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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Senate Rejects Drug Plan for Seniors
The Senate rejected a last-ditch effort to break a five-year deadlock on new prescription drug coverage for older Americans. Is a Medicare prescription drug plan needed? What elements should be…
Consumers Prefer Buying Fresh in Supermarkets
A newly released study by Information Resources reports that while supercenters gained roughly five million new customers in 2001, consumers prefer to purchase meat and produce from the grocery store…
Fleming Mulls Its Future as a Retailer
Although Fleming, reports a second quarter profit after a loss a year earlier, the company says it is “carefully and thoughtfully evaluating” strategic alternatives related to its low-priced food stores…
Kmart Gets Back-to-School Jitters
Back-to-school marks the first potentially significant shopping milestone for Kmart since it filed for bankruptcy. What does Kmart need to do to set itself apart from other retailers selling…
Bush Signs Legislation to Curb Business Fraud
President Bush signed legislation aimed at curtailing fraud and corruption in corporate America to help restore the public’s confidence in the economy. Will the bill signed into law by…
Households Shrink, Singles Proliferate
During the past 30 years, the demographic of singles of all ages has grown. Forty percent or 82 million adults are unmarried in the U.S. today, resulting in the greatest…
Winn-Dixie Plunks Down Early $100-Million Repayment
Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., paid down $100 million of its bank notes early from excess free cash flow from operations. Has Winn-Dixie turned itself around?
Malternatives Give Beer Category a Shot
Malternative category sales for the 12-week period ending April 13 in food, drug, mass and convenience stores combined (excluding Wal-Mart data) were nearly $129 million; a 90-percent increase compared to…
Wal-Mart Shows Softer Side with Settlements
Wal-Mart has replaced its top lawyer and is settling customer lawsuits that it has fought for years. Will a less litigiously combative Wal-Mart produce positive or negative results for the…
Lands’ End’s Web Site Profitability Beats Catalog
Lands’ End Inc.’s web site’s profits topped those of its catalog for the first time in fiscal 2002. Is the sales migration to online unique to Lands’ End among catalogers?…
Pecans Consistently Deliver Vitamin E
University of Georgia (UGA) researchers say pecans are a consistent, rich source of the antioxidant vitamin E, no matter where they’re grown in the United States. Will all the recent…
Coming to a C-Store Near You: Disposable Cell Phones
Hop-On has won U.S. regulatory approval for the nationwide introduction of a no-frills recyclable phone for prepaid mobile calling. Will disposable cellphones significantly cut into the calling card market?
Rite Aid Still Turning It Around
Although it has far to go, analysts say that Rite Aid’s new management team has done a good job of dealing with the legacy left by Martin L. Grass and…
Man Chains Obesity Responsibility to Fast Food
A 5-foot, 10-inch, 272-pound man has sued four major fast food chains, claiming their fare contributed to his obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Should food manufacturers and retailers be legally…
Five Charged in $1.75 Million Theft from Demoulas
U.S. Attorney General Michael J. Sullivan, the FBI and the IRS, charged five people with various crimes related to the theft of checks from the Demoulas Market Basket chain and…
Americans Demand Laws to Combat Corruption
The latest Harris Poll finds that Americans have little faith in corporate leadership. Are corporate executives less trustworthy today than they were 10 years ago?
An Equal Opportunity Athlete’s Foot Cream
Novartis Consumer Health has spent six million dollars to inform women that Lamisil AT athlete’s foot cream is not just for men. Will Novartis Consumer Health’s plans to market Lamisil…
DIYers Let Others Do It
Potential do-it-yourselfers are increasingly calling on professionals to do those jobs rather than tackle them themselves. How will an aging population affect the DIY retailing market?
Hershey Looks for New Owner
On putting itself up for sale, Hershey Foods Co. awoke to find major food companies already chomping at the bit. Kraft, Nestle and Cadbury Schweppes Plc top analysts’ lists for…
Fanta Berry Takes the Edge off Pepsi Blue
As PepsiCo Inc.’s new blue cola hits store shelves this week, Coca-Cola is planning to launch a blue soda of its own, Fanta Berry. Will Fanta Berry and Pepsi Blue…
17,000 German Workers to Take a Long Weekend
Workers at Wal-Mart’s German unit are planning to go on strike this Friday and Saturday in a bid to secure a wage contract. Should Wal-Mart abandon the German market?…
