Mass Market Retailers articles from June 2009

Mass Market Retailers archives from June 2009

New date for FMI.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Conference notes)
June 1, 2009... NEW DATE FOR FMI: The Food Marketing Institute has rescheduled its Future Connect conference for October 12 through October 14 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Dallas. The supermarket industry's first leadership talent development conference was...

Third beauty 360 unit.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
June 1, 2009... THIRD BEAUTY 360 UNIT: CVS Caremark Corp. has opened its third Beauty 360 prestige beauty care store in Ridgefield, Conn. Like the first two outlets in Washington, D.C., and Mission Viejo, Calif., the store is adjacent to a CVS/ pharmacy unit...

A&P ratings slashed.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
June 1, 2009... A&P RATINGS SLASHED: Moody's Investors Service has lowered its rating outlook on A&P to "negative" from "stable," citing ongoing negative same-store sales and weak cash flow generation. A&P recently posted a fourth quarter loss of $111.1...

Target results exceed analysts' expectations.(revenue report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... MINNEAPOLIS -- TargetCorp.'s first quarter profit was down 13% compared to last year, to $522 million, but the company beat analysts' estimates in part because of cost-control measures. Sales were flat, and same-store sales declined 3.7%....

BJ's earnings up 41% in qtr.(Financial report)
June 1, 2009... NATICK, Mass. -- BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. has turned in another industry-leading performance as deal-seeking consumers flock to its stores. For the first quarter ended May 2, BJ's reported a profit of $24.3 million, up 41% from the same...

Grocers fight back.(SPOTLIGHT)
June 1, 2009... ARLINGTON, Va. -- Traditional supermarkets are finding themselves under increasing pressure and are responding with a variety of weapons. The economic downturn has shaken consumers, causing them to place a premium on price and value,...

Fresh & Easy outlook.(NEWS)
June 1, 2009... LONDON -- Tesco PLC's Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market chain in the United States has produced higher-than-projected trading losses for the 2008/2009 fiscal year. But the company says it is pleased with the chain's progress. Tesco reported...

GMA is taking steps to ensure food safety.(NEWS)
June 1, 2009... WASHINGTON -- Outbreaks of salmonella poisoning tied to peanuts and, more recently, white pepper in processed food have put the spotlight on food safety. In response, the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has announced three private...

Supermercado debut.(WAL-MART NEWS)
June 1, 2009... SUPERMERCADO DEBUT: The first two test units of Walmart U.S.'s Hispanic format, Supermercado de Walmart, debuted in Houston and Phoenix last month. The Houston store is in a 39,000-square-foot converted Neighborhood Market.

Sam's Club simplifies.(WAL-MART NEWS)
June 1, 2009... SAM'S CLUB SIMPLIFIES: Sam's Club has simplified the documentation requirements for business membership to a current business card, letterhead or other business document, eliminating more than a dozen documents--including permits and...

Electronics push.(WAL-MART NEWS)
June 1, 2009... ELECTRONICS PUSH: Wal-Mart is ramping up its home electronics departments with more new products and new color-coded signage and displays to make the sections easier to find and more enjoyable to shop. Additions include Blu-ray players and...

Complaint dismissed.(WAL-MART NEWS)
June 1, 2009... COMPLAINT DISMISSED: The Federal Election Commission (FEC) has narrowly dismissed a complaint by labor groups that Wal-Mart pressured employees to vote against Democrats in the November 2008 election. The six-member commission voted to end the...

Tax appeal lost.(WAL-MART NEWS)
June 1, 2009... TAX APPEAL LOST: The North Carolina Court of Appeals has denied a suit by Wal-Mart attempting to win $33 million in tax refunds from the state. The court found that WalMart had created a complex corporate structure to avoid income taxes.

Scoreboard.(MONEY NEWS)(Statistical table)(Financial report)
June 1, 2009... SCOREBOARD Quarter Dollar % RETAILERS ended Sales Change CVS Caremark (1) 03/31 $23.4 bil +9.7 drugstore.com (2) 03/29 98.3 mil ...

Supervalu in the red.(SPOTLIGHT)(Financial report)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MINNEAPOLIS -- Supervalu Inc. posted a loss for the quarter and year ended February 28 in the wake of significant charges. Still, adjusted earnings for the final period exceeded Wall Street's forecast, leading to a...

Ingles profit for quarter falls 40.2%.(MONEY)
June 1, 2009... ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Net income for both the second quarter and the first half of fiscal 2009 plunged by double digits at Ingles Markets Inc. Store development costs and tepid sales growth in a chilly consumer economy weighed heavily on the...

Family Dollar derivers a strong performance.(MONEY)
June 1, 2009... MATTHEWS, N.C. -- With a deepening recession forcing more shoppers to look for bargains, Family Dollar Stores Inc. recorded double-digit growth in net profit for both the second quarter and the first half of fiscal 2009. Management responded by...

Discounters.(MONEY)
June 1, 2009... DISCOUNTERS Current Previous Close Close % Discounter 5/14/09 4/23/09 Change BJ's 36.40 31.65 +15.01 Costco ...

Drug stores.(MONEY)
June 1, 2009... DRUG STORES Current Previous Close Close % Drug Store 5/14/09 4/23/09 Change Amerisource 35.73 35.41 +0.90 Cardinal Health (1)...

Supermarkets.(MONEY)
June 1, 2009... SUPERMARKETS Current Previous Close Close % Supermarket 5/14/09 4/23/09 Change A&P 3.99 7.19 -44.51 Delhaize ...

Implementation of strategic plan pays off for Fred's.(MONEY)
June 1, 2009... MEMPHIS -- Fred's Inc. posted double-digit gains in both operating and net income for fiscal 2008 and reversed a prior-year loss in the final quarter despite a drop in sales because of a smaller store base. Both adjusted net income and sales...

Projections for fiscal year increased.(MONEY)(Financial report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... MATTHEWS, N.C. -- With strong top-line and operating trends driving impressive profit growth in the second quarter and first half, Family Dollar raised its earnings target for fiscal 2009 for the second time since the beginning of the year. ...

It's time for brands to protect their turf.(OPINION)
June 1, 2009... Brands are under siege. At a moment when the offerings of consumer products manufacturers already face an unprecedented level of private label competition and many leading mass market retailers have embraced the process of SKU...

Marketplace: still compelling.(OPINION)(Conference news)
June 1, 2009... The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has, in some ways, become a victim of its own success. So it is that expectations consistently outstrip reality. Success largely goes unnoted, while shortcomings are always magnified and failure is...

"Quick trips' not easy to define.(OPINION)
June 1, 2009... Shoppers on "quick trips" represent an important customer segment whose needs retailers must address. But Herb Sorensen of the research firm TNS Sorensen points out that just defining the quick trip can be tricky. Many retailers will...

A future of older, poorer consumers.(OPINION)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... ORLANDO, Fla. -- Nielsen Co. has looked into the future to provide a glimpse of what's in store for the consumer packaged goods (CPG) business in 2020. Its findings, revealed at Nielsen's Consumer 360 Conference, herald a bright future for some...

Sales at Carrefour decline 2.8% during first quarter.(GLOBAL)
June 1, 2009... PARIS -- Carrefour SA, the world's second largest retailer, reported a decline in quarterly sales for the first time in six years. First quarter sales fell 2.8% to 22.72 billion euros ($29.9 billion). And while the difficult economic...

Alliance boots gains.(GLOBAL NEWS)(revenue report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... ALLIANCE BOOTS GAINS: Alliance Boots PLC reported an 11.6% increase in full-year profits to 953 million [pounds sterling] ($1.45 billion) and that revenues rose 15.5% to 20.5 billion [pounds sterling]. But the group also announced that a...

Delhaize ups stake.(GLOBAL NEWS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... DELHAIZE UPS STAKE: The Belgian supermarket group Delhaize Group has said it plans to buy the remaining shares of Alfa-Beta, its Greek subsidiary. Delhaize, which became Alfa-Beta's principal shareholder in 1992, plans to buy the 34.7% of the...

Cencosud investment.(GLOBAL NEWS)(Interview)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... CENCOSUD INVESTMENT: The Chilean retailer Cencosud plans to invest about $200 million this year on new stores and renovations, according to an interview with chief executive officer Daniel Rodriguez that appeared in the newspaper La Tercera....

Soriana to cut costs.(GLOBAL NEWS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... SORIANA TO CUT COSTS: Soriana, which is the second largest supermarket chain in Mexico, said it has launched a cost-cutting program aimed at saving 2 billion pesos ($152 million) a year. The move is meant to help the retailer cope with the...

Russia offers growth.(GLOBAL NEWS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... RUSSIA OFFERS GROWTH: A new report from retail analysts at Verdict Research, part of the Datamonitor Group, asserts that the long-term growth potential of Russia's retail market is still huge. That market has already grown by almost 500% in the...

Loblaws has come a long way.(SPOTLIGHT)
June 1, 2009... TORONTO -- Given the fine results on which he was reporting, Loblaw Cos. executive chairman Galen Weston was surprisingly subdued when he addressed shareholders at the company's annual meeting here on May 6. At $545 million (Canadian), the...

Tesco responds to needs of shoppers and thrives.(GLOBAL)
June 1, 2009... LONDON -- Despite the arrival of a global economic downturn, Tesco PLC posted strong results for the fiscal year ended February 28. Group sales advanced 15.1% to 59.4 billion [pounds sterling] ($92.1 billion), and group trading profit...

Metro books record profits.(GLOBAL)(Financial report)
June 1, 2009... MONTREAL -- Metro Inc. posted record net earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2009. Sales for the quarter totaled $2.5 billion (Canadian), an increase of 7.5% over the prior-year period. Same-store sales increased 7.3%. Net...

Wal-Mart India debut postponed.(GLOBAL)
June 1, 2009... NEW DELHI -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. delayed the opening of its first store in India following riots in the northern state of Punjab, where the outlet was to have been located. The cash-and-carry store had been set to open in late May in the...

Church & Dwight items.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
June 1, 2009... CHURCH & DWIGHT ITEMS: Church & Dwight Co.'s Arm & Hammer brand has launched three items in the oral care category: Advance White Brilliant Sparkle Gel, Whitening Booster and Age Defying Toothpaste. Church & Dwight Co., 469 N. Harrison St.,...

Samsill laptop bags.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
June 1, 2009... SAMSILL LAPTOP BAGS: Samsill Corp. has launched a line of Microsoft laptop bags and accessories--the MT Series--designed with mobility features to enhance the digital lifestyle. The new line includes messenger bags, backpacks and ladies' totes....

Goody hair products.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
June 1, 2009... GOODY HAIR PRODUCTS: Goody Products has launched several hair accessory collections including Le Chic and Resort Glamour. Le Chic pairs metallic and graphic shapes for a modern retro look. Resort Glamour combines vintage patterns with a modern...

Organics' new look.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
June 1, 2009... ORGANICS' NEW LOOK: Organics by Noah's Naturals has repackaged three products --Rosemary Mint Body Lotion, Coconut Vanilla Body Lotion and Shea Butter Hand -Cream. Formerly available in jars, the items now come in sleek, silver tubes. Noah's...

Music/sound envelopes are latest innovation from AG.(SUPPLY SIDE)
June 1, 2009... CLEVELAND -- American Greetings Corp. has advanced the evolution of one of the humbler stationery items with the introduction of music and sound envelopes. The company's patent-pending design features an innovative mechanism in the flap...

The MMR/IRI general merchandise report.(SPOTLIGHT)
June 1, 2009... NEW YORK -- The deepening recession last year has had a profound impact on the general merchandise business, as consumers have tightened their purse strings and redefined what they consider to be essential purchases. According to...

Black Opal collection gets makeover.(SUPPLY SIDE)
June 1, 2009... NEW YORK -- BioCosmetic Research Labs has restaged its Black Opal line with new products, new packaging, new point-of-purchase materials and a new ad campaign. The items hit store shelves this month. According to brand director Corey...

P&G 'Male Zone' debuts at NACDS.(SUPPLY SIDE)
June 1, 2009... PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) created a "Male Zone" at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Annual Meeting to display the strength and breadth of its men's grooming brands. Staffed with P&G experts on men's...

Dr. Scholl's line keeps growing.(SUPPLY SIDE)
June 1, 2009... KENILWORTH, N.J. -- Schering-Plough Corp. has expanded the Dr. Scholl's For Her foot care line with the introduction of High Heel Insoles, which are designed to prevent aches and pains in high-heel shoes. The insoles feature an ultrasoft...

Adhesives/glues.(MMR/IRI GM Report)
June 1, 2009... MMR/IRI GM Report ADHESIVES/GLUES DOLLAR SALES UNIT VOLUME $108.9 mil. * 58.2 mil. * % Change vs. % Change vs....

Air fresheners (home).(MMR/IRI GM Report)
June 1, 2009... AIR FRESHENERS (Home) DOLLAR SALES UNIT VOLUME $883.3 mil. * 323.2 mil. * % Change vs. % Change vs. ...

All-purpose cleaners.(MMR/IRI GM Report)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... ALL-PURPOSE CLEANERS DOLLAR SALES UNIT VOLUME $415 mil. * 154 mil. * % Change vs. % Change vs. ...

Cleaning tools/mops/brooms.(MMR/IRI GM Report)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... CLEANING TOOLS/MOPS/BROOMS DOLLAR SALES UNIT VOLUME $887.4 mil. * 167.1 mil. * % Change vs. % Change vs. ...

Detergents/laundry (liquid).(MMR/IRI GM Report)
June 1, 2009... DETERGENTS/LAUNDRY (Liquid) DOLLAR SALES UNIT VOLUME $3.08 mil. * 488.9 mil. * % Change vs. % Change vs. ...

Disposable diapers.(MMR/IRI GM Report)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... DISPOSABLE DIAPERS DOLLAR SALES UNIT VOLUME $1.88 mil. * 136.9 mil. * % Change vs. % Change vs. ...

Flashlights.(MMR/IRI GM Report)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... FLASHLIGHTS DOLLAR SALES UNIT VOLUME $73.9 mil. * 10.8 mil. * % Change vs. % Change vs. ...

Household tape.(MMR/IRI GM Report)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... HOUSEHOLD TAPE DOLLAR SALES UNIT VOLUME $224.4 mil. * 81.1 mil. * % Change vs. % Change vs. ...

Lightbulbs.(MMR/IRI GM Report)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... LIGHTBULBS DOLLAR SALES UNIT VOLUME $528.1 mil. * 158.9 mil. * % Change vs. % Change vs. ...

Lighters.(MMR/IRI GM Report)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... LIGHTERS DOLLAR SALES UNIT VOLUME $134.6 mil. * 56.1 mil. * % Change vs. % Change vs. ...

Markers.(MMR/IRI GM Report)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... MARKERS DOLLAR SALES UNIT VOLUME $173.6 mil. * 65.3 mil. * % Change vs. % Change vs. ...

Paper towels.(MMR/IRI GM Report)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... PAPER TOWELS DOLLAR SALES UNIT VOLUME $2.39 mil. * 703.1 mil. * % Change vs. % Change vs. ...

Pens.(MMR/IRI GM Report)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... PENS DOLLAR SALES UNIT VOLUME $186.7 mil. * 84.5 mil. * % Change vs. % Change vs. ...

Pet supplies (dog/cat needs).(MMR/IRI GM Report)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... PET SUPPLIES (Dog/Cat Needs) DOLLAR SALES UNIT VOLUME $108.9 mil. * 58.2 mil. * % Change vs. % Change vs. ...

Toilet tissue.(MMR/IRI GM Report)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... TOILET TISSUE DOLLAR SALES UNIT VOLUME $4.14 mil. * 884.8 mil. * % Change vs. % Change vs. ...

Water softeners/treatments.(MMR/IRI GM Report)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... WATER SOFTENERS/TREATMENTS DOLLAR SALES UNIT VOLUME $65.9 mil. * 12.8 mil. * % Change vs. % Change vs. ...

"We are expanding the business [Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market] at a good rate.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2009... "We are expanding the business [Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market] at a good rate, and morale is high." Terry Leahy, Tesco

We have seen strong expansion of gross margin in the first half.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2009... "We have seen strong expansion of gross margin in the first half, driven by lower markdowns and transportation expense and higher markups," Kenneth Smith, Family Dollar

Coty beauty head.(PEOPLE NEWS)
June 1, 2009... COTY BEAUTY HEAD: Coty Inc. has named Renato Semerari president of the company's Coty Beauty division. He will manage all Coty brands available in mass distribution in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. In addition, he will seek...

Fleet president, CEO.(PEOPLE NEWS)
June 1, 2009... FLEET PRESIDENT, CEO: Fleet Laboratories has named Jeffrey Rowan president and chief executive officer. He previously served as chief operating officer and succeeds Douglas Bellaire, who led the company from 1996, first as president, then as...

ACCO strategy officer.(PEOPLE NEWS)
June 1, 2009... ACCO STRATEGY OFFICER: ACCO Brands Corp. has named Thomas Shortt executive vice president and chief strategy and supply chain officer. Most recently Shortt served as president of Unisource Worldwide. Before that he worked as chief supply chain...

RILA vice president.(PEOPLE NEWS)
June 1, 2009... RILA VICE PRESIDENT: The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) has named Kelly Kolb vice president of global supply chain policy. She will represent RILA's members before Congress and the executive branch on supply chain and transportation...

Jurgens named FMI chairman.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2009... ARLINGTON, Va. -- Hy-Vee Inc. chairman, president and chief executive officer Richard Jurgens has been elected chairman of the board at the Food Marketing Institute (FMI). Jurgens has served on FMI's board since 2005 and on the executive...

Glass calls it a day.(SPOTLIGHT)
June 1, 2009... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- David Glass is stepping down from his seat on the board of directors at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. The former Wal-Mart president and chief executive officer has decided not to stand for reelection to the company's board at...

Ennis gets CEO post at Revlon.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2009... NEW YORK -- Revlon Inc. has chosen Alan Ennis as its new chief executive officer. Ennis, 39, had been executive vice president and, chief financial officer. He also served as president of Revlon International. He succeeds David...

Two people join Weis exec team.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2009... SUNBURY, Pa. -- Brian Holt has signed on at Weis Markets Inc. as director of marketing, and Steve Davis has joined the company as director of general merchandise and health and beauty care sales and merchandising. Holt is responsible for...

Sam's tabs exec VP. merchandising.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2009... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Linda Hefner has been appointed executive vice president of merchandising and replenishment at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s Sam's Club division. She had been executive vice president and general manager of the home department for...

Price Chopper appoints VP.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2009... SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- Golub Corp.'s Price Chopper Supermarkets chain has hired Steven Duffy as vice president of architectural design and purchasing service. In this newly created post Duffy will oversee the design of new and remodeled...