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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Target Ahead of Target
The back-to-school season has been very, very good to Target as the chain said it expected to see sales at its Target stores rise as much as six percent above…
9/11/03 Retailing Back to Normal in Vegas
The local economies of tourist destinations such as Las Vegas were hard hit by the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 but two years later, retailers report shopper counts and…
Retailer’s Profits Go Up-Scale
The Neiman Marcus Group reported profits increased 36 percent in the company’s last quarter driven by significant same-store increases at its namesake and Bergdorf Goodman stores. Are improving sales at…
Basha’s In Skin Cancer Technology Test
Basha’s is testing a digital photography system developed by Telemedco which allows an in-store technician to photograph an area of skin and send it instantly to a dermatologist for review…
Consumers Buying McD’s New Menu Items
McDonald’s reported sales for its U.S. restaurants were up 8.8 percent in August as consumers stepped-up and drove-thru for the chain’s newest menu items including McGriddle breakfast sandwiches and premium…
The Incredible Self-Destructing DVD
Walt Disney Co. is testing disposable, self-destructing videos that will allow consumers to bring home a movie and then toss it in the trash rather than returning it to a…
No Stopping on 9/11
What do you remember about Sept. 11, 2001? Coming up on the second anniversary of the terrorist attacks, businesses that had “stopped” spending are beginning to move forward again, reports…
A Shot of McCafe
McDonald’s plans to test a coffee bar concept, McCafes, inside designated stores in the US in an attempt to grab a share of the business now being captured by Starbucks,…
Retailing At The Hop
The Myrtle Beach Sun News reports Jackie Nelson’s “Southern Banana Split” was the winner of the Lee’s Inlet Apothecary Soda Jerk Contest on Friday. Is the old-fashioned soda fountain/drug store…
No Rest For Christian Stores On Sunday
Family Christian Stores, a 325-store national retail chain, will open for business on Sundays for the first time this fall. Dave Browne, chief executive officer, Family Christian Stores told the…
Meijer Cuts HQ Staff
Meijer eliminated 350 supervisory and administrative positions at its headquarters, distribution centers and field offices on Friday, reports The Associated Press. The retailer took this action, according to a company…
Judge Tosses Suit Against McD’s
The U.S. District judge in New York, Robert Sweet threw out a suit against McDonald’s alleging it used deceptive advertising, reports The Chicago Tribune. What are your thoughts on this…
U.S. Foodservice Not for Sale, Yet
Royal Ahold’s news chief executive officer, Anders Moberg, says the company has no immediate plans to sell U.S. Foodservice. According to a report in The Baltimore Sun, Mr. Moberg told…
C&S Makes Foxy Move
C&S Wholesale Grocers is on the move. The Packer reports, it has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with The Nunes Co. of Salinas, Calif. to distribute vegetables under the Foxy…
C&S Goes Bicoastal
C&S has begun serving Fleming customers in California and Hawaii, some 450 Foodland, IGA, Food 4 Less and other bannered supermarkets and superettes. If it follows the same business model…
Universal Cuts Prices to Sell Music
The Universal Music Group, the world’s largest record company, announced yesterday it was cutting prices on its library of compact discs by up to 30 percent in the hopes it…
Online Grocery Finds Niche
The closing of PublixDirect recast doubt about the viability of online grocery services in the minds of many. Those don’t include customers of FreshDirect, MyWebGrocer, LowesFood.com, WeGoShop, Peapod and other…
Wal-Mart Has Vision for Business Opportunity
As the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart is number one in the sales of numerous product categories from groceries to magazines to toys. Now, the company that Sam built has set…
Albertsons Takes Store Within Store Route Again
Office Depot and Albertsons announced on Tuesday a deal for the office supply retailer to provide office and school supplies to the grocery/drug store operator. Which company benefits more from…
Women Hate Shopping, Love Deals
A new survey, “Retail Rituals: Women’s Changing Attitudes Toward Shopping,” says women have drastically changed the way they shop over the past two years. Carrie McCament, managing director, of the…
Delhaize Buys Harveys
Delhaize has agreed to purchase the J.H. Harvey chain of supermarkets for $26.1 million in cash and $18 million in assumed accounts payables and short-term liabilities. Involved in the deal…
