Mass Market Retailers articles from February 2004

Mass Market Retailers archives from February 2004

Wal-Mart sued again.(Industry News)
February 9, 2004... Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has been hit by another lawsuit. Three assistant managers charge that the retailer forced them to work overtime without pay and denied them breaks. Their lawsuit seeks class-action status as well as overtime pay for any...

Winn-Dixie expansion.(Industry News)
February 9, 2004... Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. is nearing completion of the expansion and remodeling of its Hammond, La., distribution center. When completed the 210,000-square-foot facility will handle perishable products for 96 stores in Louisiana and Mississippi...

New target handbag.(Industry News)
February 9, 2004... Target Corp.'s newest designer partner--Isaac Mizrahi--created an exclusive handbag for the party that was held by IFC Cos., a developer of independent movies, at the Sundance Film Festival. Target also developed and sponsored a special 'Red...

Hawaiian tickets deal.(Industry News)
February 9, 2004... Times Supermarkets has signed a deal with Ticketmaster. People who shop at the retailer's stores on the Hawaiian island of Oahu will be able to purchase tickets for a variety of events as well as be able to access such data as seating charts.

Supermarkets sued.(Industry News)
February 9, 2004... Hundreds of California janitors joined in a class-action lawsuit against supermarkets, claiming that they were paid less then the minimum wage and did not receive overtime pay.

Wal-Mart vs. Alameda County.(News)
February 9, 2004... OAKLAND, Calif. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has sued Alameda County and its board of supervisors over their adoption last month of a ban on superstores. Wal-Mart claims that the restrictions placed on what retailers can sell in their...

A call to customers.(Spotlight)
February 9, 2004... LOS ANGELES -- In an attempt to get consumers to return to the southern California grocery outlets affected by a four-month strike, two of the three chains, Safeway Inc. and Kroger Co. have been involved in several special promotional...

The beat goes on at Ahold.(News)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- Ahold NV, the beleaguered Dutch grocery chain, continues to restructure itself at a dizzying pace. The company has announced that it plans to close its current headquarters in the United States and sell 204 convenience stores in...

Kmart shutters two more units.(News)
February 9, 2004... TROY, Mich. -- Kmart Corp. is closing two more stores, one in Michigan and the other in Oklahoma, bringing the total closed by the chain so far this year to eight. Kmart had earlier announced that it would close four units in California,...

Meijer will restructure operations.(News)
February 9, 2004... GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Meijer Inc. has reorganized its store-operations structure. "As part of our continual transformation, we have been studying the industry's best practices," says John Zimmerman, Meijer's director of community...

Voluntary label regs urged.(News)
February 9, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Supermarketers have agreed to voluntarily label the country of origin of food products if Congress repeals a law mandating such identification. If Congress overturns the law--due to take effect September 30--food retailers...

Spartan to use two banners only.(News)
February 9, 2004... GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Spartan Stores Inc. has unveiled plans that will consolidate its retail grocery operations under two banners. Executives at the company that has operated 54 supermarkets under five different names say that grouping...

Delhaize to change Kash n' Karry strategy.(News)
February 9, 2004... BRUSSELS -- Belgian retailer Delhaize Group last month outlined a new strategy for its Kash n' Karry unit that will see it close or sell 34 of the chain's outlets and cut more than 1,500 jobs. Kash n' Karry's stores are all located in...

Giant Eagle moves to counter tough times, market.(News)
February 9, 2004... PITTSBURGH -- Giant Eagle Inc. has laid off 115 employees in what is described as restructuring designed to cut costs and streamline operations. The grocery chain employs about 35,000 people in four states. Giant Eagle said the moves were...

Penn Traffic deadline is extended.(News)
February 9, 2004... COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A federal judge has extended the deadline by which Penn Traffic Co. must present its plan to emerge from bankruptcy. The regional grocer had faced a January 29 deadline to file its reorganization plan. The judge has...

Discounters take share.(News)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- Traditional department stores have been losing market share to discounters in recent years, according to a recent report from a JP Morgan, Chase and Co. analyst. Shari Schwartzman Eberts maintains that the shift from department...

Penney willing to divide Eckerd.(News)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- J.C. Penney Co. is offering to divide the sale of its Eckerd Corp. drug store unit into two parts after both CVS Corp. and Rite Aid Corp. expressed strong interest in Eckerd's Southern stores, according to published reports. ...

Target, Wal-Mart bet on downtown.(News)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- As Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Target Stores continue their aggressive expansion programs, both retailers are showing increased interest in downtown locations, even when those sites involve multilevel or unusual spaces. Both...

Scoreboard.(Money News)
February 9, 2004... SCOREBOARD RETAILERS Quarter Dollar % Ended Sales Change drugstore.com (1) 12/28 70.6 mil +28.4 Ingles (2) 12/27 534.3 mil + 7.9 ...

Moody's upgrades Rite Aid ratings.(Money News)
February 9, 2004... MOODY'S UPGRADES RITE AID RATINGS: Moody's Investors Service has upgraded ratings on Rite Aid Corp. debt, predicting the drug chain's turnaround will continue and citing the retailer's initial success in getting long-term funding. Moody's...

Family dollar increases dividend.(Money News)
February 9, 2004... FAMILY DOLLAR INCREASES DIVIDEND: Family Dollar Stores Inc. has declared a quarterly dividend of 8.5 cents per share, payable April 15 to shareholders of record on March 15. The amount is 13.3% more than the preceding dividend, marking the 28th...

Target announces quarterly payout.(Money News)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... TARGET ANNOUNCES QUARTERLY PAYOUT: Target Corp. has declared a quarterly dividend of 7 cents per share, payable March 10 to shareholders of record on February 20. The payment is the company's 146th consecutive dividend, dating back to October...

Biggest gainers.(Money)
February 9, 2004... BIGGEST GAINERS Close Change % Stock 01/16/04 vs.01/02/04 Change Kmart 29.88 +6.88 +29.9 drugstore.com 6.90 +1.29 +23.0 Smart & Final ...

Biggest losers.(Money)
February 9, 2004... BIGGEST LOSERS Close Change % Stock 01/16/04 vs.01/02/04 Change Longs 23.12 -1.84 -7.4 Circuit City 9.57 -0.53 -5.2 Burlington 19.90 ...

Most active.(Money)
February 9, 2004... MOST ACTIVE Vol. (000) As a % Change vs. 1 Wk. Ended of Total 1 Wk. Ended Stock 01/16/04 Shares 01/02/04 Smart &Final 1,371 4.7 +582.5 Toys 'R' Us ...

Results Mixed at A&P.(Spotlight)
February 9, 2004... MONTVALE, N.J. -- An impairment charge related to the Farmer Jack division triggered a steep increase in third quarter losses from continuing operations at A&P. However, gains on asset disposals paved the way for a reduction in the retailer's...

Coutu net is up 5.5% in quarter.(Money)
February 9, 2004... LONGUEUIL, Quebec -- Propelled by improved operating results, net profit for Jean Coutu Group rose in the mid-single digits in the second quarter of fiscal 2004. However, the impact of the dollar's devaluation on revenues caused the company to...

Supervalu raises earnings outlook.(Money)
February 9, 2004... MINNEAPOLIS -- Buoyed by solid sales growth in its retail business, earnings before unusual items soared during the third quarter of fiscal 2004 at Supervalu Inc. Management consequently raised its profit projection for the fourth quarter. ...

Duane Reade lowers expectations.(Money)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- Increased expenses and lower-than-expected sales have led Duane Reade to lower its fourth quarter profit projections. The drug chain is forecasting net income for the period ended December 27 of between 12 cents and 13 cents per...

When 'big' turns into a disadvantage.(Opinion)
February 9, 2004... Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s status as the nation's dominant retailer has made it a lightning rod for critics concerned about everything from discrimination against female workers to the transition to RFID technology to historic preservation. An...

In business, honesty, openness really count.(Opinion)
February 9, 2004... SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Honesty and openness are not just qualities that are nice for a company to have. They are essential to a firm's long-term success. So argued two speakers at the Food Marketing Institute's (FMI's) recent Midwinter...

What's to learn from Europe.(Opinion)
February 9, 2004... There's much that American retailers can learn from their cousins in England and on the European continent, if not in technology or supply chain management, then certainly in marketing excellence and creativity, private label merchandising and,...

Brazil's CBD invests.(Global News)
February 9, 2004... BRAZIL'S CBD INVESTS: Brazil's biggest supermarket retailer, Companhia Brasileira de Distribuicao (CBD), plans to invest 500 million reals ($177 million) in 2004 to open stores, remodel old ones and improve its distribution system. The retailer...

Carrefour land sale.(Global News)
February 9, 2004... CARREFOUR LAND SALE: French retailer Carrefour SA reports it has raised a total of 585 million euros ($739 million) in December through two separate deals extending its ongoing program of real estate sale and leaseback operations. Separately,...

Ikea's Russia stake.(Global News)
February 9, 2004... IKEA'S RUSSIA STAKE: The Swedish retailer Ikea intends to invest $250 million in Russia this year. The company is slated to open two hypermarkets in 2004, and it plans to open 15 to 20 stores in Russia by 2008.

Spain retailing views.(Global News)
February 9, 2004... SPAIN RETAILING VIEWS: Hypermarkets may be poised to win back some of the market share they have lost to supermarkets and traditional stores in recent years, according to a recent report on the retail sector in Spain. The report by Banco...

Rating cut in Chile.(Global News)
February 9, 2004... RATING CUT IN CHILE: Merrill Lynch & Co. has lowered its rating on Chilean retailer D&S to "neutral," citing lower-than-expected growth in consumer spending and the company's aggressive pricing campaign.

Seiyu to cut full-time workforce.(Global)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... TOKYO -- Seiyu, the Japanese supermarket group in which Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has nearly a 40% stake, said last month that it planned to trim its full-time workforce by as much as 25% over the next few years. Executives at the 400-store...

Whole foods deal takes it into U.K.(Global)
February 9, 2004... AUSTIN, Texas -- Whole Foods Market Inc. will expand into the United Kingdom later this year after agreeing to acquire the British natural foods retailer Fresh & Wild Holdings Ltd. The $38 million deal will see Whole Foods, whose upscale...

Recent Christmas season a merry one for Canadian retailers.(Global)
February 9, 2004... TORONTO -- The 2003 holiday shopping season was one of the best in recent years for Canadian retailers, according to analysts. Several merchants have credited a surge of last-minute shopping for the gains. Even though sales in November were...

'Mieux Consommer'.(Spotlight)
February 9, 2004... PARIS -- Carrefour has initiated a comprehensive lifestyle marketing campaign for its French hypermarkets under the rubric "Mieux Consommer" (Consuming Better). The multiyear effort combines print ads and TV and radio commercials with...

Boots plans elimination of 900 jobs.(Global)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... NOTTINGHAM, England -- The British retailer Boots Group PLC has unveiled its plans to cut 900 jobs as part of a reorganization of its head office. The elimination of the 900 positions is the first major step in Boots' new chief executive...

Ex-Ahold execs.(Global)(Cees van der Hoeven, Michael Meurs)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... AMSTERDAM -- Two former Ahold NV executives have agreed to pay back bonuses they received during the years when the company's profits were overstated. The company did not disclose the amount that former chief executive officer Cees van der...

Russia: an opportunity exists but caution is necessary.(Global)
February 9, 2004... MOSCOW -- It is a miracle that organized retailing is represented in Russia at all outside of the former state sector. To understand this one also must understand a little of the country's current politics. Russia is now a federal...

Tesco strategy ready to travel.(Global)
February 9, 2004... CHESHUNT, England -- Tesco PLC plans to use the same multiformat expansion strategy in overseas markets as it does in the United Kingdom. The approach would add convenience stores and supermarkets, as well as hypermarkets, to the mix in...

Asda grows reach.(Global)
February 9, 2004... SHEFFIELD, England -- One of the more remarkable Wal-Mart Stores Inc. global success stories has been that of Asda PLC, the United Kingdom-based food retailer it acquired in 1999. Since that date Asda's volume has increased by some 50%. The...

Organics cocoa butter body stick.(Merchandising News)
February 9, 2004... ORGANICS COCOA BUTTER BODY STICK: Levlad Inc.'s Nature's Gate Organics brand has introduced the cocoa butter body stick with a chocolate-vanilla fragrance that sells for $8.99. Containing vitamins E and A, the stick is formulated to help...

David sunflower seeds in a travel cup.(Merchandising News)
February 9, 2004... DAVID SUNFLOWER SEEDS IN A TRAVEL CUP: ConAgra Foods Inc. has expanded its David seeds brand packaging to include a travel cup, featuring a 4.5-ounce bag of original David inshell sunflower seeds inside the cup. The high-protein,...

P&G introduces Swiffer WetJet PowerMop.(Merchandising News)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... P&G INTRODUCES SWIFFER WETJET POWERMOP: Procter & Gamble Co. has introduced the Swifter WetJet PowerMop equipped with a flip-and-scrub head for use on a variety of floors including vinyl, tile, marble, laminate and finished wood. The PowerMop...

Touchstone's 'Open Range' available on DVD/VHS.(Merchandising News)
February 9, 2004... TOUCHSTONE'S 'OPEN RANGE' AVAILABLE ON DVD/VHS: Touchstone Home Entertainment's film Open Range starring Robert Duvall, Annette Bening and Kevin Costner has been released on 2-disc DVD selling for $29.99 and on VHS for $24.99. Distributed by...

Pilot Pen launches precise grip and G6.(Merchandising News)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... PILOT PEN LAUNCHES PRECISE GRIP AND G6: Pilot Pen Corp. of America has introduced the Precise Grip rolling ball pen that features an updated barrel design and a comfortable rubber grip. In addition, the company has launched the G6 retractable...

Leave-in hair-treatment ampoules.(Merchandising News)
February 9, 2004... LEAVE-IN HAIR-TREATMENT AMPOULES: Colomer USA Inc.'s Revlon Professional Realistic brand has introduced leave-in hair-treatment ampoules. Available in three concentrated liquid formulas, the products are designed to condition color-treated,...

Retailers can expect a $12 billion Valentine's Day payoff.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... WASHINGTON -- More than half (59%) of American consumers will celebrate Valentine's Day this year, according to a survey conducted for the National Retail Federation. Florists, confectioners and jewelry stores will be among the retailers...

Consumers respond to sharp prices.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- Factors ranging from retailers' promotional efforts to consumers' feeling that prices were reasonable helped shoppers open their wallets this holiday season, a recent study from the consulting company Accenture shows. After...

A look at trial sizes.(Spotlight)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- The pervasive influence of dollar stores is also having an impact on the fast-evolving travel and trial category at mass retail chains, according to some executives familiar with the business. "The dominant role that dollar...

Spray vitamins are latest wrinkle.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... BOCA RATON -- At least two companies are trying to change the way consumers take vitamins. Phoenix-based Mayor Pharmaceutical Laboratories and Boca Raton, Fla.-based Health Plus International have developed what are believed to be the market's...

New scales do more than weigh.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. -- Tanita Corp., which markets a wide variety of scales, recently introduced two new lines. The company's new digital lithium scales include a goal-weight tracking feature, and its new line of scales with body fat...

Gillette, Schick square off.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- The razor wars have heightened with Gillette Co.'s debut of a battery-powered vibrating razor that promises a superior shave. The company's answer to Schick-Wilkinson Sword's four-blade Quattro, which has sold well since its...

Discounters make inroads in fashion.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... BALTIMORE -- Discounters are reaching an increasing number of key consumer groups for fashion purchases, according to "Customer Focus 2004: Discount Store," the latest consumer study from Vertis. The report found that 25% more Generation X...

Toy fair to feature myriad lines, items.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- With products ranging from traditional toys to the latest electronics on display, variety will be a major theme at the American International Toy Fair, which takes place at the Jacob K. Javits Center here from February 15 to...

NASCAR Fan Days at Wal-Mart.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and NASCAR have teamed up for the fourth consecutive year for NASCAR Fan Days at Wal-Mart. As part of the promotion more than 600,000 customers were expected to participate in one-day remote control...

O-T-Cs with a difference do best.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- The children's over-the-counter drug category continues to burst with activity, ranging from the proliferation of brands and line extensions to increased segmentations and new methods of delivering medicines. "You're seeing...

More contenders enter bath/body.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- The children's bath and body category is lucrative for both retailers and suppliers. Consumers spent $80.6 million on one segment alone--baby soaps--in food, drug and discount stores (excluding units operated by Wal-Mart Stores...

A unique market in many ways.(Children's H&BAs)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- Because children's health and beauty aids consist of so many different items, including soaps, oral care, cold products and vitamins, there is a huge market of babies, toddlers and tweens for them. Two major factors should give...

Baby soaps.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... DOLLAR SALES UNIT VOLUME Baby Soaps $80.6 mil. (+3%) * 24.6 mil. (+0.7%) * Percent Change Percent Change ...

Oral care can be a fun thing.(Children's H&BAs)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- The American Dental Association has indicated that oral bacteria has been associated with some significant diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. So many dental industry professionals suggest that good oral care habits...

Hair care consumers get younger all the time.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- The youth segment of the hair care and accessories category continues to expand, fueled by increasing demand from these consumers as well as aggressive marketing by manufacturers. "The buyers for these products are getting...

Children's vitamins on the move.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- Innovative delivery formats, improved taste, distinctive packaging featuring well-known licensed characters and extensive promotional efforts are helping to rejuvenate the children's vitamin category. Down for about a couple of...

New flavor joins Orajel Toddler line.(Merchandising)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Del Pharmaceuticals Inc. has broadened its Orajel Toddler Training toothpaste offerings with a new flavor and extended its advertising program for the product. The new flavor is Berry Blast, and it includes a breath...

Health o meter for toddlers, children.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Sunbeam Products Inc. has expanded its Health o meter scale line to include five new versatile items for tracking the growth of infants and children. "The scales were specifically developed to help parents educate their...

Customers for today, tomorrow.(Children's H&BAs)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- As cosmetics sales to girls ages 8 to 12 continue to grow, retailers and manufacturers are paying increased attention to the emerging and fickle demographic. Mary Sammons, president and chief executive officer of Rite Aid...

'Nail art is fun and crazy' for tweens.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- Tween-driven nail art is giving the hard-pressed nail polish and nail treatments category a dash of color, excitement--and hope. Data compiled by Information Resources Inc. show that both dollar and unit sales for the category...

Licenses are still category mainstay.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- The use of licensed characters is spreading rapidly through the health and beauty aids category to build sales by capturing children's and their parents' attention. "Licensed characters are the driving force behind children's...

The CVS, Duane Reade ways.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- Visits to a Duane Reade drug store in Manhattan and a CVS Corp. unit in suburban New Jersey illustrate both the different and similar merchandising approaches toward children's health and beauty aids products. Both chains group...

Acne treatments.(Children's H&BAs)
February 9, 2004... Acne Treatments DOLLAR SALES UNIT VOLUME $281.5 mil (+10%) * 54.9 mil. (+4.7%) * Percent Change Percent Change ...

Bratz dolls on Colgate brushes.(Children's H&BAs)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- Reflecting its growing expansion into licensed properties, Colgate-Palmolive Co. plans to roll out this month a line of Bratz power toothbrushes aimed at girls from 7 to 13. Bratz is a very popular line of dolls and accessories that...

Babies', toddlers' delicate skin demands more attention.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- The children's skin care market, ranging from baby products to acne treatments and moisturizers, continues to be a bright spot for retailers and suppliers. Fortunately, both groups point out, babies' sensitive skin is a biological...

Spirit Antonio Banderas.(The newest hot markets: men & tweens)
February 9, 2004... Antonio Banderas is one of the most successful men's fragrances in Europe, and it is about to shake up the segment in the U.S. mass market. The launch represents an entirely new approach to the fragrance category by PUIG Fragrances and Personal...

Puig has a history of heating up sales.(The newest hot markets: men & tweens)
February 9, 2004... The PUIG Beauty & Fashion Group, based in Barcelona, Spain, is a global player in the fragrances, cosmetics and personal care arena. With over $1 billion in annual sales, the company has a brand portfolio that includes such prestigious names as...

Barbie by Mattel. Big brand. Big support.(The newest hot markets: men & teens)
February 9, 2004... Licensed properties have proven to be powerful sales drivers in the children's beauty care field, and there are not many properties with higher recognition and staying power than Barbie and My Scene from Mattel Inc. The two licenses are a...

CVS is first to handle camera phone images.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- Camera phones offer largely untapped growth potential in the photography market. But as sales of cell phones with built-in digital cameras mount, retailers are positioning themselves to capture the new business. CVS Corp., for...

New technology means new opportunities for retailers.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- The photography business is changing dramatically, and the result may be more rather than less business for mass retailers and their suppliers. Although the popularity of digital imaging is cutting into sales of traditional...

Chains put push behind digital.(Photography)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK -- Mass market retailers are capitalizing on the shift to digital photography as never before. From Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s sales of digital prints for 24 cents each to Walgreen Co.'s digital photoprocessing at more than 4,000...

Keeping consumers on the cutting edge.(Merchandising)
February 9, 2004... JACKSON, Mich. -- The Photo Marketing Association (PMA) wants to let more consumers know that they can get prints from their digital cameras at a retail store. It has launched an industry-wide consumer and retailer education program...