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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Smokers Continue Smoking
Higher taxes, consumer education programs and ubiquitous no smoking signs have had little to no effect on smoking rates in the US. The CDC reported last week that the…
Consumers Feeling Better About Biotech Food
The Packer reports that two separate research studies conducted by Roper ASW and the International Food Information Council demonstrate that consumers are becoming more accepting of biotechnology enhanced fruits and…
Iquana: Another Other White Meat?
The Washington Post reports “Central Americans hungry for a taste of home” are shelling out $12.50 for a pound of iquana meat. The wholesale price is reported to be $9.00…
Raley’s To Save $50,000+ Per Store/Year On Energy
Raley’s and Hess Microgen announced the successful test of an on-site combined heat and power (CHP) or cogeneration system that the parties predict will save the chain $50,000 per year…
Will Retail Suffer from SARS?
US retailers may begin feeling the affect of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the near future. Among concerns are that the disease’s progression in Asia may affect the US…
Robert Mariano: People Person
Robert Mariano is the chairman and chief executive officer of Roundy’s. He is also, according to all reports, a great communicator and leader. Speculation over what Mr. Mariano has planned…
Scouting Talent Makes the Difference
Daniel Barach, manager of the MLT Capital Hedge Fund, says, “The rarest talent is the ability to assess talent.” That ability to assess talent, many believe, is the reason…
Penn Traffic Takes Different Online Shopping Route
Penn Traffic will launch its Specialty Shop Online service beginning next month, featuring products not generally found in the company’s stores. Nexpansion developed this new online shopping feature for…
Who Wants To Be a Billionaire?
Pepsi is joining the reality television craze with its “Play for a Billion” summer promotion that will culminate in a two-hour WB network special in September. The promotion launching…
Wal-Mart and Albertsons Looking at BJ’s
The Deal reports that Wal-Mart may have made a bid to buy the BJ’s Wholesale Club chain and that Albertsons is another rumored suitor. Investors are unhappy with BJ’s…
Old Age Not Good for Pizza Sales
Mike Smith, a restaurant analyst at Fahnestock & Co. told Reuters, “On a longer-term basis, they (pizzerias) probably suffer more than other fast food companies from the aging of America.”…
7-Eleven’s PL Import Beer to Debut
7-Eleven will roll out its Santiago private label beer in June to about half of its stores in the US. The product will be brewed by SABMiller for 7-Eleven at…
Former Rite Aid CEO Settles
Martin Grass, the former chairman and chief executive officer of Rite Aid has agreed to settle a lawsuit by paying $1.45 million to shareholders who alleged the chain’s books were…
Retailers Broaden Options with Bandwidth
A report by Forrester Research says online retailers have a significant opportunity to drive greater sales through consumers with broadband connections if sites are upgraded to take advantage of the…
Low Prices and Bad Medicine Online
The good news for consumers is that they can save a bundle of money buying prescriptions online. The bad news is that fifty percent of online pharmacies are not properly…
Study: No Time to Get Organized
A new study conducted by Harris Interactive for American Demographics says 44 percent of Americans do not have enough time to get organized. Does the lack of organization in Americans’…
Driving Consumer Loyalty
A new research study says that, for inner-city consumers, the answer to better customer loyalty may lie in in transportation services. The study details Numero Uno Market and Ralphs free…
Eagle Needs Help to Keep Flying
Reuters reports Eagle Food Centers has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection citing an inability “to compete effectively with larger, more cost-efficient food retailers.” What do you expect to happen…
A-B Says Venus and Mars Are Alright
Anheuser-Busch has taken a unique route to marketing its beers, according to a piece in USA Today. The world’s largest brewer has moved past the typical “beer, buddies and babes”…
Red Cross: Businesses At Risk
Forty percent of small businesses damaged or destroyed during a major disaster close permanently, according to The Disaster Relief organization’s web site. Do retailers need to have a formal response…
States Come to Rescue Philip Morris, Sort Of
Attorney generals from 37 states filed a friend of the court brief yesterday seeking to reduce the bond Philip Morris USA must post to appeal a verdict that found the…
