Mass Market Retailers articles from October 2008

Mass Market Retailers archives from October 2008

Fresh & easy expands.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 6, 2008... FRESH & EASY EXPANDS: Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market opened three new stores in Las Vegas, bringing the grocer's store count to 19 in the Las Vegas area. It also announced plans to open an additional six stores in the area this month.

Ralphs execs indicted.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 6, 2008... RALPHS EXECS INDICTED: The United States Attorney's Office in Los Angeles has formally indicted eight current and former executives of Ralphs Grocery Co., including a current vice president of Kroger Co., Ralphs' parent company, for their roles...

Metro banner launch.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... METRO BANNER LAUNCH: The Metro banner launched in Ontario last month with the conversion of six Dominion locations in Toronto. The conversion following Metro Inc.'s acquisition of A&P Canada in 2005. The company says its five grocery banners...

New Shopko apparel.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 6, 2008... NEW SHOPKO APPAREL: Shopko Stores Operating Co. has expanded its offerings in women's apparel to include national brands. Starting last month the retailers began carrying Sag Harbor, Gloria Vanderbilt, Norton McNaughton and Briggs New York.

Winn-Dixie makeovers.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 6, 2008... WINN-DIXIE MAKEOVERS: Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. has completed its 10th store remodel, in Hialeah, Fla., less than 18 months after announcing a plan to refurbish all 521 of its stores.

Radko's Kmart debut.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 6, 2008... RADKO'S KMART DEBUT: Celebrations by Radko is making its debut in Kmart stores this holiday season. The ornament collection is priced under $10.

Rite Aid revamps exec team.(SPOTLIGHT)
October 6, 2008... CAMPHILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. has announced a major shakeup of its upper management ranks after posting a worse-than expected second quarter loss due to its acquired Brooks Eckerd stores. The company consequently cut its full-year financial...

Bottom Dollar sets prototype.
October 6, 2008... MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Bottom Dollar Food, a 27-unit chain that had its start in 2005, has just opened its first prototype store. Food Lion LLC, a division of Delhaize America Inc., developed the Bottom Dollar concept as part of a market...

The battle over longs intensifies.(NEWS)
October 6, 2008... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Federal regulators late last month decided to take a closer look at Walgreen Co.'s unsolicited bid for Longs Drug Stores Corp. According to a Longs spokesman the Federal Trade Commission has asked to see documents...

Wal-Mart takes wraps off Marketside format.
October 6, 2008... PHOENIX -- Two of the world's largest retailers are now facing off in this market with some of their smallest stores. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. was set to unveil its Marketside concept on October 4 (after this issue of MMR went to press). The...

99 cents only stores to pull out of Texas: the company's objective is to help expand, strengthen its core business.(NEWS)
October 6, 2008... CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif. -- Based on an evaluation of its Texas business, 99 cents Only Stores has decided to leave the Texas market, where it has 48 outlets, and to focus on its core markets of California, Arizona and Nevada, where it has 230...

First Aldi units in Florida open.(NEWS)
October 6, 2008... HAINES CITY, Fla. -- Aldi has opened its first 10 central Florida stores, bringing 400 jobs to the area this year and helping to fill a void created by other grocers that exited the market. David Behm, the discount grocer's Haines City...

Smart ID tags for sale.(WAL-MART NEWS)
October 6, 2008... SMART ID TAGS FOR SALE: Wal-Mart has announced that it has made its Smart-i-tags luggage tags available in the luggage departments of its Supercenters nationwide. Approved by the Transportation Security Administration, Smart-i-tags work as...

Prescription partner.(WAL-MART NEWS)
October 6, 2008... PRESCRIPTION PARTNER: Wal-Mart will fill certain prescription drugs for free as part of a pilot program being offered to more than 70,000 Caterpillar Inc. employees, retirees, their spouses and their dependents. Caterpillar negotiated a direct...

Sam's flu prevention.(WAL-MART NEWS)
October 6, 2008... SAM'S FLU PREVENTION: Sam's Club is offering flu shots to members and nonmembers in preparation for the upcoming winter season. As many as 503 Sam's Club locations nationwide will offer flu shots for $20 on select Fridays and Saturdays between...

Role in gun control.(WAL-MART NEWS)
October 6, 2008... ROLE IN GUN CONTROL: Wal-Mart's standards for selling guns have been used as a model for an agreement to stem the flow of illegal guns between New York City and an independent gun merchant, Bob Moates Sports Shop in Midlothian, Va. Moates...

Wal-Mart CSR report.(WAL-MART NEWS)
October 6, 2008... WAL-MART CSR REPORT: Wal-Mart Canada has released its second Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, which covers fiscal 2007. The CSR report includes key performance indicators that were incorporated with help from the nonprofit group...

Scoreboard.(MONEY NEWS)(Statistical table)
October 6, 2008... Quarter Dollar % RETAILERS ended Sales Change AutoZone (1) 08/30 2.2 bil +10.4 Bed Bath & Beyond 08/30 1.9 bil +4.9 Kroger ...

Discounters.(MONEY NEWS)
October 6, 2008... DISCOUNTERS Current Previous Close Close % Discounter 9/22/08 9/8/08 Change BJ's 37.55 41.02 - 8.46 Costco ...

Drug Stores.(MONEY NEWS)
October 6, 2008... DRUG STORES Current Previous Close Close % Drug Store 9/22/08 9/8/08 Change Cardinal Health (1) 49.81 55.32 - 9.96 CVS ...

Supermarkets.(MONEY NEWS)
October 6, 2008... SUPERMARKETS Current Previous Close Close % Supermarket 9/22/08 9/8/08 Change A&P 11.08 13.04 - 15.03 Delhaize...

"Buy" rating maintained for Wal-Mart.(MONEY NEWS)
October 6, 2008... "BUY" RATING MAINTAINED FOR WAL-MART: Lazard Capital Markets managing director Todd Slater has maintained a "buy" rating for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., raising the retailer's target share price to $66 from $59. The chain's August same-store sales...

Kroger declares quarterly dividend.(MONEY NEWS)
October 6, 2008... KROGER DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND: Kroger Co. has announced a quarterly dividend of 9 cents per share to be paid on December 1 to shareholders of record as of November 14.

Sears holdings challenges Fitch downgrade.(MONEY: NEWS)
October 6, 2008... SEARS HOLDINGS CHALLENGES FITCH DOWNGRADE: Sears Holdings Corp. has criticized Fitch Ratings for downgrading its ratings for the company's debt. Given its liquidity, reduced debt levels, history of cash flow generation and available assets,...

CVS Caremark announces dividend.(MONEY NEWS)
October 6, 2008... CVS CAREMARK ANNOUNCES DIVIDEND: CVS Caremark has approved a quarterly dividend of 6.9 cents per share of common stock payable on November 3 to shareholders of record as of October 21.

Rating for Target downgraded to hold.(MONEY NEWS)
October 6, 2008... RATING FOR TARGET DOWNGRADED TO HOLD: Lazard Capital Markets has downgraded its rating for Target Corp. from buy to hold, given the uncertain credit environment, rising delinquencies and continuing margin pressure. Target will keep suffering...

Metro approves quarterly dividend.(MONEY NEWS)
October 6, 2008... METRO APPROVES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND: Metro Inc. has declared a quarterly dividend of 12.5 cents per share on Class A subordinate shares and Class B shares payable on November 18 to shareholders of record as of October 28. The dividend is up 8.7%...

Kroger stays on growth track.(SPOTLIGHT)
October 6, 2008... CINCINNATI -- Net income grew more slowly than sales during the second quarter at Kroger Co. as gross margins declined amid higher fuel sales. Results still exceeded Wall Street's expectations, and the company's stock advanced by 5% on the day...

Net profit projections reaffirmed.(Financial report)
October 6, 2008... CINCINNATI -- Based on first-half results, Kroger management has confirmed its full-year earnings outlook and raised the low end of its identical-store sales projection. The nation's largest supermarket operator now expects identical-store...

Dollar general gets back into the red.(MONEY NEWS)(Financial report)
October 6, 2008... GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. -- With sales booming and gross margin rising, Dollar General Corp. swung to a net profit from a prior-year loss for its fiscal 2008 second quarter and first half. The nation's largest dollar-store operator, privately...

Retail market in flux amid economic woes.(OPINION)
October 6, 2008... Depending on the duration and severity of the economic crisis, a significant realignment in various aspects of retailing is possible. Same-store sales growth is anemic. More shoppers are turning to discounters, dollar store chains and other...

CVS and Walgreens square off.(OPINION)
October 6, 2008... Pepsi-Coke? Wal-Mart-Target? Yankees-Red Sox? Cowboys-Redskins? Florida-Georgia? No. CVS-Walgreens has become the most fiercely contested competitive battle in America today. The stakes are huge, no less than a fight for chain drug store...

Mass marketers may buck trend: consumers are expected to be frugal this season.(OPINION)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- While the outlook for this year's holiday season is dismal for much of the retail industry, mass market operators may well benefit from the pressures bearing on consumers. Two prominent forecasters are predicting the weakest...

Product of the year selection process gets under way.(SUPPLY SIDE)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- Product of the Year has chosen the product finalists for its inaugural program in the United States and plans to unveil the winners at an awards ceremony next January. Competitors for the 2009 Product of the Year USA title...

Kushyfoot socks.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
October 6, 2008... KUSHYFOOT SOCKS: Doris International Inc. has announced plans to expand its Kushyfoot brand to include Mitten Socks designed to be worn with flip-flops. Available in December, Mitten Socks will be offered in such colors as green, blue, yellow...

Bio-Oil skin care.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
October 6, 2008... BIO-OIL SKIN CARE: Union-Swiss Ltd. has released its Bio-Oil skin care product in a larger 4.2-ounce size. The product, formulated to diminish the appearance of scars and stretch marks while also hydrating the skin, sells for a suggested...

Socket pocket item.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
October 6, 2008... SOCKET POCKET ITEM: Perfect Curve Inc. has introduced the Socket Pocket to help keep portable electronic devices organized. It attaches to any standard dual-socket wall plate and offers a place to store small electronic devices while charging...

Tiny Tillia bath line.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
October 6, 2008... TINY TILLIA BATH LINE: Allegro Mfg. Inc. has introduced the Tiny Tillia collection of character-based bath and body products for children. The items, which range in price from $2.99 to $9.99, include Head-To-Toe Foamy Wash, a Bath Book,...

Shopper marketing takes off.(SPOTLIGHT)
October 6, 2008... ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Shopper marketing is exploding, according to a new study conducted by Deloitte Consulting LLP on behalf of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA). Seventy-three percent of consumer packaged goods manufacturers...

TABS inks deal with Unilever.(SUPPLY SIDE)(Unilever United States Inc.)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... SHELTON, Conn. -- TABS Group has been retained by Unilever to provide custom solutions that will help enhance retailer sales and profits through its Total Store Analytics application. Unilever has engaged TABS to focus on health and beauty...

GE camera distribution expanded.(SUPPLY SIDE)
October 6, 2008... TORRANCE, Calif. -- General Imaging, the worldwide exclusive licensee for GE-brand digital cameras, has added Longs Drug Stores Corp. to its list of retail partners. Beginning late this month Longs outlets will stock three GE models: the...

Ornament line hits milestone.(SUPPLY SIDE)
October 6, 2008... CLEVELAND -- American Greetings Corp. is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Carlton Cards Heirloom Ornament Collection with the release of 96 ornaments that reflect how people celebrate relationships. The ornaments were first...

Shoppers respond to the new.(ORAL CARE)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- Oral care is a varied segment that offers many opportunities for mass market retailers. Although oral care is a mature category, suppliers have succeeded in keeping their product lines fresh with a constant infusion of new and...

Oral care goes beyond brushing.(SUPPLY SIDE)
October 6, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Such oral care accessories as flossers and dental picks are essential tools for consumers who take oral hygiene seriously. Keeping such consumers happy makes sense for retailers, according to...

Children get special attention.(SUPPLY SIDE)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- Most parents want to begin teaching good oral hygiene practices to their children when they are very young. Fortunately there is a growing variety of innovative toothbrush and toothpaste products that make their task easier. ...

Natural products strike a chord.(SUPPLY SIDE)(The Natural Dentist Inc.)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- Natural oral care products must perform double duty to satisfy many consumers: They must be as effective as mainstream brands without any sacrifice in taste. The Natural Dentist Inc. made a major stride in this respect in May...

A viable and growing market takes shape.(NATURAL PRODUCTS)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- Natural and organic products have become a big business for mass retailers and their suppliers, and the market is expected to continue growing. Related to that trend is rising consumer interest in products that are better for...

The secret is in the ingredients.(SUPPLY SIDE)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- Yes To Carrots announced the launch of two new product families, Yes To Tomatoes and Yes To Cucumbers, at a press event here. Like the original Yes To Carrots line, the new collections promise to combine ingredients from...

Trend has impact on PL brands.(SUPPLY SIDE)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- The market for organic and natural food is growing, and some mainstream grocery retailers have responded by developing private label lines designed to meet that consumer need while offering better value. Safeway Inc. has been...

Green practices bring rewards.(SUPPLY SIDE)(Nature's Bounty Inc.)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- Consumers who care about the health of the environment want to support companies that share their values, experts say. That represents an opportunity for manufacturers with solid track records of green practices. Nature's...

Knowing the consumer a must.(SUPPLY SIDE)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- One in five consumers in the United States embraces Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS), according to a study released earlier this year by the Nielsen Co. and the Natural Marketing Institute (NMI). Their research...

Consumers respond to the new.(FIRST AID)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- The first aid category is benefiting from new technologies that promise greater efficacy and, in turn, are driving consumer interest in both treatments and devices. Sales growth over the past year has been respectable, if...

PL a big factor in heat, cold packs.(SUPPLY SIDE)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- Heat and ice packs are setting the pace in terms of sales growth in first aid, but branded suppliers are under heavy pressure from private label products, which now account for just over 25% of the market in terms of dollar sales....

Treatment options for scars grow.(SUPPLY SIDE)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- Sear management has caught the attention of consumers as a plethora of suppliers have jumped in with products that promise to shrink sears and improve their appearance. The leading sear-management brand, Mederma from Merz...

Alberto-Culver exec.(PEOPLE NEWS)
October 6, 2008... ALBERTO-CULVER EXEC: Alberto-Culver Co. has appointed Kenneth Keller as president. He will develop and execute strategy for the company's continued growth in the United States, its largest market. Keller comes to the company with over 20 years...

Nickelodeon changes.(PEOPLE NEWS)(appointments by Nickelodeon Kids and Family Games Group)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... NICKELODEON CHANGES: Nickelodeon Kids and Family Games Group has announced several key management appointments. David Bergantino has been named as vice president of premium games production, Shaan Kandawalla as vice president of retail and...

20th century fox.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising Corp. appointed Michael Madnick )(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... 20TH CENTURY FOX: The 20th Century Fox Licensing Merchandising division has named Michael Madnick to the newly created position of executive director of creative production. In this role, he will manage Fox's growing workload of creative...

W.F. Young sales VP.(PEOPLE NEWS)
October 6, 2008... W.F. YOUNG SALES VP: W.F. Young Inc. has appointed Randy Stodard corporate vice president of sales & marketing. He previously held various senior management positions in sales, marketing and new product development at Wyeth Consumer Healthcare....

NARMS International.(PEOPLE NEWS)
October 6, 2008... NARMS INTERNATIONAL: The National Association for Retail Marketing Services (NARMS) International has appointed Charles Fanning to fulfill an unexpired term on the NARMS board of directors. Fanning is vice president of the merchandising service...

'Cleaning up the way we clean'.(SPOTLIGHT)
October 6, 2008... SAN FRANCISCO -- It's not uncommon for an innovative smaller company to shake up a category. But it's much less common to encounter one that seeks to change industry and, perhaps ultimately, the world. However, that's the vision of Adam Lowry,...

Walgreens names Feil chief marketing officer.(PEOPLE)
October 6, 2008... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. has named Kim Fell to the new position of vice president and chief marketing officer, reporting to president Greg Wasson. Feil has 25 years of experience in marketing, sales and strategic planning....

Whole Foods taps Besancon.(PEOPLE)
October 6, 2008... AUSTIN, Texas -- Whole Foods Market has promoted Michael Besancon to the newly created post of senior global vice president of purchasing, distribution and marketing. Besancon had been the company's Southern Pacific regional president. ...

Sears, Kmart fill key posts in marketing.(PEOPLE)
October 6, 2008... HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Sears Holding Corp. has announced the appointment of two executives. Don Hamblen has been named chief marketing officer and vice president of the Sears division. He will report to Richard Gerstein, senior vice...

Duane Reade executive team evolves.(PEOPLE)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- Duane Reade Inc. has announced that Jerry Ray, senior vice president of pharmacy operations, has resigned after 14 years of service. The company has initiated a search to fill his position. In addition the company has added two...

Meetings shows.(TOPICS)(Calendar)
October 6, 2008... OCTOBER 2008 6-7--PLMA: The Liaison on Capitol Hill, Affinia Hotel, Washington, D.C. 14-16--NRF: Human Resources Executives Summit 2008, Chicago. 15-16--NRF: Retail Technology Summit, Berlin. 15-17--ECRM: Hong Kong Direct...

An antitheft coup.(SPOTLIGHT)(StopLift Inc.)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- New computer vision technology may help retailers curtail "sweethearting" losses, an insidious form of theft that accounts for an estimated $13 billion in losses each year. Sweethearting occurs when dishonest cashiers pretend to...

Tax rebates don't spur spending.(TOPICS)(Survey)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- While retailers did their best to get consumers to spend their tax rebate checks people primarily used the extra money to pay bills and add to their savings, according to a Harris Poll. The survey, conducted online...

NARMS joins retail advisory board.(TOPICS)
October 6, 2008... STEVENS POINT, Wis. -- The National Association for Retail Marketing Services (NARMS) International has become a charter member of the Retail Advisory Board of the Center for Retailing Excellence at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The...

CPG players do more with less.(TOPICS)
October 6, 2008... ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Top consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies have managed to do more with less even in a challenging economy, according to the 2008 Customer and Channel Management Survey, released this month by the Grocery Manufacturers...

The latest management changes at Rite Aid.(HEARD AROUND)
October 6, 2008... The latest management changes at Rite Aid, while catching industry people by surprise, were not in themselves surprising.

Costco, which will add Australia to its portfolio.(HEARD AROUND)
October 6, 2008... Costco, which will add Australia to its portfolio, bringing the number of countries where it operates to eight, plans to open its first outlet there in Melbourne next July.

Mass retailers aim to make the world a little greener.(SUSTAINABILITY: Introduction)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- Sustainability is moving into the mainstream as retailers and manufacturers move to cut their carbon emissions and the amount of energy and other resources needed to run their businesses. This MMR special section focuses mainly...

Jewel-Osco unit stakes its claim.(TOPICS)
October 6, 2008... ITASCA, Ill. -- Jewel-Osco has announced that it is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for its first "green" store that opened in Chicago last month. The LEED rating system was developed by the United...

RILA event provides perspective.(TOPICS)(Retail Industry Leaders Association)(Brief article)
October 6, 2008... DALLAS -- Reducing waste, improving energy efficiency and taking care of the environment can help companies thrive, according to speakers at the Retail Industry Leaders Association's (RILA's) recent Environmental Sustainability & Compliance...

Getting consumers to change, one bag at a time.(TOPICS)
October 6, 2008... NEW YORK -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting here last month a commitment to reduce its global plastic shopping bag waste by an average of 33% per store by 2013. If it reaches its goal the...

Wal-Mart takes on 'generation's greatest challenge'.(SUSTAINABILITY: Wal-Mart)
October 6, 2008... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has made a number of changes to its store buildings that, while mostly invisible to customers, add up to a significantly more sustainable operation. Wal-Mart has removed nearly all floor coverings...

'Living laboratories' produce valuable lessons.(TOPICS)
October 6, 2008... LAS VEGAS -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. opened its first environmental demonstration store in June 1993 in Lawrence, Kan. The 120,000-square-foot outlet featured recycling bins, energy-efficient lighting and cooling systems, and roof beams that were...

Sustainability without borders.(TOPICS)
October 6, 2008... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s efforts to make its outlets more sustainable are not limited to the United States. Earlier this year, for example, Wal-Mart de Mexico opened Plaza Ecologica Ciudad Juarez, an environmentally...

Tesco attacks carbon footprint.(SUSTAINABILITY: Tesco)
October 6, 2008... CHESHUNT, England -- Tesco PLC chief executive officer Sir Terry Leahy has described the threat and challenge posed by climate change in remarkably blunt terms. If greenhouse gases, or carbon emissions, are not drastically reduced, the...

Shoppers encouraged to practice recycling.(TOPICS)
October 6, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CHESHUNT, England -- An important part of Tesco's effort to modify consumer behavior and thinking about sustainability involves recycling. Consumers in the United Kingdom have responded enthusiastically to...

Testing process becomes easier.(TOPICS)
October 6, 2008... CHESHUNT, England -- In the course of measuring the carbon footprints of products in the five initial test categories, Tesco PLC learned a great deal about the complexity of such measurements. According to Katherine Symonds, sustainability...

For woolies, sustainability makes good business sense.(SUSTAINABILITY: Woolies)
October 6, 2008... SYDNEY, Australia -- Last year Michael Luscombe, chief executive officer of Woolworths Ltd., Australia's leading retailer, announced a major environmental sustainability initiative for the company. Luscombe defined climate change as the...

Innovations go beyond surface.(TOPICS)
October 6, 2008... MELBOURNE, Australia --Woolworths' latest edition of its green store program opened in Mayin the Victoria Harbour section of Melbourne. The store operates under the company's Safeway banner. Australia's Minister for the Environment and...

Agenda comprised of ambitious goals.(TOPICS)
October 6, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SYDNEY, Australia -- Though environmental sustainability finally has emerged as a global concern, in Australia certain events have brought the issue into sharp focus. The nation is undergoing a drought while extreme...