Mass Market Retailers back issues from June 2008:
Publix gets 49 stores.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... PUBLIX GETS 49 STORES: Publix Super Markets Inc. has agreed to purchase 49 of ...
Walgreens to Alaska.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... WALGREENS TO ALASKA: Walgreen Co. has unveiled plans to open its first stores in Alaska next year, giving the chain a presence in all 50 states, plus the ...
Nash Finch format.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... NASH FINCH FORMAT: Nash Finch Co. debuted its first Family Fresh Market store earlier this month. Executives say the unit, in Hudson, Wis., will become its new everyday value ...
Safeway's $4 generics.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... SAFEWAY'S $4 GENERICS: After testing the viability of selling $4 generic prescriptions at stores in Dallas and Houston earlier this year, Safeway Inc. has begun offering the service in its stores in the eastern ...
Walgreens settles.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... WALGREENS SETTLES: Walgreen Co. has agreed to pay $35 million to 42 states and Puerto Rico to settle charges that it overcharged Medicaid by switching dosage forms ...
Kroger, Union agree.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... KROGER, UNION AGREE: Kroger Co. has reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with the United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 700 in Indianapolis. The tentative ...
Retail sales take turn for better.(NEWS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... NEW YORK -- May retail sales were a welcome surprise as consumers spending government rebate checks lifted results at discount stores and warehouse clubs much higher than expected. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Costco Wholesale Corp. and BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. posted big gains in ...
Big Lots intent on expansion.
Jun 23, 2008 ... NEW YORK -- Big Lots Inc. chief executive officer Steve Fishman said earlier this month that the closeout retailer is ready to grow and has the potential to expand its store base to 1,800 locations. "We're highly motivated to open more stores at the right price," Steve Fishman ...
Wal-Mart resurgent.(SPOTLIGHT)
Jun 23, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s executives had good news to report to associates, shareholders and fans at its recent annual meeting/pep rally here. The company's stock price is up, as are same-store sales figures. Consumers are turning to ...
Two drug chains sued over outdated products.
Jun 23, 2008 ... NEW YORK -- New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has sued CVS Caremark Corp. and Rite Aid Corp. for selling expired over-the-counter medicines and food products. Cuomo says investigators from his office found that 142 CVS stores and 112 Rite Aids across the state were selling ...
Correction.(NEWS)(Correction notice)
Jun 23, 2008 ... In the May 5, 2008, issue of MMR a chart on page 99 ranked the top five dollar store chains by sales. Based on sales ...
Colorado adds scrips.(WAL-MART NEWS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... COLORADO ADDS SCRIPS: Following legislation by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter allowing WaI-Mart to expand the number of $4 prescriptions available to the state's citizens, the retailer added 60 more 30-day prescriptions ...
Club concept tested.(WAL-MART NEWS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... CLUB CONCEPT TESTED: Sam's Club is testing a store idea that focuses solely on its small-business members. The concept, which is called Sam's Club Business Center, is opening in a Houston Sam's Club location in July. It will focus on such bulk items as office supplies and foods needed by ...
Classified ad tryout.(WAL-MART NEWS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... CLASSIFIED AD TRYOUT: Last month WaI-Mart launched a free classified ad service on its web site. The service, now being tested, allows ...
Mainstream apparel.(WAL-MART NEWS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... MAINSTREAM APPAREL: After its unsuccessful foray into fashion two years ago WaI-Mart has reset its sights on mainstream apparel aimed at shoppers on a budget. The retailer is also trimming the number of ...
Home goods sales up.(WAL-MART NEWS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... HOME GOODS SALES UP: The month of May marked the first time in two years that Wal-Mart had positive same-store sales in its home department, resulting from its focus on such brands as its new Canopy line of bedding ....
Scoreboard.(MONEY NEWS)(Statistical table)(Financial report)
Jun 23, 2008 ... <Pre> SCOREBOARDNet Quarter Dollar % Income RETAILERS ended Sales Change (Loss) Big Lots (1) 05/03$1.15 bil +2.1$34.5 mil BJ'S (2) 05/03 2.31 ...
Biggest gainers.(MONEY)(Statistical table)(Brief article)(Company rankings)
Jun 23, 2008 ... <Pre> BIGGEST GAINERS CloseChange vs. % Stock 06/06/08 05/09/2008 Change Fred's 12.80 +1.54+13.7 Big Lots30.65 +2.85+10.3 Weis34.64 +2.81 +8.8 Staples ...
Biggest losers.(MONEY)(Statistical table)(Brief article)(Company rankings)
Jun 23, 2008 ... <Pre> BIGGEST LOSERS Close Change vs. % Stock 06/06/08 05/09/2008 Change Dillard's15.02 -3.87 -20.5 Whole Foods 28.50 -4.28 -13.1 99 c Only 7.95 -1.18 ...
Most active.(MONEY)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
Jun 23, 2008 ... <Pre> MOST ACTIVEVol. (000)As a % Change vs. 1 Wk. Ended of Total 1 Wk. Ended Stock 06/06/2008Shares 05/09/2008 Whole Foods 18,98013.7 +77.4 Costco 30,033 6.8 ...
Target stumbles in first quarter.(SPOTLIGHT)
Jun 23, 2008 ... MINNEAPOLIS -- Net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2008 fell nearly 8% at Target Corp., as sales were weaker than expected. With earnings still managing to exceed Wall Street's expectations, the company's share price edged down 70 cents from the prior day's close to $54.29 on the ...
Net profits surge 31.7% at Costco.(MONEY)
Jun 23, 2008 ... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- With top-line growth surging more than 13%, in part as a result of spiraling gasoline prices and foreign exchange rates, net income vaulted nearly 32% at Costco Wholesale Corp. during the third quarter of fiscal 2008. The bottom line for the 12 weeks ended May ...
Safeway confident it 'can deliver'.(MONEY)
Jun 23, 2008 ... PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Higher fuel sales, a weak dollar and Easter's calendar shift all combined to buoy Safeway Inc.'s top line, while cost-cutting measures helped drive double-digit growth in both net income and adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of fiscal 2008. With ...
Signs of progress continue to materialize at Winn-Dixie.(MONEY)
Jun 23, 2008 ... JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. continued on the comeback trail through the third quarter of fiscal 2008, posting improvements in sales, operating income and adjusted EBITDA. Net income, however, fell in the wake of a steep downturn in interest income and a higher ...
Weis earnings drop 32.4% despite a 4.2% sales increase.(MONEY)(Financial report)
Jun 23, 2008 ... SUNBURY, Pa. -- With gross margin slammed by a variety of factors, first quarter net tumbled at Weis Markets Inc. in the face of strong same-store sales. Earnings for the 13 weeks ended March 29 fell 32.4% to $9.06 million, or 34 cents per share, as sales increased 4.2% to ...
Results at Fred's exceed expectations of analysts.(MONEY)
Jun 23, 2008 ... MEMPHIS -- First quarter earnings at Fred's Inc. slipped less than 3% and topped Wall Street's projections. Net income for the 13 weeks ended May 3 dipped 2.5% to $7.25 million, or 18 cents per share, topping the 16-cent average forecast of analysts polled by Thomson Reuters ....
Wal-Mart gets off to 'solid start' in new fiscal year.(MONEY)
Jun 23, 2008 ... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Improved sales and operating results in its core Wal-Mart Stores division, coupled with ongoing strength in its International business, helped drive net earnings for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. above Wall Street's expectations for the first quarter. In the midst of an ...
Sales rise 6.8% at Stater Bros.(MONEY)(Financial report)
Jun 23, 2008 ... SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- Stater Bros. Holdings eked out an earnings increase of less than 1% for the 13 weeks ended March 30, as a solid top-line gain was unable to make its way to the bottom line. Second quarter net inched up 0.5% to $13.5 million on a 6.8% advance in sales to ...
Mass retailers tap buying power in top 100 markets.(TOP 100 MARKETS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... NEW YORK -- The rankings that appear on this and the following pages, which are based on estimates derived from the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, illustrate how large and dynamic the nation's mass retail markets have become. One factor driving the growth of these ...
Top 100 supermarket markets.(TOP 100 MARKETS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... <Pre> TOP 100 SUPERMARKET MARKETS * Totalsupermarket sales RankMarket (add 000) 1. New York-Newark-Edison, NY-NJ-PA ...
Top 100 GM markets.(TOP 100 MARKETS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... <Pre> TOP 100 GM MARKETS * Total GM sales RankMarket (add 000) 1. New York-Newark-Edison, NY-NJ-PA $22,756,490 2. Los Angeles-Long Beach- ...
Top 100 drug store markets.(TOP 100 MARKETS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... <Pre> TOP 100 DRUG STORE MARKETS * Total drugstore sales RankMarket (add 000) 1. New York-Newark-Edison, NY-NJ-PA $21,519,634 2. Los Angeles-Long ...
There's a lot of variation in the 'multicultural economy'.(TOP 100 MARKETS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... NEW YORK -- When it comes to growth in buying power, Nevada ranks as the No. 1 state in the nation. According to the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia, Nevada's total buying power increased by 298.3% between 1990 and 2007. Arizona ranks No. 2 in total ...
Largest supermarket chains in the top 100 markets.(TOP 100 MARKETS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... <Pre> LARGEST SUPERMARKET CHAINS IN THE TOP 100 MARKETS % of Area Volume Rank Markets/Chains2007 20061. New York-Newark-Edison, ...
Variety of supers have an impact.(TOP 100 MARKETS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... NEW YORK -- The past year has been a decidedly mixed bag for grocers, one in which gains in sales and profits were offset by food inflation. Supermarket industry sales overall increased by 4.6% in 2007, while same-store volume rose by 4.2%--the highest mark for this performance ...
Wal-Mart shows strength yet again.(TOP 100 MARKETS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... NEW YORK -- As the economy slackened last year it squeezed the discretionary income of lower- and middle-income shoppers, posing a particular challenge for discounters. How the various chains responded to the challenge determined their share of general merchandise sales in the country's ...
Largest GM chains in the top 100 markets.(TOP 100 MARKETS)(Statistical table)(Company rankings)
Jun 23, 2008 ... <Pre> LARGEST GM CHAINS IN THE TOP 100 MARKETS % of Area Volume Rank Markets/Chain 2007 2006 1. New ...
Drug store battle gets more intense.(TOP 100 MARKETS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... NEW YORK -- There is a three-way race for drug store sales in the vast majority of the country's largest markets. CVS Caremark Corp., Walgreen Co. and Rite Aid Corp. are vying for consumers' pharmacy and front-end dollars from coast to coast. The situation contrasts with the ...
Largest drug chains in the top 100 markets.(TOP 100 MARKETS)
Jun 23, 2008 ... <Pre> LARGEST DRUG CHAINS IN THE TOP 100 MARKETS% ofArea Volume Rank Markets/Chains2007 20061. New York-Newark-Edison, ...
With its appealing quality of life, Charlotte is thriving.(Market Focus: Charlotte)
Jun 23, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte represents one of the most vibrantly growing areas in the country. Benefiting from a host of positive factors ranging from its mild climate to its diverse and expanding economic base, the city is poised to become a major ...
Charlotte at a glance.(Market Focus: Charlotte)
Jun 23, 2008 ... 2006 POPULATION: * 630,478 POPULATION CHANGE, 2000-2006: * +16.6% 2002 RETAIL SALES: * $7.94 billion MARKET RANK, SUPERS: ** 41 MARKET RANK, DRUG: ** 37 ...
Biotech looms large on the horizon.(Market Focus: Charlotte)
Jun 23, 2008 ... CHARLOTTE -- The diversified economic base of the Charlotte region is one of the key pillars of its prosperity. This evolutionary diversification can be counted on to continue in the coming years and decades. Recent studies have identified four emerging industries that will ...
Wealth of options available to local food shoppers.(Market Focus: Charlotte)
Jun 23, 2008 ... CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Like most high-growth markets, the Charlotte area is the scene of intense supermarket competition. As a result, local consumers have a wealth of food-shopping choices, ranging from upscale operators to deep-discount grocers. Charlotte is home to Harris Teeter, ...
Environment is right for chain drug stores.(Market Focus: Charlotte)
Jun 23, 2008 ... CHARLOTTE -- For chain drug retailers, there is a lot to like about the Charlotte area. As one of the nation's high-growth regions, it is experiencing population increases that provide not only an expanding customer base but a growing employee pool as well. Moreover, like the ...
Houston has what it takes to keep growing.(Market Focus: Houston)
Jun 23, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOUSTON -- Rising gasoline prices may be bad news for most of the country, but they provide this city an economic boost. That is because Houston is arguably the nation's energy capital. ConocoPhillips and Marathon Oil Corp., which rank among the ...
Houston at a glance.(Market Focus: Houston)
Jun 23, 2008 ... 2006 POPULATION: * 2.14, million POPULATION CHANGE, 20002006: * +9.8% 2002 RETAIL SALES: * $25.81 billion MARKET RANK, SUPERS: ** 11 MARKET RANK, DRUG: ** 9 ...
Retailers cast vote of confidence with investment plans.(Market Focus: Houston)
Jun 23, 2008 ... HOUSTON -- Retailers are expected to add more than 5 million square feet of new space to the Houston area this year, according to projections by Ed Wulfe, president of the retail brokerage and development firm Wulfe & Co. That represents a 24% increase over last year, when about ...
Supermarket scene heats up.(Market Focus: Houston)
Jun 23, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOUSTON -- Kroger Co. is still the leading supermarket chain in this market, but other operators are making inroads. Chief among them is H.E. Butt Grocery Co. (H.E.B.), which has added stores and significantly increased its market share in ...
Hispanic consumers courted by grocers.(Market Focus: Houston)(Company overview)
Jun 23, 2008 ... HOUSTON -- The Hispanics who account for about one-third of this city's population are a more diverse group than in other parts of the state, hailing from Central America and the Caribbean as well as from Mexico. Catering to these consumers is the mission of Fiesta Mart Inc., a ...
Drug store powers square off.(Market Focus: Houston)
Jun 23, 2008 ... HOUSTON -- CVS Caremark Corp., a relative newcomer to the Texas drug store scene, has become a major player in this market. The nation's No. 2 drug store chain opened its first Houston stores in late 2001. The move was part of an expansion west of the Mississippi River that also ...
Asian retailer enters market.(Market Focus: Houston)
Jun 23, 2008 ... HOUSTON -- H Mart, a chain of Korean and Asian markets, recently opened its first store in this area. The retailer made its Houston debut in April with a 53,000-square-foot store that was formerly a Randall's supermarket. The store is near the corner of Blalock Road and Westview ...
Boomtown tradition alive, well in Las Vegas.(Market Focus: Las Vegas)
Jun 23, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LAS VEGAS -- Many retailers consider this desert city a winner for reasons that go beyond the pulsating Las Vegas Strip that has long been an icon for gamblers. Las Vegas is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, with an ...
Las Vegas at a glance.(Market Focus: Las Vegas)
Jun 23, 2008 ... 2006 POPULATION: * 552,539 POPULATION CHANGE, 2000-2006: * +15.5% 2002 RETAIL SALES: * $6.46 billion MARKET RANK, SUPERS: ** 3t MARKET RANK, DRUG: ** 29 ...
Region isn't immune to the economic slowdown.(Market Focus: Las Vegas)(Brief article)
Jun 23, 2008 ... LAS VEGAS -- While Las Vegas is known as a city of high rollers prepared to spend their money, that perception belies a slumping housing market, skyrocketing gasoline prices and overall inflation that together are causing many locals residents to trim their spending. In the ...
Rite Aid exit rattles drug sector.(Market Focus: Las Vegas)
Jun 23, 2008 ... LAS VEGAS -- The competitive landscape of retail pharmacy has shifted in this market since the beginning of the year. In January Rite Aid Corp. announced that it would close 28 unprofitable stores in the Las Vegas area, where the drug chain has not opened a new store since 1999 ....
Fresh & Easy makes debut.(Market Focus: Las Vegas)
Jun 23, 2008 ... LAS VEGAS -- The five Fresh & Easy Neighborhood market stores that opened here last November marked the bold entry of Tesco PLC, Britain's largest supermarket chain, into the United States. "We are very excited to open our doors and bring fresh, wholesome food at affordable ...
Climate-specific unit is tested by Wal-Mart.(Market Focus: Las Vegas)
Jun 23, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LAS VEGAS -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has used the desert environment here as a test bed for its latest prototype high-efficiency store. The new HE.5 prototype, which opened its doors in March, marks a new series of prototypes that will be designed ...
Supers contend in crowded field.(Market Focus: Las Vegas)
Jun 23, 2008 ... LAS VEGAS -- The rapidly growing population here has been a beacon for supermarket chains that are battling for a piece of this increasingly competitive market. Major supermarkets competing in the Las Vegas arena include Albertsons LLC, Lucky Stores Inc., Smith's Food & Drug ...
Downtown now a destination.(Market Focus: Los Angeles)(Brief article)
Jun 23, 2008 ... LOS ANGELES -- Beaches and freeways, rather than a downtown skyline, are what come to mind when people think of this city. But downtown Los Angeles is experiencing a kind of renaissance that includes new retail and residential development. Locals say the opening of the Staples ...
Vibrance of Los Angeles reflected at retail.(Market Focus: Los Angeles)
Jun 23, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LOS ANGELES -- The city of Angels and its environs are more than the entertainment capital of the world. Los Angeles County covers 4,752 square miles and (as of July 2006) has a population of about 10.3 million. The county would rank as the eighth-largest ...
Los Angeles at a glance.(Market Focus: Los Angeles)
Jun 23, 2008 ... 2006 POPULATION: * 3.85 million POPULATION CHANGE, 2000-2006: * +4.2% 2002 RETAIL SALES: * $30.2 billion MARKET RANK, SUPERS: ** 2 MARKET RANK, DRUG: ** 2 ...
Big three drug chains vie for market share.(Market Focus: Los Angeles)
Jun 23, 2008 ... LOS ANGELES -- The chain drug store competition here has ramped up dramatically in recent years, driven in part by the arrival of the nation's No. 1 and No. 2 chains. CVS Caremark Corp., which is now the market share leader in Greater Los Angeles, made its current push into the ...
Wal-Mart succeeds in expanding presence.(Market Focus: Los Angeles)
Jun 23, 2008 ... LOS ANGELES -- Despite losing a high-profile battle four years ago, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. continues to make inroads in this part of Southern California. The retailer has long operated discount stores in and around Los Angeles, but it ran into strong resistance in some communities ...
Tesco gives food shoppers one more option.(Market Focus: Los Angeles)
Jun 23, 2008 ... LOS ANGELES -- The local supermarket scene here has been shaken up by the arrival of a new player, Britain's Tesco PLC. Last fall Tesco's much-anticipated Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market stores made their debut in Greater Los Angeles. The new stores are joining a ...
Small-format stores are part of landscape.(Market Focus: Los Angeles)
Jun 23, 2008 ... LOS ANGELES -- Whatever success Tesco PLC ultimately has with its convenience-oriented Fresh & Easy format in the United States, it certainly has focused new attention on the potential appeal of small-format stores. Safeway Inc. is testing the waters, for example. The company ...