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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
President Dubya Action Figure and Other Toys in Short Supply
Retailers are finding it hard to keep sufficient inventory on hand to meet the demand for this year’s most popular toy items, such as FurReal robotic cat, Bratz doll playsets,…
UK Supermarkets Out Front on Whole Health
Consumers in the UK are turning to supermarkets and away from specialty shops for their supplements and health food needs, according to a Euromonitor Report. Tesco has taken the lead…
Gift Receivers Want to Shop for Themselves
Fewer consumers may be returning their holiday gifts this year because more of them will be picking the gifts out for themselves. Americans tired of waiting on long checkout lines…
H-E-B In It for Profits, Not Fun
The San Antonio Business Journal reports that real estate holdings are key to the success of the much admired H.E.Butt Grocery Co. “H-E-B owns and manages a total of 3…
Letting Department Stores Be Department Stores
If department stores want to reinvigorate their businesses, they need to stop trying to compete with discount stores on price and focus on customer service. That is the message that…
Research: Cereal Causes Zits
A newly published research report suggests that eating refined bread and cereal products may be the cause of teenage acne. The study hypothesizes that eating refined carbohydrates increases production of…
Calls for Repeal of Country-of-Origin Labeling
The chairman of Tyson Foods is calling on the federal government to repeal its mandatory country-of-origin labeling that goes into effect on Oct. 1, 2004, contending that the requirement is…
Giant Eagle Goes Fast Casual Everyday
Giant Eagle will debut a new concept in two stores this Sunday that aspires to be “a stand-alone restaurant that happens to be in the grocery store.” Do you…
Toyota Rolls Out New Clean Air Conditioner
According to United Press International, “Toyota Motor Corp. has the world’s first non-fluorocarbon car air conditioner, developed by DENSO, using a natural refrigerant, carbon dioxide, and its fuel cell. The…
FDA Says Swedish Researchers May Be Right on Acrylamide
The report seven months ago that Swedish researchers had discovered high levels of potentially cancer-causing acrylamide in baked and fried foods was met with skepticism in this and other news…
Sushi, Slurpees and 7-Eleven
The convenience store chain is rolling out fresh new products that it hopes will broaden its appeal to a greater number of consumers. Sushi roll samplers, Szechuan beef bowls, Fettucine…
Private Label Champagne Wins Taste Test
A panel of seven wine experts rated Tesco’s private label champagne as the winner of a taste test that included some of France’s best known brands. What lessons can American…
The Future is Self-Service
Self-checkouts are a fait accompli. Supermarkets, mass merchandisers and DIY outlets are installing them as standard equipment in new stores and retrofitting front-ends to accommodate them in existing locations. What…
Low Prices Cause Deflation Worries
Sales results from the Thanksgiving weekend pointed out the power of discounting. Low prices are an attractive draw for consumers, but some economists are worried that too much of a…
Nordstrom Spas with Competition
Luxury retailer Nordstrom announced that it is opening a free-standing day spa near the third-floor entrance of its Michigan Avenue store in Chicago. Do beauty, health and wellness programs such…
Malt-O-Meal Bags Quaker Cereal Brands
Private label cereal manufacturer, Malt-O-Meal, has purchased the bagged cereal division of Quaker Oats. Included in the sale are the Frosted Flakes, Marshmallow Safari, Apple Zaps and Cocoa Blasts cereal…
Big Boxes Looking Up
The Hartford Courant reports that Wal-Mart is eschewing its normal one-story layout to open a five-story store at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza in Los Angeles. What impact will cart conveyor…
Bombs Planted in Ikea Stores
Reuters reports that two bombs were found today in Ikea stores in the Netherlands. Another suspicious package, destroyed in a controlled explosion, was discovered in a third store. Does the…
Store Guests Returning Merchandise are Targeted
The Boston Globe reports that Target and Best Buy have adopted policies to make it more restrictive and expensive for consumers trying to return Christmas gifts. How important a factor…
Kings’ Levitan to Return Phone Calls
With the announcement that the deal for D’Agostino Supermarkets to buy Kings has fallen through, the upscale New Jersey supermarket chain is on the market – again. Where does Kings…
Hain Celestial Imagines Growth in Natural Beverages
Natural foods manufacturer, Hain Celestial, announced yesterday that it has acquired Imagine Foods, which has a strong lineup of rice- and soy-based drinks that fit nicely within Hain Celestial’s beverage…
