Mass Market Retailers articles from May 2004

Mass Market Retailers archives from May 2004

Wal-Mart Chicago bid.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... WAL-MART CHICAGO BID: Wal-Mart Stores Inc. may soon open two units in Chicago. Last month a city government committee approved a zoning change that would allow the retailer to open an outlet on the city's West Side. Another hearing was...

Family dollar buyback.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... FAMILY DOLLAR BUYBACK: For the second time in less than two years, Family Dollar Stores Inc.'s board of directors has authorized a stock buyback of 5 million shares. The company bought back a little more than 4 million shares of the original...

Target to fete Mizrahi.(Industry News)(Target Corp., Isaac Mizrahi)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... TARGET TO FETE MIZRAHI: Target Corp. will host a fashion show in New York City in June to celebrate the creations of designer Isaac Mizrahi. The retailer has been carrying the Isaac Mizrahi Target collection, which features women's sportswear...

Fred's cuts estimate.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... FRED'S CUTS ESTIMATE: Fred's Inc. has reduced its earnings guidance for 2004. The company now expects to earn from 97 cents to $1 per share, down from the previous estimate of between $1.03 and $1.10 per share. The company attributes the change...

Gristede's may delist.(Industry News)(Gristede's Foods Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... GRISTEDE'S MAY DELIST: Gristede's Foods Inc. may become a private company. Chairman John Catsimatids and affiliated companies currently own more than 90% of the grocer's 19.6 million shares. They plan to buy all of the shares they do not own.

New life for Snyder's.(Industry News)(Snyder's Drug Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NEW LIFE FOR SNYDER'S: Snyder's Drug Stores Inc. has successfully completed its Chapter 11 financial restructuring. The company has now been significantly strengthened and recapitalized and also has new leadership, says Dave Schwartz, Snyder's...

Burd under heavy fire at Safeway.(Steve Burd)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- At least five public employee pension funds have vowed to vote next month to oust three members of the Safe way Inc. board of directors, including chairman and chief executive officer Steve Burd. The pension funds, which between...

Supers' new frontier.(Spotlight)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- A format that many had written off a few years ago is offering food retailers new hope in their struggle against alternative channels: the limited-assortment grocery store. Despite the apparent success of Aldi Group, a privately...

March sales reflect consumer optimism.
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- The arrival of warmer weather and a spring holiday, together with an improving economy, helped boost retailers' sales in March. "Due to an early Easter and favorable spring fashions, consumers had plenty of reasons to shop in...

Wal-Mart realigns its board.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s board of directors now has 14 members, one short of the company's goal for this year's annual shareholders meeting. A shareholder proposal at last year's meeting called for Wal-Mart to fill...

Albertsons.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... BOISE, Idaho -- Albertsons Inc. has become more optimistic about the current fiscal year, due in part to the prospect of income from its pending acquisition of Shaw's Supermarkets Inc. Albertsons has received an early O.K. from regulatory...

Kmart suffers legal setback.(News)
May 3, 2004... CHICAGO -- A federal judge here has dismissed a Kmart Holding Corp. lawsuit that had sought to reduce the taxes it owes to hundreds of local governments because the retailer did not prove that the matter belonged in federal bankruptcy court....

Ahold USA on track with plans.(News)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... LANDOVER, Md. -- As Ahold USA continues to integrate its Giant of Landover and Stop & Shop headquarters operations, another executive has been shifted into a new position. Stop & Shop executive vice president of sales and operations Bill...

Albertsons will exit New Orleans.(News)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... BOISE, Idaho -- Reflecting increasing competition from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and other retailers, Albertsons Inc. has decided to end its operations in New Orleans. Albertsons implied that the loss of a leadership position caused the exit by...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
May 3, 2004... A story on page 130 of the April 19 issue of MMR on price optimization technology mistakenly quoted Gary Charboneau of Duane Reade. The speaker was Craig Breslin of Duane Reade.

Weis initiatives move ahead.(News)(Weis Markets Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... SUNBURY, Pa. -- Weis Markets Inc. plans to invest $92.7 million in an expansion program that includes 28 store projects. "At Weis Markets we are strongly focused on growth and continuous improvement," chairman Robert Weis told shareholders...

Execs promoted at Winn-Dixie.(News)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. has promoted two executives. Mark Sellers, formerly south Florida division president, has been named group vice president of retail operations. He will supervise division managers in the United...

Safeway names top marketer.(News)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Safeway Inc. has appointed Brian Cornell to serve as the company's new executive vice president and chief marketing officer. In his new post Cornell will oversee the retailer's marketing, merchandising, manufacturing...

Seattle supermarket strike looms.(News)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... SEATTLE -- The four largest supermarket chains here may be shut down this month due to a strike by members of the local unit of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. Its contract with the grocers was scheduled to expire on May 2. ...

Judge rejects Grass' deal.(News)
May 3, 2004... HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The federal judge presiding over the prosecution of former Rite Aid Corp. chairman and chief executive officer Martin Grass has rejected a plea deal that capped his prison sentence at eight years. After a probation...

Scoreboard.(Money News)(Illustration)
May 3, 2004... SCOREBOARD Net Quarter Dollar % Income % RETAILERS Ended Sales Change (Loss) Change DuaneReade (1) ...

Biggest gainers.(Money)
May 3, 2004... BIGGEST GAINERS Close Change % Stock 04/23/04 vs. 04/16/04 Change A&P 9.07 +1.22 +15.5 Safeway 23.51 +1.61 +7.4 Kmart ...

Biggest losers.(Money)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
May 3, 2004... BIGGEST LOSERS Close change % Stock 04/23/04 vs. 04/16/04 Change Office Depot 17.80 -1.45 -7.5 Ahold 7.92 -0.50 -5.9 May 31.94...

Most active.(Money)(Illustration)
May 3, 2004... MOST ACTIVE Vol. (000) As a % Change vs 1 Wk. Ended of Total 1 Wk ended Stock 04/23/04 Shares 04/16/04 Office Depot 14,174 5.8 +95.5...

Dollar Gen. cautiously optimistic.(Money)(Dollar General Corp.)
May 3, 2004... GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. -- Fiscal 2003 ended with a double-digit rise in net income for Dollar General Corp., although gross margin pressures and a charge related to its financial restatements for 1998 and 1999 drove down the bottom line in the...

Rite Aid turns profit.(Spotlight)
May 3, 2004... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Benefiting from sharply reduced store closing and impairment expense as well as a steadily improving operating performance in the last half, Rite Aid Corp. closed the books of fiscal 2004 with its first full-year profit since...

Pathmark's initiatives start to pay dividends.(Money)
May 3, 2004... CARTARET, N.J. -- Propelled by a robust fourth quarter performance, Pathmark Stores Inc. rang up double-digit increases in net income for both the final period and fiscal 2003. Recorded net earnings for the 52 weeks ended January 31 jumped...

Stores, services--and sales--up at Walgreens.(Money)
May 3, 2004... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. rang up double-digit advances in sales and earnings for the three-and six-month periods ended February 29. Net income for fiscal 2004's second quarter rose 16.9% to $433.5 million, or 42 cents per diluted...

Despite efforts, ShopKo net dips.(Money)
May 3, 2004... GREEN BAY, Wis. -- With margins squeezed by markdowns that failed to spark much sales growth, ShopKo Stores Inc.'s earnings before an accounting change receded in the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 31. While management is...

Chain pharmacies need to reach out.(Opinion)
May 3, 2004... It's time for retail pharmacy operators to actively engage the public in discussions about the proper role of their stores in the nation's health care system. The industry is under siege, with diverse forces casting a shadow over its...

Low prices carry a big stick.(Opinion)
May 3, 2004... No matter where on the planet you look, mass market retailing has coalesced into a battle of price versus service. And price is winning. In the United States, Wal-Mart has become the quintessential price retailer, having convinced the...

Today's retailers must become 'multichannel'.(Opinion)
May 3, 2004... Consumers are no longer eager to visit store after store in search of the products or prices they want, notes Critical Mass senior vice president Neil Clemmons. Many are using the Internet to do research before they shop. "Successful...

New Sears format.(Global News)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NEW SEARS FORMAT: To capitalize on the aging of the baby boom generation, Sears Canada will open a new format, tentatively being called a wellness store. The outlets will provide health care items for boomers in an upbeat and positive setting,...

Slovakia to get Lidl.(Global News)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... SLOVAKIA TO GET LIDL: The German discount grocer Lidl will open its first stores in Slovakia this month, with 16 stores scheduled to be opened on the same day. The company plans to add 12 more outlets during this year. The units will range from...

Sainsbury sales up.(Global News)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... SAINSBURY SALES UP: J. Sainsbury PLC's fiscal year 2003 sales were up 1.4%, while fourth quarter volume increased 0.8%. But comparable-store sales for the year and quarter declined 0.2% and 0.9%, respectively. During 2003 the retailer cut its...

Daiei passes goal.(Global News)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... DAIEI PASSES GOAL: Japan's No. 3 retailer, Daiei Inc., listed pretax profit of 31.5 billion yen ($291.6 million), beating its fiscal 2003 objective by 1.5 billion yen. Net income, however, plummeted 87% to 18.2 billion yen ($168.5 million) due...

Laurus sales decline.(Global News)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... LAURUS SALES DECLINE: A price war with Ahold NV's Albert Heijn chain caused first quarter sales to plummet 10.5% to 1.28 billion euros ($1.51 billion) at Dutch supermarket chain Laurus NV.

Seiyu bases its first supercenter on Wal-Mart prototype.(Global)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NUMAZU, Japan -- Seiyu Ltd. has opened its first supercenter based on a prototype of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which holds a 38% stake in the chain. The outlet here, which bears the Seiyu banner, is smaller than any of Wal-Mart's United States...

Retail turmoil in U.K.(Spotlight)
May 3, 2004... LONDON -- Seldom has the United Kingdom seen such changes in its retail evolution as in the past two years. Multiple grocers are consolidating--and fast--the department store sector is not only in disarray but up for sale, and channel blurring...

Ahold nears break-even point for FY.(Global)
May 3, 2004... ZAANDAM, the Netherlands -- Ahold NV, recovering from a billion-euro accounting scandal, reported a slight fourth quarter 2003 profit and came close to breaking even for the full year. Ahold posted a net profit in the quarter of 12 million...

Price war brews among U.K. supers.(Global)(Tesco PLC, Asda PLC)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... LONDON -- British supermarket giants Tesco PLC and Asda PLC are locked in a cost-cutting battle that analysts say could lead to a full-scale price war among Britain's grocery chains. Early last month Wal-Mart Stores Inc. subsidiary Asda,...

Metro in position to keep up numbers.(Global)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... MONTREAL -- Sales at Canadian food and drug retailer Metro Inc. increased 4.2% in the second quarter and 3.6% for the first half of the year. Sales in the quarter that ended March 13 reached $1.27 billion ($945.3 million U.S.), while first...

Tesco vows to stay on growth track.(Global)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... LONDON -- Tesco PLC, Great Britain's biggest retailer, posted a 22% jump in annual profits, meeting forecasts and demonstrating its resilience in a price war. The chain reported an underlying pretax profit of 1.708 billion pounds ($3.1...

Income gains are spurring sales in China.(Global)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... BEIJING -- A surge in urban incomes fueled by China's economic boom has fed demand for cars and cell phones, spurring strong gains in the country's overall retail sales. Retail volume has been growing between 10% and 11%, while urban...

United Kingdom at a glance.(Global)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... POPULATION: 60.1 million (7/03 est.) LABOR FORCE: 29.7 million (2001) UNEMPLOYMENT: 5.2% (2002 est.) GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: $1.53 trillion * (2002 est.) PER CAPITA GDP: $25,500 (2002 est.) GDP REAL GROWTH RATE: 1.8% ...

Coles Myer puts heat on Woolworths.(Global)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... SYDNEY, Australia -- Woolworths Ltd. may not realize its objective of becoming this country's largest and most profitable grocer, in part due to vowing competition from resurgent Coles Myer Ltd. That retailer is a much tougher competitor...

A day in the life of Feargal Quinn.(Global)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... The redoubtable Feargal Quinn, grand panjandrum of the 19-store, Dublin-based SuperQuinn food chain, is nothing if not consumer-friendly. On a recent Friday the peripatetic retailer dropped by a SuperQuinn supermarket in a Dublin suburb. Once...

Rembrandt offers 2-Hour White Kit.(Merchandising News)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... REMBRANDT OFFERS 2-HOUR WHITE KIT: Rembrandt Oral Care Products, a division of Den-Mat Corp., has introduced the Rembrandt 2-Hour White Kit, an at-home teeth-whitening process that includes two ComfyTray mouth guards and three syringes of...

Cetaphil therapeutic hand cream.(Merchandising News)(Galderma Laboratories Inc.,)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... CETAPHIL THERAPEUTIC HAND CREAM: Galderma Laboratories L.P. has expanded its Cetaphil line to include therapeutic hand cream that uses such ingredients as shea butter, glycerin and dimethicone. Available in a box that contains two 3-ounce tubes...

Revlon offers five sheer nail enamel shades.(Merchandising News)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... REVLON OFFERS FIVE SHEER NAIL ENAMEL SHADES: Revlon Inc. has introduced five sheer nail enamel shades to its classic Revlon nail enamel line. Available for $4.79, the nail enamel line contains a patented glossing agent for high-gloss shine and...

Jack Link's Kippered Beef Steak Nuggets.(Merchandising News)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... JACK LINK'S KIPPERED BEEF STEAK NUGGETS: Link Snacks Inc. has introduced Jack Link's Kikkoman-flavor Kippered Beef Steak Nuggets, a bite-size snack made from slices of slow-cooked whole beef. Each 4-ounce package sells for suggested retail...

Ricola offers vitamin C supplement drops.(Merchandising News)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... RICOLA OFFERS VITAMIN C SUPPLEMENT DROPS: Ricola USA Inc., a division of Ricola Ltd., has introduced Nature's Protection orange mint vitamin C supplement drops. Packaged in 24-count bags selling for a suggested $1.99, the drops are formulated...

Duracell introduces flashlight line.(Merchandising News)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... DURACELL INTRODUCES FLASHLIGHT LINE: Gillette Co,'s Duracell division has introduced a line of flashlights designed to meet the wide-ranging needs of consumers. Segmented into outdoor, home/auto and personal use categories, the collection...

Bratz line of holiday ornaments.(Merchandising News)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... BRATZ LINE OF HOLIDAY ORNAMENTS: Enesco Group Inc. has announced plans to introduce a Bratz line of holiday ornaments for Christmas 2004. The ornaments will be available to ship in October/November and will retail for $5.99. In addition, Enesco...

'Splash' celebrates 20th anniversary with DVD.(Merchandising News)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... 'SPLASH' CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY WITH DVD: Touchstone Home Entertainment's film Splash, starring Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah, celebrates its 20th anniversary with the release of a special edition DVD. Distributed by Buena Vista Home...

Study: retailers, suppliers need to get priorities straight.(Merchandising)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... STAMFORD, Conn. -- Differences in priorities continue to prevent retailers and their suppliers from achieving the hoped-for benefits of collaboration, according to a new report from Archstone Consulting LLC. The study, which was based on a...

Consumers resist.(Spotlight)
May 3, 2004... MIAMI -- Consumers are fed up with what they see as intrusive and increasingly inane marketing and advertising campaigns, an industry consultant recently told a gathering of ad executives. Speaking before the American Association of...

Best online retailers get kudos.(Merchandising)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... BELLEVUE, Wash. -- The "Spring 2004 Online Customer Respect Study" reveals that a number of mass market retailers, including Aibertsons Inc., Kmart Corp. and Walgreen Co., were among the most highly rated companies evaluated. Each had a rating...

Peapod expands in Mass., R.I.(Merchandising)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... QUINCY, Mass. -- Peapod Inc., an Internet grocery, is serving additional Stop & Shop Cos. customers by expanding its delivery service in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts. On the retailer's web site (www.stopandshop.com), customers ean...

It's Campbell's a la Warhol at Giant Eagle.(Merchandising)(Andy Warhol)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... PITTSBURGH -- Giant Eagle Inc. supermarkets last month became the first retailer to roll out limited edition Campbell soup cans bearing Andy Warhol's renditions of the company's classic tomato soup label. Nearly 40 year's after Warhol...

Retail is the place for digital printing.(Merchandising)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- More consumers are aware of digital printing capabilities at retail outlets and are inclined to use them, according-to the results of a new survey. The percentage of consumers now aware that they can print digital images at...

Youth power.(Merchandising)(taget marketing children can begin at 7)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Professional youth marketers feel that marketing to children can begin when they are as young as 7, according to the Harris Interactive/Kid Power Poll of Youth Marketers. The online poll also showed that 91% of...

NFG Stuff aims at young men.(Merchandising)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- NFG Stuff LLC plans to offer a line of personal care items for men ages 13 to 25 in mass market retailers late this year or early in 2005. The company initially has developed two hair care items, a 4-ounce gel and a 15-ounce...

Kellogg woos careful eaters.(Merchandising)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... BATTLE CREEK, Mich. -- Kellogg Co. has debuted several items specifically aimed at the growing number of health-conscious consumers. For example, the line extensions in the company's Frosted Flakes and Froot Loops cereals have one-third...

New from Reckitt Benckiser.(Merchandising)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... PARSIPPANY, N.J. -- Reckitt Benckiser has developed two innovative products--one for personal use and the other for use in bathrooms. A women's hair-removal product includes a gel cream in a 5.07-ounce spray dispenser and a unique bladeless...

What works the day after.(Merchandising)("morning after" pill)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- One product that has developed into something of a flashpoint for controversy in the family planning market is emergency contraception, the "morning after" pill. Last December the Food and Drug Administration advisory panel...

Mainstays' potential a sure thing.(Family Planning)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- Condoms rank as the top sales performer in the overall family planning category in mass market retail chains, with combined volume through the food, drug and discount store trade classes growing at an annual rate of about 3.8%,...

Sexually active boomers change rules of game.(Merchandising)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- The family planning category is growing in mass market retail channels, stretching its boundaries to overlap such related product segments as feminine hygiene, home diagnostics and health and wellness. The category's evolution...

Test kits good fit for chains.(Family Planning)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- While products intended to help consumers avoid unwanted pregnancies make up the largest portion of the family planning category, items designed to help users plan and manage desired pregnancies comprise an important segment. ...

Menopause: a need to know.(Merchandising)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- For many women sexual dysfunction and related problems coincide with the onset of menopause. However, two out of three American women do not visit their doctors to discuss menopause symptoms, and even those that do wait an average...

'Simplicity' delivers on its promise.(Merchandising)(Arben Bioscience Inc.)(home pregnancy test kit)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- The expanding family planning market has been capturing the attention of an increasing number of suppliers recently, some of which are introducing innovative products to the category. One such item that is just moving into...

There's a big market beyond birth control.(Merchandising)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- As the boundaries of the family planning category have broadened, so too has the range of products being offered to address other aspects of sexual health and well-being. Demographers say it is a trend that is likely to increase in...

The problem is how to reach the target customer.(Hispanic Report)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- With Hispanics now the largest minority in the United States at upwards of 39 million, their power in the marketplace is no longer news to most consumer goods marketers. With an annual purchasing power estimated at $630 billion, His...

Younger generation is logging on in greater numbers.(Merchandising)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- Marketers who believe that Hispanics cannot be reached online may be making a mistake. A recent study by comScore Media Metrix estimates that there currently are about 12.5 million Hispanics using the Internet, a 25% increase...

Hispanic population grows, spreads out.(Merchandising)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- Hispanics have become the No. 1 minority in the United States and it is a position they are not going to relinquish any time soon. Hispanics' growth in recent years has virtually quadrupled that of the country's population as a...

Thalia at Kmart gets rave reviews.(Hispanic Report)
May 3, 2004... TROY, Mich. -- One of the keys to Kmart Corp.'s revival, its executives have said, will be broadening its consumer base through a concerted effort to attract ethnic shoppers. One of the most visible steps in that regard has been the...

Latin star signs on at Hershey.(Merchandising)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... HERSHEY, Pa. As one of the latest consumer product companies to reach out to the rapidly growing Hispanic market, Hershey Foods Corp. has signed the Latina pop star Thalia Sodi--more often known simply as Thalia--to help market its products....

Retailers find ways to say 'welcome' to Hispanics.(Merchandising)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- With the heightened media attention that followed the release of the 2000 Census, it is no surprise that retailers are responding to the opportunities presented by Hispanic shoppers. Supermarket operators, in particular, in a number...

Market dynamics deserve more study.(Hispanic Report)
May 3, 2004... PHOENIX -- As current demographic trends indicate, the Latino population in the United States is poised for significant and rapid growth. For retailers and suppliers alike this growth represents both a challenge and an opportunity. To meet...

Brand names hold sway in beauty care.(Merchandising)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- Beauty care is generally a business in which branded products wield the most clout with consumers, and that is just as true among Hispanics as it is in the general market. At least one study reports that 55% of Hispanics polled...

Salon products find a place.(Merchandising)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- Like many beauty care segments, hair care is an important product segment to Hispanic women, and it is attracting new players. According to ACNielsen, category household penetration in Los Angeles Hispanic households tracked by...

Different tastes, different palates.(Hispanic Report)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- Recent research from a variety of sources has shown that Hispanics' food-purchasing patterns make them a dream come true for food retailers. As a result, not only domestic food processors but also distributors and manufacturers are...

A revisionist view of the shopper.(Merchandising; Hispanic Americans)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- Consultants and market researchers who track the background and behavior of Hispanic consumers typically stress the distinctive characteristics of that customer segment. Their recommendations tend to stress the need to establish...

Advertising to Hispanics should be beefed up.(Merchandising)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- Since 2000 advertising aimed at Hispanic consumers has grown four times faster than advertising for the general market, a recent report shows. According to a study released last month by the Association of Hispanic Advertising...