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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Retailer Gets Straight A’s From Customers
Frank Freeman, owner of Square Deals in Gainesville, Florida has found a way to reach the minds, hearts and wallets of the customers who shop for Yu-Gi-Oh! cards and other…
Will Safeway Buy Longs?
Unhappy stockholders are pushing Longs Drug Stores to sell and a likely candidate to purchase the chain may be Safeway, according to a Business Week report. Ariel Capital Management…
Mickey May Quit Retail
On the heels of selling its ownership of the Major League Baseball champion Anaheim Angels, Walt Disney Co. is now reported to be considering closing more stores or perhaps even…
Gigante Trouble in Anaheim
The controversy surrounding the opening of Gigante supermarket in Anaheim, CA continued right up to the store opening it’s doors on May 7, according to a report by Orange County…
E-tail to Paint in Black in 2003
Online retail sales grew a whopping 48 percent in 2002 compared to the year prior according to “The State of Retailing Online 6.0”, Shop.org’s annual study conducted by Forrester Research…
Poll: Diversity Not A Positive
South Florida has been a magnet for diverse populations looking to build a life with their families or simply live out their retirement years in the sunshine. Instead of celebrating…
Gen Y, Who Are You?
According to a column on Brandchannel.com, marketers may know less about Generation Y than they think. The author, Dr. Pete Markiewicz, writes, “they’ll buy simply because it is cool to…
Will Eagle Take Flight Again
Having entered bankruptcy protection for the second time in three years, many inside and outside the company are wondering what will be the fate of Eagle Food Centers. The company…
Best Selling Writer Goes to the Supermarket
The Post-Standard reports Mary Higgins Clark, author of numerous best selling suspense novels, will be at a Wegmans store in Syracuse this weekend for a book signing. Ms. Clark explained…
Old Consumers Learn New Tricks
The findings of a study published in the May issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology says that people become more agreeable and conscientious as they grow older…
FMI Seeks Organic Growth
The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the Organic Trade Association (OTA) have announced the All Things Organic Conference and Show will co-locate with the FMI Show in Chicago next year…
Lowe’s Just Says No to Under 21s
Lowe’s, the home improvement retailer, has backtracked somewhat on a sales ban of inhalants to anyone under 21 in its stores, reports the Charlotte Observer. The retailer’s policy originally restricted…
Interesting and Confusing Results for Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart’s chief executive, Lee Scott, in a conference call with analysts yesterday described the company’s recent fiscal quarter as “one of the most interesting and, in some ways, confusing” in…
Supervalu Named Retailer of the Year
Grocery Headquarters has named Supervalu Retail Company of the Year in its May issue. Jeff Noddle, chairman, president and CEO of the wholesaler/retailer told the trade publication, “We think…
U.S. Foodservice Chief Resigns
Jim Miller has stepped down from the top position at the U.S. Foodservice division of Ahold. Mr. Miller, founder and chief executive, U.S. Foodservice has been taking heat over the…
Deflation American Style
Last week the Fed chairman expressed concern about the possibility of an economy in deflation and his remarks have been a subject of debate among economists. Some say industries, particularly…
The Future of Grocery Wholesaling
Neil Stern, editor, Retail Watch told the Pioneer Press, “Wal-Mart has been rumored for years that it was going to get into the food distribution business and would use McLane…
Water Wars
The competition for share of the bottled water market is intense and may become even more so over the summer as beverage giants such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Nestle try…
Target Limits Eligibility for Benefits
Target has announced it will drop paid vacation and health care benefits for employees working 20 hours a week or less in its stores. Target spokeswoman Carolyn Brookter said the…
What Does It Take to Lead?
What does it take to be a leader in food retailing today? Mark Hamstra of Supermarket News recounts a Super Session at the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Show in his…
HHS Secretary Thompson Talks Tough
Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson plans to single out fast feeders as well as food and beverage companies that are doing the best and worst jobs of addressing…
