Mass Market Retailers articles from May 2008

Mass Market Retailers archives from May 2008

Walgreens adds VPS.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
May 5, 2008... WALGREENS ADDS VPS: Walgreen Co. has promoted Kenneth Amos from director to divisional vice president of loss prevention. The company also named William Grayson to the new position of vice president of pharmacy acquisitions. Grayson previously...

Target's upscale line.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
May 5, 2008... TARGET'S UPSCALE LINE: Target Corp. is introducing a new line of ecologically friendly apparel. But, in a twist, the clothing will debut not at Target's own stores but at luxury retailer Barneys New York. Target commissioned the exclusive line...

New Safeway alliance.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
May 5, 2008... NEW SAFEWAY ALLIANCE: Safeway Inc. has formed what it calls the Better Living Brands alliance to market the retailer's O Organics and Eating Right brands through other retail channels in the United States. As a result, the brands will be sold...

Consumers downbeat.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Survey)(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... CONSUMERS DOWNBEAT: Consumer confidence fell for the third straight month in April, according to a Reuters/University of Michigan survey. The score of 62.6 (down from 69.5 in March) is the lowest since March 1982 and reflects concerns about...

Kroger's diverse aims.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
May 5, 2008... KROGER'S DIVERSE AIMS: Kroger Co. has named former Goya Foods executive Angel Colon multicultural development chief, with responsibility for fine-tuning the retailer's products to appeal to a diverse customer base.

Food safety initiative.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
May 5, 2008... FOOD SAFETY INITIATIVE: Nearly 40 retailers have joined the "Be Food Safe" initiative, which urges stores to use in-store signs and displays to educate their shoppers about food safety in order to fight food-borne illness.

Tax rebates set to bolster sales.(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Federal tax rebates will give retail sales a significant boost during the next two quarters, according to TNS Retail Forward, a management consulting and market research firm. TNS estimates that households will spend as...

NACDS goes on the offensive.(SPOTLIGHT)
May 5, 2008... PALM BEACH, Fla. -- With a presidential election only months away, the chain drug industry may well be facing a defining moment, said Steven Anderson, president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, at...

Hammonds will retire from FMI.(Tim Hammonds)(Food Marketing Institute)(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... ARLINGTON, Va. -- Tim Hammonds is stepping down from his position as president and chief executive officer of the Food Marketing Institute. Hammonds will retire from the organization as soon as his successor is found, according to FMI...

More fresh & easy units are slated for Las Vegas.
May 5, 2008... LAS VEGAS -- Despite a three-month hiatus in store openings, Tesco PLC's Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market chain is already talking about its next phase of growth. The retailer recently announced the locations of an additional 10 stores it...

Diversity is a strength for A&P.(Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company Inc.)(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- A&P is focusing on stores aimed at price-sensitive shoppers as part of a new format-driven strategy. Executive chairman Christian Haub detailed the approach at Lehman Bros.' 11th Annual Retail and Restaurant conference here. A&P...

Aldi prepares central Florida debut.(NEWS)
May 5, 2008... BATAVIA, Ill. -- Aldi, the limited-assortment discount food chain, has disclosed the locations of the 13 stores that will serve as its first wave of expansion in Central Florida. The stores, set to open from September through November,...

Weis ups investment in its future growth.(NEWS)
May 5, 2008... SUNBURY, Pa. -- Weis Markets Inc. plans to boost capital expenditures by about 23% in the next 12 months, according to vice chairman Jonathan Weis. "For the coming year we plan to invest nearly $80 million in our growth," Weis told...

New officers elected by NACDS.(NEWS)
May 5, 2008... PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A new group of officers was elected at the recent annual meeting of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores here. In addition, two former Walgreen Co. executives were honored with the group's highest awards. David...

Free check cashing.(WAL-MART NEWS)
May 5, 2008... FREE CHECK CASHING: Wal-Mart says it will cash economic stimulus checks for free with no purchase required and will also refund the purchase fee on its Wal-Mart MoneyCard when any portion of the check is placed on the card. The retailer also...

Bottom-line bonuses.(WAL-MART NEWS)
May 5, 2008... BOTTOM-LINE BONUSES: Wal-Mart has announced that through various financial incentives it shared almost $1.2 billion with hourly associates working in its stores in the United States for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2008. The company spent...

Fashion brand focus.(WAL-MART NEWS)
May 5, 2008... FASHION BRAND FOCUS: Despite Wal-Mart's assurances that it would return to selling basic clothing alter its disappointing foray into upscale fashion last year, the retailer has been striking deals with brand name designers and apparel,...

Electronics for cash.(WAL-MART NEWS)
May 5, 2008... ELECTRONICS FOR CASH: Sam's Club has launched ecoNEW, an online electronics recycling service that allows members to get rid of unwanted small-to-medium electronics items. Customers may trade in their older electronics products for a gift card,...

BPA baby bottles out.(WAL-MART NEWS)
May 5, 2008... BPA BABY BOTTLES OUT: Wal-Mart has said it will stop selling baby bottles made with the chemical additive bisphenol A (BPA) early next year in its stores in the United States. The move followed a report released by the U.S. National Toxicology...

Capex goal on target.(WAL-MART NEWS)
May 5, 2008... CAPEX GOAL ON TARGET: Wal-Mart treasurer Charles Holley says the company is confident that it can stay within its current fiscal year capital expenditure plan of $13.5 billion to $15.2 billion.

Rite Aid sees red ink spread.(SPOTLIGHT)(Financial report)
May 5, 2008... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. posted huge losses for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2008 as a result of a big, noncash income tax charge and heavy acquisition-related expenses. Adjusted EBITDA, on the other hand, grew more than 37% in both...

A year of milestones for Supervalu.(MONEY)
May 5, 2008... MINNEAPOLIS -- Net earnings for both the fourth quarter and 2008 fiscal year soared more than 30% at Supervalu Inc., thanks in part to cost-reduction efforts and lower interest expenses. Results for the year reflect a full 52 weeks of...

Scoreboard.(MONEY NEWS)(Statistical table)
May 5, 2008... SCOREBOARD Quarter Dollar % RETAILERS ended Sales Change Burlington 03/01 $987.1 mil 0 Family Dollar (1) 03/01 1.83 bil -5.9...

Costco boosts its quarterly dividend.(MONEY NEWS)
May 5, 2008... COSTCO BOOSTS ITS QUARTERLY DIVIDEND: The board of directors of Costco Wholesale Corp. has approved an increase of the company's quarterly dividend to 16 cents per share from 14.5 cents per share. The increased dividend will be payable May 30...

Walgreens completes tender offer for I-Trax.(MONEY NEWS)
May 5, 2008... WALGREENS COMPLETES TENDER OFFER FOR I-TRAX: Walgreen Co.'s wholly owned subsidiary, Putter Acquisition Sub Inc., has successfully completed its tender offer for all of the outstanding common and preferred shares of I-Trax Inc.

Biggest gainers.(MONEY)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... BIGGEST GAINERS Close Change % Stock 04/025/08 vs. 03/28/08 Change Dillard's 21.18 + 4.45 + 26.6 Kohl's 50.65 +...

Biggest losers.(MONEY)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... BIGGEST LOSERS Close Change % Stock 04/25/08 vs. 03/28/08 Change Cost Plus 2.94 - 0.40 - 12.0 Rite Aid 2.60 -...

Most active.(MONEY)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... MOST ACTIVE Vol. (000) As a % Change vs. 1 Wk. Ended of Total 1 Wk. Ended Stock 04/025/08 Shares 03/28/08 Sysco 18,831 ...

Another loss expected in fiscal 2009.(MONEY)(Financial report)
May 5, 2008... CAMP HILL Pa. -- Following a disappointing fiscal 2008, Rite Aid management is forecasting a net loss of $260 million to $375 million, or 34 cents to 48 cents per share, for fiscal 2009. The predicted shortfall went far beyond the...

Earnings outlook remains bullish.(MONEY)
May 5, 2008... MINNEAPOLIS -- With its fiscal 2008 on the books, Supervalu has affirmed the preliminary earnings guidance for fiscal 2009 that it issued on March 3. The company expects earnings per diluted share (on a GAAP basis) to fall within a range of...

A model that works.(OPINION)
May 5, 2008... The speeches delivered by the leaders of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores at the organization's recent Annual Meeting were notable for the force of the arguments they made for the centrality of community pharmacy in health care. In...

FMI has chance to recast itself.(OPINION)
May 5, 2008... The quality of the person running a trade association makes a critical difference in the effectiveness of that organization, as important a difference as the caliber of the executive in charge of a business. In just 15 months as president...

More consumers are trimming their sails.(OPINION)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- Rising gasoline prices and worries about the economy are starting to reshape consumer shopping behavior, two recent studies suggest. A study by Nielsen Co. found that consumers devoted 12% to 16% of their weekly budgets to...

Tesco's record year.(SPOTLIGHT)
May 5, 2008... LONDON -- Tesco PLC answered recent negative speculation about the health of its business by reporting record sales and profits for the year. Tesco's underlying profit (before taxes) for the fiscal year ended February 23 was 2.8 billion [pounds...

Ahold agrees to sell stake in Schuitema.(GLOBAL)
May 5, 2008... AMSTERDAM -- Ahold NV has agreed to sell its 73% stake in the Netherlands grocery chain Schuitema NV to the United Kingdom-based private equity firm CVC Capital Partners for 185 million euros ($293 million) in cash, real estate and 58 Schuitema...

Investment firm increases its holdings in Carrefour.(GLOBAL)
May 5, 2008... PARIS -- Carrefour SA maintains that its strategy remains unchanged despite the announcement by Blue Capital last month that it had increased its ownership stake in Carrefour to 10.7% from 9.1%. Blue Capital is now the largest individual...

A&P Canada campaign.(GLOBAL NEWS)(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... A&P CANADA CAMPAIGN: Metro Inc.'s A&P Canada unit has launched the "Leave it Greener" campaign, aimed at boosting environmental awareness among shoppers. Customers at the retailer's A&P, Dominion, Ultra Food & Drug, The Barn and Loeb stores...

Trust-Mart COO out.(GLOBAL NEWS)
May 5, 2008... TRUST-MART COO OUT: Meng Yongming has resigned as chief operating officer at Trust-Mart after one year in the position. A longtime executive with Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Meng became COO at Trust-Mart when Wal-Mart acquired a 35% stake in the...

Tesco's carbon test.(GLOBAL NEWS)
May 5, 2008... TESCO'S CARBON TEST: Tesco PLC is testing a program that will let customers know the carbon footprint of some of the products it sells. The initial program will list the greenhouse gas emissions generated to produce a single serving of 20...

Loblaws profit rises.(GLOBAL NEWS)(Financial report)
May 5, 2008... LOBLAWS PROFIT RISES: Although Canadian food retailer Loblaw Cos. reported that its first quarter profits increased 14.8% to $62 million (Canadian), that figure fell short of analysts' expectations. Loblaws officials had announced earlier that...

Metro mulls spin-off.(GLOBAL NEWS)
May 5, 2008... METRO MULLS SPIN-OFF: German retailer Metro AG is reportedly considering a partial spin-off of its Media Market-Saturn chain of consumer electronics stores. The chain is also considering cross-border acquisitions, according to a report in the...

Ito-Yokado in Beijing.(GLOBAL NEWS)(Hua Tang Yokado Commercial Co.)(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... ITO-YOKADO IN BEIJING: Ito-Yokado Co.'s Chinese subsidiary, Hua Tang Yokado Commercial Co., plans to open three supermarkets in Beijing and one in Chengdu, Sichuan province, this year. The move will give the company 10 stores in Beijing and...

Wal-Mart sets expansion in Brazil.(GLOBAL)
May 5, 2008... SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. says it intends to branch out into electronic commerce in Brazil in the second half of this year. Hector Nunez, Wal-Mart Brazil's chief executive officer, regards e-commerce as a key part of the...

O-T-Cs poised to make headway in allergy category.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- A recent study by NielsenHealth, a Nielsen Co. service focused on health care, suggests that O-T-C medications are likely to pose a challenge to the prescription allergy market. The finding was the result of a NielsenHealth...

Village Naturals.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
May 5, 2008... VILLAGE NATURALS: The Village Co. has introduced Village Naturals Green, a line of natural and eco-friendly personal care products. The collection consists of 10 items, including Foaming BodyWash, Hand & Body Lotion and Shampoo & Conditioner....

Liquid Softgel line.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
May 5, 2008... LIQUID SOFTGEL LINE: Pharmavite LLC's Nature Made brand has introduced Nature Made Liquid Softgel, a product line of six easy-to-swallow liquid softgels. Specially formulated for easy absorption, the supplements contain no artificial flavors or...

Mike and Ike candy.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
May 5, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MIKE AND IKE CANDY: Just Born Inc. has introduced Mike and Ike Lemonade Blends candy--a five-flavor mix of Lemonade, Raspberry Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade, Lime Lemonade and Tangerine Lemonade--for a limited time....

Bissell Little Green.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
May 5, 2008... BISSELL LITTLE GREEN: Bissell Homecare Inc. has introduced the Little Green carpet cleaner, a compact, multipurpose deep-cleaning machine. Designed to reduce waste and help protect the environment, the Little Green cleaner uses its powerful...

PL outgrows me-too mentality.(SPOTLIGHT)(private label products)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- Innovation and creativity are the key ingredients needed to drive further growth of private label products, says Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) president Brian Sharoff. He and other speakers at the recent PLMA Annual...

Frito-Lay unveils low-salt snacks.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 5, 2008... PIANO, Texas -- PepsiCo Inc.'s Frito-Lay North America business unit has launched Pinch of Salt, a low-sodium version of Lays, Ruffles, Tostitos and Fritos snack chip brands. Pinch of Salt is part of Frito-Lays health and wellness...

ThermiPaq subject of new campaign.(SUPPLY SIDE)(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Thermionics Corp. launched a marketing program last month to support its ThermiPaq Hot & Cold Pads with promotions in print, on radio and on television. ThermiPaq therapeutic pads may be heated in a microwave or cooled...

Product of the Year program comes to U.S.(SUPPLY SIDE)(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- A major contest in which consumer products receive awards based on voting by consumers is making its debut in the United States. The Product of the Year (POY) Awards have expanded to 20 countries since having been launched in...

Getting ready for the next wave.(BEAUTY CARE)
May 5, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- The beauty care business continues to draw customer traffic to mass market outlets as suppliers provide a steady stream of new products and retailers strive to create differentiated assortments, often...

Bath care in need of a spark.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- Bath care remains an important yet under-performing part of mass market retailers' beauty care mix. While sales in the closely related skin care category have soared in recent years, bath products alone have lagged behind. ...

Conditions propitious for value cosmetics.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- With the economy staggering, the value segment of the cosmetics category is assuming greater importance in the mass market. "We're in a general recession and we know our customers' pennies are now being pinched, so value...

Two big chains raising the bar.(BEAUTY CARE)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- Mass market retailers are launching a variety of strategies and initiatives to expand their share of the beauty care business. Two major chains are looking to differentiate themselves by offering prestige beauty care. In...

Accessories complete the picture.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- Beauty care is a huge business, one that goes beyond makeup, hair color and skin care items to include accessories, grooming devices and even storage products. Tweezerman International has not forgotten that beauty is...

Cosmetics intros stir excitement.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- As the weather gets warmer, color cosmetics product launches get hotter, as the leading suppliers bring a plethora of innovative items to mass retail shelves. Partnering with Carmindy, the popular makeup artist of TLC's "What...

Coty makes deal with Halle Berry.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- Coty Inc. has expanded its portfolio of celebrity scents by signing Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry to develop and market her debut fragrance. Berry, who has been a spokesmodel for Revlon Inc. since 1996, mixes...

Trends put skin care in enviable position.(BEAUTY CARE)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- The skin care category has experienced remarkable growth thanks in large part to the aging of the population, but new technologies and formulations are attracting women of all ages. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Inc. (J&J)...

Hair care benefiting from innovation.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- The hair care category may be experiencing tepid sales growth these days, but suppliers are busy introducing new items that should spark shoppers' interest. For example, Newhall Laboratories Inc. and Continental Consumer...

Product intros keep things interesting.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- While the candy category continues to enjoy sales growth driven by iconic brands that have been favorites for generations, new and novel products play an important role in reigniting consumer interest. This spring Mars Inc. is...

A story of diversity, dynamism.(CANDY)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- Retail sales of candy in the United States grew 3.5% to $29.1 billion in 2007, according to the National Confectioners Association (NCA). Sales of candy at food, drug and discount stores (excluding those operated by Wal-Mart...

Mars to buy Wrigley for $23 bil.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 5, 2008... MCLEAN, Va. -- With financing help from Warren Buffett, Mars Inc. has agreed to acquire Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. for approximately $23 billion. Under the terms of the deal, which has been approved by the boards of both companies, Wrigley will become...

Holidays always good for the candy business.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- Seasonal merchandising remains a key driver of sales in the mass retail candy business, according to the National Confectioners Association (NCA). The four big seasons for candy sales are, in order of importance, Halloween,...

New All Candy Expo dates create 'win-win situation'.(CANDY)
May 5, 2008... CHICAGO -- The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has shifted its All Candy Expo to May from June, in a move the organization says better reflects the needs of exhibitors and attendees. This year's exposition--billed as the largest...

Chocolate's popularity unrivaled.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- Sales in the various segments of the candy category continue to be mixed as consumers flock toward one particular confection type and away from others. Sales of nonchocolate chewy candy, for instance, increased by 7.4% in the...

Sugarless gum is now pacesetter.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- Chewing gum has been a mainstay at the check-stand for decades. But Americans' concern about their dental health has made sugarless gum the category's growth driver, steadily taking share from regular, or nonsugarless, gum. ...

Indicators point to bright future.(DIET & NUTRITION)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- The broad arena of dietary supplements, a fast-growing segment of the health and wellness industry, shows no sign of slowing down. A number of factors have come into play that are working in the category's favor. As outlined in...

Alternative delivery system thrives.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- Few would dispute the importance of vitamin supplements to people's diets, yet many consumers have difficulty swallowing pills. This may help to explain the robust growth of liquid vitamins and minerals over the last year....

Mineral supplements on rise.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- Mineral supplements, a large category in terms of both dollar and unit sales, are nonetheless seeing substantial growth. There are good health-related reasons for continued consumer interest. Minerals play an important role in...

Shoppers get a helping hand.(DIET & NUTRITION)
May 5, 2008... LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- With many consumers clearly making a shift toward leading a more health-conscious lifestyle, there has been a dramatic increase in new "better for you" products on store shelves. Yet that has been a mixed blessing,...

Weight control tablet sales back in high gear.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- Sales of weight control candy and tablets have continued to grow in the past year as suppliers have struggled to recover from a spate of negative publicity. In particular, the ban on ephedra by the Food and Drug Administration...

Liquids, powders offer new twists.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- Manufacturers have been busily developing innovative nutritional liquid and powdered drinks with the aim of breathing new life into a sizable category. According to data from Information Resources Inc., consumers spent $843...

Ease of use part of the equation.(DIET & NUTRITION)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- Vitamin supplement suppliers have come up with novel ways to help time-pressed consumers maintain a balanced diet. WN Pharmaceuticals Inc. has introduced the Holista brand of natural vitamins and dietary supplements to the...

L'Oreal USA promotion.(PEOPLE NEWS)
May 5, 2008... L'OREAL USA PROMOTION: L'Oreal USA Inc. has promoted David Waldock to the newly created position of senior vice president of business and sales development for the consumer products division, which includes the L'Oreal Paris, Maybelline New...

Pharmavite changes.(PEOPLE NEWS)
May 5, 2008... PHARMAVITE CHANGES: Pharmavite LLC has announced several management changes. Gary Kuchta has been named executive vice president and chief marketing officer. He will lead the company's strategic marketing initiatives and will also be a member...

American greetings.(PEOPLE NEWS)
May 5, 2008... AMERICAN GREETINGS: American Greetings Corp. has announced the retirement of Steve Willensky as senior vice president and executive sales and marketing officer. John Beeder has been appointed to that position. Beeder brings over 20 years...

TABS Group addition.(PEOPLE NEWS)(appointment of Michael Surmeian )(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... TABS GROUP ADDITION: The TABS Group has appointed Michael Surmeian senior consultant. "Michael's experience in consumer goods, along with his knowledge of the TABS Group from previous experience, is extraordinary and will certainly enhance the...

Moves at Nutrition 21.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... MOVES AT NUTRITION 21: Nutrition 21 Inc. has announced the resignation of Paul Intlekofer as chief executive officer and as a director of the company. Gerard Butler and Michael Fink have been elected to serve as interim cochief executive...

Carrado new VP at Winn-Dixie.(PEOPLE)
May 5, 2008... JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. has promoted Jim Carrado to the post of vice president of neighborhood marketing. He continues to report to Dan Portnoy, senior vice president and chief merchandising and marketing officer. In...

Loblaws shake-up.(SPOTLIGHT)
May 5, 2008... TORONTO -- Canada's largest food retailer has revamped its executive ranks as it pursues a turnaround in the face of increased competition. Loblaw Cos. has tapped deputy chairman and Asda Group PLC veteran Allan Leighton to serve as...

Kaufman is promoted by Kroger.(PEOPLE)
May 5, 2008... CINCINNATI -- Calvin Kaufman has been promoted to group vice president of Kroger Co. as well as president of Kroger Manufacturing. He succeeds William Boehm, senior vice president and president of Kroger, who has retired. In his new...

Darrington becomes Tops senior VP, CFO.(PEOPLE)
May 5, 2008... WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. -- Tops Markets LLC has announced that Kevin Darrington has joined the company as senior vice president and chief financial officer. In this position Darrington will be responsible for the direction, control and...