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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Help Black Males to Stop Smoking
In the study of 600 adult black smokers who are more susceptible smoking-related disease and deaths than whites, Zyban, an anti-depressant approved for helping people stop smoking, was more effective…
Aversion to Risk Infects Investors
Historically, sharp declines in stocks have lured temporary buyers. However, recent sell-offs have only served to hasten investors’ exit plans. How is the stock market’s dive affecting how publicly-traded retail…
Delhaize CEO Tells Wal-Mart ‘Bring It On’
Pierre-Olivier Beckers, the 42-year old CEO of Delhaize Freres et Compagnie-Le Lion, must prove that he is tough enough to fight off attacks from two of the world’s biggest retailers,…
Moderation in All Things, Save Starbucks
The numbers argue that Starbucks’ growth rate might be slow to slow. In San Francisco, there are now more of its outlets than publicly traded Internet companies. How much Starbucks…
Yoga Offers Relief from Back Pain, OCD and Asthma
Many doctors now believe that yoga, one of the country’s hottest fitness trends, can also cure what ails you. Will further clinical evidence of the benefits of yoga add…
M&S Sells Kings, Finally
Marks & Spencer ended its American venture with the sale of its East Coast supermarket chain to D’Agostino Supermarkets for $160 million. What will D’Agostino ownership mean for Kings?
Single-Servings Mean Growth and Girth
Single-sized food packs have become the major source of financial growth for the food industry, and girth for consumers. Is there a larger market for healthy on-the-go foods than is…
Consumers Prime for C-Store Growth
“The slow death of the independent grocery store in the United States, hastened by the growing market shares being accumulated by major chains and “big box” retailers, actually could prove…
Teens Sport Affluent Lifestyles
Experts say today’s teens are the most affluent generation of young people to date. Will today’s teenagers maintain their shopping attitudes and behaviors as they age? What does this mean…
Grocery Bargains Supplement Meager Pensions
Fixed income pensioners in the U.K. are having a hard time making ends meet with the pounds they received from the government. Are soon-to-be senior citizens going to be able…
Schnuck’s Ready for Wal-Mart
For Schnuck and other St. Louis-area competitors, including Dierbergs Markets Inc. and Shop ‘n Save, the question isn’t whether Wal-Mart will begin a full-scale grocery invasion, but when. Can Schnuck…
H-E-B Tailors New Store to Demographic Niche
H-E-B is continuing a trend of tailoring itself to the markets it serves with plans to open a new store in far southwest Houston designed to cater to its predominantly…
Wal-Mart and Target Face Off in Private Label
Many observers believe Wal-Mart and Target are going head-to-head for the same customers in more and more categories. Both chains have strong (and growing) private label programs they are using…
Is DBM a Wal-Mart Killer?
According to Dan Fishback, president and CEO of DemandTec, Demand-Based Management (DBM) offers retailers a technology-based business model to compete with the world’s largest retailer. Does current demand based management…
Impulse Buyers Bring Home the Frozen Pizza
During the last several months, BIGresearch of Columbus, Ohio, has been studying consumers’ behavior in the grocery store, and noticed the emergence of two primary buying styles – practical and…
Shoppers Shop Despite Safety Concerns
Few Americans have changed their shopping habits in the last year, despite speculation that consumers would shun high-profile public retail spaces like malls out of safety concerns. Has the threat…
Hoax Costs Starbucks Real Bucks
Counterfeit Starbucks coupons were circulated illegally by e-mail earlier this week by an unidentified source offering a free 12-ounce Creme Frappuccino. How can retailers and food service operators protect themselves…
Retailer Prepares for Business Without Windows
The chief information officer at Boscov’s is slowly moving its technology operations from Windows onto Linux to save hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses. Will more retailers and CPG…
Gas Stations Without Gas Profits
Thornton Oil Corp. is looking to create stores that are compelling for what is sold inside, with zero reliance on gasoline margins for 2007 as it looks at the future…
Are Consumers Becoming Food Fashionistas?
Wendy Liebmann, president, WSL Strategic Retail said that, “today, the speed at which Americans adopt new types of food is akin only to speed at which they adopt new fashions…
A Central Market Grows in Dallas
H-E-B has announced that it opened a new Central Market in Dallas yesterday. This is the third Central Market store serving the Dallas area and it will be the 300th…
