RECENT discussions
Discussions
Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Consumers Hot for BBQs
Since barbecuing has expanded to become a lifestyle for some Americans, barbecuing equipment has become more about individuality and style than function. How can retailers generate incremental sales and profits…
McLane to Supply 7-Eleven
7-Eleven Inc. has signed a 40-month supply agreement with McLane Co. The deal could be worth some two billion dollars per year. What will the 7-Eleven deal mean for McLane?…
Gasoline Siphons BJ’s June Sales
BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. reports that gasoline sales had a “slightly negative” impact on comparable club sales due to price deflation. If legislation is enacted to outlaw below-cost sales of…
2.4 Million Grandparents Are Primary Caregivers
The 2000 Census found that more than 2.4 million grandparents are the primary caregivers to a grandchild. How will non-traditional families (divorce/remarriage, same-sex unions, grandparents as primary care-giver, etc.) affect…
Trans Fat Labeling to Be Required
A final rule requiring that the amount of trans fat be listed on food labels could be completed by this fall or early next spring. How will the FDA’s…
Eckerd to End Unsolicited Drug Promotions
Eckerd Corp. has agreed to obtain express permission from customers before sending them marketing material on behalf of pharmaceutical companies. Is corporate talk of values-based management a smokescreen? Can nice…
P&G to Change Sunny D Label
Procter & Gamble is changing the label of Sunny Delight. Product labels will now describe the drink as “orange-flavored citrus punch and other natural flavors” instead of “real fruit beverage.”…
Customer Feedback May Give Supermarkets an Edge
One overlooked way for supermarket chains to compete with superstores and shopping clubs is to provide superior customer service through customer feedback. How would you rate the job supermarkets are…
Kids Going Vegetarian Route
More Americans, particularly young Americans, have started engaging in vegetarianism. What impact will veganism and pseudo-vegetarianism have on retail operations in the years to come?
Higher Rx Sales Drive June Numbers
CVS Corp. and Rite Aid Corp. reported higher monthly sales, helped by strong revenue from pharmaceuticals. How important are non-Rx sales to the performance of drug stores? What do drug…
Top Retailers Losing Market Share in the UK
The UK’s top retailers are no longer gaining collective market-share at the expense of their smaller rivals, according to a newly-published 700-page report. Do you believe that independents and…
President Talks Tough, Carries a Small Stick
Enron’s collapse, WorldCom’s accounting disclosure and other instances of corporate wrongdoing are spurring debate over new laws and government rules. President Bush is calling for harsher penalties for white-collar criminals…
DVD Players Blast Aside VCRs with Sales Explosion
DVD player unit sales jumped 39 percent from January through May from the same period a year ago, according to a study by researcher NPDTechworld. Is videotape going the way…
New Yorkers Have No Reservations on Tax-free Smokes
Manhattanites travel as far as 70 miles east of Times Square to four smoke shops on the five-square-block Poospatuck Reservation, population 220, to buy tax-free cigarettes. Many retailers count…
Study Shows Multi-channel as the Way to Go
Retailers have embraced multi-channel retailing, according to a new survey released yesterday by Gartner Consulting, Stamford, Conn. Nearly 75 percent of respondents either have a multi-channel retailing strategy (MRS) in…
7-Eleven Combines Slurp with Gulp
7-Eleven, Inc., will offer its latest beverage container on the eve of its 75th anniversary at up to 5,800 participating stores in the United States and Canada. Will 7-Eleven’s Slurp…
Target Selects Fleming for National Supply Agreement
Fleming has announced that it has been selected by Target to supply candy, cookies, and convenience frozen and refrigerated foods to all Target stores nationally. Fleming will also supply food…
Limited Casts Favorable Aura
In its test phase, Limited Brands’ new chain of skin-care and cosmetics stores, aura science, has outperformed expectations. How have specialty retail (category killer) stores affected the ways in which…
Tofu, Soya May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk
Tofu and soya milk may reduce the risk of breast cancer, according to the latest research. Will news such as this affect consumption and thereby alter space allotment within…
Study Says Vitamins Are Useless
According to a five-year study on 20,000 people by Oxford University scientists, over-the-counter vitamin supplements C and E, and beta-carotene (which the body converts into vitamin A) do not protect…
Hispanic-Oriented Products the Stand-Out at IDDBA Show
Having returned from last month’s International Dairy, Deli, Bakery trade show it is quite apparent that companies are finally recognizing the opportunity in catering to the Hispanic community. On…
