Mass Market Retailers articles from March 2004

Mass Market Retailers archives from March 2004

Publix acquisition.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... PUBLIX ACQUISITION: Publix Super Markets Inc. has acquired three stores from Kash n' Karry Food Stores Inc. The units--in Auburndale, Orlando and Pierce, Fla.--are scheduled to reopen this summer. The Auburndale facility will replace an older...

Trader Joe's grows.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... TRADER JOE'S GROWS: Trader Joe's, a specialty food and beverage chain owned by Aldi Group, will open five more stores in the Chicago area by the end of 2005, according to the Chicago SunTimes. The retailer currently has two outlets on Chicago's...

Kmart layoffs set.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... KMART LAYOFFS SET: According to a published report, Kmart Corp. plans to lay off an undetermined number of store-level employees. A company spokesman indicated that the cuts are being made because Kmart stores are now operating more...

Dollar General plan.(Industry News)(new distribution center in Union County, S.C.)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... DOLLAR GENERAL PLAN: Dollar General Corp., the largest dollar store, or extreme-value discount retailer, in the United States, plans to open a distribution center in Union County, S.C., at a total estimated investment of $70 million....

Albertsons gets set.(Spotlight)
March 8, 2004... BOISE, Idaho -- Albertsons Inc. has announced a series of organizational changes designed to create an infrastructure for long-term growth. The moves are intended to foster improved efficiency, quality and customer service. Recognizing the...

Deal reached in West Coast strike.(supermarket workers' strike)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Following 16 days of intense bargaining union leaders and supermarket executives reached a tentative agreement late last month, potentially ending the five-month-long California supermarket strike. At presstime the...

Kroger will build up Smith's market share.(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... CINCINNATI -- Kroger Co. is revamping its store base in Utah, converting five Fred Meyer inc. stores into a new format called Smith's Marketplace. "We believe this conversion will enhance Smith's market position in Utah," says Smith's...

Target is mandating RFID tags.(News)
March 8, 2004... MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Target Corp. has told its largest suppliers that they must attach radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to all pallets and cases of goods shipped to designated regional distribution facilities beginning next spring,...

Walgreens will debut an Rx card.(discount card for seniors)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co., the nation's leading drug chain, plans to introduce its own drug discount card for seniors. The company has joined more than 100 other entities in seeking the endorsement of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid...

CVS, 7-Eleven, Wyeth, Pepsi win at CPG Summit.(News)(CVS Corp.)
March 8, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- CVS Corp. and 7-Eleven Stores were the retail winners of the first annual "Reinventing CPG Summit" awards given by Information Resources Inc. (IRI) and Racher Press Inc. Suppliers taking honors were Wyeth Consumer Healthcare...

What appeals to Delhaize.(News)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... AMSTERDAM -- Belgian supermarket retailer Delhaize Group has established specific acquisition criteria, according to a company spokesman. "We are not interested in large takeovers," he says. "We look at possibilities, but only for add-on...

Consumers cite chain preferences.(News)(American Consumer Satisfaction Index rankings)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- Shoppers at Publix Supermarkets Inc. are among the most satisfied in the grocery industry, according to the American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). The company received a ACSI score or 80 (up 1% from last year). Safeway...

Stop & Shop signs labor contract.(News)(Stop and Shop Supermarket Co.)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... QUINCY, Mass. -- Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. has averted a strike by the United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) union over health care benefits by agreeing to a new labor contract. The new pact--the result of seven months of talks--was...

Wal-Mart most admired company.(News)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- WalMart Stores Inc. has topped Fortune magazine's list of most admired companies for the second year in a row. Wal-Mart's discounting, the magazine notes, compels suppliers and competitors to lower prices, saving...

Sears grows reach in home appliances.(News)(Sears, Roebuck and Co.)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Sears, Roebuck and CO. is adding home appliances to 35 additional Sears Hardware stores. The stores have been renamed Sears Appliance and Hardware and will sell products in four core businesses--appliances, lawn and...

GMDC adds programs to June GM meeting.(News)(General Merchandise Distributors Council)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The General Merchandise Distributors Council (GMDC) will debut two initiatives at its 2004 General Merchandise Marketing Conference, which will be held in June in Orlando, Fla. The Showcase @ GMDC will enable...

Kmart sues Martha Stewart.(News)(Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc.)(Kmart Holding Corp.)
March 8, 2004... TROY, Mich. -- Kmart Holding Corp. last month sued Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, claiming that the lifestyle guru's company overstated the royalties it was owed for sales of her merchandise in Kmart stores. In a lawsuit filed in federal...

Pamida plans 18 remodels.(News)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... OMAHA -- ShopKo Stores Inc.'s Pamida Inc. division has listed the first group of its stores to be remodeled in 2004. The announcement follows the remodeling of 11 units in 2003. The new remodels include 18 outlets in nine states. ...

Scoreboard.(Money News)(Illustration)
March 8, 2004... SCOREBOARD Quarter Dollar % RETAILERS Ended Sales Change CVS (1) 01/03 7.45 bil +17.5 DuaneReads (2) 12/27 356.4 mil +7.6...

Big Lots posts fourth quarter profit advance.(Money News)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... BIG LOTS POSTS FOURTH QUARTER PROFIT ADVANCE: Closeout retailer Big Lots Inc. reported net earnings of $85.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003, a 29% increase from the prior-year period. The strong performance made the company's...

Nash Finch declares quarterly dividend.(Money News)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... NASH FINCH DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND: The board of directors at Minneapolis-based food retailer and distributor Nash Finch Co. has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 13.5 cents per share of common stock. The dividend is payable...

Wild Oats earnings fall despite sales gain.(Money News)(Wild Oats Markets Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... WILD OATS EARNINGS FALL DESPITE SALES GAIN: Natural food supermarket operator Wild Oats Markets Inc. reported a fourth quarter earnings decline of 68%, to $830,000. Sales in the quarter rose 14%, to $254 million, boosted in part by the strike...

Biggest gainers.(Money)(securities of retail industry)(Illustration)
March 8, 2004... BIGGEST GAINERS Close Change % Stock 02/20/04 vs. 01/30/04 Change Wild Oats 14.78 +1.89 +14.7 Whole Foods 76.56 +9.09 ...

Biggest losers.(Money)(value of retail industry stocks)(Illustration)
March 8, 2004... BIGGEST LOSERS Close Change % Stock 02/20/04 vs. 01/30/04 Change Cost Plus 38.19 -5.19 -12.0 drugstore.com 6.01 -0.56 -8.5...

Most active.(Money)(securities of retail industry)(Illustration)
March 8, 2004... MOST ACTIVE Vol. (000) As a % Change vs. 1 Wk. Ended of Total 1 Wk. Ended Stock 02/20/04 Share 01/30/04 Cost Plus 1,492 7.1 ...

Challenges mount at Safeway.(Money)
March 8, 2004... PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Safeway Inc., rocked by the effects of the lingering grocery workers' strike in southern California as well as a host of non cash charges related to two of its troubled subsidiaries, ended both the fourth quarter and...

Wal-Mart is bullish.(Spotlight)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
March 8, 2004... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Robust January sales gave Wal-Mart Stores Inc. a strong kick at the finish of fiscal 2004, as the world's largest retailer wrapped up the year with double-digit increases in both sales and net income for the 12 months and...

CVS net rises 18.2% on a 10% sales gain.(Money)(CVS Corp.)
March 8, 2004... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS Corp., buoyed by a severe flu season, better inventory controls, an improved sales mix and an additional week, rang up double-digit bottom-line gains in the quarter and year ended January 3. The 4,179-unit drug...

Target picks up momentum in fourth quarter.(Money)(Target Corp.)
March 8, 2004... MINNEAPOLIS -- Paced, as always, by its namesake business segment, Target Corp. produced earnings gains of 20.9% for the fourth quarter and 11.3% for the fiscal year ended January 31. Results in the quarter were also driven by improved...

'Great strides' by SDM reflected in bottom line.(Money)(Shoppers Drug Mart Inc)
March 8, 2004... TORONTO -- Shoppers Drug Marl Inc. (SDM) cranked out double-digit gains in revenues and income for the quarter and fiscal year ended January 3, as enhanced merchandising efforts and an extra week fueled strong sales growth in its franchise...

Satisfying shoppers is a tricky business.(Opinion)
March 8, 2004... On balance, the latest installment of the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) contains good news for mass market retailers. The research, conducted quarterly by the University of Michigan, the American Society for Quality and the CFI...

Format shapes expectations.(Opinion)(Chicago Advertising Federation)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... CHICAGO -- Retail formats are not only changing their appearance and offerings, they are changing consumers' expectations and behavior as well, according to Jim Lucas, director of strategic planning and research for Draft, a global marketing...

Bringing back creativity to CPG.(Opinion)(reinventing consumer packaged goods by Information Resources Inc.)
March 8, 2004... Information Resources Inc. hosted a new kind of conference last month in San Diego, a two-day "summit" carrying the theme of Reinventing CPG (consumer packaged goods). It was undeniably quite a show. Over 48 hours some 1,000 retailing and...

Consumers are losing faith.(Opinion)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Trust in corporate America continues to decline, according to a survey by Harris Interactive and the Reputation Institute. "Many signs point to a growing skepticism on the part of the American public when it comes to...

Safeway U.K. sell-off.(Global News)(William Morrison Supermarkets PLC)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... SAFEWAY U.K. SELL-OFF: British supermarket chain William Morrison is considering the sale of 132 smaller Safeway stores upon the completion of the 3 billion [pounds sterling] ($5.64 billion) takeover of its former rival. The outlets in...

Daiei on goal track.(Global News)(company results)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... DAIEI ON GOAL TRACK: Sales gains prompted by store renovations and special promotions have put Japanese supermarketer Daiei Inc. on track to reach its sales and profit targets for the fiscal year ended February 2004. Same-store sales for the...

Supermarket review.(Global News)(British government's Office of Fair Trading )(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... SUPERMARKET REVIEW: The British government's Office of Fair Trading (OFT) plans to send independent auditors to review how the country's top four supermarket chains deal with suppliers. OFT launched the Supermarket Code of Practice in 2000...

Exito profits soar.(Global News)(Almacenes Exito)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... EXITO PROFITS SOAR: Colombia's largest supermarket chain, Almacenes Exito, reported profits of 56.21 billion pesos ($21 million) for 2003, up 68.5% from 2002. The chain is controlled by local conglomerate Grupo Empresarial Antioqueno and Casino...

Carrefour sets China expansion.(Global)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... PARIS -- Carrefour SA has announced plans to open 12 hypermarkets in China this year. The company recently opened its 42nd Chinese hypermarket in the city of Urumqi, located in the northwestern region of Xinjiang. That outlet, which...

Loblaws ends '03 up, is confident of future.(Global)(Loblaw Companies Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... TORONTO -- Loblaw Cos. recorded a 16.1% increase in net income to $845 million ($645.3 million U.S.) for fiscal 2003, as sales rose 9.3% to $25.2 billion ($19.25 billion U.S.). Canada's largest food retailer achieved robust same store sales...

The Carrefour way in Belgium.(Spotlight)(managing finance)
March 8, 2004... BRUSSELS -- An observer of retailing wishing to study the power, strength, resiliency and determination of Carrefour SA need only study Belgium. Indeed, among the 30-odd countries in which the world's No. 2 retailer has a presence, Belgium is...

Seiyu hopes to reverse losses in '04.(Global)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... TOKYO -- Seiyu Ltd., Japan's fifth-largest retailer, booked a net loss of 7.09 billion yen ($67.2 million) on revenues of 937.59 billion yen ($8.89 billion) for the 2003 fiscal year ended December 31. The figure covers only 10 months because of...

A new look at GB.(Global)(GB Supermarkets (Belgium) gets facelift)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... As part of its successful effort to reinvigorate the Belgian market and win back customers to its GB Supermarkets chain in that country, Carrefour last May introduced new decor at 73 of its company-owned units and 199 franchised GB outlets, a...

Cover Girl 'Sol' line.(Merchandising News)(Procter & Gamble Co.'s Cover Girl )(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... COVER GIRL 'SOL' LINE: Procter & Gamble Co.'s Cover Girl brand has announced plans to introduce in May its "You Gotta Have Sol" summer collection, which includes Tanfastic bronzer, WetSlicks lip gloss, eye enhancers 3-kit and CG smoothers...

Organic oral care.(Merchandising News)( Kiss My Face Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... ORGANIC ORAL CARE: Kiss My Face Corp. has introduced three organic aloe vera oral care products--whitening toothpaste, triple-action toothpaste and Fresh-Breath mouthwash--that each sell for a suggested $6. Kiss My Face Corp., 144 Main St.,...

BIC women's shaver.(Merchandising News)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... BIC WOMEN'S SHAVER: BIC Consumer Products, a division of BIC USA Inc., has introduced Soleil, a triple-blade shaver designed for women. Formulated with a lube strip that includes aloe and vitamin E moisturizers for sensitive skin, the shaver is...

'Lion King 1 1/2' DVD/VHS.(Merchandising News)(Walt Disney Co. through Buena Vista Home Entertainment Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... 'LION KING 1 1/2' DVD/VHS: Walt Disney Co.'s animated film The Lion King 1 1/2 has been released on DVD selling for $29.99 and VHS selling for $24.99. Distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment Inc., the two-disc DVD includes games and a...

Buzz is phonecams.(Spotlight)
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- The photo and film category is in the middle of a dramatic transition--one that was readily apparent at the recent Photo Marketing Association (PMA) Convention and Trade Show held last month in Las Vegas. To no one's surprise,...

U.S. camera unit sales *--monthly and year-to-date comparisons through December 2003.(Merchandising)(Illustration)
March 8, 2004... U.S. Camera Unit Sales *--Monthly and year-to-date comparisons through December 2003 % change vs. year earlier Type of Camera December 2003 Year-to-date Analog -43% ...

In-store TV at Wal-Mart for anglers.(Merchandising)(FLW Outdoors)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has begun promoting fishing and an exclusive line of baits via its in-store television network. The commercials feature professional anglers and depict fishing as a relaxing activity for the...

Albertsons to get a hand with PL.(Merchandising)(Albertsons Inc. is in agreement with CROSSMARK Inc. to boom its private label and corporate brand business)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... PLANO, Texas -- Albertsons Inc. has hired Crossmark to help develop its private label and corporate brand business. A service firm that assists consumer packaged goods companies with sales, marketing, merchandising, technology and supply chain...

System speeds product resets.(Merchandising)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... TARRYTOWN, N.Y. -- In partnership with Gladson Interactive, Spar Group is introducing a new merchandising system that it claims cuts the time required for product resets by more than 30% while improving compliance. The system replaces...

A department in its own right.(Front End)(merchandising at checkout counters generates high profits)
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- The typical supermarket does more business at its checkstands than in its deli or detergent aisles, according to a recent study. "The front end is bigger than a number of other retail categories or departments," says Stephen...

A&P implements best practices.(Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... PEEKSKILL, N.Y. -- A visit to an A&P superstore here recently suggests that the Montvale, N.J.-based chain is already implementing some of the best practices of the "Front-End Focus" (FEF) study by Dechert-Hampe & Co. The large, bright...

Can self-checkout lanes be profitable front-end territory?(Merchandising)
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- The growing popularity of self-checkout may pose a threat to retailers' front-end sales. Chains install self-checkout terminals in their stores partly to cope with labor shortages that leave them with too few cashiers. But what...

What's 'fresh,' 'entertaining'.(Front End)
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- The ideal checkstand item should be the kind of product that appeals to a wide variety of consumers, that is frequently purchased and that is typically bought on impulse. Magazines fit the bill and offer other benefits as well. ...

Candy drives a third of all front-end sales.(Merchandising)(Dechert-Hampe & Co)
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- Candy and gum are mainstays of front-end displays for a reason: the products do well there. "Confections are one of the highest-impulse categories," says Mike Lanaghan, national merchandising manager at Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. "As...

Film, single-use cameras won't budge.(Merchandising)
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- Film and single-use cameras have long been mainstays at the front end. That is likely to continue for some time, even though digital technology is transforming the photo category. Film (here including single-use cameras) does...

It's the place to buy batteries.(Merchandising)(how to display batteries in the store to increase sales)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- Batteries remain staple items at the checkstand because of their strong impulse character and solid margins. But the category's performance can vary considerably depending on the assortment and on how the products are displayed,...

Low-carb diet only a starting point for long-term health.(Merchandising)
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- The increasing desire to be healthier and slimmer should provide a substantial boost to the nutritional products category in the years ahead. Indeed, some industry observers see Americans' interest in low-carbohydrate items and...

Segmentation hits nutrition bars.(Nutrition)
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK-- The nutritional bar business is exploding, attracting new suppliers even as category pioneers broaden their offerings. The growth is being accompanied by segmentation, as manufacturers develop specialized products for consumers...

Manufacturers get proactive about standards.(Merchandising)(nutritional products)
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- The use of quality assurance, or product certification, services is growing in the nutritional products industry. That growth has been fueled by a couple of factors, one being consumers' desire to be assured that nutritional...

Metabolife[R]: Metabolife is determined to ensure its leadership by staying focused on helping people with their lifestyle weight-loss needs.(Q&A)(Interview)
March 8, 2004... Q: The diet supplement category has been on a roller-coaster ride lately, with strong sales growth impacted by the ephedra controversy. What is your outlook for the category and for your business? A. The controversy surrounding ephedra has,...

The time is right for vitamins.(Nutrition)
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- Vitamins continue to be an important revenue stream for mass market retailers. Sales of 1- and 2-letter vitamins, multivitamins and liquid vitamins/minerals totaled more than $1.2 billion in food, drug and discount outlets...

Who's buying supplements--and where.(Merchandising)(vitamins and nutritional supplements)
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- Vitamins and nutritional supplements have gained a significantly broader customer base over the past decade as more and more consumers have focused on health concerns. Nevertheless, it is a product category that appeals primarily to...

Vitamin C drink finds home on more mass market shelves.(Merchandising)(Emer'gen-C)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. -- An innovative vitamin product, Alacer Corp.'s Emer'gen-C, is experiencing escalating sales as it enters more mass market outlets. Emer'gen-C was the fastest-growing vitamin C product of the top 10 brands sold in...

Wal-Mart, Target have their ways.(Merchandising)
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- Discount stores account for a healthy share of the vitamins and supplements business, since they are able to offer consumers attractive prices and extensive selections. A recent visit to outlets of the two leading players, Wal-Mart...

FDA turns ephedra advisory into government ban.(Merchandising)
March 8, 2004... WASHINGTON -- In December the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised consumers to stop using items containing ephedra and for companies to stop selling such products. Last month the FDA upgraded its advice into an official rule that...

The search is on for alternatives for dieters.(Nutrition)
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- After several years of growth, sales of over-the-counter diet products have tumbled as a result of the controversy over ephedra. The ingredient had been in diet products for many years. Despite the controversy, there is still a...

Products enhance sexual health.(Merchandising)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- For many years consumers have used nutritional products to help them cope with colds and other health problems. Now many of them are turning to the category for items to deal with their sexual concerns. The products represent a...

Pure Digital exec.(People News)(Pure Digital Technologies)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... PURE DIGITAL EXEC: Pure Digital Technologies Inc. has named Joseph Diliberto executive vice president of sales and business development. He will be responsible for expanding distribution of the Pure Digital Imaging Platform as well as managing...

Campbell senior VP.(People News)(Campbell Soup Co.)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... CAMPBELL SENIOR VP: Campbell Soup Co. has named David White senior vice president of Global Supply Chain. He will oversee its management, including engineering, manufacturing, procurement, logistics and customer services. The 48-year-old White...

Fuji Photo changes.(People News)(Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... FUJI PHOTO CHANGES: Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Inc. has named John Prendergast to the newly created post of vice president of strategic business development of the Photo Imaging Division. In another move, Gael Lundeen was named group vice president...

Weis Markets board.(People News)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... WEIS MARKETS BOARD: Wets Markets Inc.'s board of directors has named Jonathan Weis vice chairman. Prior to his appointment the 36-year-old Weis served as company vice president and secretary, and he is a member of the company's executive...

SureScripts tabs COO.(People News)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... SURESCRIPTS TABS COO: SureScripts has promoted Rick Ratliff to chief operating officer. The 43-year-old Ratliff, who joined the company a year ago as executive vice president of technology and alliances, has become SureScripts' first COO....

Patitucci is Nash Finch exec vp.(People)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... MINNEAPOLIS -- James Patitucci has joined Nash Finch Co., a food retailer and distributor, as executive vice president of merchandising and marketing. "Patitucci's three decades of industry experience are highlighted by a solid track...

'Too stubborn to quit'.(Spotlight)(American Household Inc. )
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- Having completed a tumultuous reorganization and turnaround, American Household Inc., the former Sunbeam Corp., is poised for renewed growth. For chairman and chief executive officer Jerry Levin, it has been a long journey. The...

Coke ceo, chairman to step down.(People)(Coca-Cola Co.)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... ATLANTA -- Coca-Cola Co. chairman and chief executive officer Doug Daft plans to retire from the company at the end of the year. Daft, 60, took the reins at Coca-Cola in 1999. He says that he will work with the company's board of directors...

HR exec vp exits Wal-Mart.(People)(Coleman Peterson has retired from the human resources division at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Coleman Peterson has retired from his post as executive vice president of the human resources division at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Peterson, who is a 10-year Wal-Mart veteran, intends to stay on until April 30 to help with...

Exec team bolstered at Snyder's.(People)(Snyder's Drug Stores Inc. has appointed three executives to strengthen its management team )(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... MINNETONKA, Minn. -- Snyder's Drug Stores Inc. has strengthened its management team with the appointment of three executives. Robert Sarvas has been named executive vice president of pharmacy operations. He previously held senior executive...

Appointment at Katz.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2004... APPOINTMENT AT KATZ: The Katz Group has appointed Andy Giancamilli to the position of chief executive officer of Katz Group Canada. He will continue to serve as president and chief executive officer of Katz Group North America and chief...

New Dollar Generals.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2004... NEW DOLLAR GENERALS: Dollar General Corp. has expanded its operations into New Mexico and Wisconsin. The one unit in Wisconsin and three in New Mexico were among the 119 stores opened in the four-week period ended February 27, 2004. As of that...

Kmart names exec.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2004... KMART NAMES EXEC: Paul Guyardo has joined Kmart Holding Corp. as senior vice president and chief marketing officer. His responsibilities include marketing, advertising, promotions and external communications. Guyardo was previously the Home...

Fresh Brand closings.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2004... FRESH BRAND CLOSINGS: Reflecting stiff competition from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Roundy's Inc., Fresh Brands Inc. will close six stores. The company also will cut capital spending from $17 million in 2003 to less than $8 million this year and...