Mass Market Retailers articles from December 2007

Mass Market Retailers archives from December 2007

Kudos for safeway.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
December 10, 2007... Safeway Inc. is a winner of the Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award, California's highest environmental honor, for its Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Sustainability Initiative to reduce greenhouse gases through environmentally...

'Green' Zellers opens.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
December 10, 2007... Hudson's Bay Co. has opened what it maintains is its most environment-friendly store in Canada. The 120,000-square-foot Zellers Inc. unit, which opened its doors on December 1 in Watertown, Ontario, includes such features as energy-producing...

NACDS policy chief.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(National Association of Chain Drug Stores appointed Carol Kelly )(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... Carol Kelly has been appointed to the newly created position of senior vice president of government affairs and public policy at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. Kelly, who currently serves as the senior executive adviser on...

Burnished images.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
December 10, 2007... A survey of chief marketing officers by BDO Seidman LLP has found that 26% of leading retailers in the United States are offering some type of charity promotion this holiday shopping season. Of those conducting a charity-linked promotion half...

Big Lots outlook.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
December 10, 2007... Closeout retailer Big Lots Inc. expects same-store sales to fall in the fourth quarter (which includes the holiday shopping season) due to weak demand for toys and home goods.

A&P deal wins FTC approval.(NEWS)
December 10, 2007... MONTVALE, N.J. -- A&P's acquisition of 140-unit Pathmark Stores Inc. was expected to close early this month following clearance from the Federal Trade Commission. With the purchase A&P will have nearly 550 stores in the Northeast, which are...

Sears takes big hit.(SPOTLIGHT)
December 10, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- A day after Sears Holdings Corp. reported a 99% drop in third quarter profits, analysts said they see more tough times ahead for the company. Stiffer competition and more markdowns, theynoted, are likely...

Four CVS Caremark plans are a 'no-go'.(NEWS)
December 10, 2007... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. has withdrawn as a pharmacy provider from four prescription plans of CVS/Caremark Corp., citing what it alleges have been "unreasonably low and belowmarket" payment rates. Patients impacted reside in...

King Kullen to buy five A&Ps.
December 10, 2007... BETHPAGE, N.Y. -- King Kullen Grocery Co. and A&P have agreed to a deal that will see King Kullen acquire five A&P stores on New York City's Staten Island. Four of the stores are currently Waldbaum's units, and the fifth is a Pathmark. ...

Tesco U.S. gets Kudos from public.
December 10, 2007... SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Consumers have responded positively to Tesco PLC's Fresh & Easy stores in the United States, according to the company. Customers have especially liked the chain's fresh food offerings, Tim Mason, chief executive of...

Sears Solution Centers perfect for home buffs.(NEWS)
December 10, 2007... CINCINNATI -- In a bid to build its presence in the home design segment, Sears Holdings Corp. has opened "Solution Centers" in three stores here. If successful the experiment can serve as a blueprint for expansion to other full-line stores...

ShopKo is on opening track again.(NEWS)
December 10, 2007... GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Shopko Stores Operating Co. has recently announced plans to open two Shopko stores in the Midwest in the fall of 2008. The stores will be located in Sussex, Wis., and Northbranch, Minn. "This announcement represents the...

Target sells used electronics via web.(NEWS)
December 10, 2007... NEW YORK -- Target Corp. has begun testing the sale of used electronics through its web site. Since late October consumers using target.com can purchase pre-owned Apple Inc. iPods, video game consoles and televisions. While executives...

Help for holidays.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Salvation Army )(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... Wal-Mart is supporting the Salvation Army this holiday season by allowing the group's familiar red kettles to be stationed in front of its stores. It is also hosting a flurry of activities aimed at raising additional money for those in need,...

Tax dispute flap.(WAL-MART NEWS)
December 10, 2007... Wal-Mart has lost a legal effort to block the public from seeing court documents related to a tax dispute with the state of North Carolina, according to The Wall Street Journal. The attempt followed a report by the newspaper detailing how...

Focus on Brazil.(WAL-MART NEWS)
December 10, 2007... The Brazilian unit of WaI-Mart will invest 1.2 billion reals ($642 million), as part of plans to build 36 new stores and a distribution center. The new units will be built throughout the country in various store formats. Wal-Mart competes in...

Global milestone.(WAL-MART NEWS)
December 10, 2007... A Wal-Mart Supercenter that opened last month in Sao Paulo, Brazil, is the retailer's 3000th international unit since the company opened its first international store in Mexico in 1991. The new outlet includes sustainable features, including a...

Sam's new jewels.(WAL-MART NEWS)
December 10, 2007... Sam's Club has launched a new jewelry collection for the holiday shopping season that is valued at more than $2 million. The collection, which is available to members online and in stores, includes an Asscher-cut diamond ring valued at $347,368...

Store expansions.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... WaI-Mart celebrated the grand openings of two stores in Toledo and Sylvania Township, Ohio, that have been expanded to Supercenters in time for the holiday shopping season. The Toledo store, which originally opened in 2004, has gained about...

Biggest gainers.(MONEY)
December 10, 2007... BIGGEST GAINERS Close Change % Stock 11/23/07 vs.11/09/07 Change Longs 56.53 + 6.83 + 13.7 Supervalu 41.02 + 3.99 + 10.8 Nordstrom 35.72 + 3.34 ...

Biggest losers.(MONEY)(supermarket stocks)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... BIGGEST LOSERS Close Change % Stock 11/23/07 vs.11/09/07 Change Winn-Dixie 16.48 - 2.90 - 15.0 J.C. Penney 41.30 - 5.59 - 11.9 drugstore.com ...

Most active.(MONEY)(supermarkets' stocks)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... MOST ACTIVE Vol. (000) As a % Change vs. 1Wk.Ended of Total 1 Wk. Ended Stock 11/23/07 Shares 11/09/07 NashFnch 1.126 9.8 + 119.7 Circuit City ...

Scoreboard.(MONEY NEWS)
December 10, 2007... SCOREBOARD RETAILERS Quarter Dollar % Net Income ended Sales Change (Loss) BJ's (1) 11/03 2.17 bil +8 22.8 mil Home Depot (2) 10/28 ...

Target earnings off.(SPOTLIGHT)
December 10, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MINNEAPOLIS -- Third quarter net income at Target Corp. unexpectedly declined due to weak sales of higher-margin apparel and home goods, disappointing Wall Street and further lowering expectations for holiday sales,...

SDM posts 15% gain in profits.(MONEY)
December 10, 2007... TORONTO -- Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. (SDM) posted a 15.1% bottom-line gain on a 9.2% increase in revenues for the 16 weeks ended October 16. Although earnings were on target with the average estimate of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg, investor...

Wal-Mart exceeds expectations.(MONEY)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)(Financial report)
December 10, 2007... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Although comparable-store sales growth in its largest division remained sluggish, Wal-Mart surprised Wall Street with higherthan-expected profits for fiscal 2008's third quarter, and management sounded a confident note as...

Longs stays on right track.(MONEY)
December 10, 2007... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- With same-store sales growth trending upward, earnings from continuing lines showed strong doubledigit growth at Longs Drug Stores during the third quarter of fiscal 2008, exceeding Wall Street's expectations. ...

Sales mix has impact on margins.(MONEY)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... MINNEAPOLIS -- With Target executives attributing their third quarter earnings shortfall to soft sales in two key categories, apparel and home, the subjects of margins and sales mix were explored in some detail during the retailer's conference...

What's expected for fiscal 2008.(MONEY)(Longs Drug Stores Corp.)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Looking ahead to the end of fiscal 2008, Longs' management projects that retail sales and total revenues for the 53-week year will both increase between 5% and 7% from the preceding 52-week year. Same-store sales are...

Domestic operations set pace for strong quarter.(MONEY)
December 10, 2007... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart's surprisingly strong third quarter performance was particularly pleasing to management because it was driven by its biggest segment, the Wal-Mart Stores U.S.A. division, which has been dogged by sluggish samestore...

Retail stocks uneven in November.(MONEY)
December 10, 2007... [GRAPHIC OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Mass market retailing stocks were mixed in November as investors wondered and waited to see how the entire Christmas 2007 selling season will turn out. During the period from October 31 to November 23,...

Operating income is on upswing at BJ's.(MONEY)
December 10, 2007... NATICK, Mass. -- With improvements on the expense lines countering a slight reduction in gross margin, BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. registered a double-digit increase in income from ongoing lines for the 13 weeks ended November 3. Third...

The difficult problem of working together.(OPINION)
December 10, 2007... In Four Essays on Liberty, the philosopher and historian of ideas Isaiah Berlin argues that positive goals sometimes clash. "It is a commonplace that neither political equality nor efficient organization nor social justice is compatible with...

Five stories that dwarf the rest.(OPINION)
December 10, 2007... With 2007 winding down, here, in no particular order, are the five most significant developments of the year in mass market retailing: * The CVS/Caremark merger. This tie-up of one of America's largest and most successful drug chains and...

Simple, natural products find favor.(OPINION)
December 10, 2007... CHICAGO -- Both new and age-old products that complement a simpler, purer and more natural way of life can be expected to proliferate next year, according to research from the Mintel Global New Products Database. Tap water will experience...

'Pink' store rollout.(GLOBAL NEWS)
December 10, 2007... Superdrug will introduce a fashion oriented "pink" look to as many as 200 stores. Sales at the first store to receive the makeover last year in Uxbridge, west London, have increased significantly, according to chief executive Euan Sutherland....

Indian expansion.(GLOBAL NEWS)
December 10, 2007... Metro AG plans to extend its cash-and-carry wholesale network in India into Mumbai by year-end. The chain wants to reach out to the players in the hospitality business in the country's largest city, says operations director Alan Clayton. Metro...

Warehouse unveiled.(GLOBAL NEWS)
December 10, 2007... Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has opened a distribution center in Buenos Aires. The 269,000-square-foot warehouse cost $16 million and is designed to service WaI-Mart's rapidly growing Argentine store base, including several recently opened units. "This...

New pricesmart club.(GLOBAL NEWS)
December 10, 2007... PriceSmart Inc. has debuted its third warehouse club in Guatemala City and 24th overall. The 25th club was slated to premiere in Trinidad, in the West Indies, early this month. San Diego-based PriceSmart also announced that it has acquired the...

George 'too young'.(GLOBAL NEWS)
December 10, 2007... Asda Group PIc will reportedly revamp its George clothing brand next year over concerns that the fashions have become too youth oriented for the Wal-Mart owned retailer's core audience. It will refocus on 35- to 45-year-old women.

Tesco has set plans for further expansion in Ireland.(GLOBAL)
December 10, 2007... DUBLIN -- Tesco PLC plans to open six or seven new stores per year in Ireland for the foreseeable future, chief executive officer Tony Keohane said in a recent interview. In particular, the company is looking for opportunities to deploy...

Tengelmann integrates two chains.(GLOBAL)
December 10, 2007... HAMBURG, Germany -- German grocer Tengelmann has agreed to consolidate its network of Plus discount stores into the Edeka chain. The deal, which is described as a 70/30 joint venture in which Edeka will have the controlling interest, does...

Net up, sales drop at Metro.(GLOBAL)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... MONTREAL -- Metro Inc. registered a 9.3% increase in net profit to $276.6 million ($277 million U.S.) during fiscal 2007, despite a 2.7% decline in sales to $10.64 billion. Management blamed the sales decrease on lower tobacco sales and the...

The Carrefour brand.(SPOTLIGHT)
December 10, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PARIS -- Carrefour SA will likely convert its 1,000 Champion supermarkets in France to the Carrefour Market banner by the end of the decade as part of a "single brand" strategy. The retailer is confident that the new...

Net earnings plummet at Loblaws.(GLOBAL)
December 10, 2007... OTTAWA -- A slight increase in sales at Loblaw Cos. was not enough to overcome other factors as Canada's largest supermarket operator reported a 42% decline in third quarter net profits last month. Margin declines and higher costs,...

Hogil Pharmaceutical keeps its eye on what's best.(SUPPLY SIDE)
December 10, 2007... WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- As a small supplier, Hogil Pharmaceutical Corp. has prided itself as a company that responds quickly to potential health dsks. In 2004 the company reformulated its Sine-Off brand of cough/cold medicine by replacing...

BIC to launch Soleil Shimmer shaver.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)(BIC USA Inc. BIC Consumer Products Div.)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BIC Consumer Products has announced plans to expand its BIC Soleil shaver line with the launch of BIC Soleil Shimmer, including cartridge refills, in March 2008. According to the company, t he product's primary...

Mass retailers offer high-end skin care line.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
December 10, 2007... Olivella, formulated by Umbria Olii SpA of Italy, has introduced a skin care line for the face and body made with 100% virgin olive oil. Olivella offers three SKUs, including a 5.29-ounce cleansing fragrance face and body bar soap, selling for...

Dr. Fresh FireFly twin-pack toothbrushes.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
December 10, 2007... Dr. Fresh has launched FireFly twin-pack toothbrushes, selling for $1.99. Each package contains brushes in two different colors. They are ergonomically designed for children ages 3 to 12. The FireFly features a light-up timer that flashes for...

Hygienic Flipper toothbrush holder.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
December 10, 2007... DDRGroup has introduced the Flipper toothbrush holder with 35 different designs, including a line of puppies, wild animals and dinosaurs. The holder can be used for travel. The Flipper offers an aerated container to keep the toothbrush dry and...

'Rush Hour 3' on DVD December 26.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
December 10, 2007... New Line Home Entertainment Inc. has announced plans to release the action comedy Rush Hour 3 on a two-disc platinum series DVD on December 26. The film, which features Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, will be available for $34.99 and includes a...

Goody line of therapeutic hairbrushes.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)(Goody Products Inc.)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... Goody Products Inc. has introduced a line of hairstyling tools that use such therapeutic ingredients as copper, jojoba oil and questamide. The collection includes the following--reduce + dandruff Copper Infused brushes, add + shine Jojoba...

Pet food sales shift.(SPOTLIGHT)
December 10, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- A number of factors have had a major impact on consumer choices of pet food and on the product offerings from suppliers. The pet food recall of last spring, perhaps the industry's single biggest event,...

Consumers wary of Chinese products.(SUPPLY SIDE)
December 10, 2007... ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Recent toy recalls have hurt China's reputation as a manufacturer and soured consumer attitudes toward Chinese products this holiday season, according to the Harris Poll One-third (33%) of Americans say that due to safety...

Children's O-T-Cs are under gun.(SUPPLY SIDE)(over-the-counter )(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... NEW YORK -- Sales of over-the-counter children's remedies dropped 16% for the four-week period ending November 3, 2007, compared to both the preceding four-week period and sales a year ago. Sales of such products have dropped sharply after...

Cover Girl image will be updated.(SUPPLY SIDE)
December 10, 2007... NEW YORK -- Procter & Gamble Co's (P&G's) CoverGirl brand is planning a makeover of its marketing campaign in 2008. The company recently announced that actress Drew Barrymore will serve as co-creative director on print ads for LashBlast, a...

Convenience, quality are musts.(PET CARE)
December 10, 2007... NEW YORK -- Pet ownership is up among consumers, who often have limited time to spend with domestic animals they regard as members of their families. That, in a nutshell, is the dilemma that influences many pet supply purchases. Pet owners...

Value-added items one answer to PL.(PET CARE)
December 10, 2007... NEW YORK -- Viewed as a necessity by many pet owners, litter and deodorant products are a large if mature category that nonetheless has experienced growth. Consumers spent $820.5 million on dog and cat litter and deodorant in supermarkets,...

'The next wave' about to arrive.(PLMA WRAP-UP)
December 10, 2007... ROSEMENT, Ill. -- Although the overall market share of private label products in the United States mass market has been essentially flat for the past several years, there are some significant signs that this may change. In fact, a new...

House brands are part and parcel of business.(PLMA WRAP-UP)
December 10, 2007... NEW YORK -- The private label landscape is changing as leading retailers deploy increasingly sophisticated store brand strategies. But, suppliers say, retailers are proving slow to update the business model that has defined their relationships...

U.S. chains take page from Europe.(PLMA WRAP-UP)
December 10, 2007... CHICAGO -- Private label has long been a huge phenomenon in Europe, and now the retail strategies driving European store brand growth are beginning to cross the Atlantic, according to a new report from Information Resources Inc. (IRI). ...

PLMA show keeps on getting bigger and better.(PLMA WRAP-UP)(Private Label Manufacturers Association)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... CHICAGO -- The dynamism and opportunity that mark the retail brands industry were evident at the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) show held last month at the Rosemont Convention Center. Some 1,900 exhibitors were present on...

Top-selling mass market categories *.(Statistical table)
December 10, 2007... Top-Selling Mass Market Categories * For the 52 weeks ended October 7, 2007 TOTAL FDM EXCLUDING FDM WAL-MART ...

We still expect some sales mix deterioration in the fourth quarter.(PEOPLE)(Financial report)
December 10, 2007... "We still expect some sales mix deterioration in the fourth quarter, but not to the extent that we experienced in the third quarter." Gregg Steinhafel, Target

Taken together, our model and our mission are the most powerful force.(PEOPLE)
December 10, 2007... "Taken together, our model and our mission are the most powerful force in this world today." Lee Scott, Wal-Mart

PepsiCo CEO on board.(PEOPLE NEWS)
December 10, 2007... The U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) has named Indra Nooyi, chairman and chief executive officer of PepsiCo Inc., to its board of directors. The USlBC is a business advocacy organization representing 250 of the largest United States...

Bausch & Lomb exec.(PEOPLE NEWS)
December 10, 2007... Bausch & Lomb has named A. Robert Bailey corporate vice president and general counsel. Most recently he served as vice president, assistant general counsel and assistant secretary for the company. He first joined Bausch & Lomb as counsel in...

Newell Rubbermaid.(PEOPLE NEWS)
December 10, 2007... Newell Rubbermaid has announced the resignation of Timothy Jahnke, president of the company's Home & Family segment, effective November 30, in order to take a chief executive position at another company.

Jarden names CEO.(PEOPLE NEWS)
December 10, 2007... Jarden Corp. has appointed Gregory Shearson as president and chief executive officer at Jarden outdoor Solutions. He has more than 20 years of experience in the consumer package goods industry. Most recently Shearson served as president of...

Scholastic Media.(PEOPLE NEWS)(appointment of Daisy Kline and Rachel Bader )(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... Scholastic Media has announced the following personnel changes at the company. Daisy Kline has joined as director of marketing and brand management, reporting to Leslye Schaefer, senior vice president of marketing and consumer products. Rachel...

Generac retirement.(PEOPLE NEWS)
December 10, 2007... Generac Power Systems has announced the retirement of William Treffert as chief executive officer. He will stay on to assist the company during the transition. Edward LeBlanc will become the new CEO effective immediately.

Harris Teeter promotes two executives.(PEOPLE)
December 10, 2007... CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Harris Teeter Inc. has named Rodney Antolock executive vice president of operations and merchandising and Jerry Clontz senior vice president of operations. Antolock has served as senior vice president of...

Thompson is Rite Aid sr. vp.(PEOPLE)
December 10, 2007... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Robert Thompson, a former senior vice president at Target Corp, has been named senior vice president of Rite Aid Corp.'s Western division, where he will supervise operations of more than 900 stores. Thompson, 50, most...

Ahold top ranks set.(SPOTLIGHT)
December 10, 2007... AMSTERDAM -- Ahold NV has filled its chief executive position with John Rishton, who had been holding the post on an interim basis for five months. Rishton succeeds Anders Moberg, who announced in late April that he was leaving the company...

NACDS sr. vp Wagner steps down.(PEOPLE)
December 10, 2007... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Mary Ann Wagner, National Association of Chain Drug Stores' senior vice president of policy and pharmacy regulatory affairs, is retiring effective December 31, 2007. Wagner led the development of the association's policy...

Sammons is a 'Woman to Watch.(PEOPLE)
December 10, 2007... HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Mary Sammons, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Rite Aid Corp., has been named one of the "50 Women to Watch--2007" by The Wall Street Journal. Sammons was appointed chairman in June, with the completion...

In the aftermath of the opening days of the Christmas selling season.(HEARD AROUND)
December 10, 2007... * In the aftermath of the opening days of the Christmas selling season, mass retailers remain at a loss as to the final outcome.

Of all the questions surrounding the holiday selling season the one most retailers and suppliers are asking most often.(HEARD AROUND)
December 10, 2007... * Of all the questions surrounding the holiday selling season the one most retailers and suppliers are asking most often is this: How will Wal-Mart do?

Meetings shows.(TOPICS)(Calendar)
December 10, 2007... 5-8--URBAN EXPOSITIONS: Miami Beach Gift Show, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami. 5-8--URBAN EXPOSITIONS: Philadelphia Gift Show, Greater Reading Expo Center, Reading, Pa. 6-10--ECRM: Retail Pharmacy Branded Pharmaceuticals, Hyatt...

Small is the new big.(SPOTLIGHT)
December 10, 2007... WILTON, Conn. -- Stores are increasingly focusing on the individual shopping experience, according to Cannondale Associates' 11th annual PoweRanking study. The yearly report highlights retailers and suppliers who have sustained positive...

For Xmas shoppers go green.(TOPICS)
December 10, 2007... NEW YORK -- Consumers have become more environmentally aware and this holiday season will seek out products they see as being eco-friendly, a recent report from Deloitte & Touche USA LLP says. According to the company's 22nd Annual Holiday...

Supervalu eyes health at holidays.(TOPICS)
December 10, 2007... FRANKLIN PARK, Ill. -- A new study from Supervalu Inc. finds that a large percentage of those who overindulge in eating and drinking over the holidays are not aware that they are prediabetic and their choices could be risky to their health. ...

On the Web convenience counts most.(TOPICS)
December 10, 2007... NEW YORK -- Nielsen Co.'s Nielsen Online service reports that online shopping's primary appeal is the convenience that it offers. In an online survey 81% of nearly 1,000 respondents indicated that the ability to shop at any time of the day...

Global shrink tops $98 billion.(TOPICS)
December 10, 2007... THOROFARE, N.J. -- The first edition of the Global Retail Theft Barometer, conducted by the Centre for Retail Research and sponsored by Checkpoint Systems Inc., reveals new facts about the actual level of retail shrinkage and crime in 32...