Mass Market Retailers back issues from January 2007:
Ahold unit on blocks.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Koninklijke Ahold N.V.)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... AHOLD UNIT ON BLOCKS: Ahold NV has said it will begin taking bids this month ...
Dollar General sale.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... DOLLAR GENERAL SALE: As part of its intention to move away from its traditional pack-away strategy, Dollar General Corp. had one of its biggest seasonal clearance sales ever the week after ...
Darragh is Katz vp.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Denise Darragh appointed at Katz Group Canada Ltd. )(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... DARRAGH IS KATZ VP: Katz Group Canada Ltd. has named Denise Darragh vice president of marketing and advertising. Darragh has more than 20 years of experience in retail and consumer goods ...
Ralphs to sell units.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(DeLano Retail Partners)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... RALPHS TO SELL UNITS: Ralphs Grocery Co. has reached an agreement to sell eight Cala Foods and Bell ...
Kroger service cited.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... KROGER SERVICE CITED: Respondents to a recent National Retail Federation/American Express poll chose Kroger Co. as the mass market retailer with the best ...
MMR names Ryan, Crawford Execs of Year.(MMR Executives of the Year)(Tom Ryan and Mac Crawford)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007; ... NEW YORK -- Truly visionary actions--actions that bring about fundamental change and improvement not only within an industry but in society as well--are rare. For that reason it was an easy decision for the editors of MMR to honor Tom Ryan of CVS Corp. and Mac Crawford of Caremark Rx Inc ....
Francis honored as top marketer.(MMR Marketer of the Year)(Michael Francis)
Jan 08, 2007; ... MINNEAPOLIS -- The Target brand is everywhere. To call it prominent would be to understate its presence. To say that it is effective would be to offer faint praise to a banner that has changed the way retailers go to market. Perhaps the best way to describe the Target brand is this: No ...
Express Scripts makes play for Caremark.(NEWS)
Jan 08, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- The unsolicited offer for Caremark Rx Inc. from rival pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) Express Scripts Inc. could lead CVS Corp. to raise its bid for Caremark and initiate a bidding war, say analysts. Express Scripts last month offered to buy Caremark Rx for cash and ...
Mass retail holiday sales *.(Statistical table)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... <Pre> Mass Retail Holiday Sales *2006 2005 2004 2003 Discount Stores Total sales: +5.5%+5.9%+5.3%+5.7% Same-store Sales: +3.3%+3.7%+2.7%+3.3% Supermarkets Total sales: +3.0%+2.9% ...
Holidays lackluster at retail.(NEWS)
Jan 08, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- It was another somewhat disappointing holiday shopping season for America's mass market retailers. The discount, chain drug and supermarket classes of trade all managed to post sales gains versus last year, but those increases were modest. That despite ...
Momentum builds at Safeway.(NEWS)
Jan 08, 2007 ... PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Safeway Inc. has said that its earnings may top Wall Street expectations in 2007, even as it plans to spend $1.7 billion to open 25 new units and remodel 275 others. In a meeting with analysts and investors last month the company said it would earn between ...
Tesco is gearing up for 300 stores in U.S.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... LONDON -- Tesco PLC is looking at 300 sites for small grocery stores in southern California, Las Vegas and Phoenix. The British-based retailer says it is prepared to spend as much as $2 billion over five years to support its launch into the United States market. The first stores ...
Eventful '06 sets stage for change in retail Rx.(News Analysis)(Industry overview)
Jan 08, 2007; ... The year that just ended will go down as one of the most memorable in the annals of chain drug retailing and the larger community pharmacy sector of which it is the central component. Major developments on diverse fronts have the potential to alter the dynamics within the industry and ...
Rite Aid targets weight control.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. rang in the New Year with a free, month-long weight-management program in all of its stores. On January 1 the company launched the Rite Weigh Challenge weight-loss program, a Rite Weigh planner and access to a special web site with additional ...
Supervalu increases earnings projection.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... MINNEAPOLIS -- Supervalu Inc. says its fiscal 2007 earnings will be between $2.32 and $2.43 per share versus a previous prediction of $2.18 to $2.41 a share. "Our earnings per share for the year remain on track as we continue to implement our business plans following the June 2, ...
Listing withdrawal.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... LISTING WITHDRAWAL: Wal-Mart says it will voluntarily withdraw the listing of its common stock on NYSE Acra Equities Inc., formerly the Pacific Exchange. The company's common stock will, however, continue to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Executives say the decision to ...
Stores have impact.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Economic Planning Corp.)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... STORES HAVE IMPACT: A recent survey by the Chico (Calif.) Economic Planning Corp. (CEPCO) shows that business leaders believe Wal-Mart Supercenters have had a positive impact on their communities. The survey found that 95% of those ...
Operation Christmas.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... OPERATION CHRISTMAS: As part of its $500,000 donation to Operation Homefront to support military families during the holiday season, Wal-Mart and Sam's Club donated more than 100 laptop computers to injured servicemen and servicewomen. The computers are equipped with voice-activated ...
Energy-saving bulbs.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... ENERGY-SAVING BULBS: Wal-Mart has set a goal for itself to sell 100 million low-energy light bulbs this year. If successful the retailer would double the number of such bulbs in use in the United States. Low-energy bulbs use about 75% less energy than conventional incandescent bulbs and ...
Wal-Mart back to square one.(NEWS)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
Jan 08, 2007 ... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. became the biggest story in the advertising industry last month, dismissing its senior vice president of marketing communications and putting its $580 million advertising account back up for bid. Julie Roehm had joined Wal-Mart last ...
Whole Foods tests in-store spa concept.
Jan 08, 2007 ... DALLAS -- Already having established itself as a destination of choice for health-conscious shoppers, Whole Foods Market Inc. is attempting to expand on that reputation by launching its first spa within a food store. "Refresh--The Everyday Spa at Whole Foods Market" opened at a ...
Future course of Value City weighed.(NEWS)(Retail Ventures Inc)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Retail Ventures Inc. (RVI) is exploring strategic alternatives for its Value City Department Stores, including a possible sale of the division. To that end, RVI has retained Financo Inc. and CIBC World Markets Corp. as its financial advisers to assist in this ...
Costco recasts offer on generics scripts.(Costco Wholesale Corp)
Jan 08, 2007 ... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Costco Wholesale Corp. has halted a program in which it filled prescriptions at $4 for a 30-day supply of generic drugs, but a new initiative by the wholesale club operator features an offer of 100 pills for $10. The original program was rolled out in response ...
Schnuck realigns exec team.(appointments)(Schnuck Markets Inc)
Jan 08, 2007 ... ST. LOUIS -- Schnuck Markets Inc. has made a number of executive changes. Scott Schnuck has been named chairman of the company, while his brother Todd Schnuck has been named president of the family-owned chain. Craig Schnuck has stepped down as chairman and chief ...
'A powerful force for change in Rx' emerges.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)
Jan 08, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- The November 1 announcement that CVS Corp. and Caremark Rx Inc. were planning a merger of equals stunned the retail pharmacy industry and Wall Street. In every sense the deal will be a blockbuster if it is completed. The two companies see it creating major benefits ...
CVS committed to leading change in health care.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)(mergers and acquisitions)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- The year 2006 was a big one for CVS. The company began the 12 months with almost 5,500 stores, giving it particularly strong market positions in the East and the South, including Texas. The acquisition of 703 drug stores from Albertsons Inc. last autumn enabled CVS to ...
Making multiple initiatives work.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- While some individuals shrink from challenges, CVS executive vice president of merchandising and marketing Chris Bodine relishes them. For example, when the chain acquired 1,268 Eckerd drug stores two years ago, Bodine spent several months traveling between ...
Assimilation seen at its best at CVS.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS subscribes to the concept of team effort. That strategy has repeatedly resulted in team victories. A prime example of how cooperation and collaboration have led to success is what the retailer achieved with its systems conversions for the drug stores it ...
Technology, used right, works wonders.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS' replenishment systems have undergone significant investments in the last year, resulting in significant improvements throughout the chain's in-stock capabilities as well as a major reduction in expenses, according to Jon Roberts, vice president and chief ...
As confidence in PL grows, so do sales.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Value remains a significant driver of consumables at CVS, which is a primary reason why the chain has reaped success with its private label food and beverages, according to divisional merchandise manager for consumables Mike Wilkins. CVS Gold Emblem nuts, for ...
CVS stores put it all together.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... At CVS in-store merchandising, design and layout work together to make the chain's outlets both easy and pleasant to shop. The approach is evident in all components of the store environment--from end-caps designed to drive impulse sales with product introductions to ...
Making sure stores make the right impression.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Entering a store that is less than pleasing to the eye, customers will quickly turn around and go elsewhere. So CVS vice president of visual merchandising Ken Roberts is well aware of the importance of achieving the right look when considering such things as store ...
CVS succeeds in creating distinct identity.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- A dynamic, swiftly changing industry and CVS' own rapid growth have meant a succession of challenges for the chain's marketing department, which has surmounted them all as it continues to build the CVS brand. The fundamentals of that task appear deceptively ...
Chain connects with customers via ExtraCare.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Of all of CVS' merchandising strengths, ExtraCare is perhaps the one that its competitors most envy. The frequent-shopper program, which debuted in 2001, is focused on giving relevant value to consumers, says Helena Foulkes, the retailer's senior vice ...
CVS is a force in beauty care.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- With women accounting for the clear majority of CVS shoppers, the retailer makes certain to pamper them in every way possible--and having a beauty department second to none is of prime importance. "The beauty department is a definite priority for our ...
Being best is the goal in O-T-Cs.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)(nonprescription drugs)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- While the need for prescription medication can occur at any hour of the day or night, the need for O-T-C drugs can often be just as pressing, and CVS responds to that reality with its extended hour and 24-hour stores. For example, a person with a cough that ...
Exclusive lines add luster to hair care.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- When it comes to hair care CVS does not limit itself to the leading national brands. In fact, exclusive brands are what attract a large number of beauty shoppers to the retailer's hair care shelves. One of the first of the so-called "masstige" brands was ...
CVS carves distinctive niche in chain drug industry.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)(Company overview)
Jan 08, 2007 ... 1963 The first CVS outlet, selling health and beauty aids, is founded in Lowell, Mass., by brothers Stanley and Sidney Goldstein and partner Ralph Hoagland. CVS stands for ConsumerValue Stores. 1964 The chain grows to 17 outlets. The original CVS logo is ...
CVS helps seniors navigate way through Medicare Part D.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Besides addressing the multiple health care needs of patients, CVS pharmacists spent much of 2006 addressing the questions and concerns that thousands of senior citizens brought them concerning the Medicare Part D prescription program. And many of those ...
Chain bullish on in-store clinics.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- MinuteClinic, a unit of CVS, surpassed the 100-clinic milestone last fall, and the profitable enterprise continues to chart a course of expansion throughout the nation. For example, three MinuteClinic health care centers debuted last month in CVS Corp. stores in ...
Cooperation with payers grows.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS has built a strong working relationship with the managed care arena, bucking a pattern throughout some of the retail pharmacy industry. "Overall, managed care organizations want to hear from us so they can understand what's taking place when plan members ...
GM is constantly reinvented: CVS is a viable option for shoppers looking to buy a variety of products.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)(general merchandise)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- As the North American chain drug store has evolved over the past decade, general merchandise has become a more important part of every retailer's mix. At CVS that has meant adding a wider assortment of products and from time to time bringing in items that ...
CVS brands are hard hitters.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Exclusive brands have become an extremely important part of CVS' mix, executives at the drug chain say. Over the past few years CVS has expanded its private label offerings in almost every category and, in many cases, has upgraded the quality of the products ...
'Less is more' works in food and beverages.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- With more than 6,200 stores across the country, CVS has become one of the first choices for time-constrained consumers looking for food and beverages. "We like to think that food and beverages can play a major role in making CVS more convenient and in ...
Complete photo department makes a strong statement.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Few front-end categories are as vital to drug stores these days as photoprocessing. And to succeed in the photo business, executives at CVS say, it is essential for a drug chain not only to be fully digital but to ensure that it offers an ample variety of related ...
Caremark a standard-setter in pharmaceutical services.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)
Jan 08, 2007 ... NASHVILLE -- Its planned merger with Caremark Rx Inc. will, if approved, combine CVS Corp. with the second-largest pharmacy-services company in the country. Moreover, as the two companies' chief executive officers pointed out to analysts when the deal was unveiled, it will be a combination ...
Merger to meld two strong firms.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)(mergers and acquisitions )
Jan 08, 2007 ... NASHVILLE -- Much of the potential for innovation that lies in a merger of Caremark and CVS Corp. stems from the two companies' financial strength. Both bring to the combination excellent earnings performances and free cash generation that will enable them, according to Caremark chairman, ...
Specialty Rx is the new frontier.(NEWS/EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR)(mergers and acquisitions )(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... NASHVILLE -- Perhaps more than any other aspect of its business, the specialty pharmacy segment of Caremark provides the company with a position on the cutting edge of health care. If the planned merger with CVS is completed the combination will open up a dazzling range of possibilities to ...
Target's advertising savvy.(NEWS/MARKETER OF THE YEAR)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... Clever, colorful and eye-catching advertising has been a Target hallmark for years. The retailer's creative messages, which have turned the Target buff's-eye into a trendy ...
No end in sight to target growth.(NEWS/MARKETER OF THE YEAR)(financial report)(Financial report)
Jan 08, 2007 ... MINNEAPOLIS -- Target will ring up nearly $100 billion in sales in 2010, Retail Forward Inc. predicts in a new report on the retailer. The market research and consulting firm notes that that would mean Target will essentially double in size in five years, from $51 billion in ...
Bright nights holiday gift to New York.(NEWS/MARKETER OF THE YEAR)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- Target has cultivated an image that is hip and fashion-forward, so it's not surprising that the company has a strong brand presence in Manhattan, even if it still has no permanent stores on the island. One of the latest examples is the retailer's decision to ...
Success of discounter to have ripple effects.(NEWS/MARKETER OF THE YEAR)
Jan 08, 2007 ... MINNEAPOLIS -- Target's projected five-year growth spurt should mean heightened competitive pressure for some rival retailers and new opportunities for some suppliers. That is the view of the market research and consulting firm Retail Forward Inc., which predicts that Target's ...
Albertsons reaches the end of the road, sells assets.(NEWS: 2006 in Review)
Jan 08, 2007 ... BOISE, Idaho -- The year 2006 Was remarkable if for no other reason than that the nation's second-largest supermarket operator, Albertsons Inc., self-destructed, selling its assets to a consortium of buyers for $17.4 billion in cash, stock and debt assumption. It was a remarkable ...
Rite aid beefs up with acquisition.(Brooks Eckerd Pharmacy)
Jan 08, 2007 ... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. solidified its position as one of the nation's top drug chains in August with its announcement of plans to acquire the Jean Coutu Group's Brooks Eckerd Pharmacy subsidiary. The $3.4 billion deal calls for Brooks Eckerd--which includes 1,858 drug ...
Ahold strives to get back on track.
Jan 08, 2007 ... AMSTERDAM -- In November Ahold NV unveiled the latest step in its recovery program since an accounting scandal in 2003 drove the global retailer to the brink of bankruptcy. In the United States the company continued its divestiture of underperforming or noncore assets, putting ...
Winn-Dixie puts house in order under Chap. 11.(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A much leaner Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. emerged from bankruptcy in November after 21 difficult months of trying to put its finances and operations in order. The troubled supermarket chain had operated 920 stores in eight states and the Bahamas and employed ...
Tesco sets the stage for American debut.(planning to open stores in the U.S. in 2007)
Jan 08, 2007 ... LOS ANGELES -- Britain's Tesco PLC made news in the United States in 2006 by moving ahead with its plans for 2007. Tesco officials said in December that the company was looking at about 300 sites in southern California, Las Vegas and Phoenix. Tesco USA chief executive officer ...
Wal-Mart takes on Rx pricing.(generic prescription drugs )
Jan 08, 2007 ... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- With its move to offer $4 generic prescription drugs last September, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. sent a clear signal to its competitors that the pharmacy counter was not off limits regarding its policy of cutting prices to the bone. Wal-Mart's rivals reacted in ...
Pharmacies adapt to Medicare Part D.(NEWS: 2006 in Review)
Jan 08, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- Last year saw the Medicare prescription benefit, also known as Medicare Part D, go into effect. It was the biggest change in Medicare since the program's launch in 1965. About 41 million Americans became eligible for prescription coverage under the plan, which took ...
Dollar General shakes things up.(NEWS: 2006 in Review)
Jan 08, 2007 ... GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. -- Late in 2006 Dollar General Corp. undertook sweeping changes that involved a new president and store closings as well as a fresh approach to inventory management. David Bere was named the company's new president and chief operating officer. Bere had been ...
CVS reinvents the drug chain.(NEWS: 2006 in Review)(mergers and acquisitions)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS Corp.'s announcement in November that it planned to merge with Caremark Rx Inc. was just the latest move in a year characterized by deals that extended the chain's reach into new markets and new businesses. The first big push came in January 2006, when ...
Scoreboard.(MONEY: NEWS)(Statistical table)
Jan 08, 2007 ... <Pre> SCOREBOARDQuarter Dollar % RETAILERS Ended Sales Change Costco (1) 11/26 14.15 bil +9.4 Dollar General (2) 11/03 2.21 bil+7.6 Family Dollar (3) ...
Accelerated Dollar Tree share repurchase.(MONEY NEWS)
Jan 08, 2007 ... ACCELERATED DOLLAR TREE SHARE REPURCHASE: Dollar Tree Stores Inc. has entered into two agreements with Goldman, Sachs & Co. to accelerate the repurchase of about $100 million of its common shares ....
Jean Coutu files judgment for notes transfer.(MONEY NEWS)(Jean Coutu Group)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... JEAN COUTU FILES JUDGMENT FOR NOTES TRANSFER: The Jean Coutu Group has filed a declaratory judgment action in United States district court to obtain a definitive resolution of its intended transfer of $850 million of 8.5% senior subordinated notes to Rite Aid Corp. Coutu contends that the ...
Winn-Dixie distributes stock.(MONEY NEWS)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WINN-DIXIE DISTRIBUTES STOCK: Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. has made the initial distribution of new common stock to prepetition ...