Mass Market Retailers back issues from January 2009:
BJ's board member.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
Jan 12, 2009 ... BJ'S BOARD MEMBER: BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. has elected Picis Inc. president and chief operating officer Christine Cournoyer to its board. "She brings a wealth of experience in information technology ...
2nd giant wine store.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
Jan 12, 2009 ... 2ND GIANT WINE STORE: Ahold USA Inc. has opened its second Blue Mountain Wine Shoppe location. Launched last month, the ...
Spartan acquisition.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
Jan 12, 2009 ... SPARTAN ACQUISITION: Spartan Stores Inc. has completed its acquisition of 17 supermarkets and 15 pharmacies from VG's Food Center Inc ....
P-O-S for the impaired.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
Jan 12, 2009 ... P-O-S FOR THE IMPAIRED: Dollar General plans to install specially designed point-of-sale units in its 8,300 stores ...
New Duane Reade svp.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
Jan 12, 2009 ... NEW DUANE READE SVP: Duane Reade Inc. has named Frank Scorpiniti senior vice president of pharmacy operations. The 38-year-old Scorpiniti has worked in pharmacy for 22 years. "We are confident that his many years ...
Wal-Mart's Duke is MMR Retailer of Year.(MMR Retailer of the Year)
Jan 12, 2009; ... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Mike Duke, currently head of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s international operations, has been named MMR's 2008 Mass Market Retailer of the Year. Duke has received this recognition both for the stunning performance of Wal-Mart's global unit and for the ...
Target's Ulrich lauded for exemplary career.(MMR Lifetime Achievement Award)
Jan 12, 2009 ... MINNEAPOLIS -- Bob Ulrich retires this month, ending a brilliant 41-year retailing career that catapulted both the Minneapolis native and Target, the retail company he ran for two decades, to the pinnacle of mass market retailing in America. To mark the occasion, the editors of MMR have ...
Work of Costco merchants wins recognition.(MMR Merchant of the Year)
Jan 12, 2009 ... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- As the economic environment has worsened over the course of the last year, a tiny handful of retailers has been able to defy the macro headwinds. Costco Wholesale Corp. is one of those select few, and the company's continued success is, above all else, a tribute to the ...
Holiday selling season hit by perfect storm.(NEWS)
Jan 12, 2009 ... NEW YORK -- The sharply curtailed holiday selling season-27 days this year versus 32 in 2007--and the severe weather throughout much of the country during the final shopping days before Christmas would, in ordinary times, have combined to sharply limit holiday shopping. Coming atop the ...
Fresh Brands adopts a new corporate name.(NEWS)
Jan 12, 2009 ... SHEBOYGAN, Wis. -- Fresh Brands Inc., the grocery company that operates Piggly Wiggly supermarkets in Wisconsin, has changed its name to Piggly Wiggly Midwest. "We feel having our business name incorporated with our company name will make it easier for the public to recognize," ...
Nash Finch expands via acquisition.(NEWS)
Jan 12, 2009 ... MINNEAPOLIS -- National food distributor Nash Finch Co. has entered into an agreement to acquire certain assets from GSC Enterprises Inc., a food distributor headquartered in Sulphur Springs, Fla. Under the deal, Nash Finch will operate distribution centers in Pensacola, Fla.; ...
iPhones reach stores.(WAL-MART NEWS)
Jan 12, 2009 ... IPHONES REACH STORES: Wal-Mart has started selling Apple Inc.'s iPhones, although it has not priced the popular Web-surfing cell phones as low as some have anticipated. The retailer has priced 8-gigabyte iPhones for $197 and the ...
Flood relief support.(WAL-MART NEWS)
Jan 12, 2009 ... FLOOD RELIEF SUPPORT: Wal-Mart has announced a $300,000 donation to World Vision--a humanitarian organization--to assist in relief efforts in response to floods and landslides resulting from record ...
Practical purchases.(WAL-MART NEWS)(Survey)(Brief article)
Jan 12, 2009 ... PRACTICAL PURCHASES: One out of two women questioned in a December online survey said they planned to give gift cards this holiday season. Among other findings of the survey, which was conducted by BIGresearch, nearly 70% ...
Solar power system.(WAL-MART NEWS)
Jan 12, 2009 ... SOLAR POWER SYSTEM: Wal-Mart and SunPower Corp. have completed a 554-kilowatt solar power system at the Wal-Mart store in Hanford, Calif. The installation is ...
Relief from asthma.(WAL-MART NEWS)
Jan 12, 2009 ... RELIEF FROM ASTHMA: Wal-Mart has announced that it will carry an environmentally friendly albuterol rescue inhaler. The retailer maintains that the inhaler, which starts at $9, is the lowest-price inhaler on the market. The ReliOn Ventolin ...
NRF offers plan to spur spending.(NEWS)
Jan 12, 2009 ... WASHINGTON -- The National Retail Federation (NRF) has asked President-elect Barack Obama to incorporate a series of national sales tax holidays into his economic stimulus package. Such a move would be a key step toward rebuilding consumer confidence, the NRF says, explaining ...
Penn Traffic sells off distribution business.(NEWS)
Jan 12, 2009 ... SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Penn Traffic Co. has sold its wholesale business to C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. for $43 million. Penn Traffic executives say the move will enable the company to sharpen its focus on its retail stores and improve its capital structure. The all-cash deal, which ...
Tops invests in future.(NEWS)
Jan 12, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. -- Tops Markets LLC is considering opening seven to 10 new supermarkets as well as investing $150 million in current locations. The strategy comes about a year after Morgan Stanley Private Equity acquired the 76-store, New ...
Rite Aid targets weight problems.(NEWS)
Jan 12, 2009 ... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. has teamed up with the medical weight-control program Lindora and fitness expert Denise Austin to help customers meet their weight-loss goals for this year. Working with Lindora, the drug chain has developed the Rite Weight Plan, an online ...
Wal-Mart settles class-action suit.(NEWS)
Jan 12, 2009 ... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has announced that it will pay at least $352 million, and possibly up to $640 million, to settle 63 class-action lawsuits across the nation that claim that the retailer forced employees to work off the clock. The legal settlement may be ...
MMR retailers of the year.
Jan 12, 2009 ... 2007--Mary Sammons Chairman, President, CEO and Jim Mastrian Special Advisor on Corporate Strategy, Rite Aid 2007 Merchant Joe Basse VP and GMM, Global Nonfoods Costco 2006--Tom Ryan Chairman, President, CEO, CVS 2006--Mac Crawford Chairman, ...
Momentum continues to build at Wal-Mart international.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
Jan 12, 2009 ... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Since its debut with the opening of a Supercenter outside Mexico City in 1991, the growth of Wal-Mart's international business has been steady and sometimes seemingly inexorable. The division itself was established two years later, and in 1994 Wal-Mart ...
Strategy for capital spending recalibrated.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
Jan 12, 2009 ... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart's recent focus on improving its return on investment has had a significant impact on the company's capital planning for its International Division. Looking ahead, the course of the world economy may further shape the retailer's growth plans abroad. ...
Wal-Mart raises profile in China: the chain is growing faster than other global retailers and local merchants.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
Jan 12, 2009 ... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- China's huge population and rapidly growing economy make it an important market for Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart's retail presence in China dates back to 1996, when the company opened a Supercenter and a Sam's Club in Shenzhen. It has expanded steadily since then and, ...
Goal is to build a more socially responsible supply chain.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)(Company overview)
Jan 12, 2009 ... On October 22 Mike Duke addressed more than 1,000 suppliers at Wal-Mart's China Sustainability Summit in Beijing. What follows is the text of his speech: Vice Minister Zhang, Vice Minister Jiang, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of Wal-Mart, welcome. It's an ...
Wal-Mart works to solve riddle of Japanese market.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)(Industry overview)
Jan 12, 2009 ... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Japan remains a challenging market for Wal-Mart, but one the retailer remains committed to. Wal-Mart's investment in the Japanese market began in May 2002, when it acquired a 6.2% stake in Seiyu, one of the country's largest supermarket chains. (Seiyu was ...
'We are well placed to continue to win in the U.K.'.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
Jan 12, 2009 ... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- During Wal-Mart's analysts meeting in October, vice chairman Mike Duke singled out Asda as one of the divisions whose performance he has been particularly proud of this fiscal year. "The team has made great progress," he said, noting that Asda posted the ...
Reach in Latin America extended to include Chile.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
Jan 12, 2009 ... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart is set to add Chile to its growing roster of Latin American markets. Wal-Mart has announced that it will launch a tender offer to acquire Distribucion y Servicio S.A. (D&S), a Chilean retail group that operates supermarkets and hypermarkets ...
Canadian operation reaches milestones, keeps on going.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
Jan 12, 2009 ... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart's Canadian unit is one of its strongest performers on the global stage, delivering an ROI higher than that of the company as a whole. Sales growth has also been healthy, according to company officials, who say that same-store sales gains have been ...
Innovations refresh the store experience for consumers.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
Jan 12, 2009 ... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- The Supercenter, which remains Wal-Mart's primary expansion vehicle, continues to evolve. Wal-Mart unveiled its latest version of the format in November 2008, with two stores in the Dallas area--a new Supercenter in Dallas and a remodeled unit in Plano, ...
Sam's enhances members' buying power.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
Jan 12, 2009 ... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- A tough economy for consumers and small businesses makes the warehouse club format more relevant than ever, according to Sam's Club officials. To make that point and to boost membership, Sam's Club commissioned a study, conducted by an independent ...
New format is about convenience.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
Jan 12, 2009 ... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart, the quintessential big-box retailer, is testing a smaller box. In October the retailer opened its first four Marketside stores, which are convenience-oriented outlets with about 10,000 square feet of selling space and between 7,000 and 10,000 SKUs. ...
Wal-Mart.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
Jan 12, 2009 ... A SKU-rationalization program has trimmed assortments in Wal-Mart's Supercenters with the goal of making the outlets more productive and easier to shop. Wal-Mart has also made its ...
Sam's Club.(NEWS/RETAILER OF THE YEAR)
Jan 12, 2009 ... In a bid to better reflect the way its business members and family members shop, Sam's Club has changed the layout of its clubs, improving adjacencies and giving seasonal goods higher-profile locations. Throughout the ...
Museum project next up for Ulrich.(NEWS/LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD)
Jan 12, 2009 ... PHOENIX -- While Bob Ulrich has spent the last 41 years of his life in retailing, it is by no means his sole passion. His love of the arts has enriched his life--he is past chairman of the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts--and has also influenced the content of some of Target's community ...
Ulrich years a period of continual progress at Target.(NEWS/LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD)
Jan 12, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1984 * Dayton Hudson Corp. names Robert Ulrich, 41, president of its Target Stores unit. Target is Dayton Hudson's largest and fastest growing division. Ulrich had been president of the Dayton Hudson department stores division. Bruce Allbright ...
Pharmacy earns place as integral part of offering.(NEWS/MERCHANT OF THE YEAR)
Jan 12, 2009 ... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- As senior vice president of pharmacy at Costco, Charles Burnett oversees a business that he personally created for the company back in 1986. It made Costco the first warehouse club operator to offer prescription drugs, and Burnett was not sure it would work. ...
Growth must deliver real strategic value.(NEWS/MERCHANT OF THE YEAR)
Jan 12, 2009 ... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Pat Callans fills a unique role in Costco's merchandising organization, which is fitting because he brings to it a unique background. An attorney by training, he joined Costco in 1994 and worked for several years in member services, involved with such areas as ...
Fresh food emerges as big driver of customer traffic.(NEWS/MERCHANT OF THE YEAR)
Jan 12, 2009 ... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Fresh food is a growing business at Costco, with sales that have increased at double-digit rates for more than 10 years. "Part of that is the quality and value we offer our members," says senior vice president of fresh foods Jeff Lyons. "But there's been a ...
'When we can get a great value we'll run with it'.(NEWS/MERCHANT OF THE YEAR)(Costco Wholesale Corp.)(Brief article)
Jan 12, 2009 ... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Offering its members a "treasure hunt" experience has long been a big part of Costco's strategy. And that applies to the fresh food departments as well. Seasonal food items often meet that need, because they offer members something new that will only be ...
Shoppers respond to combination of quality, value.(NEWS/MERCHANT OF THE YEAR)
Jan 12, 2009 ... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- As a major generator of customer traffic, the food segment has been crucial to the success of Costco Wholesale Corp. This bodes well for the company's future: Even during the recession many food categories have been showing double-digit growth. "Over the years ...
Costco image is as distinctive on the web as in stores.(NEWS/MERCHANT OF THE YEAR)
Jan 12, 2009 ... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Costco plays by its own rules in the brick-and-mortar world, so perhaps it should be no surprise that it does so online as well. With shelf space not an issue, for example, most retailers offer a wide variety of merchandise via their web sites--including whole ...
Ever-changing mix keeps things exciting.(NEWS/MERCHANT OF THE YEAR)
Jan 12, 2009 ... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Many of Costco's fiercely loyal customers describe the experience of shopping there as a "treasure hunt," an especially apt description for the warehouse club's nonfood business. Costco members have come to expect the unexpected. Of the 2,082 nonfood SKUs on ...
Costco warehouses showcase merchandise.(NEWS/MERCHANT OF THE YEAR)
Jan 12, 2009 ... With its stated mission of providing greater value for its members, Costco has expanded its selections over the years to include fresh food, pharmacy and optical departments, as well as everything from tires to health and beauty ...
Sears continues pursuit of turnaround in sales, earnings.(NEWS: 2008 in Review)
Jan 12, 2009 ... HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- The new year looms as a pivotal one for Sears Holdings Corp. as the struggling retailer looks to right its ship after a rough 2008. Since last February, Sears Holdings--the parent of Sears department stores and Kmart discount stores--has been led by an ...
CVS bests Walgreens in battle for Longs.(NEWS: 2008 in Review)
Jan 12, 2009 ... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- The CVS Caremark Corp. juggernaut rolled on last year as the company acquired 521-unit Longs Drug Stores Corp., beating out Walgreen Co. for the West Coast prize. In announcing the $2.7 billion takeover in August, CVS Caremark chairman, president and chief ...
As Wal-Mart's fortunes rise, target faces challenges.(NEWS: 2008 in Review)
Jan 12, 2009 ... NEW YORK -- The fortunes of the industry's two largest discount chains were very different in 2008. While Wal-Mart Stores Inc. saw its financial performance continue to improve throughout the year, the situation at Target Corp. got steadily worse as the year wore on. ...
SDM, CVS unveil freestanding beauty stores.(NEWS: 2008 in Review)
Jan 12, 2009 ... NEW YORK -- Two of the leading drug chains in North America ended 2008 on a high note by launching fresh beauty store concepts. In November, Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) introduced its first Murale beauty store in a suburb of Ottawa, Canada. At virtually the same time, CVS Caremark ...
Rite Aid bolsters executive ranks.(NEWS: 2008 in Review)
Jan 12, 2009 ... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- In fall 2008, Rite Aid Corp. revamped its upper management team, including the return to the company of John Standley, named president and chief operating officer. Standley was at Rite Aid from 1999 to 2005, where he served as senior vice president, chief ...
Tesco establishes U.S. foothold: at Fresh & Easy 'we've built a unique business model from the ground up'.(NEWS: 2008 in Review)
Jan 12, 2009 ... EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- After putting the brakes on its expansion plans earlier in the year, Tesco PLC opened its 100th Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market last fall. The new store--a unit in Fullerton, Calif.--opened a year after the company debuted its first outlet in nearby Los ...
Sen tapped to be next CEO at BJ's.(NEWS: 2008 in Review)
Jan 12, 2009 ... NATICK, Mass. -- BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. was one of only a handful of retail success stories in 2008. Net income in the third quarter grew 24.4%, net sales jumped 13.4%, and comparable club sales rose 11.9%, or a still healthy 6.6% if gasoline sales are excluded. In ...
Walgreens seeks CEO in wake of Rein exit.(NEWS: 2008 in Review)
Jan 12, 2009 ... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Following the retirement of chairman and chief executive officer Jeff Rein in October 2008, Walgreen Co. formed a search committee to find a successor. Members include acting chief executive officer Alan McNally, who was also named chairman; William Foote, ...
Pricing strategy pays off for Kroger.(NEWS: 2008 in Review)
Jan 12, 2009 ... CINCINNATI -- Kroger Co.'s decision to invest in lower prices paid dividends in the challenging economic environment of 2008. "Our pricing strategy plays particularly well in this environment as shoppers are increasingly focused on prices of staples they buy week after week," ...
Scoreboard.(MONEY NEWS)(Statistical table)(Financial report)
Jan 12, 2009 ... <Pre> SCOREBOARD QuarterDollar% RETAILERS ended Sales Change Big Lots (1) 11/01 1.02 bil -0.9 Costco (2)11/2316.39 bil +3.7 Dollar General ...
Walgreens first quarter net profit falls.(MONEY NEWS)(Financial report)
Jan 12, 2009 ... WALGREENS FIRST QUARTER NET PROFIT FALLS: First quarter net income fell more than 10% to $408 million, or 41 cents per share, at Walgreen Co., despite a 6.6% increase in sales to $14.95 billion. Analysts on average were expecting net income ...
CVS reaffirms earnings guidance for fiscal 2008.(MONEY NEWS)(Financial report)
Jan 12, 2009 ... CVS REAFFIRMS EARNINGS GUIDANCE FOR FISCAL 2008: In spite of declining consumer purchasing, CVS Caremark Corp. has confirmed the full-year earnings guidance it issued on October 30. The company expects diluted, adjusted earnings per share of $2.42 to $2.47, including the impact of its ...
Third quarter profits up 20% at Dollar Tree.(MONEY NEWS)(Financial report)
Jan 12, 2009 ... THIRD QUARTER PROFITS UP 20% AT DOLLAR TREE: Dollar Tree Inc. reported a 20% rise in third quarter net income to $43.1 million, or 47 cents per share, on a 12% increase in sales to $1.11 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson ...
Record sales for Stater Bros.(MONEY NEWS)
Jan 12, 2009 ... RECORD SALES FOR STATER BROS.: Stater Bros. Holdings Inc. booked record sales of $3.74 billion, an increase of 1.8%, for fiscal 2008. Net ...
Store openings affect 2008 bottom line at Ingles.(MONEY NEWS)
Jan 12, 2009 ... STORE OPENINGS AFFECT 2008 BOTTOM LINE AT INGLES: Although sales for fiscal 2008 grew nearly 14% to a record $3.24 billion at Ingles Markets Inc., net income declined 11% to $52.1 million as a result of an accelerated store-expansion program as well as energy costs and a ...
Kroger tops expectations of analysts.(MONEY)
Jan 12, 2009 ... CINCINNATI -- Despite strong sales, third quarter net income slipped at Kroger Co. in the wake of a charge associated with Hurricane Ike and the presence of a tax credit in the prior-year period. Nonetheless, adjusted earnings beat analysts' expectations, but Kroger's shares ...
Costco profits flat.(SPOTLIGHT)
Jan 12, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Slackening sales momentum, negative trends in foreign currency exchange rates and special charges all combined to keep the bottom line virtually flat at Costco Wholesale Corp. during the first quarter of fiscal 2009. Net ...
Net income off 14.3% at Big Lots.(MONEY)
Jan 12, 2009 ... COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Slackening sales and tightened margins triggered double-digit declines in both operating and net income during the third quarter at Big Lots Inc. despite sharp cost controls. With consumers turning away from discretionary purchases to concentrate on basics, management ...
Discounters.(MONEY)
Jan 12, 2009 ... <Pre> DISCOUNTERS Current Previous CloseClose % Discounter 12/18/08 12/1/08 Change BJ's 35.2134.19+2.98 Costco 54.1547.91 ...
Drug stores.(MONEY)
Jan 12, 2009 ... <Pre> DRUG STORES Current Previous CloseClose % Drug Store 12/18/08 12/1/08 Change Amerisource 34.1929.88 +14.42 Cardinal Health (1) 32.9831.29 ...