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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Nash Finch is Back
Shares of grocery wholesaler, Nash Finch, were up 59% yesterday after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) agreed with the company’s accounting for the cost of goods sold. With the…
Safeway’s Labor Problems Grow
Associates of Genuardi’s Supermarkets held a labor rally at the Safeway company’s headquarters outside of Philadelphia yesterday. The protesting employees seek union representation with the United Food and Commercial Workers…
Red Carpet Fashion for the Masses
The Associated Press reports, “A growing number of high-end designers are heading to mass-market chains in search of big financial gains. While some are abandoning their upscale accounts, others like…
Student Watch 2002 Looks to the Future
A study, Student Watch 2002, from the National Association of College Stores offers retailers insights into the shopping behaviors of 18 – 22 year olds. Are the shopping habits of…
Influential 10 Percent Drive Sales
A new book, The Influentials, says 10 percent of consumers have a major influence over what the other 90 percent buy. “Consumers are turning to word of mouth from people…
Drive-offs Have Station Owners Seeing Red
The price for a gallon of gasoline has risen 47 percent in New York over the last year and that has led to an increase in the number of drive-offs,…
Gift Certificate Expirations Same as Stealing
The Lancaster Eagle Gazette says the practice of placing expiration dates on gift certificates “is tantamount to theft.” The paper made this charge in an editorial supporting a proposed state…
Are Consumers Running on Empty?
The high price of gas is beginning to crimp America’s driving style and a summer shortage might cause the economy to run out of gas and is especially critical in…
Locals Protest Beer Sales at Bi-Lo
Members of the North Lafayette (GA) Baptist Church and others are unhappy with Bi-Lo’s decision to beginning selling beer and wine coolers at the chain’s store in this community. The…
Retail Careers Calling
Nearly two out of three schools polled say they expect to see fewer recruiters on campus this spring. Sixty percent of employers report planning to hire fewer graduates. Does the…
No Time for Lunch or Vacations
Many in business today are reducing time spent at lunch or on vacation as they try to keep up with the demands created by a smaller workforce and an increasingly…
Crunchy Conservatives
There’s a new subculture of consumers that eat organic food, do not watch television and consider themselves economic and social conservatives. They are the “crunchy cons”. Crunchy, as in granola,…
Fast Food, O’Natural
A new fast food restaurant concept, O’Naturals, combines organic and healthy menu items delivered at the speed of McDonald’s. Will a restaurant concept such as O’Naturals have mass consumer appeal…
Kroger Negotiates
Kroger is reportedly interested in buying Dominick’s from Safeway. Dominick’s has continued to lose customers, market share and money under Safeway ownership and some believe the chain can be had…
Sainsbury’s Goes Fishing
Sainsbury’s announced that, within seven years, it would only sell wild fish caught in “sustainable” fisheries. The Independent reports Sainsbury’s “commitment is significant in view of mounting alarm at the…
McDonald’s Makes Newman’s Its Own
In another move to recast its image, McDonald’s is rolling out a premium line of salads served with Newman’s Own dressings. McDonald’s move has some believing the company may be…
Walgreens Votes No on War Toys
Walgreens is pulling Easter baskets containing war toys and soldiers from its shelves, which “include troops in battle dress, assault rifles, planes, tanks and other toys, along with traditional candies.”…
Canadian Rx Service Sets Up Shop in US
American senior citizens will soon have access to lower-priced Canadian pharmaceuticals at prescription service offices opening in the US. By the end of the month, Best Canadian Prescription Service expects…
Ahold Uses Chains as Collateral for Loan
The nervousness of financial institutions has forced Ahold to put several company-owned chains, BI-LO, Giant Food and Stop & Shop, and Albert Heijn, up for collateral to secure a $2.91…
Fred’s February Fantastic
Fred’s has reported company sales including franchised locations increased 19% (company owned stores 20%) and comparable store performance was up 6.2% for February over last year’s results. What makes Fred’s…
The Sponge is Back
Canada has granted approval for the Today Sponge contraceptive to be sold in that country. The Associated Press reports that “sponges, priced at the U.S. equivalent of about $2.90 each,…
