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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Home Café Debuts
Procter & Gamble (full disclosure: P&G is a RetailWire sponsor) has announced the launch of its “Home Cafe'” single-serve coffee product line that uses a new low-pressure brewing system to…
State Targets Internet Cigarette Sales
Massachusetts is looking to reclaim monies it says it is owed by consumers who have ordered cigarettes online to avoid paying the state’s $1.51 per pack tax. Is it time…
Stop & Shop, Not Strike
Customers can continue to stop and shop at Stop & Shop as the retail chain and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) were able to reach an agreement…
Kmart Sues Martha Over Royalties
Kmart announced on Friday it is suing Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. for $4.5 million in disputed royalties and $2 million in advertising with Ms. Stewart’s media properties. What do…
N.G.A. Keynotes Get Political
In adjacent keynote addresses at the recent National Grocers Association convention in Las Vegas, former Vice President Al Gore and former congressman J. C. Watts had some interesting ideas about…
Prices At Pump May Reach $3
Prices at the pump may be going up to $3 per gallon this summer as the market forces of increased demand spurred by a growing economy come face-to-face with a…
N.G.A. Endorses New Strat Plan
The National Grocers Association held their annual convention and trade show in Las Vegas this week, attracting nearly 20% more attendees this year than last. At the opening session of…
Kraft Goes Couponing For Market Share
The Reuters article sums its up: Kraft plans to “buy its way into more shopping carts by pouring more cash into promotions.” What do you believe will be the short…
Kmart Makes Staffing Cuts
Kmart is laying off workers and cutting time back on others and, depending on who you believe, it is either because the chain’s stores are operating more efficiently and need…
Ahold Plans To Sell BI-LO and Bruno’s
The changes keep coming for Ahold as it announced yesterday it intends to sell its BI-LO and Bruno’s supermarket chains in the Southeast. What different scenarios can you see taking…
Sprint and Fuji Develop New Photo Service
Sprint and Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. have agreed on a deal that will allow Sprint PCS Vision customers to take photos with their camera phone, edit and send them to…
Toy Manufacturers Take Sides
Toy manufacturers concerned about Wal-Mart’s growing market share in the category and the impact of the retailer’s pricing policies on brand equity have begun offering exclusive roll-outs to toy stores…
Wal-Mart To Voluntarily Participate in COOL
Wal-Mart plans to voluntarily comply with country of origin labeling (COOL) well before it is required by the government on Sept. 30, 2006, according to a cover story report in…
Bill Wants To End Obesity Suits
A law introduced by California Assemblyman would prevent obese people from suing manufacturers and foodservice operators for weight problems. What are your thoughts on legislation that would make it impossible…
C&S Wholesale To Close Warehouse
C&S Wholesale Grocers has said it will close two distribution centers acquired from Supervalu last September. What do you make of C&S Wholesale Grocers’ latest move?
Saks Team Takes Shape
Galen Weston, owner of the Holt Renfrew Specialty Store Group in Canada, says his company’s “loss will be Saks Fifth Avenue’s gain.” What will be the primary challenges faced by…
USDA Done With Mad Cow Investigation
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared victory and said the investigation into the country’s first known case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy or mad cow disease is over, even though…
President Predicts Jobs Growth
The Bush administration is looking for the economy to create 2.6 million new payroll jobs by the end of 2004, according to the annual Economic Report of the President released…
It’s All in the Price: Understanding the Impact on Shopping Behavior
The growth of value retailers shows what happens when some retailers establish a much stronger price reputation than others. Is price more important to consumers in making the decision where…
Lights To Go Out On 19 Circuit City Stores
The nation’s second largest consumer electronics chain, Circuit City, announced it is closing 19 of its stores by the end of the month. Is there anything that should be read…
Romance Becoming More Expensive For Consumers
The ante has been upped from years past and consumers, especially males, will find a higher price tag association with romance this Valentine’s Day. Do you believe there will be…
