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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Target Takes the Hudson River Line
The country’s number two mass merchant “has docked a Target-themed boat on the Hudson River at Chelsea Piers and will open it to shoppers for the next two weeks, beginning…
Good News, Bad News Day for Fleming
Yesterday, Fleming announced that Save Mart Supermarkets has agreed to buy 28 Food4Less stores in California. They also made a company announcement that they are under informal investigation by the…
Dominick’s: Let the Takeover Speculation Begin
Safeway’s labor problems in Chicago have led to widespread speculation about the eventual fate of the Dominick’s chain. A sale to Supervalu, Kroger, Ito-Yokado, Schnuck Markets, Meijer Stores as well…
The Good News and Nothing But from FMI
The Food Marketing Institute’s new magazine, ADVANTAGE, will “offer up nothing but warmed over positioning”, writes Ryan Mathews in an editorial on the Grocery Headquarters web site. Are trade associations…
Kmart As Vendor Advocate
Bob House is “the point man for communicating with the vendors caught in the gears of the Kmart (Chapter 11 bankruptcy) drama.” As Kmart’s vice president/voice of the vendor, Mr…
Staples Does the Right Thing
Staples has announced that it would seek to increase the average recycled content in its paper products to 30 percent from its current 10 percent, says the Boston Globe. What…
J.D. Power Ranks Customer Satisfaction
J.D. Power and Associates has announced that Kohl’s and Wal-Mart were given the highest customer satisfaction ratings for moderately priced and discount department stores in its newly released, 2002 Department…
Water + Flavors + Vitamins = Big $
As expected, Coca-Cola has formally announced that it is launching new Dasani waters in four flavored and vitamin-enhanced varieties. The new Dasani NutriWater items will initially be test-marketed in the…
Sam’s Club Needs More Business (Customers)
If Wal-Mart has a weakest link in its US business, that would be the retailer’s Sam’s Club unit, says Bloomberg News. The warehouse club division represents 13 percent of Wal-Mart’s…
Tesco’s Alternative Format
The UK-based supermarket giant, Tesco, has opened a store that is “geared solely to health and natural alternative products”. Tesco operates the store under the Nutri Center banner. The store…
Whole Health Manager Kicks the Habit
United Supermarkets’ whole-health manager has given up smoking after 26 years. She along with others in the community are taking part in a four-week smoking cessation program sponsored by Tobacco…
The Incentive Nation
From the discount store to the auto dealership to the bank, consumers buy only when there is a deal. What will happen when consumers no longer have access to special…
Operators Are Waiting For Your Call
Infomercials are running at all hours of the day and night selling products on as many channels as your satellite dish or digital cable can provide. In fact, today nearly…
Is Nash Finch in an Accounting Pinch?
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is conducting an informal inquiry into how Nash Finch accounts for promotional allowances and returnables, says the grocery wholesaler. Is “Wild West” accounting deceiving…
UFCW Ready to Strike Dominick’s
Approximately 80 percent of the 9,000 associates represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers union and working at Dominick’s voted to authorize a strike. What will be the outcome…
Lowes Foods to Enter Charlotte Market
The Charlotte Business Journal reports that Lowes Foods is getting set to enter the Charlotte, NC market and local developers see the supermarket operator opening up to 12 stores in…
A Busy Holiday Shoplifting Season Ahead
Retailers were ripped-off to the tune of $10 billion last year and many security experts are advising vigilance for the busy holiday shoplifting season ahead. Do retailers need to modify…
Is CRM DOA?
Companies made investments into CRM technologies looking for dramatic sales gains and profit line improvements. Instead, CRM appears on the verge of joining ECR, etc. in the anachronism hall of…
October Sales Spooky for Some but Not All
By most accounts, this year’s Halloween sales were no treat for retailers. October wasn’t all tricks, however, as a number of retailers reported sales increases above expectations. What is your…
Data Dumps on Decisions
According to a recent study conducted by BuzzBack, for NCR’s Teradata division, 73 percent of executives said that the number of decisions they have to make is growing while 55…
Merrill Lynch: Green Christmas Only a Dream
A column appearing on Merrill Lynch’s website, “Twelve ‘Nays’ of Christmas: Poor Retail Season Possible”, offers 12 reasons why Santa may not bring any significant sales gains this year. Do…
