Mass Market Retailers articles from May 2009

Mass Market Retailers archives from May 2009

Two get NACDS awards.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
May 18, 2009... TWO GET NACDS AWARDS: Former Rite Aid Corp. executive James Mastrian received the Sheldon W. Fantle Lifetime Achievement Award, and onetime Del Laboratories Inc. executive Harvey Alstodt was given the Robert B. Begley Award at the NACDS Annual...

BJ's eyes Pittsburgh.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
May 18, 2009... BJ'S EYES PITTSBURGH: BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. is looking to enter the Pittsburgh market, published reports say. According to the Pittsburgh Business Times, the retailer has contacted at least six real estate firms in the area to inquire about...

Bruno's sells stores.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
May 18, 2009... BRUNO'S SELLS STORES: Bruno's Supermarkets LLC has agreed to sell 56 stores to Southern Family Markets Acquisitions II LLC, an affiliate of C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. Under the terms of the $45.8 million agreement, Southern Family will get 31...

Walgreens summit.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
May 18, 2009... WALGREENS SUMMIT: Walgreen Co. and some of its largest pharmaceutical suppliers met with more than 100 minority- and women-owned businesses earlier this month to discuss ways they could enhance their relationships. "This event is the difference...

Shopko execs rise.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
May 18, 2009... SHOPKO EXECS RISE: Shopko Stores Inc. has promoted Mike Bettiga to the post of executive vice president and chief operating officer, while Jill Soltau has been named executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. Bettiga has been...

Filene's in Chapter 11.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
May 18, 2009... FILENE'S IN CHAPTER 11: Filene's has filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. As part of its reorganization, the company plans to sell 17 of its 25 stores to the real estate investment firm Crown Acquisitions Inc.

Three GMMs exit Walgreens.
May 18, 2009... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Three veteran Walgreen Co. executives have left the company. They are Bill Hubbs, divisional vice president and general merchandise manager for seasonal and sundries; Arnie Silver, divisional vice president and general...

Herkert gets nod as CEO at Supervalu.(NEWS)
May 18, 2009... EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Supervalu Inc. has named former Wal-Mart Stores Inc. executive Craig Herkert its next chief executive officer. The 49-year-old Herkert, who had been president and CEO of the Americas at Wal-Mart since 2004, will...

Target strikes back.(SPOTLIGHT)
May 18, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MINNEAPOLIS -- On the eve of Target Corp.'s May 28 annual meeting, it is becoming increasingly apparent that William Ackman, the activist investor who is challenging several of the retailer's policies and positions,...

Sears" goal "is not just survival, it's progress'.
May 18, 2009... HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. is betting that even if consumers continue to make most of their purchases in brick-and-mortar stores, they will make more and more of their purchasing decisions online. Sears chairman Edward...

April retail sales provide some reason for optimism.(NEWS)
May 18, 2009... NEW YORK -- Retail sales showed signs of recovery in April, thanks to Easter's calendar shift. However, most of the resurgence came from one company: Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Overall retail sales for the month grew 1.2%, but without Wal-Mart,...

Wal-Mart alters wellness team.(NEWS)
May 18, 2009... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has promoted Jason Reiser to senior category director for its wellness team. Reiser has been with Wal-Mart for more than 13 years, and served most recently as senior buyer for health and wellness at...

Safeway trims earnings forecast, store remodel plans.(NEWS)
May 18, 2009... PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Safeway Inc. has scaled back its 2009 earnings outlook and store plans after reporting sizable sales and profit declines in the first quarter. The supermarket company now projects earnings of $2.10 to $2.30 per...

NACDS restructuring continues.(NEWS)(National Association of Chain Drug Stores)(Brief article)
May 18, 2009... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has announced the next phase of its 1,000-day plan to refocus and realign member programs, starting with a staff reorganization. "The objective of the plan is for NACDS to...

NRF, RILA to merge; Mullin plans to retire.(NEWS)(Tracy Mullin to quit National Retail Federation)(Retail Industry Leaders Association)(Brief article)
May 18, 2009... WASHINGTON -- The National Retail Federation (NRF) and the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) plan to merge. Terms of the agreement, announced late last month, are pending, according to the NRF and RILA. Each group's board must...

No. 2 on Fortune 500.(WAL-MART NEWS)
May 18, 2009... NO. 2 ON FORTUNE 500: After topping the Fortune 500 list of the largest publicly traded companies for six out of seven years, Wal-Mart has fallen to second place behind Exxon Mobil Corp. The oil company's 2008 revenue of $443 billion beat...

Fresh food mix test.(WAL-MART NEWS)
May 18, 2009... FRESH FOOD MIX TEST: Wal-Mart has been piloting an expanded fresh food mix at a discount store in White Plains, N.Y. Management calls the experiment a single-store test, but UBS Investment Research analyst Neil Currie says more perishables...

Discounted scripts.(WAL-MART NEWS)
May 18, 2009... DISCOUNTED SCRIPTS: Wal-Mart is offering Michigan residents 90-day generic prescriptions by mail for $10. Any resident can fill a script for any of 300 generic drugs covered by the program by calling a toll-free number. "Now, regardless of...

Less branded water.(WAL-MART NEWS)
May 18, 2009... LESS BRANDED WATER: Wal-Mart apparently reduced shelf space for the bottled water brands of Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo Inc. starting in April. The discounter cut space for Coca-Cola's Dasani and PepsiCo's Aquafina by up to 50% each, according to...

Supplier diversity.(WAL-MART NEWS)
May 18, 2009... SUPPLIER DIVERSITY: Wal-Mart expanded its business with minority- and women-owned companies by more than 25% percent in 2008. In the midst of a struggling economy, in which businesses across the country have been forced to close or drastically...

CVS Caremark in midst of bringing longs into the fold.
May 18, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- As CVS Caremark Corp. proceeds with the process of assimilating the recently acquired outlets of Longs Drug Stores, the company has access to a plethora of capabilities that are unprecedented in...

Offerings continue to resonate with consumers.(CVS Caremark Corp.)(Financial report)
May 18, 2009... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS Caremark is quite pleased with its fourth quarter 2008 earnings results, according to Tom Ryan, the company's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We posted industry-leading retail same-store sales...

Period of revitalization precedes the sale of longs.(NEWS/CVS CAREMARK)(Company overview)
May 18, 2009... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- In taking over Longs Drug Stores, CVS Caremark has not only strengthened its position in California and other western states but added one of the industry's most unique regional players to its stable. Founded by...

Acquired stores will take on CVS look, feel.(NEWS/CVS CAREMARK)
May 18, 2009... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS Caremark's acquisition of Longs Drug Stores has added more than 500 large-format units to its already extensive store base. With outlets averaging 22,000 square feet, Longs offered a wide selection of merchandise...

M&As are catalyst for growth.(NEWS/CVS CAREMARK)
May 18, 2009... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS Caremark's acquisition of Longs Drug Stores is the latest in a string of takeovers over the past 20 years that has transformed CVS from a small regional player into a retailing behemoth. The first of those moves...

Deal's benefits extend beyond retail sector.(NEWS/CVS CAREMARK)
May 18, 2009... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS Corp. took the integration of pharmacy benefits management and chain drug retailing to a new level when it acquired Caremark Rx Inc. two years ago. Now the resultant CVS Caremark is absorbing another pharmacy benefits...

New concepts to enter mix.(NEWS/CVS CAREMARK)
May 18, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- The large size of the Longs Drug Stores units gives CVS Caremark the chance to outfit the outlets with innovations ranging from in-store clinics to upscale beauty boutiques. CVS Caremark's...

ExtraCare broadens CVS appeal.(NEWS/CVS CAREMARK)
May 18, 2009... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Among the new benefits available to customers of Longs with its acquisition by CVS Caremark is membership in the ExtraCare frequent shopper program. Last year ExtraCare cardholders received more than $1.8 billion in...

Acquisition bolsters CVS' position in major western markets.(NEWS/CVS CAREMARK)
May 18, 2009... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS Caremark's assimilation of Longs Drug Stores will significantly alter the chain drug landscape across many of the country's western markets as well as in Hawaii. Generally, expansion in the fast-growing western...

The Longs banner will live on in Hawaii.(NEWS/CVS CAREMARK)
May 18, 2009... HONOLULU -- Drug store shoppers in Hawaii will have an expanded selection of products to choose from and additional service offerings when CVS Caremark completes the conversion of the 44 Longs Drug Stores in that state. But in recognition of...

Discounters.(MONEY)
May 18, 2009... DISCOUNTERS Current Previous Close Close % Discounter 4/23/09 3/26/09 Change BJ's 31.65 33.24...

Drug stores.(MONEY)
May 18, 2009... DRUG STORES Current Previous Close Close % Drugstore 4/23/09 3/26/09 Change Amerisource 35.41 ...

Supermarkets.(MONEY)
May 18, 2009... SUPERMARKETS Current Previous Close Close % Supermarket 4/23109 3/26/09 Change A&P 7.19 6.52...

Scoreboard.(MONEY NEWS)(Statistical table)
May 18, 2009... SCOREBOARD Quarter Dollar % RETAILERS ended Sales Change Family Dollar 02/28 1.99 bil +8.7 Fred's (1) 01/31 469.4 mil -5.0 Rite Aid (2) 02/28...

Supervalu announces dividend, notes offering.(MONEY NEWS)
May 18, 2009... SUPERVALU ANNOUNCES DIVIDEND, NOTES OFFERING: Supervalu Inc.'s board of directors has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.1725 per share, payable on June 15 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 1. As of March 31...

Big lots adds unsecured credit facility.(MONEY NEWS)
May 18, 2009... BIG LOTS ADDS UNSECURED CREDIT FACILITY: Big Lots Inc. has signed a new three-year revolving credit facility with a syndicate of 14 banks. The new facility is unsecured and provides a $500 million committed credit line, according to the...

Safeway board boosts dividend.(MONEY NEWS)
May 18, 2009... SAFEWAY BOARD BOOSTS DIVIDEND: Safeway Inc.'s board of directors decided to increase the company's quarterly cash dividend by 21%, to $0.10 per share. The dividend is payable on July 16 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June...

Kroger backs outlook for 2009.(MONEY NEWS)
May 18, 2009... KROGER BACKS OUTLOOK FOR 2009: Kroger Co. backed its previous guidance at the Barclays Capital analysts conference in New York City last month, saying it expects full-year earnings of $2 to $2.05 per share in 2009. Kroger also reiterated that...

Loblaws announces dividend reinvestment plan.(MONEY NEWS)
May 18, 2009... LOBLAWS ANNOUNCES DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN: Seeking to conserve cash and increase its financial flexibility, while giving shareholders a more convenient and affordable way to boost their investment in the company, Loblaw Cos. has announced a...

Improved operations fuel Weis net.(MONEY)
May 18, 2009... SUNBURY, Pa. -- Weis Markets, Inc. saw first quarter net income rebound from depressed prior-year levels in the face of modest top-line growth. Net income for the 154-store East Coast chain surged 82.4% to $16.5 million for the 13 weeks...

Rite Aid loss widens.(SPOTLIGHT)
May 18, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. saw its loss climb to $2.92 billion, or $3.49 per share, for the year ended February 28 in the wake of a noncash charge of $1.81 billion, or $2.10 per share, booked in the fourth...

Dollar gen. gets back into black.(MONEY)
May 18, 2009... GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. -- The deepening economic crisis at the close of last year only spelled opportunity for Dollar General Corp., as the extreme-value retailer finished a resoundingly successful fiscal 2008 by reversing a prior-year loss,...

Less red ink foreseen.(MONEY)(Financial report)
May 18, 2009... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid expects its net loss for fiscal 2010 to narrow from the huge $2.92 billion, or $3.49 per share, set in fiscal 2009 to a range of $210 million, or 26 cents per share, to $435 million, or 53 cents. Revenue is...

Associations as critical as ever.(OPINION)
May 18, 2009... Retail trade associations have been much in the news of late. Some examples: * The National Association of Chain Drug Stores, under pressure from its board to cut costs, announced a reduction of some 15 staffers, most notably the...

Wal-Mart vs. Target: one kid's view.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)(Viewpoint essay)
May 18, 2009... Hi! I'm Sophia. I'm here to compare and contrast Walmart and Target. You might be thinking what a kid like me would know about business, and you could be right, so read my article and find out. For the purpose of this article I visited one...

Promotion marks BIC Cristal pen's golden anniversary.(SUPPLY SIDE)(BIC USA Inc. BIC Consumer Products Div.)(Brief article)
May 18, 2009... SHELTON, Conn. -- BIC Consumer Products USA is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its BIC Cristal pen with a promotion involving pens that write with gold-colored ink. Beginning in June, the company will sell the iconic clear-barreled...

Sierra mist soft drink.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
May 18, 2009... SIERRA MIST SOFT DRINK: PepsiCo Inc. has announced plans to introduce this spring Sierra Mist Ruby Splash, a ruby grapefruit--flavored line extension of its lemon/lime soft drink. It will be offered in regular and diet versions. PepsiCo Inc.,...

Mason natural tea.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
May 18, 2009... MASON NATURAL TEA: Mason Vitamins Inc. has launched Mason Natural Instant Green Tea powder packets and Green Tea Shot capsules. The packets come in two formulas--Japanese Green Tea Digestion and Japanese Green Tea Antioxidant. The capsules...

Sof n'free n'pretty.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)(M and M Products Company Inc.)(Brief article)
May 18, 2009... SOF N'FREE N'PRETTY: M&M Products Co. has announced plans to introduce this spring a new olive and sunflower oil combination to products in its Sof n'free n'pretty ethnic hair care line for girls ages 5 to 12. The products include Sof n'free...

Children's oral care.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
May 18, 2009... CHILDREN'S ORAL CARE: Church & Dwight Co. has introduced Baby Orajel Tooth & Gum Cleanser, a fluoride-free product, and Orajel Toddler Training Toothpaste, for children ages 18 months to 4 years. Church & Dwight Co., 469 N Harrison St.,...

Whirlpool Affresh kit.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
May 18, 2009... WHIRLPOOL AFFRESH KILO. Whirlpool Corp. has introduced the Affresh washer cleaning kit with Power Puck tablets and Grit Grabber cloths to improve the removal and prevention of odor-causing residue. Whirlpool Corp., 2000 N. M-63, Benton Harbor,...

PL Raises Its Profile.(SPOTLIGHT)
May 18, 2009... NEW YORK -- Store brands are enjoying a renaissance, in part because they offer consumers a way to save money during these challenging economic times. But what is perhaps more significant for the long-term performance of such lines,...

Single-use toothbrush introduced.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 18, 2009... NEW YORK -- Colgate-Palmolive Co. has introduced a disposable, single-use toothbrush designed for on-the-go brushing and breath freshening. The Colgate Wisp measures about 3 1/2 inches in length, with a brush head on one end and a soft...

Kimberly-Clark items go green.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 18, 2009... DALLAS -- Kimberly-Clark Corp. is wooing consumers concerned about the environment with greener versions of some of its most popular products. The company recently launched Huggies Pure & Natural diapers, which it bills as offering...

Vagisil lineup extended by Combe.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 18, 2009... WHITE PLAINS -- Combe Inc. has introduced Vagisil Satin, a cream that addresses the symptoms of vulvovaginitis. The company notes that an article in the Journal of Urgent Care states that vulvovaginitis is responsible for about 10 million...

For many shoppers, beauty products nonnegotiable.(WOMEN'S BEAUTY)
May 18, 2009... NEW YORK -- While 2008 was a tough year for the beauty industry as a whole, the mass market sector has weathered the economic downturn better than the prestige segment. The outlook for mass, moreover, is brighter. Different studies suggest that...

Antiaging treatments retain hold on users.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 18, 2009... CHICAGO -- Baby boomers in search of a cosmetic fountain of youth are driving the ongoing sales growth of antiaging skin care items. And the trend is unlikely to weaken as more and more boomers approach senior status. According to market...

Mass retailers of all kinds tinker with offerings.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 18, 2009... NEW YORK -- The economy may be forcing many consumers to concentrate on nondiscretionary purchases, but a few retailers are aggressively exploring ways they can boost their beauty business now and going forward. For instance, Target Corp....

Eve cosmetics still pacesetters.(WOMEN'S BEAUTY)
May 18, 2009... NEW YORK -- Prestige beauty products may be suffering in the downturn, but the economy has been a boon to much of the mass market cosmetics business. Data from Information Resources Inc. (IRI) for the 12 weeks ended March 22, composed of...

As spas suffer, nail care rebounds.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 18, 2009... NEW YORK -- With fewer women indulging themselves with trips to the spa, nail care is experiencing a comeback in the mass market. According to Information Resources Inc. (IRI), the main drivers have been nail polish, the biggest segment;...

Value-brand makeup wins as 'econo chic'.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 18, 2009... NEW YORK -- While mass market beauty care in general is doing well in a down economy, some well-known value cosmetics brands seem to be doing particularly well. The joy has not been universal, though. Last month Jane & Co. filed for...

Skin care energized by therapeutic items.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 18, 2009... NEW YORK -- While antiaging products have been the hottest story in skin care, items that deliver therapeutic benefits are winning favor with consumers. One company riding that trend is University Medical Pharmaceuticals Corp. The...

Hot hair care items have what it takes.(WOMEN'S BEAUTY)
May 18, 2009... NEW YORK -- Although cosmetics and skin care have benefited from consumers trading down, mass market hair care continues to lag. One general market standout has been Alberto Culver Co.'s TRESemme brand, which has consistently outperformed....

Intros aim to rejuvenate fragrance.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 18, 2009... NEW YORK -- The mass market women's fragrance business continues to languish, but new entries continue to debut and are bringing freshness to a category that was struggling even before the economy took a nosedive. In addition, some...

Even in tough times, candy's appeal undiminished.(CANDY)
May 18, 2009... NEW YORK -- Sales trends appear to support the idea that the candy sector is recession-resistant, if not recession-proof. Retail sales of candy and gum totaled about $28 billion in 2008, according to the National Confectioners Association...

Expo promises to be all about what's new.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 18, 2009... CHICAGO--Showcasing the latest products is the aim of this year's All Candy Expo, which will be held May 19 through May 21 at the McCormick Place convention center here. "The 2009 Expo is all about new," said event chairman Tom Joyce, who...

Seasonal sales run into obstacles.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 18, 2009... NEW YORK -- The positive growth the confectionery industry enjoyed in 2008 was due to everyday candy sales. Seasonal candy sales, which account for nearly 25% of the business, fell for the year. The National Confectioners Association (NCA)...

Promos help whet the appetite.(CANDY)
May 18, 2009... NEW YORK -- Promotions can play an important role in boosting candy industry sales, and suppliers are doing what they can to raise the visibility of their products in order to promote consumer purchases. Hershey Co., for example, is...

Retail circulars give prominent place to candy.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 18, 2009... NEW YORK -- Candy literally promotes itself when displayed at the checkstand, generating incremental sales. But retailers also use their circulars to remind consumers to stock up by visiting the candy aisle. A recent Hy-Vee Food Stores Inc....

Shifts in flavors, ingredients ensure variety.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 18, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- New flavors and ingredients are being showcased in the latest generation of candy products headed for mass retail store shelves. Based on research suggesting that consumers have developed a nostalgic...

Cadbury embraces Fairtrade trend.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 18, 2009... LONDON -- Cadbury PLC will receive Fairtrade certification for its Cadbury Dairy Milk products in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The move is part of an effort to help secure economic, social and environmental sustainability for cocoa...

Health-conscious consumers fuel sales.(DIET & NUTRITION)
May 18, 2009... NEW YORK -- Scientific debate over the efficacy of vitamins and nutritional supplements may continue, but consumers are endorsing the products with their wallets, even in the current troubled economic environment. In fact, recent media...

A new way to fight iron deficiency.(SUPPLY SIDE)(Alaven Consumer Healthcare Inc.)(Brief article)
May 18, 2009... MARIETTA, Ga. -- Iron deficiency has serious effects on health, and has long been a target of supplements. However, iron supplementation is not simple and straightforward, since it can have side effects. Bifera, a new over-the-counter iron...

Supplements could help prevent AMD.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 18, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- A recent study suggests that combining essential B vitamins with folic acid may lower the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss among older Americans....

GAO: FDA needs more authority.(SUPPLY SIDE)
May 18, 2009... WASHINGTON -- A report issued this spring by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) contended that the Food and Drug Administration lacks adequate authority to ensure the safety of nutritional supplements and food and to educate consumers...

Shoppers Drug Mart, unwilling to rest on its laurels or recent performance.(HEARD AROUND)
May 18, 2009... Shoppers Drug Mart, unwilling to rest on its laurels or recent performance, is searching for a chief operating officer.

In order to cut costs, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores has released some 15 staff members, most notably Fitz Elder.(HEARD AROUND)
May 18, 2009... In order to cut costs, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores has released some 15 staff members, most notably Fitz Elder, the organization's vice president of member services.

Meetings: shows.(TOPICS)(Calendar)
May 18, 2009... MAY 2009 31-June 3--ECRM: International Health and Beauty Care, Hyatt Regency Miami, Miami. JUNE 2009 13-16--GMA: Executive Conference, The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. 14-17--ECRM: Spring Confectionery, Westin...

NACDS in high gear.(SPOTLIGHT)
May 18, 2009... PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The chain drug industry faces tough economic times and political challenges, but the National Association of Chain Drug Stores can help. That was the message at the association's annual meeting here, as chairman Andy...

Level of imports reflects caution.(TOPICS)
May 18, 2009... WASHINGTON -- Import cargo volume at major US. retail container ports improved in March over February's seven-year low, but was still at its lowest level in five years, notes a recent report from the National Retail Federation and IHS Global...

Study analyzes the Green shopper.(TOPICS)
May 18, 2009... WASHINGTON -- Most people say they would consider buying green products but far fewer actually purchase them, according to a new study by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and Deloitte LLP. The report, "Finding the Green in...

Stores connect with "new movers'.(TOPICS)(International Direct Response Inc.)(Brief article)
May 18, 2009... BERWYN, Pa. -- Retailers seeking new customers for their stores can reach out to people just moving into the neighborhood. International Direct Response Inc. (IDR) and Prospect Marketing have developed a program that allows retailers to...

Downturn tests the mettle of mass retailers.(Annual Report)
May 18, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- By far the biggest story in mass market retailing over the past year has been the economy. The intensifying housing crisis in the United States and the unimaginable collapse of some of the pillars of Wall...

New consumer mind-set takes hold.(Annual Report)
May 18, 2009... NEW YORK -- The current recession may continue to impact consumer spending patterns even after it is over, recent reports suggest. McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) reports that between 2000 and 2007 households in the United States nearly...