Mass Market Retailers back issues from June 2007:
Safeway names exec.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(appointment of Steve Neibergall)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... SAFEWAY NAMES EXEC: Safeway Inc. has named Steve Neibergall president of its Eastern Division. He replaces Hank Cominiello, who will join the company's corporate retail operations team ...
Walgreens adds D.C.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(distribution center)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... WALGREENS ADDS D.C.: Walgreen Co. has opened its 12th full-service distribution center. Situated in Anderson, S.C., the facility is described as the retailer's most technically advanced distribution center, and its most inclusive. It is said to be 20% more productive than Walgreen's ...
New Bashas' format.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Bashas' Supermarkets)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... NEW BASHAS' FORMAT: Chandler, Ariz.-based Bashas' Supermarkets has opened its first Ike's Farmers Market store. The new concept, which debuted in Oro Valley, Ariz., features organic ...
Winn-Dixie backups.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Winn-Dixie Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... WINN-DIXIE BACKUPS: Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. plans to equip 66 of its stores with backup generators that can provide full power in the event of a blackout. The ...
Smart & Final deal.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(acquisition of Apollo Management L.P.)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... SMART & FINAL DEAL: Smart & Final Inc. has announced the completion of its sale to ...
Wal-Mart trims sails.(SPOTLIGHT)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
Jun 18, 2007; ... FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s shareholders and competitors got some good news at the company's annual meeting here, as the retail giant announced that it will scale back its expansion plans somewhat in order to improve returns. Wal-Mart now plans to open 190 to 200 ...
Whole Foods plans to take on the FTC.(NEWS)(Federal Trade Commission)(Whole Foods Market Inc.)
Jun 18, 2007 ... AUSTIN, Texas -- Whole Foods Market Inc. has announced plans to challenge federal regulators' opposition to its $565 million acquisition of Wild Oats Market Inc. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said it would file a lawsuit to block the acquisition of the 110-store Boulder, ...
Mass retail sales in May paint a happier picture.(NEWS)(Survey)
Jun 18, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- After the most horrendous month in recent memory, sales rebounded moderately among the nation's retailers in May. Warehouse clubs and drug stores showed better-than-average results, according to TNS Retail Forward, while department stores held their own and discounters and ...
A&P to pull plug on Farmer Jack.(Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company Inc.)(Farmer Jack Supermarkets)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... DETROIT -- A&P says it hopes to liquidate the inventory in 41 Detroit-area Farmer Jack stores and either sell or close the 66-store chain by July 7. Earlier this month the company began advertising sales of 10% to 30% off on all of the merchandise in the Farmer Jack stores. ...
Rite Aid begins assimilating Brooks Eckerd.(NEWS)
Jun 18, 2007 ... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. has completed its acquisition of 1,854 Brooks Eckerd Pharmacy stores and six distribution centers from the Jean Coutu Group, creating the largest drug chain on the East Coast and significantly strengthening its position as the No. 3 player nationally. ...
Meijer unit partners with the environment.(NEWS)
Jun 18, 2007 ... GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Meijer Inc. has unveiled an environmentally sustainable store in Allen Park, Mich. The unit will be certified as a LEED building (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) by the U.S. Green Building Council. "Meijer has always been an ...
New Target warehouse for imports.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Target Corp. has opened an import warehouse here to handle overseas cargo for the retailer's stores in the Southeast. The facility, which encompasses 2 million square feet, held its grand opening earlier this month. Target also is scheduled to open a 1.5 ...
Ahold takes stand on DXM.(NEWS)(dextromethorphan)(Ahold USA Inc.)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- The pharmacies at supermarkets operated by Ahold USA have begun restricting sales of cough and cold medicines formulated with dextromethorphan, also known as DXM. "While over-the-counter products containing dextromethorphan are perfectly safe when ingested at ...
Supervalu sets capital spending.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... Chairman and chief executive officer Jeff Noddle told shareholders at the company's annual meeting that the retailer plans to open 25 to 30 stores this year and do between 100 and 110 major remodels. Capital spending for fiscal 2008 will be $1.2 billion, up from $900 million last year. ...
Electrifying brands.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc. installs electronic products)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... ELECTRIFYING BRANDS: Wal-Mart is adding new products to its electronics departments, including items from such brands as Samsung, Skype, Vizio and Philips. The retailer also is installing ...
Rollback in fashion.(WAL-MART NEWS)(George ME in Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... ROLLBACK IN FASHION: A fashion line by designer Mark Eisen, called George ME, will be sold in fewer Wal-Mart stores by the end of the year. The unspecified reduction will not be as significant ...
Defamation lawsuit.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... DEFAMATION LAWSUIT: Minnesota businessman Irwin Jacobs has filed suit against former Wal-Mart marketing executive Julie Roehm, charging defamation. Roehm, who was fired from Wal-Mart in December for allegedly violating the retailer's codes of conduct, filed court ...
Generics a big deal.(WAL-MART NEWS)(generic prescription drug program)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... GENERICS A BIG DEAL: Just six months after completing the rollout of its $4 generic prescription drug program, Wal-Mart announced that $4 prescriptions now account for 37.8% of all the ...
Questrom's on board.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Allen Questrom appointed at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... QUESTROM'S ON BOARD: Former J.C. Penney Co. chairman and chief executive officer Allen Questrom has been elected to ...
Tesco expands plans before get-go.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... PHOENIX -- Tesco PLC's Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets unit has yet to open its first stores in this market, but it already is expanding here. The company previously announced plans to build 20 stores in the Phoenix area. (Fresh & Easy stores are also set to debut this year ...
Discounter 'helps people live better'.(NEWS)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc. impacts people's life)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s plans to moderate its expansion pace dominated the news from this year's annual meeting. But the retailer also used the event to suggest that its stores have had a positive impact on people's lives. Chief financial officer Tom Schoewe ...
H.E. Butt is set to debut seven in-store RediClinics.(NEWS)(H.E. Butt Grocery Co.)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... HOUSTON -- RediClinic LLC is opening seven new clinics inside H.E. Butt Grocery Co. (H.E.B.) stores. RediClinics are in-store facilities that offer consumers access to high-quality, routine health care services at affordable prices. "We are pleased to be able to ...
Scoreboard.(MONEY NEWS)(Statistical table)
Jun 18, 2007 ... <Pre> SCOREBOARD Quarter Dollar% RETAILERSEnded Sales Change Big Lots (1) 05/05 1.19 bil +3.4 BJ's (2) 05/05 2.06 bil +7.6 Costco (3)05/1314.66 bil +10.4 Dollar ...
Biggest gainers.(MONEY)(Statistical table)
Jun 18, 2007 ... <Pre> BIGGEST GAINERS Close Change vs.% Stock 06/01/07 05/11/07 Change A&P 34.70+4.15 +13.6 Kroger 31.41+2.56 +8.9 Nash Finch 47.69+3.87 ...
Biggest losers.(MONEY)(Statistical table)
Jun 18, 2007 ... <Pre> BIGGEST LOSERS Close Change vs.% Stock 06/01/07 05/11/07 Change Saks20.01-2.46 -10.9 Big Lots31.13-2.57 -7.6 drugstore.com2.54-0.17 ...
Most active.(MONEY)(Statistical table)
Jun 18, 2007 ... <Pre> MOST ACTIVEVol. (000) As a % Change vs. 1 Wk. Endedof Total1 Wk. Ended Stock 06/01/07 Shares 05/11/07 Delhaize 334 0.4 +325.0 Big Lots 18,478 17.2 ...
A&P closes out transitional year.(SPOTLIGHT)(Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company Inc.)(Financial report)
Jun 18, 2007 ... MONTVALE, N.J. -- Although sales were flat, A&P managed to reduce its loss from continuing operations in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006. Full-year income from ongoing lines plummeted due to tough comparisons against a prior-year gain on the sale of A&P's operations in Canada; the bigger ...
CVS/Caremark gets off to fast start.(MONEY)(Financial report)
Jun 18, 2007 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Including 10 days of operations from pharmacy benefits manager Caremark Rx Inc., the newly christened CVS/Caremark Corp. posted a 24.1% bottom-line increase on a 32.1% jump in revenues for the 13 weeks ended March 31. Earnings for the first quarter of 2007 ...
Costco net drops 5% in quarter.(MONEY)(Costco Wholesale Corp.)(Financial report)
Jun 18, 2007 ... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 dipped nearly 5% at Costco Wholesale Corp. due to reserves established to reflect a change in the company's returns policy on consumer electronics products that was implemented in the United States in the quarter. ...
Results aside, BJ's is optimistic.(MONEY)(sales report of BJ's Wholesale Club Inc.)(Financial report)
Jun 18, 2007 ... NATICK, Mass. -- With former CEO Herb Zarkin back at the helm for a full quarter, financial results at BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. remained off course during the 13 weeks ended May 5. However, Zarkin told analysts in a conference call that he looks for improved profitability later this year ...
Safeway builds on momentum.(MONEY)(sales report)(Financial report)
Jun 18, 2007 ... PLEASANTON, Calif. -- With sales improving steadily, Safeway Inc. turned in its best first quarter since 2001 as net income for the 12 weeks ended March 24 took a double-digit leap. Despite the impressive outing, though, management declined to increase its full-year earnings guidance. ...
Wal-Mart vows to focus on mission.(MONEY)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Sam's Club)(Financial report)
Jun 18, 2007 ... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- With the help of solid sales growth at its Sam's Club and International divisions and effective cost controls, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. managed to overcome sluggish sales in its core U.S. discount store segment and meet Wall Street's earnings expectations for the first ...
Chain drug stocks stand out in May.(MONEY)(Financial report)
Jun 18, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- Mass market retailing stocks finished mixed in May. Although Wall Street continues to reach new all-time highs, some investors fear that mass market retailers will be hurt by high gasoline prices and sluggish economic growth. MMR's discount chain index rose by 0.2% ...
Target profits exceed analysts' expectations.(MONEY)(Financial report)
Jun 18, 2007 ... MINNEAPOLIS -- First quarter net income soared nearly 18% at Target Corp., even though revenue growth was limited somewhat by poor retail sales in April. Wall Street was pleasantly surprised and immediately bid up the retailer's share price. Net earnings for the 13 weeks ended ...
Weis sees earnings drop 10.3%.(MONEY)(Weis Markets Inc.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... SUNBURY, Pa. -- Weis Markets Inc. saw first quarter earnings decline in the face of a solid increase in same-store sales. Net earnings for the 13 weeks ended March 31 slipped 10.3% to $13.4 million as the top line increased 4.4% to $571.8 million. Same-store sales also grew at a ...
Higher margins lift Stater Bros.(MONEY)(Stater Brothers Holdings Inc.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... COLTON, Calif. -- Improved margins combined with lower interest expense to cause earnings to more than double during the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2007 at Stater Bros. Holdings Inc. Net income for the 13 weeks ended March 26 vaulted 117.9% to $13.5 million. Sales ...
Results give SDM reason to be bullish.(MONEY)(Shoppers Drug Mart Corp.)(Financial report)
Jun 18, 2007 ... TORONTO -- Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. (SDM) kicked off fiscal 2007 with an 18.7% jump in earnings on a 10% top-line gain. Canada's largest drug retailer saw net income for the 12 weeks ended March 24 reach $85.1 million, or 39 cents (Canadian) per diluted share, as sales grew to ...
Winn-Dixie shows signs of progress.(MONEY)(Winn-Dixie Stores Inc.)(Financial report)
Jun 18, 2007 ... JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Continuing its comeback, Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. rang up significant improvements in adjusted EBITDA and at the bottom line for the 12- and 40-week periods ended April 4. The slimmed down regional supermarketer, which emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy ...
Ingles second half ends on high note.(MONEY)(Ingles Markets Inc.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Buoyed by an income tax settlement, net income for both the second quarter and the first half of fiscal 2007 skyrocketed more than 40% at Ingles Markets Inc. as sales continued to grow at a double-digit pace. The bottom line for the quarter ended March 31 ...
Trends in top markets bode well for mass retailers.(TOP 100 MARKETS)(Statistical table)
Jun 18, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- The ranking of metropolitan markets by the major mass market trade classes presented on this and the following page illustrates the fundamental strength of the national economy and of most of our regional economies as well. But in addition to using historical sales ...
Impact of ethnic diversity can vary in surprising ways.(TOP 100 MARKETS)
Jun 18, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- The nation's biggest cities tend to be the most ethnically diverse, but figures from the United States Census Bureau show that significant regional variation in demographic patterns. The top five U.S. cities ranked by their total Hispanic population, for example, are ...
Grocers adjust to new realities.(TOP 100 MARKETS)(Statistical table)
Jun 18, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- While the overall supermarket industry in 2006 saw its highest sales performance in more than a decade, the competitive landscape has been profoundly affected by food safety scares, escalating energy costs and shifting consumer shopping habits. By several measures ...
GM momentum shifts to target.(TOP 100 MARKETS)(general merchandise)(Company rankings)
Jun 18, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- Market share figures in the top general merchandise arenas reflect the mixed fortunes of the nation's No. 1 discounter, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., as well as the consistent success of rival Target Corp. Wal-Mart, which has been plagued by anemic same-store sales in its ...
Big drug chains show dominance.(TOP 100 MARKETS)(ranking of drugstores)(Company rankings)
Jun 18, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- Consolidation continues to alter the nation's chain drug retailing landscape. As a result, the industry's largest chains have come to dominate most of the nation's major markets. CVS/Caremark Corp., which a year ago strengthened its foothold in the ...
Dallas dominates lone star state's economic landscape.(Market Focus: Dallas)
Jun 18, 2007 ... DALLAS -- This city, nicknamed "The Big D," keeps getting bigger. The Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) metropolitan area added more than 842,000 people to its population between 2000 and 2006, according to data released this year by the Census Bureau. That made it the ...
Dallas at a glance.(Market Focus: Dallas)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... POPULATION: * 1.2 million POPULATION CHANGE, 1990-2000: 18.1% PER CAPITA RETAIL SALES: $11,742 MARKET RANK, SUPERS: 9 MARKET RANK, DRUG: 8 MARKET ...
In food, there's Wal-Mart and other contenders.(Market Focus: Dallas)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
Jun 18, 2007 ... DALLAS -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has claimed the top spot in the battle for the hearts of this city's food shoppers. But while the retail giant continues to gain market share on the strength of its Supercenter and Neighborhood Market formats, a host of other players are keeping the market ...
A retail institution adapts.(Market Focus: Dallas)(Minyard Food Stores Inc.)
Jun 18, 2007 ... COPPELL, Texas -- Minyard Food Stores Inc. sees the growing Hispanic population of the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area as offering its best opportunity to survive and thrive in a market increasingly crowded with tough competitors. Earlier this year Minyard announced that it ...
Competition breeds innovation.(Market Focus: Dallas)
Jun 18, 2007 ... DALLAS -- A look at the local food retailing scene provides evidence to suggest that intense competition breeds innovation. Last year Whole Foods Market Inc. opened a store in Dallas that includes a 4,500-square-foot spa called Refresh. Located on the store's second level, with ...
Wal-Mart uses Dallas as retail laboratory.(Market Focus: Dallas)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... DALLAS -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc., never known as a tentative competitor, has been particularly aggressive in this major market. The Bentonville, Ark.-based behemoth operates some 111 stores in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area, including Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets ...
CVS, Walgreens rise to top of market quickly.(Market Focus: Dallas)(CVS/Caremark Corp.)(Brief article)(Company rankings)
Jun 18, 2007 ... DALLAS -- Walgreen Co. and CVS/Caremark Corp., both relatively recent arrivals in this market, are now the dominant drug store operators here. Walgreens actually operated stores in Dallas early in its history, but the chain subsequently withdrew from the market. The retailer ...
Automakers' woes create challenges for Detroit.(Market Focus: Detroit)(economic condition of Detroit)
Jun 18, 2007 ... DETROIT -- The economy of this metropolitan region, which has long been tied to the fortunes of the domestic automotive industry, has fared poorly over the past few years, and economists have predicted a slow and uncertain recovery. Even a quick look at key statistics gives a ...
Detroit at a glance.(Market Focus: Detroit)(census reports of Detroit)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... POPULATION: * 951,270 POPULATION CHANGE, 1990-2000: -7.5% PER CAPITA RETAIL SALES: $3,269 MARKET RANK, SUPERS: 12 ...
Supermarket sector in transition.(Market Focus: Detroit)(competition between supermarkets and nontraditional food retailers)
Jun 18, 2007 ... DETROIT -- Southeastern Michigan is a competitive food retailing market where traditional supermarkets have battled sprawling supercenters for consumer dollars. For the last two years Kroger Co. has been the top grocer in the region, with a 21% market share. It has been followed ...
Mass retail taps into Muslim buying power.(Market Focus: Detroit)
Jun 18, 2007 ... DETROIT, Mich. -- Retailers in the Detroit area, with its dense Muslim and Arab populations, have been ahead of the curve in marketing to these demographic groups, taking advantage of their considerable economic power. Michigan has the third-largest population of Arabs and ...
Meijer has what it takes to succeed.(Market Focus: Dallas)
Jun 18, 2007 ... DETROIT -- Michigan has long been a focal point of discount stores that have battled national chains for the attention and disposable incomes of consumers. Nowhere has this been more evident than at Meijer Inc., a Michigan-based retailer that has been opening new supercenters ...
Mixed use project to alter landscape.(Market Focus: Dallas)
Jun 18, 2007 ... TROY -- Despite its troubled economic picture the southeastern Michigan region has a growing population, and there have been several ongoing efforts to revive the business climate. In a striking example of a regional effort to return vacant land to commercial use, a development ...
Nashville provides conducive environment for business.(Market Focus: Nashville)
Jun 18, 2007 ... NASHVILLE -- Nashville is hot. The nation's country music capital, situated on the Cumberland River, is drawing major corporations with its pro-business climate and luring potential residents--including many retirees--with its competitive housing market, diversified job base and absence of ...
Nashville at a glance.(Market Focus: Nashville)(census report of Nashville)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... POPULATION: * 545,524 POPULATION CHANGE, 1990-2000: +11.7% PER CAPITA RETAIL SALES: $14,176 MARKET RANK, SUPERS: 25 MARKET RANK, DRUG: 36 ...
CVS/Caremark part of robust health care sector.(Market Focus: Nashville)
Jun 18, 2007 ... NASHVILLE -- The health care industry has been the fastest-growing sector in and around Tennessee's capital, according to an economic impact study released by the Nashville Health Care Council (NHCC). Health care injects $18.3 billion annually into the middle Tennessee economy ...
Influence of Wal-Mart is felt beyond retail sphere.(Market Focus: Nashville)(Country Music Television Inc. contract with Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
Jun 18, 2007 ... NASHVILLE -- When it comes to discount retailing, Nashville is, unquestionably, Wal-Mart country. The world's largest retailer holds a preponderant 63% share of the discount general merchandise business in the metro area, while Target Corp. comes in a distant second with 17% of the market ....
Shakeout among supers subsides.(Market Focus: Nashville)(market share of supermarkets)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... NASHVILLE -- The food retailing map of Nashville was redrawn a few years ago when Albertsons Inc. decided in 2002 to exit the market and sell seven supermarkets and a convenience store to Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix Super Markets Inc. The preceding year Publix had announced an ambitious ...
Dollar General a hometown success story.(TOP 100 MARKETS)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. -- The early history of the dollar store is closely associated with the rural South, and the nation's largest dollar store chain, Dollar General Corp., is based in the Nashville suburb of Goodlettsville. In 1938 J.L. Turner and his son Cal founded a ...
Rite Aid to take big leap forward.(Market Focus: Nashville)(Rite Aid Corp. acquisition change market)(Brief article)
Jun 18, 2007 ... NASHVILLE -- The drug store competitive map has remained remarkably stable in the Nashville metro area over the last several years. But with the approaching close of Rite Aid Corp.'s acquisition of the Brooks Eckerd Pharmacy chain from Canada's Jean Coutu Group, that is about to change. ...
New Orleans is still on the long road back from Katrina.(Market Focus: New Orleans)
Jun 18, 2007 ... NEW ORLEANS -- As this city braces for another hurricane season, many locals are wondering whether New Orleans will ever recover the population it lost after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. New statistics released by the Census Bureau indicate that the New Orleans metropolitan ...