Mass Market Retailers back issues from September 2007:
Wal-Mart eyes options.(SPOTLIGHT)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
Sep 10, 2007; ... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is reportedly responding to the economic malaise of its core customers and the threat of new competition by considering the development of new store formats. The retail behemoth also maybe weighing acquisitions as a way to diversify its offerings, ...
Food Lion rolls out hot format.(NEWS)
Sep 10, 2007 ... SALISBURY, N.C. -- Food Lion LLC recently opened 10 of its Bottom Dollar Food stores in the Hampton Roads section of Virginia. The ribbon-cutting ceremonies in late August marked the first phase of the company's renewal efforts for the region, which will include the remodeling ...
Whole Foods finally has its way.(NEWS)(Whole Foods Market Inc.)
Sep 10, 2007 ... AUSTIN, Texas -- Whole Foods Market Inc. was able to complete its takeover of rival Wild Oats Markets Inc. late last month after a federal appeals court rejected the Federal Trade Commission's argument that the deal violated antitrust regulations. "While this merger has taken ...
Targeting London.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... TARGETING LONDON: Target Corp. is in talks with British department store Selfridges to open a "pop up" temporary store in London to coincide with London Fashion Week this month, according to British trade journal MarketingWeek. The experiment would be Target's first venture outside of the ...
Safeway labor pact.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... SAFEWAY LABOR PACT: Safeway Inc.'s western Washington retail employees have ratified new three-year retail food and meat agreements with United Food and Commercial Workers Locals 21, 44, 81 and 367. The ...
Starbucks/A&P pact.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company Inc.)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... STARBUCKS/A&P PACT: A&P has signed a licensing agreement to operate Starbucks stores in select A&P locations in the Northeast. Under the agreement Starbucks stores will be established in ...
Sears delivery unit.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Sears Holdings Corp.)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... SEARS DELIVERY UNIT: Sears Holdings Corp. has opened a 782,000-square-foot direct-delivery center in Pendergrass, Ga. The facility will be used to distribute home appliances, ...
MinuteClinic enters Dallas.(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... DALLAS -- MinuteClinic has opened nine new health care centers at CVS/Caremark Corp. stores in the Dallas/Fort Worth market. The health centers are staffed by board-certified nurse practitioners who specialize in family health care and are trained to diagnose, treat and write ...
Coughlin may face prison time.(NEWS)(Tom Coughlin)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Former Wal-Mart Stores Inc. executive Tom Coughlin's sentence of house arrest for wire and tax fraud has been ruled too lenient by an appeals court, and he will be resentenced. The U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected claims that Coughlin's heart ...
Sears is 'disappointed' as earnings drop 40%.(NEWS)(Sears Holdings Corp.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. reported a 40% drop in net earnings in the second quarter. Results were hurt by same-store sales declines in the Sears and Kmart stores. "We are disappointed with our second quarter results," notes president and chief executive ...
FMI tabs Polley VP, pharmacy.(NEWS)(Food Marketing Institute appoints Catherine Polley )(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Food Marketing Institute has appointed Catherine Polley to the position of vice president of pharmacy services effective in mid-September. In that role she will spearhead FMI's new pharmacy public affairs program, which the trade association launched this year to ...
Greenhouse donation.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... GREENHOUSE DONATION: Wal-Mart has donated $1.5 million to the University of Arkansas Applied Sustainability Center to fund projects related to research on greenhouse ...
Iconix licensing pact.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Iconix Brand Group Inc.)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... ICONIX LICENSING PACT: Iconix Brand Group Inc. has signed a licensing deal with Wal-Mart to distribute its Ocean Pacific and OP ...
Latina choice again.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... LATINA CHOICE AGAIN: Latina Style Magazine has named Wal-Mart one of the "50 Best Companies for Latinas" for the second year in a row, citing the retailer's commitment to provide the best ...
Toy safety focus.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... TOY SAFETY FOCUS: In light of the recent recalls of toys produced in China, Wal-Mart has outlined a five-step Toy Safety Net Program ahead of the holiday season. The retailer is asking all toy suppliers to resubmit testing documentation for toys currently on Wal-Mart shelves or on their ...
Judge dismisses suit.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... JUDGE DISMISSES SUIT: A breach-of-contract lawsuit brought against Wal-Mart by former marketing executive Julie Roehm after she was terminated last December has been dismissed by Michigan state judge Denise Morris ....
Eagles release set.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... EAGLES RELEASE SET: Wal-Mart has begun accepting advance orders for the Eagles' first ...
Target continues to impress.(SPOTLIGHT)(second quarter net income)(Financial report)
Sep 10, 2007 ... MINNEAPOLIS -- Target Corp. chalked up solid gains in both retail sales and its credit card business to fuel a double-digit rise in second quarter net income, despite tough comparisons against a strong performance a year earlier. The retailer met Wall Street's expectations, but management ...
Jean Coutu builds its position.(MONEY)(Financial report)
Sep 10, 2007 ... LONGUEUIL, Quebec -- Although its bottom line swung to a loss in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, the Jean Coutu Group posted a strong increase in net income for the year, which was notable as well for the company's sale of its entire United States operations to Rite Aid Corp. ...
BJ's tops projections, ups guidance for year.(MONEY)(second quarter net income of BJ's Wholesale Club Inc.)(Financial report)
Sep 10, 2007 ... NATICK, Mass. -- BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. rebounded sharply in the second quarter of fiscal 2007 as one-time items helped drive up second quarter net income by more than 37%. However, even excluding special factors, the regional warehouse club operator beat Wall Street's expectations, and ...
Scoreboard.(MONEY NEWS)(Statistical table)(Financial report)
Sep 10, 2007 ... <Pre> SCOREBOARD NetNet-to- Quarter Dollar % Income % Sales RETAILERSEnded SalesChange (Loss) Change Ratio BJ's (1) 08/042.29 bil+8 34.1 mil ...
Safeway declares quarterly dividend.(MONEY NEWS)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... SAFEWAY DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND: The board of directors at Safeway Inc. has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 0.069 cents ...
S&P cuts Whole Foods debt rating.(MONEY NEWS)(Standard & Poor)(Whole Foods Market Inc.)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... S&P CUTS WHOLE FOODS DEBT RATING: Standard & Poor's cut its credit rating on Whole Foods Market Inc. following the company's acquisition of Wild Oats Markets Inc. The cut lowers Whole Foods' rating by one notch from "BB+," which is the highest junk rating, to "BBB-," the lowest investment ...
Winn-Dixie posts fourth quarter profit.(MONEY NEWS)(Winn-Dixie Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... WINN-DIXIE POSTS FOURTH QUARTER PROFIT: Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. posted a net profit for the fourth quarter but said it expects to post a net loss for the 2008 fiscal ...
Longs announces cash dividend.(MONEY NEWS)(Longs Drug Stores Corp.)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... LONGS ANNOUNCES CASH DIVIDEND: Longs Drugs Stores' board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend on common shares of 14 ...
Tuesday Morning second quarter results.(MONEY NEWS)(Financial report)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... TUESDAY MORNING SECOND QUARTER RESULTS: Tuesday Morning Corp., a closeout retailer specializing in home furnishings, housewares and gifts, has reported a 30% drop in net earnings. Quarterly net sales increased 6% to $219.4 ...
Dividend approved for Spartan shareholders.(MONEY NEWS)(Spartan Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... DIVIDEND APPROVED FOR SPARTAN SHAREHOLDERS: Grocery distributor and retailer Spartan Stores Inc. has announced that the company's board of directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of 5 cents per ...
Fred's to buy back shares.(MONEY NEWS)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... FRED'S TO BUY BACK SHARES: Fred's Inc.'s board of directors has approved a stock-buyback program involving up ...
Biggest gainers.(MONEY)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... <Pre> BIGGEST GAINERSClose Change% Stock 08/24/2007 vs. 08/17/07 Change BJ's 34.30 +4.87+16.5 Dillard's 26.40 +3.15+13.5 Lowe's30.20 +3.33+12.4 Big ...
Biggest losers.(MONEY)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... <Pre> BIGGEST LOSERS Close Change% Stock 08/24/2007 vs. 08/17/07 Change Kohl's 58.92-3.96-6.3 Ruddick 33.11-1.89-5.4 Weis 43.74-2.31-5.0 ...
Most active.(MONEY)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... <Pre> MOST ACTIVE Vol. (000)As a % Change vs.1 Wk. Ended of Total 1 Wk. Ended Stock 08/24/07 Shares08/17/2007 BJ's 12,934 17.5+75.8 Office Depot 33,085 13.5+38.0 Saks ...
Longs profits surge 39.8% on a 3% increase in revenue.(MONEY)(Longs Drug Stores Corp.)(Financial report)
Sep 10, 2007 ... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Despite sluggish growth in retail sales, Longs Drug Stores Corp. profits expanded at a double-digit pace during the second quarter of fiscal 2008, easily surpassing Wall Street's expectations. Income from continuing operations for the 13 weeks ended July ...
Earnings skyrocket at Ingles.(MONEY)(Ingles Markets Inc.)(Financial report)
Sep 10, 2007 ... ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Buoyed by a gain on the sale of real estate and double-digit sales growth, net income for both the third quarter and the first nine months of fiscal 2007 soared more than 40% at Ingles Markets Inc. Net income for the three months ended June 30 soared 42.7% to ...
Stater Bros. posts big jump in profits.(MONEY)(Stater Brothers Holdings Inc.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... COLTON, Calif. -- Buoyed by a variety of factors, earnings surged in the face of moderate sales growth at Stater Bros. Holdings Inc. during the 13 weeks ended June 24. The privately held operator of 163 supermarkets in southern California saw net income for fiscal 2007's third ...
NACDS' Anderson sets the right tone for Rx.(OPINION)(National Association of Chain Drug Stores's Steve Anderson helps retail pharmacy industry)
Sep 10, 2007; ... Although it is far too early to draw any conclusions about Steve Anderson's impact on the retail pharmacy industry, it is safe to say that he has gotten off to a fast start as head of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. Just six months after becoming NACDS president ...
Luck is only a small part of it.(OPINION)(most effective American executives)
Sep 10, 2007; ... To underestimate one's self is as much a departure from truth as to exaggerate one's own powers. --Sherlock Holmes American retailing's two most effective executives, Target's Bob Ulrich and Costco's Jim Sinegal, made news last month--quietly, as is usually the case ...
Online shopping raises bar for all.(OPINION)(Survey)
Sep 10, 2007 ... DENVER -- A new study suggests that the convenience afforded consumers by multichannel retailing has raised shoppers' expectations, posing greater service challenges to retailers. "The cross-channel experience has created today's 'spoiled consumer' and it raises the bar for ...
Big grocers under fire in U.K.(SPOTLIGHT)
Sep 10, 2007; ... LONDON -- A coalition of parliamentary politicians and pressure groups is demanding the creation of an agency to oversee relations between the four largest supermarket operators in the United Kingdom and their suppliers. In the highly concentrated British food retailing sector 75% of the ...
Tesco debuts in Hungary and the Czech Republic.(GLOBAL)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... CHESHUNT, England -- Tesco PLC has opened its first Express stores in Hungary and the Czech Republic and says it is considering adding more of these units to meet these countries' growing demand for smaller stores. The company's first Tesco Express in Hungary is a 3,800-square ...
Asda offers H&BAs via Web site.(GLOBAL)(asda-pharmacy.co.uk)(health and beauty and personal)(Asda Wal-Mart)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... LONDON -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s Asda division has made its first foray into online health and beauty retailing. The company's online pharmacy--asda-pharmacy.co.uk--is offering Internet shoppers a wide variety of health and beauty and personal care items, ranging from an ...
The supermarket's time has yet to come in one Indian state.(GLOBAL)(Reliance Retail)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... MUMBAI, India -- The chief minister of India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, has ordered the closure of a modern supermarket chain in response to protests and attacks from small shopkeepers. The chain, Reliance Retail, operates about 10 Reliance Fresh stores in the state ....
Metro AG openings.(GLOBAL NEWS)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... METRO AG OPENINGS: Metro AG plans to open 10 stores in Pakistan, according to a government official. Provincial minister for industries Muhammad Ajmal Cheema told a group of ...
Wal-Mart expansion.(GLOBAL NEWS)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... WAL-MART EXPANSION: Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has decided to expand its presence in Argentina, according to local press reports. The retailer recently opened its 16th Supercenter in San Fernando and reportedly intends ...
Coles green light.(GLOBAL NEWS)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... COLES GREEN LIGHT: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has cleared the acquisition of the Coles Group, the country's largest retailer, by ...
Romania hypermarts.(GLOBAL NEWS)(Schwarz Group opens new facilities)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... ROMANIA HYPERMARTS: German retailer Schwarz Group is expanding its presence in Romania with its Kaufland hypermarket format. In August it ...
Laurus NV rebound.(GLOBAL NEWS)(Financial report)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... LAURUS NV REBOUND: Laurus NV, the No. 2 supermarket operator in the Netherlands, reported a net profit of 3 million euros ($4 million) for the first half of 2007, compared with a 6 million euro loss in the ...
Carrefour will exit Switzerland.(GLOBAL)(Distributis AG)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... PARIS -- Carrefour SA has said it will leave the Swiss market, selling off its 50% stake in Distributis AG for about 235 million Swiss francs ($196 million). The company operated 12 hypermarkets. At the same time Carrefour said that it is exploring the possibility of ...
Natural H&BAs gain momentum.(SUPPLY SIDE)(health and beauty)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- Sales of natural and organic personal care products in the United States are expected to reach nearly $10.2 billion by 2012, according to a report from the market research firm Packaged Facts Inc. The category has been posting double-digit sales increases in recent ...
Del Labs readies IPO.(SPOTLIGHT)(initial public offerings)(Del Laboratories Inc.)
Sep 10, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Del Laboratories Inc. is poised to become a public company again. The manufacturer of cosmetics and over-the-counter medications was taken private in 2004, when it was acquired by DLI Holding Corp. Now, however, DLI has filed ...
Caribou, Coca-Cola join forces.(SUPPLY SIDE)(Coca-Cola Co. Coca-Cola North America)(Caribou Coffee Company Inc.)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... ATLANTA -- Coca-Cola North America and Caribou Coffee have joined forces to launch a line of premium, ready-to-drink iced coffees. Caribou Coffee is a specialty coffee company that operates about 480 coffeehouses in the United States. "Our partnership with Coca-Cola ...
Clothing has emerged as the hottest online category.(SUPPLY SIDE)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- Consumers seeking convenience and bargains are making apparel the biggest and fastest-growing category in the United States when it comes to online sales, a recent report states. The percentage of apparel sales transacted online has increased and will continue to ...
KidKupz medicine dispensing cups.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
Sep 10, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KIDKUPZ MEDICINE DISPENSING CUPS: KidKupz LLC has announced plans for a fall debut of its KidKupz candy-coated medicine dispensing cups. Available in such flavors as Sour Cherry, Blue Raspberry, Watermelon and Green Apple, the product is ...
Mueller's Quench sports gum in new flavors.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
Sep 10, 2007 ... MUELLER'S QUENCH SPORTS GUM IN NEW FLAVORS: Mueller Sports Medicine Inc. has added two flavors to its Quench gum product lineup--Double Raspberry and Strawberry Watermelon. These flavors join Double Orange/Fruit. In addition to the new varieties, the ...
Yakety Sak gift bags with sound module.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
Sep 10, 2007 ... YAKETY SAK GIFT BAGS WITH SOUND MODULE: Yakety Sak LLC's the Bag that Talks Back has expanded its line of gift bag offerings to include Birthday Girl, Shopper Girl and Chili Pepper. The gift bags feature a patent-pending sound module that plays ...
Peeps Spooky friends marshmallow candies.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
Sep 10, 2007 ... PEEPS SPOOKY FRIENDS MARSHMALLOW CANDIES: Just Born Inc. has introduced individually wrapped Peeps Spooky Friends to its lineup of offerings for Halloween. The marshmallow candies are available in two distinct 18- and 54-count variety bags that sell for $1.99 and $5.99, respectively ....
MGM's 'Home of the Brave' on DVD in October.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)(MGM Home Entertainment)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... MGM'S 'HOME OF THE BRAVE' ON DVD IN OCTOBER: MGM Home Entertainment has announced plans to release the DVD Home of the Brave on October 23. The film is about the current conflict in Iraq and follows four American soldiers as they survive the ravages of war, return home and try to ...
Welch's sparkling grape juice cocktail.(SUPPLY SIDE NEWS)
Sep 10, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WELCH'S SPARKLING GRAPE JUICE COCKTAIL: Welch Foods Inc. has announced plans to launch Welch's sparkling grape juice cocktail as a celebratory beverage for the whole family around the holidays. The cocktail is available in red and white grape flavors and ...
IMAK inks deal.(SUPPLY SIDE)(IMAK Products Corp)(National Sales Solutions LLC)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... SAN DIEGO -- IMAK Products Corp. has tapped National Sales Solutions LLC (NSS) as its retail sales management team. The move should result in significantly expanded distribution for IMAK's line of supports, braces, splints and therapy wraps. ...
Variety brings vibrance to mix.(PERSONAL SOAPS)(use of bath products)
Sep 10, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- The evolution of the mass retail bath category continues as retailers look for the right mix of traditional and specialty bath items. Retailers' options are actually multiplying with the emergence of a new segment within specialty bath: natural products, represented ...
Right ingredients can make the difference.(SUPPLY SIDE)
Sep 10, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- The use of exotic ingredients is one way that suppliers in the bath and body category strive to set their products apart from the competition. Case in point: Canus Vermont LLC, which specializes in soaps and skin care products that are formulated with goat's milk. ...
Fragrance essential part of offer.(SUPPLY SIDE)(Statistical table)
Sep 10, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- The right fragrance has long been a critical element in the success of a soap or bath product. Dial Corp., for example, credits a scent with helping assure the success of the then-revolutionary soap the company introduced in 1948. Researchers had determined that ...
Hand sanitizers are on a roll.(PERSONAL SOAPS)
Sep 10, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- Keeping Americans' hands germ-free has become a big business. Sales of hand sanitizers in supermarkets, drug stores and discount stores (excluding those operated by Wal-Mart Stores Inc.) hit $85.8 million for the 52-week period ended August 12, according to ...
For children, bathing can be fun.(SUPPLY SIDE)(Brief article)
Sep 10, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- Makers of personal care products for children have long relied on popular licensed characters to make their products more enjoyable, and the bath category is no exception. "The feeling is that making bath time fun by using characters they like can help teach children ...
As demographic tide rises, self-care wins adherents.(FOOT CARE)(Survey)
Sep 10, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- A host of factors are driving a rebound in the foot care category, and a number of trends promise continued, if unspectacular, growth. One major factor is simply the number of people experiencing foot problems. A recent survey of 1,700 men and women ages 18 to 60 by ...
With PL lines, retailers don't settle for 'me too'.(SUPPLY SIDE)(private label)
Sep 10, 2007 ... NEW YORK -- Retailers are taking the opportunity to bolster their profit margins with private label and exclusive brand foot care products. Moreover, following a trend appearing in many other categories, they are not content merely with dominating opening price points but are offering ...