Mass Market Retailers articles from January 2009

Mass Market Retailers archives from January 2009

BJ's board member.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
January 12, 2009... BJ'S BOARD MEMBER: BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. has elected Picis Inc. president and chief operating officer Christine Cournoyer to its board. "She brings a wealth of experience in information technology and will be a tremendous asset to BJ's...

2nd giant wine store.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
January 12, 2009... 2ND GIANT WINE STORE: Ahold USA Inc. has opened its second Blue Mountain Wine Shoppe location. Launched last month, the 600-square-foot store-within-a-store is in a unit operated by Carlisle, Pa.-based Giant Food Stores LLC in Hanover Township,...

Spartan acquisition.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
January 12, 2009... SPARTAN ACQUISITION: Spartan Stores Inc. has completed its acquisition of 17 supermarkets and 15 pharmacies from VG's Food Center Inc. and VG's Pharmacy Inc. Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Spartan Stores says the deal is expected to boost its annual...

P-O-S for the impaired.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
January 12, 2009... P-O-S FOR THE IMPAIRED: Dollar General plans to install specially designed point-of-sale units in its 8,300 stores to safeguard the privacy of visually impaired customers. Executives say the units should be in place within 18 months.

New Duane Reade svp.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
January 12, 2009... NEW DUANE READE SVP: Duane Reade Inc. has named Frank Scorpiniti senior vice president of pharmacy operations. The 38-year-old Scorpiniti has worked in pharmacy for 22 years. "We are confident that his many years of experience in the pharmacy...

Wal-Mart's Duke is MMR Retailer of Year.(MMR Retailer of the Year)
January 12, 2009... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Mike Duke, currently head of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s international operations, has been named MMR's 2008 Mass Market Retailer of the Year. Duke has received this recognition both for the stunning performance of...

Target's Ulrich lauded for exemplary career.(MMR Lifetime Achievement Award)
January 12, 2009... MINNEAPOLIS -- Bob Ulrich retires this month, ending a brilliant 41-year retailing career that catapulted both the Minneapolis native and Target, the retail company he ran for two decades, to the pinnacle of mass market retailing in America. To...

Work of Costco merchants wins recognition.(MMR Merchant of the Year)
January 12, 2009... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- As the economic environment has worsened over the course of the last year, a tiny handful of retailers has been able to defy the macro headwinds. Costco Wholesale Corp. is one of those select few, and the company's continued...

Holiday selling season hit by perfect storm.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... NEW YORK -- The sharply curtailed holiday selling season-27 days this year versus 32 in 2007--and the severe weather throughout much of the country during the final shopping days before Christmas would, in ordinary times, have combined to...

Fresh Brands adopts a new corporate name.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... SHEBOYGAN, Wis. -- Fresh Brands Inc., the grocery company that operates Piggly Wiggly supermarkets in Wisconsin, has changed its name to Piggly Wiggly Midwest. "We feel having our business name incorporated with our company name will make...

Nash Finch expands via acquisition.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... MINNEAPOLIS -- National food distributor Nash Finch Co. has entered into an agreement to acquire certain assets from GSC Enterprises Inc., a food distributor headquartered in Sulphur Springs, Fla. Under the deal, Nash Finch will operate...

iPhones reach stores.(WAL-MART NEWS)
January 12, 2009... IPHONES REACH STORES: Wal-Mart has started selling Apple Inc.'s iPhones, although it has not priced the popular Web-surfing cell phones as low as some have anticipated. The retailer has priced 8-gigabyte iPhones for $197 and the 16-gigabyte...

Flood relief support.(WAL-MART NEWS)
January 12, 2009... FLOOD RELIEF SUPPORT: Wal-Mart has announced a $300,000 donation to World Vision--a humanitarian organization--to assist in relief efforts in response to floods and landslides resulting from record amounts of rainfall in southern Brazil last...

Practical purchases.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Survey)(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... PRACTICAL PURCHASES: One out of two women questioned in a December online survey said they planned to give gift cards this holiday season. Among other findings of the survey, which was conducted by BIGresearch, nearly 70% of respondents said...

Solar power system.(WAL-MART NEWS)
January 12, 2009... SOLAR POWER SYSTEM: Wal-Mart and SunPower Corp. have completed a 554-kilowatt solar power system at the Wal-Mart store in Hanford, Calif. The installation is part of a Wal-Mart pilot project to purchase solar power units for up to 22 Wal-Mart...

Relief from asthma.(WAL-MART NEWS)
January 12, 2009... RELIEF FROM ASTHMA: Wal-Mart has announced that it will carry an environmentally friendly albuterol rescue inhaler. The retailer maintains that the inhaler, which starts at $9, is the lowest-price inhaler on the market. The ReliOn Ventolin...

NRF offers plan to spur spending.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... WASHINGTON -- The National Retail Federation (NRF) has asked President-elect Barack Obama to incorporate a series of national sales tax holidays into his economic stimulus package. Such a move would be a key step toward rebuilding consumer...

Penn Traffic sells off distribution business.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Penn Traffic Co. has sold its wholesale business to C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. for $43 million. Penn Traffic executives say the move will enable the company to sharpen its focus on its retail stores and improve its capital...

Tops invests in future.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. -- Tops Markets LLC is considering opening seven to 10 new supermarkets as well as investing $150 million in current locations. The strategy comes about a year after Morgan Stanley Private...

Rite Aid targets weight problems.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. has teamed up with the medical weight-control program Lindora and fitness expert Denise Austin to help customers meet their weight-loss goals for this year. Working with Lindora, the drug chain has developed...

Wal-Mart settles class-action suit.(NEWS)
January 12, 2009... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has announced that it will pay at least $352 million, and possibly up to $640 million, to settle 63 class-action lawsuits across the nation that claim that the retailer forced employees to work off the...

MMR retailers of the year.
January 12, 2009... 2007--Mary Sammons Chairman, President, CEO and Jim Mastrian Special Advisor on Corporate Strategy, Rite Aid 2007 Merchant Joe Basse VP and GMM, Global Nonfoods Costco 2006--Tom Ryan Chairman, President, CEO, CVS 2006--Mac...

Momentum continues to build at Wal-Mart international.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
January 12, 2009... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Since its debut with the opening of a Supercenter outside Mexico City in 1991, the growth of Wal-Mart's international business has been steady and sometimes seemingly inexorable. The division itself was established two...

Strategy for capital spending recalibrated.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
January 12, 2009... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart's recent focus on improving its return on investment has had a significant impact on the company's capital planning for its International Division. Looking ahead, the course of the world economy may further shape...

Wal-Mart raises profile in China: the chain is growing faster than other global retailers and local merchants.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
January 12, 2009... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- China's huge population and rapidly growing economy make it an important market for Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart's retail presence in China dates back to 1996, when the company opened a Supercenter and a Sam's Club in Shenzhen....

Goal is to build a more socially responsible supply chain.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)(Company overview)
January 12, 2009... On October 22 Mike Duke addressed more than 1,000 suppliers at Wal-Mart's China Sustainability Summit in Beijing. What follows is the text of his speech: Vice Minister Zhang, Vice Minister Jiang, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen....

Wal-Mart works to solve riddle of Japanese market.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)(Industry overview)
January 12, 2009... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Japan remains a challenging market for Wal-Mart, but one the retailer remains committed to. Wal-Mart's investment in the Japanese market began in May 2002, when it acquired a 6.2% stake in Seiyu, one of the country's...

'We are well placed to continue to win in the U.K.'.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
January 12, 2009... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- During Wal-Mart's analysts meeting in October, vice chairman Mike Duke singled out Asda as one of the divisions whose performance he has been particularly proud of this fiscal year. "The team has made great progress,"...

Reach in Latin America extended to include Chile.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
January 12, 2009... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart is set to add Chile to its growing roster of Latin American markets. Wal-Mart has announced that it will launch a tender offer to acquire Distribucion y Servicio S.A. (D&S), a Chilean retail group that...

Canadian operation reaches milestones, keeps on going.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
January 12, 2009... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart's Canadian unit is one of its strongest performers on the global stage, delivering an ROI higher than that of the company as a whole. Sales growth has also been healthy, according to company officials, who say...

Innovations refresh the store experience for consumers.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
January 12, 2009... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- The Supercenter, which remains Wal-Mart's primary expansion vehicle, continues to evolve. Wal-Mart unveiled its latest version of the format in November 2008, with two stores in the Dallas area--a new Supercenter in...

Sam's enhances members' buying power.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
January 12, 2009... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- A tough economy for consumers and small businesses makes the warehouse club format more relevant than ever, according to Sam's Club officials. To make that point and to boost membership, Sam's Club commissioned a...

New format is about convenience.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
January 12, 2009... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart, the quintessential big-box retailer, is testing a smaller box. In October the retailer opened its first four Marketside stores, which are convenience-oriented outlets with about 10,000 square feet of selling space...

Wal-Mart.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
January 12, 2009... A SKU-rationalization program has trimmed assortments in Wal-Mart's Supercenters with the goal of making the outlets more productive and easier to shop. Wal-Mart has also made its stores more appealing with bright signs, wider aisles and neater...

Sam's Club.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
January 12, 2009... In a bid to better reflect the way its business members and family members shop, Sam's Club has changed the layout of its clubs, improving adjacencies and giving seasonal goods higher-profile locations. Throughout the clubs eye-catching...

Museum project next up for Ulrich.(NEWS/LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD)
January 12, 2009... PHOENIX -- While Bob Ulrich has spent the last 41 years of his life in retailing, it is by no means his sole passion. His love of the arts has enriched his life--he is past chairman of the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts--and has also...

Ulrich years a period of continual progress at Target.(NEWS/LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD)
January 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1984 * Dayton Hudson Corp. names Robert Ulrich, 41, president of its Target Stores unit. Target is Dayton Hudson's largest and fastest growing division. Ulrich had been president of the Dayton Hudson department...

Pharmacy earns place as integral part of offering.(NEWS/MERCHANT OF THE YEAR)
January 12, 2009... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- As senior vice president of pharmacy at Costco, Charles Burnett oversees a business that he personally created for the company back in 1986. It made Costco the first warehouse club operator to offer prescription drugs, and...

Growth must deliver real strategic value.(NEWS/MERCHANT OF THE YEAR)
January 12, 2009... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Pat Callans fills a unique role in Costco's merchandising organization, which is fitting because he brings to it a unique background. An attorney by training, he joined Costco in 1994 and worked for several years in...

Fresh food emerges as big driver of customer traffic.(NEWS/MERCHANT OF THE YEAR)
January 12, 2009... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Fresh food is a growing business at Costco, with sales that have increased at double-digit rates for more than 10 years. "Part of that is the quality and value we offer our members," says senior vice president of fresh...

'When we can get a great value we'll run with it'.(NEWS/MERCHANT OF THE YEAR)(Costco Wholesale Corp.)(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Offering its members a "treasure hunt" experience has long been a big part of Costco's strategy. And that applies to the fresh food departments as well. Seasonal food items often meet that need, because they offer...

Shoppers respond to combination of quality, value.(NEWS/MERCHANT OF THE YEAR)
January 12, 2009... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- As a major generator of customer traffic, the food segment has been crucial to the success of Costco Wholesale Corp. This bodes well for the company's future: Even during the recession many food categories have been showing...

Costco image is as distinctive on the web as in stores.(NEWS/MERCHANT OF THE YEAR)
January 12, 2009... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Costco plays by its own rules in the brick-and-mortar world, so perhaps it should be no surprise that it does so online as well. With shelf space not an issue, for example, most retailers offer a wide variety of...

Ever-changing mix keeps things exciting.(NEWS/MERCHANT OF THE YEAR)
January 12, 2009... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Many of Costco's fiercely loyal customers describe the experience of shopping there as a "treasure hunt," an especially apt description for the warehouse club's nonfood business. Costco members have come to expect the...

Costco warehouses showcase merchandise.(NEWS/MERCHANT OF THE YEAR)
January 12, 2009... With its stated mission of providing greater value for its members, Costco has expanded its selections over the years to include fresh food, pharmacy and optical departments, as well as everything from tires to health and beauty aids. The...

Sears continues pursuit of turnaround in sales, earnings.(NEWS: 2008 in Review)
January 12, 2009... HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- The new year looms as a pivotal one for Sears Holdings Corp. as the struggling retailer looks to right its ship after a rough 2008. Since last February, Sears Holdings--the parent of Sears department stores and...

CVS bests Walgreens in battle for Longs.(NEWS: 2008 in Review)
January 12, 2009... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- The CVS Caremark Corp. juggernaut rolled on last year as the company acquired 521-unit Longs Drug Stores Corp., beating out Walgreen Co. for the West Coast prize. In announcing the $2.7 billion takeover in August, CVS...

As Wal-Mart's fortunes rise, target faces challenges.(NEWS: 2008 in Review)
January 12, 2009... NEW YORK -- The fortunes of the industry's two largest discount chains were very different in 2008. While Wal-Mart Stores Inc. saw its financial performance continue to improve throughout the year, the situation at Target Corp. got...

SDM, CVS unveil freestanding beauty stores.(NEWS: 2008 in Review)
January 12, 2009... NEW YORK -- Two of the leading drug chains in North America ended 2008 on a high note by launching fresh beauty store concepts. In November, Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) introduced its first Murale beauty store in a suburb of Ottawa, Canada. At...

Rite Aid bolsters executive ranks.(NEWS: 2008 in Review)
January 12, 2009... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- In fall 2008, Rite Aid Corp. revamped its upper management team, including the return to the company of John Standley, named president and chief operating officer. Standley was at Rite Aid from 1999 to 2005, where he...

Tesco establishes U.S. foothold: at Fresh & Easy 'we've built a unique business model from the ground up'.(NEWS: 2008 in Review)
January 12, 2009... EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- After putting the brakes on its expansion plans earlier in the year, Tesco PLC opened its 100th Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market last fall. The new store--a unit in Fullerton, Calif.--opened a year after the company...

Sen tapped to be next CEO at BJ's.(NEWS: 2008 in Review)
January 12, 2009... NATICK, Mass. -- BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. was one of only a handful of retail success stories in 2008. Net income in the third quarter grew 24.4%, net sales jumped 13.4%, and comparable club sales rose 11.9%, or a still healthy 6.6% if...

Walgreens seeks CEO in wake of Rein exit.(NEWS: 2008 in Review)
January 12, 2009... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Following the retirement of chairman and chief executive officer Jeff Rein in October 2008, Walgreen Co. formed a search committee to find a successor. Members include acting chief executive officer Alan McNally, who was...

Pricing strategy pays off for Kroger.(NEWS: 2008 in Review)
January 12, 2009... CINCINNATI -- Kroger Co.'s decision to invest in lower prices paid dividends in the challenging economic environment of 2008. "Our pricing strategy plays particularly well in this environment as shoppers are increasingly focused on prices...

Scoreboard.(MONEY NEWS)(Statistical table)(Financial report)
January 12, 2009... SCOREBOARD Quarter Dollar % RETAILERS ended Sales Change Big Lots (1) 11/01 1.02 bil -0.9 Costco (2) 11/23 ...

Walgreens first quarter net profit falls.(MONEY NEWS)(Financial report)
January 12, 2009... WALGREENS FIRST QUARTER NET PROFIT FALLS: First quarter net income fell more than 10% to $408 million, or 41 cents per share, at Walgreen Co., despite a 6.6% increase in sales to $14.95 billion. Analysts on average were expecting net income of...

CVS reaffirms earnings guidance for fiscal 2008.(MONEY NEWS)(Financial report)
January 12, 2009... CVS REAFFIRMS EARNINGS GUIDANCE FOR FISCAL 2008: In spite of declining consumer purchasing, CVS Caremark Corp. has confirmed the full-year earnings guidance it issued on October 30. The company expects diluted, adjusted earnings per share of...

Third quarter profits up 20% at Dollar Tree.(MONEY NEWS)(Financial report)
January 12, 2009... THIRD QUARTER PROFITS UP 20% AT DOLLAR TREE: Dollar Tree Inc. reported a 20% rise in third quarter net income to $43.1 million, or 47 cents per share, on a 12% increase in sales to $1.11 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had...

Record sales for Stater Bros.(MONEY NEWS)
January 12, 2009... RECORD SALES FOR STATER BROS.: Stater Bros. Holdings Inc. booked record sales of $3.74 billion, an increase of 1.8%, for fiscal 2008. Net income, however, fell nearly 18% to $40.6 million. The company blamed the profit decline on the impact of...

Store openings affect 2008 bottom line at Ingles.(MONEY NEWS)
January 12, 2009... STORE OPENINGS AFFECT 2008 BOTTOM LINE AT INGLES: Although sales for fiscal 2008 grew nearly 14% to a record $3.24 billion at Ingles Markets Inc., net income declined 11% to $52.1 million as a result of an accelerated store-expansion program as...

Kroger tops expectations of analysts.(MONEY)
January 12, 2009... CINCINNATI -- Despite strong sales, third quarter net income slipped at Kroger Co. in the wake of a charge associated with Hurricane Ike and the presence of a tax credit in the prior-year period. Nonetheless, adjusted earnings beat...

Costco profits flat.(SPOTLIGHT)
January 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Slackening sales momentum, negative trends in foreign currency exchange rates and special charges all combined to keep the bottom line virtually flat at Costco Wholesale Corp. during the first...

Net income off 14.3% at Big Lots.(MONEY)
January 12, 2009... COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Slackening sales and tightened margins triggered double-digit declines in both operating and net income during the third quarter at Big Lots Inc. despite sharp cost controls. With consumers turning away from discretionary...

Discounters.(MONEY)
January 12, 2009... DISCOUNTERS Current Previous Close Close % Discounter 12/18/08 12/1/08 Change BJ's 35.21 34.19 +2.98...

Drug stores.(MONEY)
January 12, 2009... DRUG STORES Current Previous Close Close % Drug Store 12/18/08 12/1/08 Change Amerisource 34.19 29.88 +14.42...

Supermarkets.(MONEY)
January 12, 2009... SUPERMARKETS Current Previous Close Close % Supermarket 12/18/08 12/1/08 Change A&P 6.03 4.20 +43.57...

'We're on track for another year of solid results'.(MONEY)
January 12, 2009... CINCINNATI -- With an implied fourth quarter earnings range that came up short of Wall Street's lofty expectations, highflying Kroger Co. saw its share price slide more than 6% on the day the third quarter results and updated full-year outlook...

Guidance is scaled back.(MONEY)
January 12, 2009... COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With third quarter top-line and operating trends weakening in the face of consumer retrenchment, Big Lots Inc. cut its sales and earnings forecast for the fourth quarter. Fourth quarter comparable-store sales are now...

For Sears, the bad news continues to mount.(MONEY)
January 12, 2009... HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Accelerating sales declines and shrinking gross margins at both of its domestic chains produced a larger-than-expected loss at Sears Holdings Corp. during the third quarter of fiscal 2008. Net results for the 13...

Dollar General EBITDA surges.(MONEY)
January 12, 2009... GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. -- With hard-pressed consumers responding to its value offer, Dollar General Corp. sharply cut its third quarter net loss and boosted adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) by more...

Profits advance 32.2% at Fred's.(MONEY)(Financial report)
January 12, 2009... MEMPHIS -- Buoyed by lower expenses and relatively stable gross margins, Fred's Inc. overcame a flat top line to lift third quarter earnings by nearly a third. Net income for the 13 weeks ended November 1 climbed 32.2% to $6.09 million, or...

Mass retailers should play to their strengths.(OPINION)
January 12, 2009... To no one's surprise, the holiday season was one that most retailers would like to forget. Battered by a seemingly endless tide of bad economic news, American consumers finally lost their appetite to spend. While results varied, with...

What to expect in the Duke era.(OPINION)
January 12, 2009... Here's a preview of what Wal-Mart and the mass retail community can expect as Mike Duke becomes the fourth chief executive officer in the retailer's 46-year history: * "Mike Duke has great vision and a depth of leadership that will enable...

Consumers empowered by technology.(Viewpoint essay)(Survey)
January 12, 2009... NEW YORK -- Consumers are using mobile devices, social networks and other tools to increase their influence over businesses and institutions. Retailers will need to cater to these informed and empowered consumers if they want to succeed in...

Some thoughts about how to survive the retail crisis.(OPINION)
January 12, 2009... Retail has always been a cyclical business. As the economy sputters, consumer spending hits the brakes, and when the economy gains its health, retail often leads the charge. Many current retail executives have weathered "challenging" economic...

Long-term growth trends eyed.(Viewpoint essay)(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Sales in the food, drug and discount channels are expected to grow by 4.6% a year between 2009 and 2013, according to a recent report from TNS Retail Forward. "Among the channels, supercenters and warehouse clubs are...

The West looks East.(SPOTLIGHT)
January 12, 2009... KRAKOW, Poland -- Multinational retailers based in the West have gained dominant positions in many Central and Eastern European countries, according to an analysis by the consulting and market research firm PMR. "The top five retailers [by...

Carrefour warns on earnings.(GLOBAL)(Financial report)
January 12, 2009... PARIS -- Shares of Carrefour S.A. fell recently after the company warned that its 2008 earnings would come in below previous forecasts. Carrefour said its earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) for the year would edge up only slightly,...

Wal-Mart to buy Chilean retailer.(GLOBAL)
January 12, 2009... SANTIAGO, Chile -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has made a tender offer to acquire Distribucion y Servicio S.A. (D&S), Chile's largest food retailer. D&S operates supermarkets and hypermarkets throughout Chile, and the company accounts for an...

Walmex appointment.(GLOBAL NEWS)
January 12, 2009... WALMEX APPOINTMENT: Wal-Mart de Mexico, also known as Walmex, has tapped Jose Maria Urquiza to serve as head of its banking operations. A former executive with Citigroup, he will replace Julio Gomez as chief executive officer of Banco Wal-Mart....

Russian data project.(GLOBAL NEWS)
January 12, 2009... RUSSIAN DATA PROJECT: Multinational suppliers Kraft Foods Inc., Nestle SA and Procter & Gamble Co., together with the German retailer Metro Group, have announced that they have extended the use of the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN)...

Bad mood in Canada.(GLOBAL NEWS)
January 12, 2009... BAD MOOD IN CANADA: In Canada, consumer confidence hit a 27-year tow in December after dropping for the third straight month. The Conference Board of Canada, which reported the figures, stated that a psychology of recession had taken hold in...

China 3C acquisition.(GLOBAL NEWS)
January 12, 2009... CHINA 3C ACQUISITION: China 3C Group, a retailer and wholesale distributor of consumer and business products in China, announced a deal to acquire Jinhua Baofa Logistic Ltd. for about $174 million. Jinhua is a transportation logistics company...

Wal-Mart joins group.(GLOBAL NEWS)
January 12, 2009... WAL-MART JOINS GROUP: Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has joined the Russian Retail Association, according to the lobbying group, which says the move indicates the retailer's interest in the market. Other members are Carrefour SA, Metro AG and Auchan, as...