Mass Market Retailers articles from March 2005

Mass Market Retailers archives from March 2005

Stater Bros. facility.(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... STATER BROS. FACILITY: Stater Bros. Markets has held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new corporate office complex and distribution center in San Bernardino, Calif. The 2.5 million-square-foot complex will be the largest single-structure...

Marsh CFO to retire.(chief financial officer)(Marsh Supermarkets Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... MARSH CFO TO RETIRE: Douglas Dougherty, chief financial officer and treasurer of Marsh Supermarkets Inc., has announced plans to retire. The company expects him to remain until a successor is named. The regional supermarket chain also reported...

Job contract inked.(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... JOB CONTRACT INKED: The United Food and Commercial Workers Union has ratified a new three-year contract with Albertsons Inc. that covers about 8,000 clerks employed in 116 stores located in the San Francisco Bay area.

Ingles gets notice.(Ingles Markets Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... INGLES GETS NOTICE: Ingles Markets Inc. has received an additional delinquincy notice from the Nasdaq system in connection with its late filing of Form 10-Q for the final quarter of fiscal 2004, which ended September 25, 2004. The company had...

Winn-Dixie bets on a new start.(Winn-Dixie Stores Inc.)
March 7, 2005... JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. will be hard pressed to successfully emerge from bankruptcy protection, say industry observers. The 920-unit chain, which filed for Chapter 11 in February, must struggle to regain customers lost...

Whole Foods aims at 'ultimate' super.(innovative stores)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... AUSTIN, Texas -- Whole Foods Market Inc. has opened an innovative store and international headquarters in this Texas city. The outlet is a key component of the revitalization efforts in Austin, where the natural and organic food supermarket...

'Clear Rx' will debut at Target.(Target Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... MINNEAPOLIS -- Target Stores plans to help drive store traffic in 2005 with a major new pharmacy initiative. During a fourth quarter conference call with analysts Target president Gregg Steinhafel revealed that in April the nation's No. 2...

Kmart, sears stockholders to weigh in.(Kmart Holding Corp.)(Sears, Roebuck and Co)
March 7, 2005... TROY, Mich. -- Kmart Holding Corp.'s shareholders will get a chance to vote later this month on their company's planned acquisition of Sears, Roebuck and Co. Sears shareholders, meanwhile, will weigh in on the deal the same day. The two...

Walgreens dropped by GM network.(General Motors Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- General Motors Corp. (GM) has dropped Walgreen Co. from its network of prescription drug providers. GM executives say they feared that Walgreens might sever ties with the automaker over GM's policy of requiring mail-order...

Wal-Mart has setback in plans for NYC unit.(News)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s plans for a flagship store in New York City have been derailed by the developer's decision to drop the retailer from the project. According to The New York Times, Vornado Realty Trust has decided to halt...

Key events in the history of Winn-Dixie.(Winn-Dixie Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. has a long and storied history that began in 1925, when William Milton Davis bought the Rockmoor Grocery in Miami. He financed the deal with a $10,000 loan from his father, and his sons became the...

ShopKo unit ups stake in retail Rx.(News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... OMAHA, Neb. -- Pamida Inc., a subsidiary of ShopKo Stores Inc., has announced the purchase of two Medicine Chest Pharmacies outlets in Broken Bow and West Point, Neb. The stores will begin operating under the Pamida name on March 21, 2005. ...

Scoreboard.(Money News)(Illustration)
March 7, 2005... SCOREBOARD Quarter Dollar % RETAILERS Ended Sales Change Marsh (1) 01/01 401.8 mil +3.4 SDM (2) 01/01 1.21 bil +0.8 Smart & Final (3) 01/02...

Biggest gainers.(Money)(Illustration)
March 7, 2005... BIGGEST GAINERS Close Change % Stock 02/18/05 vs. 02/04/05 Change Whole Foods 102.52 +10.70 +11.7 Circuit City 16.06 +1.49 +10.2 drugstores.com ...

Biggest losers.(Money)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... BIGGEST LOSERS Close Change % Stock 02/18/05 vs. 02/04/05 Change Winn-Dixie 1.47 -2.38 -60.8 Big Lots 11.58 -1.00 -7.9 Family Dollar ...

Most active.(Money)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... MOST ACTIVE Vol. (000) As a % Change vs. 1 Wk. Ended of Total 1 Wk. Ended Stock 02/18/05 Shares 02/04/05 Winn-Dixie 35,550 23.9 +635.4 Circuit City...

Sears files amended forms 10-K and 10-Q.(Money News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... SEARS FILES AMENDED FORMS 10-K AND 10-Q: As a result of the Securities and Exchange Commission's review of filings related to the pending merger of Kmart Holding Corp. and Sears, Roebuck and Co., Sears is filing amended Form 10-K and Form 10-Q...

Safeway to adjust accounting method for leases.(Money News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... SAFEWAY TO ADJUST ACCOUNTING METHOD FOR LEASES: Safeway Inc. will incur a noncash lease expense adjustment of $6.5 million after taxes (14 cents per diluted share) in its financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004. The modification...

Dollar general reviews lease accounting.(Money News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... DOLLAR GENERAL REVIEWS LEASE ACCOUNTING: Dollar General Corp. is also reviewing its method of accounting for lease transactions and expects to accelerate its amortization of certain leasehold improvements. It expects to complete its analysis...

Wal-Mart isn't satisfied.(Spotlight)
March 7, 2005... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Although it stumbled at the start of the holiday season, a rapid shift to more aggressive marketing and promotions helped lift fourth quarter and full 2005 fiscal year sales at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. In addition, the world's...

Target tops projections of analysts.(Money)
March 7, 2005... MINNEAPOLIS -- With its expansion program driving strong sales growth, Target Corp. booked double-digit increases in earnings from continuing operations for both the fourth quarter and all of fiscal 2004. The fourth quarter performance exceeded...

SDM 'proud of accomplishments'.(Money)
March 7, 2005... TORONTO -- Despite the presence of an additional week in the comparable 2003 periods, Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. (SDM) cranked out gains of more than 20% atthe bottom line during the quarter and year ended January 1, 2005. Results for the...

How much is asking too much of suppliers?(opinion)
March 7, 2005... A new study on the relationship between retailers and suppliers sheds light on the efforts of the two parties to act as partners in driving sales and profits, and the expectations those efforts entail. Based on a global survey of more than...

Three events pack big wallop.(Opinion)
March 7, 2005... Several significant events have crowded in on mass market retailing over the past few months, events that not only have altered the companies affected but have subtly shifted the retailing landscape, balance and momentum. They include: ...

Shoppers begin to find fault.(Opinion)(American Customer Satisfaction Index)
March 7, 2005... ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Consumers are significantly less happy with their shopping experiences than they were just a few months ago, according to the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). After two years of...

Zellers is testing new areas with Business Service Center.(Global)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... BRAMPTON, Ontario--Zellers Inc. is testing an office supply and services boutique at an outlet in Burlington, Ontario, and plans to open a second in the spring. The department, which is called the Business Service Center, is designed to attract...

Asda growth plans.(Global News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... ASDA GROWTH PLANS: Asda PLC, the United Kingdom unit of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., plans to open at least 15 new stores, ranging in size from 16,000 square feet to a 100,000-square-foot superstore. During the first half of 2005 the chain will open...

Delhaize sells units.(Global News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... DELHAIZE SELLS UNITS: Delhaize Group's subsidiary Delvita SK has agreed to sell its 11 stores in Slovakia to the German retailer Rewe Group for 7.7 million euros ($13 million), excluding inventory. The retailer plans to concentrate on the Czech...

Daiei may slim down.(Global News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... DAIEI MAY SLIM DOWN: Embattled Japanese retailer Daiei Inc. is considering closing 53 supermarkets as well as selling 61 of its subsidiary companies. The company may also shed such holdings as the Jujiya Co. department store chain; Autoworld...

PriceSmart ends tie.(Global News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... PRICESMART ENDS TIE: PriceSmart Inc., which operates warehouse clubs in Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia, has ended its joint venture in Mexico with Grupo Gigante SA. The two companies had operated three clubs in the country. Management...

China gauges growth.(Global News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... CHINA GAUGES GROWTH: China's State Council Development and Research Center has projected that the country's economy will grow at an annual rate of 8% over the next five years. By 2010 China's gross domestic product is expected to hit 21...

Loblaws still learning.(Spotlight)
March 7, 2005... TORONTO -- "When Loblaws' management comes to work they check their egos at the door," comments John Lederer, president of Loblaw Cos., Canada's leading food retailer in market share and profitability. Lederer described the team approach that...

Wal-Mart is shuttering union store.(Global)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... JONQUIERE, Quebec -- Wal-Mart Canada Inc. has decided to close a store here that had won union certification, despite the fact that the Quebec provincial government had agreed to provide arbitration in the stalled negotiations. The retailer...

Coles Myer rewards CEO Fletcher.(Global)(Chief Executive Officer)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... MELBOURNE, Australia -- Coles Myer Ltd. reported strong sales across most of its businesses in the first half of its 2005 fiscal year. The retailer's board has also extended the tenure of chief executive officer John Fletcher, the architect of...

New service to help retailers pinpoint opportunities.(Merchandising)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... CHICAGO -- Retailers can now get a better understanding of their share of each shopper's total spending on specific categories from a new service developed in partnership by ACNielsen and Spectra. Called "Category ShareCast," the service...

At target: Kraft Foods'.(Promotions News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... AT TARGET: Kraft Foods' selected Post cereals, including 20 ounces of Raisin Bran, were available via a special deal of two units for $4 in a circular distributed in Boston and that was effective through February 26. The promotional vehicle...

At Safeway: Gillette.(Promotions News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... AT SAFEWAY: Gillette Co.'s Duracell Copper Top Batteries in several sizes--AA or AAA, 16 count; C or D, 8 count; and 9-volt, 4 count--were promoted at $7.99 in a circular in Sacramento, Calif., that was effective from February 23 to March 1....

At Brooks: Cadbury Trebor.(Promotions News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... AT BROOKS: Cadbury Trebor Bassett's 4.5-ounce candy bars were available for 79 cents in a circular effective from February 20 to February 26. Also offered were Wyeth Alavert Allergy & Sinus Relief 24-hour tablets, 15 count, or 12-hour tablets...

At Kroger: L'Oreal Color.(Promotions News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... AT KROGER: L'Oreal Color Pulse Hair Color Kit was offered for $4.49 in a circular in Benton, Ark., that was effective from February 23 to March 1. Additionally offered were Window Rock Enterprises' CortiSlim weight-reduction supplements, in a...

At Duane Reade: S.C. Johnson & Son Inc.'s Edge Shaving Gel.(Promotions News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... AT DUANE READE: S.C. Johnson & Son Inc.'s Edge Shaving Gel, 7 ounces to 9.3 ounces, was offered at $2.19 in a circular in New York City. Also featured were the following: Church & Dwight Co.'s Arm & Hammer Liquid Laundry Detergent, 100 ounces,...

Retail direct mail hits target.(Spotlight)
March 7, 2005... BALTIMORE -- A new study indicates that retailers have been much more successful than other types of marketers in recent years in reaching consumers with direct mail. The study, entitled "Customer Focus 2005: Retail Direct Marketing," is...

Shoppers need help in choosing.(Merchandising)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... WASHINGTON -- American consumers believe that healthful eating is the best path to good health in general, and they diligently seek food products that will help them achieve that goal. These findings are contained in a report--"Shopping for...

Publix taps into Hispanic market.(Merchandising)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... LAKELAND, Fla.--Publix Super Markets Inc. is attempting to capture more business from Hispanics and also from non-Hispanics who like ethnic food. In January Publix registered two new trademarks, Publix Acentos and Publix Sabor, but it did...

In-store TV at Wal-Mart is enhanced.(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... BENTONVILLE, Ark. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is upgrading its in-store television network. The move will include replacing its current screens with 42-inch high-definition monitors and tailoring broadcasts for specific store departments,...

Beauty at every age is the maxim.(skin care)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- The pursuit of ageless beauty by members of the baby boom generation continues to be the primary factor in sales of skin care products through mass market retailers. At the same time the category is testing its boundaries and...

Hand sanitizers get bigger play.(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- Hand sanitizer manufacturers have been working to transition the products to the consumer marketplace from their traditional positioning of institutional usage. Those efforts got a big boost from an unexpected source thanks to a...

Consumers want new products on the cutting edge.(skin care products)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- Mass market skin care is a business driven by trends that sometimes seem to be in direct opposition to each other, at least on the surface. But on closer examination it becomes clear that the diversity of trends in the skin...

Niche products can be standouts.(skin care products)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK--A relatively small number of well-known and heavily advertised brands account for a large percentage of skin care sales through mass market retail outlets, but unique brands from smaller suppliers provide an important dose of...

Retailers embrace new world of skin care.
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- With beauty care playing an increasingly high-profile role in the merchandising strategies of many mass market retailers, especially drug chains, the skin care category is taking on a higher profile. The trend is immediately...

Price isn't an impediment.(skin care)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- The kind of skin care pampering offered by professional beauty spas once was limited to those able to afford lifestyles of the rich and famous, but not anymore. Today consumers from all demographic segments and income brackets...

Potential of men's arena is unknown.(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- There is no arguing with the fact that the men's grooming market is booming. But just what effect that will turn out to have on mass market retail sales of' skin care products over the long term remains the subject of some debate....

Price-sensitive categories prime for PL.(private label)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- While spa influences and continued movement in an upscale direction are among the prevailing trends in mass market skin care of late, price and value still play important roles in several segments of the category. That leaves...

Health issues set the agenda.(vitamins and supplements)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- A variety of factors, including an aging and increasingly obese population, bode well for highly targeted segments of the nutritional products business. Both retailers and suppliers are tailoring their offerings to take advantage of...

Kudos for vitamin D, calcium.(Merchandising)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... WASHINGTON -- There is good news for the nutritional products industry in a first-ever report on bone health by the United States surgeon general. Titled "Bone Health and Osteoporosis: A Report of the Surgeon General," the report suggests...

Retailers respond to consumer needs.(Merchandising)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- Retailers are employing a variety of strategies, including keeping a pulse on customers' interests and using a number of merchandising techniques, to generate sales in the nutritional products category. "We will continue to...

Heart, joint health in spotlight.(vitamins and supplements)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- Consumers are becoming increasingly interested in supplements that address their specific health concerns. This focused approach has been generated by such factors as a rise in prescription drug costs and a widening skepticism...

Chewables are easy alternative.(chewable vitamins)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -- While vitamins and supplements can provide consumers with the nutrients they may not always get in the food they eat, a substantial number of Americans avoid such products for a variety of reasons. Some 50 percent of...

Setting the record straight on vitamin E.(Merchandising)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- Suppliers and groups representing the nutritional products industry have been busy trying to deal with the negative attitudes that some consumers have developed toward vitamin E supplements. That negativism was a result of...

Vitamins fit well with diet regs.(dietary guidelines)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... WASHINGTON -- The sixth edition of Dietary Guidelines for Americans places stronger emphasis on reducing calorie consumption and increasing physical activity than previous reports. It is a joint project of the Department of the Health and...

Demographics tell who's buying.(Vitamins & Supplements)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- Vitamins and nutritional supplements are considered by many Americans to be vital elements in maintaining overall health. Moreover, demographic differences among these consumers can play a major role in driving category sales. ...

Natural pain relievers in demand.(Merchandising)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... CARSON, Calif. -- The controversy over COX-2 inhibitors has prompted many consumers to find alternative pain relief options. Some have turned to commonly used and less expensive O-T-C items, including naproxen and ibuprofen. These...

Supplements nudge low carbs.(Merchandising)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- Although overall sales of dietary supplements have trended downward over the past two years, they could rebound because of the category's growing potential market. The factor that promises to contribute most to that market is...

Protection gets a beauty angle.(whitening toothpaste trend)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- Some segments of the oral care category are moving from the health side of health and beauty care to the beauty side, as the cosmetic benefits of whiter teeth move to the forefront of consumers' minds. A recent report from the...

An exotic slant recasts basics.(Merchandising)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- Efficacy has always been key in the oral care category, but a new line being introduced in the United States this month will offer consumers a more indulgent, spa-type approach to oral hygiene. The Fructodent line debuted in...

A toothpaste for every need.(Merchandising)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- Toothpaste has evolved from a one-size-fits-all commodity to a niche product. That is not to say that the category is not still dominated by a handful of top brands. Indeed, Colgate-Palmolive Co.'s Colgate and Procter & Gamble...

With children the approach differs.(toothbrushes)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- For makers of children's toothbrushes and toothpastes, the aim is to make products that will generate sales while also helping inspire good oral care habits. The idea is to make brushing as much fun as possible, so that...

It's high or low end in power brushes.(Oral Care)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- Sales of power toothbrushes are slipping somewhat after posting biggains in recent years. Retailers say that sales of the devices posted huge gains at the beginning of the decade, driven mainly by the debut of battery-powered...

Germs lurk in unexpected places.(Merchandising)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- Consumers who practice good oral hygiene now have a new worry: Are their toothbrushes harboring dangerous germs? The question received media attention recently with the publication of the provocatively titled book Why Your...

Bad breath: No. 1 'kissing sin'.(breath freshners)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- Consumers have been conditioned to worry about their breath, and recent surveys suggest that such anxiety is not misplaced. A recent survey conducted in time for Valentine's Day on behalf of Chesebrough-Ponds USA Co.'s Close-Up...

New brush is fashion statement.(Merchandising)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... IRVINE, Calif. -- Amden Corp. is out to prove that oral care appliances can be stylish. The company has developed a designer version of its Cybersonic toothbrush for sale exclusively at Target Corp. stores. The appliance features the...

Crest moves into mouthwash.(oral care)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- Mouthwashes have been in the spotlight of late, with a looming product launch and high-profile advertising campaign drawing new consumer attention to this mainstay oral care category. On the new product front, oral care leader...

Teeth wipes for travelers.(Merchandising)(Oral-B Brush-Ups )(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- Consumers may stock their medicine chests with the latest whitening toothpastes and dental appliances, but what happens to their gleaming smiles and fresh breath when they are away from home? Gillette Co.'s Oral-B Brush-Ups are...

Flossing gets judicial okay.
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- The act of flossing has been endorsed by a federal judge. Getting consumers to embrace the practice, though, continues to be challenging. The endorsement came in January from District Judge Denny Chin, who ruled that an...

Water's good.(oral health)(water fluoridation)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... CHICAGO -- The dental health of most Americans gets an automatic boost from the fluoride in their drinking water, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And community water fluoridation, which the...

At home care gets sophisticated.(oral care)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- Many people must do more than just brush and floss their teeth to maintain their dental health, notes Dental Concepts vice president of marketing Kelly Kaplan. A significant segment of the population has a problem with...

Sufferers seek quick, sure relief.(oral pain relief)
March 7, 2005... NEW YORK -- When consumers head to an oral care section seeking relief from the pain of toothaches, canker sores or cold sores, they want effective products that address their specific needs. With that in mind suppliers have developed...

World Trend exec VP.(People News)(Appointment)(Vice President)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... WORLD TREND EXEC VP: World Trend has appointed Richard Hyken executive vice president. Hyken has worked in the health and beauty care arena for more than 30 years. Prior to joining World Trend he held sales and marketing positions with such...

Pharmavite officers.(People News)(Appointment)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... PHARMAVITE OFFICERS: Pharmavite LLC has appointed Jeffrey Moran executive vice president and chief financial officer, and David Smith executive vice president and chief science officer. Moran previously served as chief operating officer and...

Prime Way tabs two.(appointments)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... PRIME WAY TABS TWO: Prime Way Corp., following the recent announcement of licensing the Sunbeam brand for storage and organization, has announced two appointments: Gall Jaseliunas as Canadian sales manager and Bob McBride adding the...

Enesco names CMO.(People News)(Appointment)(Chief Marketing Officer)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... ENESCO NAMES CMO: Enesco Group Inc. has appointed David Nicklin to the newly created post of chief marketing officer. Nicklin, a former Walt Disney Co. executive, joined the company in 2003 as general manager of Enesco's premier channel of...

Dial Corp. bids Adieu.(People News)(Retirement)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... DIAL CORP. BIDS ADIEU: Dial Corp. has announced that Herbert Baum plans to retire from his post as president and chief executive officer. He will remain until his successor is named. The board has established a search committee.

FMI presents award.(People News; Food Marketing Institute)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... FMI PRESENTS AWARD: Norman Rich, president and chief executive officer of Weis Markets Inc., has received the 2005 Glen P. Woodard Jr. Public Affairs Award from the Food Marketing Institute. It was presented in January at the 2005 FMI Midwinter...

GMDC eyed by nonmembers.(General Merchandise Distributors Council)
March 7, 2005... LANCASTER, N.Y. -- This year the General Merchandise Distributors Council (GMDC) celebrates its 35th anniversary. Over that period the industry the group serves has seen momentous changes through consolidation, and GMDC has proven to be adept...

Katz Group promotes two execs.(People)(Appointment)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... TORONTO -- The Katz Group has strengthened its executive team through two appointments. Russell Cohen, who had served as executive vice president for operations, was named executive vice president for pharmacy. Cohen joined the retailer...