track.(INNOVATION: Health Care)
August 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- The vitamins and nutritional supplements field has been transformed and revitalized over the past decade thanks to a wave of innovative products and product categories from suppliers, many of whom are niche players. While...

Natural approach strikes a chord.(INNOVATION: Health Care)
August 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Retailers and suppliers can agree that the hottest trend in the food and consumer packaged goods businesses today is the natural boom. To a considerable degree shoppers' desire for products with...

Need for pain relief always there.(INNOVATION: Health Care)
August 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- As America's baby boom generation continues to transition from middle age to senior status, their aches and pains are increasing. Their resulting misery is creating a growing opportunity for manufacturers of pain remedies and the...

Wyeth buys ThermaCare from P&G.(INNOVATION: Health Care)
August 11, 2008... CINCINNATI -- Procter & Gamble Co. has worked hard to foster a culture of innovation, and chairman and chief executive officer A.G. Lafley has even written a book about the subject recently. It is no surprise, then, that the company was the...

Consumers respond to new solutions to foot problems.(INNOVATION: Health Care)
August 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- The foot care business is enjoying a solid resurgence, and the reasons are not hard to find. On one hand, an aging population that is feeling more aches and pains generally is experiencing more foot problems as well. In addition,...

Scar management offers options.(INNOVATION: Health Care)
August 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- A comparatively new category in the over-the-counter realm, scar management is equal parts beauty care and health care. The very existence of the category is a tribute to the innovative technologies that have been developed in the...

Wound care gets more sophisticated.(INNOVATION: Health Care)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- Wound care is one field of health care in the United States that has seen remarkable advances in the past decade or so, and some of the fruits of those efforts are making their way to mass market retailers. For example, Brown...

Help for patients and pharmacists.(SUPPLY SIDE)
August 11, 2008... MINNEAPOLIS -- If necessity is the mother of invention, it can also claim to be the parent of innovation. Apothecary Products Inc. (API) was created in 1975 when a pharmacist conceived of a product that would aid in dispensing liquid...

Scope of digestives category is expanding.(INNOVATION: Health Care)
August 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- The over-the-counter digestives category used to consist almost entirely of laxatives and various remedies for heartburn, nausea and diarrhea. But in recent years the category has expanded dramatically to the broader concept of...

Feminine needs keeps evolving.(INNOVATION: Health Care)
August 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- Feminine hygiene is a critical category for mass market retailers because it is a segment that the vast majority of their customers, who are women, shop regularly. It is also a category that has been deceptively dynamic, as...

Openness benefits family planning.(INNOVATION: Health Care)(Ansell Healthcare Products Inc. marketing its LifeStyles condoms )(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... RED BANK, N.J. -- Like feminine hygiene, marketing of the family planning category, and condoms in particular, has been shackled by repressive societal attitudes. That has changed markedly over the past decade, and much of the credit has to go...

At-home diagnostics become more user-friendly.(INNOVATION: Health Care)
August 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- The dysfunctional state of much of the American health care system and the resulting consumer readiness to rely as much as possible on self-care have provided a major growth stimulus for the home diagnostics category. While demand...

Aging of population bodes well for eye care.(INNOVATION: Health Care)
August 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- Eye care, like several other health care categories, faces a bright future in the near term thanks to an aging American population. By 2030 no less than 20% of the United States population will be over age 65, and deteriorating...

Hearing aids require reliable power source.(INNOVATION: Health Care)
August 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- As more Americans move into the senior ranks, more and more of them are resorting to hearing aids. Not surprisingly, the baby boomers' demands for performance and convenience from these devices are high. That has created...

Trends fuel dynamic business.(SKIN CARE)
August 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- Skin care is an immense category with a sophisticated set of products. Incorporating elements of medical science as well as beauty care, the segment is fertile ground for manufacturers, which have introduced a steady stream of...

Teens aren't only ones using acne treatments.(SKIN CARE)
August 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- Acne treatments are a major segment of skin care whose products are in demand by consumers in one of two stages of life: boys and girls in their pre-teen and teen years, and middle-age women. As noted in a report released in...

Rite Aid promotes 'smart skin care'.(SKIN CARE)
August 11, 2008... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with over 1 million new cases diagnosed every year, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Rite Aid Corp. and the Skin Care Foundation announced in June...

Cosmeceuticals next big thing.(SKIN CARE)
August 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- Facial cleansers and moisturizers comprise two sizeable segments of the skin care market, each with a wide variety of products. An increasing number of items in these categories have formulations that allow their marketers to...

Anti-aging boom is still going strong.(SKIN CARE)
August 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- Anti-aging products for facial use have seen an upswing in consumer sales, driven by interest among female baby boomers as well as ethnic consumers. According to Mintel, which issued a report on anti-aging skin care in April,...

New ideas in scar management.(SKIN CARE)
August 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- Treatments for scars and stretch marks are a burgeoning skin care segment. One of the latest examples comes from Merz Pharmaceuticals, which has recently launched Mederma Cream Plus SPF 30, a unique formula that not only lessens the...