Mass Market Retailers back issues from February 2007:
Aldi enters Florida.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... ALDI ENTERS FLORIDA: Discount grocery retailer Aldi Group has acquired a site in Sanford, Fla., near Orlando. The ...
Investors o.k. deal.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Rite Aid Corp)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... INVESTORS O.K. DEAL: Rite Aid Corp. shareholders have approved the acquisition of the Brooks and Eckerd drug store chains from the Jean Coutu Group. More than 97% of stockholders' votes favored the ...
IGA bay area move.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Independent Grocers Alliance Inc.)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... IGA BAY AREA MOVE: Eight San Francisco-area supermarkets formerly owned by Kroger Co.'s Ralphs Grocery Co. subsidiary will convert to the IGA banner. Five of the locations were formerly Cala Foods outlets, and three ...
Giant Eagle format.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... GIANT EAGLE FORMAT: Giant Eagle Inc. plans to debut a smaller format that combines a food market with gas pumps and a drive-through pharmacy. The new 13,000-square-foot prototype, ...
Shake-up at Wal-Mart.(SPOTLIGHT)
Feb 12, 2007; ... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- In the latest reorganization and executive shuffle at Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the retailer's merchandising group has been restructured and placed under John Fleming, who has been in charge of marketing for the past two years and now holds the title of chief merchandising ...
Express Scripts aims to reset clock.(NEWS)
Feb 12, 2007 ... ST. LOUIS -- Continuing its fight to block the merger of CVS Corp. and Caremark Rx Inc., Express Scripts Inc. has announced it will withdraw and then refile the antitrust notification associated with its own bid for Caremark. The company says the move will give the Federal Trade ...
Bodine, Merlo promoted in CVS realignment.(NEWS)(Larry Merlo and Chris Bodine)
Feb 12, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Longtime CVS Corp. executives Larry Merlo and Chris Bodine have been named to head two new divisions as the drug chain gears up for a pending merger with Caremark Rx Inc. Merlo was appointed president of CVS' retail group while Bodine was named president of ...
NACDS tabs Anderson president, CEO.(National Association of Chain Drug Stores appoints Steven Anderson )(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has named Steven Anderson president and chief executive officer. Prior to joining NACDS, Anderson served as president and chief executive officer of the National Restaurant Association. "NACDS is very ...
Food Lion entering S.C. upstate region.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... SALISBURY, N.C. -- Food Lion LLC is expanding its presence in the upstate portion of South Carolina, where it has just added one supermarket and held groundbreaking ceremonies for three more. "We are firmly committed to our South Carolina customers and are excited to be making a ...
Albertsons to shutter 20 outlets.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... BOISE -- Albertsons LLC plans to close nine underperforming stores in the Denver area and 11 in Texas. The Colorado units include seven Albertsons outlets and two Grocery Warehouse stores. The latest round of closings comes six months after the company shuttered 16 other outlets ...
Wal-Mart's Degn sets retirement.(NEWS)(Doug Degn)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Doug Degn, executive vice president of merchandising for food, consumables and hard lines at Wal-Mart Stores Inc., is retiring. He will continue to serve the retailer for several months to assist in the transition to a new structure for its merchandising organization ...
Operation Orange aid.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... OPERATION ORANGE AID: Wal-Mart says it will provide support throughout the fiscal year to citrus growers in California, who are facing crop losses and higher expenses because of cold weather and frost, As part of its Operation Orange Aid effort, Wal-Mart says it will stock its ...
Pay rate correction.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... PAY RATE CORRECTION: Wal-Mart announced that it has entered into a settlement with the Department of Labor regarding the way the retailer calculates overtime pay. Wal-Mart says the agreement addresses a number of errors it had made in those calculations, ...
Termination lawsuit.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... TERMINATION LAWSUIT: Wal-Mart has denied claims that it violated the terms of Julie Roehm's contract when it terminated her employment as marketing executive. Roehm filed a lawsuit against the company on December 15, ...
Support for climate.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... SUPPORT FOR CLIMATE: Wal-Mart has announced its support for the goals of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, a group that has called for ...
A market makeover.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... A MARKET MAKEOVER: The latest version of Wal-Mart's Neighborhood Market format has a new look. The new design, based in part on customer research, debuted last month in Tulsa, Okla. The store encompasses 39,000 square feet ...
Metro posts major jump in earnings.(MONEY)(Financial report)
Feb 12, 2007 ... MONTREAL -- Metro Inc., which acquired the assets of A&P's Canadian operations in August 2005, rang up formidable increases in reported as well as adjusted earnings on tepid sales for the 12 weeks ended December 23. Net earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 vaulted ...
Profits soar at Coutu.(SPOTLIGHTA&P was )(Financial report)
Feb 12, 2007 ... LONGUEUIL, Canada -- As it awaited the completion of the sale of its operations in the United States to Rite Aid Corp., the Jean Coutu Group saw net income for the 13 weeks that ended November 25 more than double on a single-digit gain in revenues. Bottom-line results for fiscal 2007's ...
A&P gets back into the black.(MONEY)(Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company Inc)(Financial report)
Feb 12, 2007 ... MONTVALE, N.J. -- With the help of a significant tax credit, A&P was able to reverse a prior-year loss and post a net profit for 12 weeks ended December 2--even though sales declined and pulled down adjusted EBITDA from the company's ongoing operations in the United States. The ...
Scoreboard.(MONEY NEWS)(Statistical table)
Feb 12, 2007 ... <Pre> SCOREBOARD QuarterDollar % RETAILERS Ended Sales Change Abbott (1)12/316.22 bil+2.8 Alberto-Culver (2)12/31 351.1 mil +12.6 BD (3) ...
Biggest gainers.(MONEY)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... <Pre> BIGGEST GAINERS Close Change % Stock01/26/07 vs. 01/12/07 Change Amerisource52.83 +5.46 +11.5 Cardinal Health71.43 +4.51 +6.7 Supervalu ...
Biggest losers.(Table)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... <Pre> BIGGEST LOSERS Close Change % Stock01/26/07 vs. 01/12/07 Change drugstore.com 3.01 -0.26 -8.0 Whole Foods42.51 -3.18 -7.0 Tuesday Morning ...
Most active.(MONEY)(Table)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... <Pre> MOST ACTIVE Vol. (000) As a % Change vs. 1 Wk. Ended of Total 1 Wk. Ended Stock01/26/07Shares 01/12/07 Cardinal Health 16,751 4.0 +103.9 ...
Rite aid poised to seize 'a unique opportunity'.
Feb 12, 2007; ... Barring an unforeseen snag, Rite Aid will complete the acquisition of the Jean Coutu Group's holdings in the United States sometime next month. The addition of approximately 1,850 Brooks and Eckerd drug stores should jump-start Rite Aid's ongoing efforts to regain the status it enjoyed ...
Retailer learns what's in a name.(case study of Marshall Field's)(Editorial)
Feb 12, 2007; ... The two cardinal operating principles of retailing that tend to be ignored or abandoned as often as they are faithfully followed are these: * It takes a retailer to run a retail company. * Change the name of a favored, venerable or easily recognized retailer and you ...
Three consumer groups hit stride.(Information Resources Inc.'s report)
Feb 12, 2007 ... CHICAGO -- Retailers and manufacturers should keep an eye on three important groups of consumers, according to a study from Information Resources Inc. (IRI) that argues that the groups are large, growing rapidly and currently underserved. The consumer segments in question are ...
Wal-Mart expresses interest in expanding presence in Japan.(acquisitions)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... TOKYO -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. says it is open to exploring acquisition opportunities in Japan, possibly by expanding through its 53%-owned Seiyu Ltd., a Japanese supermarket chain. In comments during an interview with the Nikkei business daily last month, Wal-Mart vice chairman ...
Delhaize exec vp.(appointment of Nicholas Hollanders )(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... DELHAIZE EXEC VP: The Delhaize Group has named Nicholas Hollanders executive vice president of human resources and organizational development, Hollanders takes over the organizational development functions of Joyce Wilson-Sanford, executive vice ...
Tesco gain in China.(Tesco PLC new supermarket in Beijing)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... TESCO GAIN IN CHINA: Tesco PLC has opened a new supermarket in Beijing--the company's first store to operate under its own banner in China. The ...
Soriana to expand.(GLOBAL NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... SORIANA TO EXPAND: Mexican retailer Soriana said in January that it plans to invest $700 million to build 60 new stores over the next ...
Walmex price cut.(GLOBAL NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... WALMEX PRICE CUT: Wal-Mart de Mexico says it will cut prices--at least through the beginning of March--on food, health, beauty and household goods in a bid to lure customers after a recent ...
Canadian tire view.(GLOBAL NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... CANADIAN TIRE VIEW: Canadian Tire Corp. expects its 2006 operating earnings to be in the range of $4.20 to $4.28 per share. Total retail sales at Canadian Tire stores were up ...
Tough going for Carrefour as year ends.(GLOBAL)(Company overview)
Feb 12, 2007 ... PARIS -- Bruising price competition in Europe and fewer shopping days resulted in sluggish fourth quarter sales growth for Carrefour SA and led analysts to wonder whether the retailer's bottom line would be affected. Full-year sales, however, met management's target. The world's ...
SDM tabs new CEO.(SPOTLIGHT)(Shoppers Drug Mart )
Feb 12, 2007 ... TORONTO -- Glenn Murphy, the chairman and chief executive officer of Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM), will step down at the end of March. He will be succeeded as CEO by Jurgen Schreiber, who currently is president and chief operating officer. The company's board of directors has decided to split ...
Big job cuts are planned at Loblaws.(GLOBAL)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... TORONTO -- Loblaw Cos. has announced that it will eliminate up to 1,000 jobs in an effort to create a "leaner and more responsive organizational structure." The company expects to book a pretax charge of $150 million (Canadian) to $200 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 ...
Alliance boots to enter China.(GLOBAL)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... LONDON -- British drug wholesaler and retailer Alliance Boots PLC has made a bid to enter the Chinese market through a 50/50 venture with Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Co. Alliance Boots will buy a 50% interest in Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Corp. (GP Corp.) for 38 million [pounds ...
Tesco steps up on the environment.(GLOBAL)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... LONDON -- Tesco PLC pledged last month to promote environmental consciousness among its customers by spending more than 500 million [pounds sterling] ($987 million) over the next five years on environmental initiatives. Britain's largest grocer vowed to cut prices on ...
U.K. commission eyes grocery sector.(GLOBAL)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... LONDON -- The Competition Commission, the United Kingdom's watchdog agency on competition within major industries, issued a progress report last month on the country's grocery sector. A key point of the study, initiated in May 2006, is whether larger supermarket chains are ...
Carrefour sets global expansion.(Carrefour S.A. planning foreign operations)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... LONDON -- Carrefour SA has announced plans to expand its operations into new international markets, including India and Russia. In an interview last month with French newspaper Le Figaro, chief executive officer Jose Duran said the retailer had stabilized its position after ...
MSI to use Rx Edge's pharmacy promotional materials.(Medicine Shoppe International Inc.)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Medicine Shoppe International Inc. (MSI) will begin using marketing materials from Rx Edge, including aisle-shelf dispensers and counter displays, in many of its Medicine Shoppe and Medicap stores. Rx Edge's marketing tools provide educational ...
Shopko.(PROMOTIONS NEWS)(offers discounts)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... SHOPKO: A weekly circular for Aberdeen, S.D., good through January 27, featured a two-for-$5 offer on Frito-Lay North America Inc.'s 13- to 15-ounce Doritos, Cheetos or Fritos, or 6-ounce Blue Diamond ...
Longs.(PROMOTIONS NEWS)(offers discounts)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... LONGS: A weekly circular for Alameda, Calif., good from January 21 to January 27, featured Gillette Co.'s Duracell Coppertop alkaline batteries, AA or AAA 8-pack, C or D 4-pack, or 9-volt 2-pack, selling for $5.29; Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Inc.'s Fuji QuickSnap 400 Flash onetime-use camera ...
Safeway.(PROMOTIONS NEWS)(offers discounts on products)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... SAFEWAY: The supermarket operator highlighted several offers on its online flyer for Denver; the offers were good through January 30. These included selected varieties of Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Inc.'s Huggies baby wipes refill, 184- to 232-count, selling for $6.99; 20% ...
Target.(PROMOTIONS NEWS)(BIC Corp.)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... TARGET: An online flyer for Boston, good through January 27, featured BIC Corp.'s 4-count BIC Comfort Advance or Soleil disposable razors, selling for $3.99, or 7-ounce ...
Well-being in spotlight at Pathmark.(MERCHANDISING)(Pathmark Stores Inc. offers health and nutrition information)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... CARTERET, N.J. -- Pathmark Stores Inc. is kicking off a program to help its shoppers improve their well-being. Called "Healthy Steps," the program offers customers practical nutrition and healthful lifestyle information. "Our program is not about overhauling people's ...
Sam's bakeries.(MERCHANDISING)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- More than 500 Sam's Club units nationwide have started selling freshly baked Granola Bites in their bakeries. Developed by General Mills Inc.'s bakeries and food service division, the bites are an extension of the company's line of Nature Valley granola bars ...
Crafting the message.(SPOTLIGHT)
Feb 12, 2007 ... LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- While point-of-purchase material is designed to connect brands with consumers, excessive displays in the past tended to be counterproductive. For the benefit of retailers, suppliers and--most importantly--shoppers, things had to change. These days an emphasis on ...
Shaw's readies premium fresh & healthy store.(MERCHANDISING)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Shaw's Supermarkets, now a unit of Supervalu Inc., plans to unveil a new format dubbed Premium Fresh & Healthy. Merchandising emphasizes natural and organic products, international food items, and expanded produce, meat, seafood, bakery and deli sections, as well ...
Sunrise confections to expand holiday candy.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... SUNRISE CONFECTIONS TO EXPAND HOLIDAY CANDY: Sunrise Confections has announced plans to add three Big Bag offerings to its candy line for Christmas 2007. Packed in 12-count cases, the items include 15-ounce Starlight Mints, 20-ounce ...
Procter & Gamble's CoverGirl spring line.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... PROCTER & GAMBLE'S COVERGIRL SPRING LINE: Procter & Gamble Co.'s CoverGirl brand has announced plans to launch its Spring Forecast makeup collection in March. Ranging in price from $4.99 to $6.99, the full ...
New package count for Workin' Gloves line.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)(Clean Ones Corp)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... NEW PACKAGE COUNT FOR WORKIN' GLOVES LINE: Clean Ones Corp. has introduced a six-count package of its Workin' Gloves line. The company currently sells 60- and 80-count boxes or 12-count bags of the disposable nitrile gloves. According to the company, this line extension of the six-count ...
Mr. Coffee classic edition coffeemaker.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... MR. COFFEE CLASSIC EDITION COFFEEMAKER: Jarden Consumer Solutions has introduced the Mr. Coffee classic edition coffeemaker, which combines an array of advanced features with classic styling melded into a contemporary design. Among its features are a silicone decanter pad for ...
Disney's 'Cinderella III--a twist in time' DVD.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... DISNEY'S 'CINDERELLA III -- A TWIST IN TIME' DVD: Walt Disney Home Entertainment released Cinderella III: A Twist in Time on DVD earlier this month. Distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment Inc., the animated feature ...
Hair-straightening system to grow.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... HAIR-STRAIGHTENING SYSTEM TO GROW: EasyStraight has announced plans to add four products in March to its hair-straightening collection. They are: Long-Lasting Frizz Remover, Instant Silk, Climate Shield and Frizz Block. The company says that the products feature ingredients and blends to ...
Kimberly-Clark puts marketing muscle behind Kleenex.(SUPPLY SIDE)(Kimberly-Clark Corp.)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... NEENAH, Wis. -- Kimberly-Clark Corp. launched a multimillion "Let It Out" advertising campaign for its Kleenex brand in January that is designed to "contemporize the brand and deepen its relationship with consumers by empowering them to unleash their emotions," according to a company ...
J&J boosts O-T-C lead in Canada.(SUPPLY SIDE)(Johnson & Johnson)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... LITTLE FALLS, N.J. -- Johnson & Johnson's (J&J's) acquisition of Pfizer Inc.'s Consumer Healthcare unit last year has created a behemoth in the Canadian nonprescription drug market leaving competitors Bayer Corp. and Wyeth trying to figure out how to best compete in a slow-growth market. ...
Galderma tops in poll of experts.(SUPPLY SIDE)(Galderma Laboratories Inc.)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... FORT WORTH -- Galderma Laboratories LP has won the highest ranking among pharmaceutical companies in a survey of dermatological professionals conducted by Verispan LLC. The Verispan Pharmaceutical Co. Image Survey, which is conducted every two years, provides an analysis of ...
Pfizer retrenches.(SPOTLIGHT)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007; ... NEW YORK -- Pfizer Inc. announced plans in January to slash 10,000 jobs in a bid to cut costs by up to $2 billion by 2008, amid ferocious competition from generic drugs. The company, which sold its O-T-C businessness to Johnson & Johnson in December, said it would shutter three ...
Kai purchases Universal Group.(SUPPLY SIDE)(Kai USA Ltd)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... LOS ANGELES -- Universal Group, which markets shaving products under the Old Spice and Noxzema brand names under a license with Procter & Gamble Co., has been acquired by Kai USA Ltd., a subsidiary of Kai Industries Co. based in Gifu, Japan. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed. ...
Positive markers proliferate in the cosmetics category.(COSMETICS FRAGRANCE)(Industry overview)
Feb 12, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- After some rough periods, the mass market cosmetics business has brightened considerably over the past two years. Moreover, say category participants, the upturn has a solid foundation and is fairly broad-based, with several brands enjoying the resurgence. According ...
Target's success tied to distinctive image.(SUPPLY SIDE)
Feb 12, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- For Target Corp. offering a different shopping experience has been key to its survival and success in competing against the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. That differentiation is nowhere more evident than in the retailer's beauty aisles. On a recent ...
Chains see exclusive brands as differentiators.(SUPPLY SIDE)
Feb 12, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- In recent years mass market retailers have tried a number of different strategies to reinvigorate their cosmetics businesses and to achieve some distinctiveness in a category where the same major brands can be found in almost any outlet. An approach that has grown ...
IRI pinpoints what's driving sales gains.(SUPPLY SIDE)(Information Resources Inc.)(Industry overview)
Feb 12, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- Although mass market beauty care experienced solid growth in 2006, most of the impetus came from the hair care and skin care categories, according to a recent presentation by Leigh Anne Rowinski, director of client solutions for Information Resources Inc. (IRI). ...
Teens more involved than ever.
Feb 12, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- This month will see a new teen-oriented brand from Coty Inc. hit store shelves in the United States. Rimmel Underground targets the 15-to-21-year-old demographic on which many suppliers and retailers have turned their backs. "There is a huge body of disenfranchised young ...
Whither the older consumer?(SUPPLY SIDE)(Revlon Inc.)(Brief article)
Feb 12, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- The failure of Revlon Inc.'s Vital Radiance line was not only a major financial blow and the impetus behind another management change at the manufacturer, but it raises a question about the role and importance of the older consumer to the cosmetics industry. When ...