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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Costco’s Chairman Speaks
After 20-years of operation, Costco’s founders have seen their vision translated into 40 million dues paying members that are expected to spend $38 billion this year and $42 billion next…
Union and Safeway Agree: Sell Dominick’s
Reuters reports that the United Food and Commercial Workers representing 8,900 associates and Safeway have agreed on a labor contract that calls for Safeway to try and sell its Dominick’s…
Tropicana and Galaxy are Smoothie Operators
Tropicana and Galaxy Nutritional Foods have announced a joint venture to launch a new soy-based beverage called the Galaxy Ultra Smoothie. The new drink will include a blend of Tropicana…
Cheeseburgers in Paradise and Omaha
According to a New York Times report, Berkshire Hathaway may join the bidding for Burger King. A sales agreement between Burger King parent, Diageo P.L.C. and an investment group headed…
Home Depot Retools Marketing Strategy
Home Depot’s chief executive officer, Robert Nardelli, has hired John “Softer Side of Sears” Costello to develop a marketing program to bring consumers back to Home Depot rather than going…
Clorox Looks for More Allies
Last week’s announcement of a joint venture with Procter & Gamble to develop new products for the Glad brand was the first with more to come, says Craig Sullivan, chairman…
Consumers Starved for Information
The chief executive of GNC, Mike Meyers, told the Pittsburgh Business Times that “About a year ago, we started doing some extensive research with consumers to see what they were…
Consumers Shopping (Online) Earlier for Christmas
While retail stores get ready for the Black Friday traffic jam, online stores are already seeing a spike in holiday shopping traffic according to separate research from Nielsen//NetRatings and ComScore/Media…
Women at the Top
A new study from the nonprofit research group, Catalyst, says that women remain underrepresented in top jobs in corporate America.Why are not more women in top corporate positions within retail…
Home Depot Settles Out of Court
It is going to cost $3.8 million now and $20 million more over the next three years, but Home Depot has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit brought against the…
TV Takes Foot Traffic Seriously
A retailer in the UK is installing plasma television screens into the floor of stores, says Ananova.com. The screens will run advertisements and promote products on sale and special offers…
Grocers Try to Round Up Houston Market
Long-time Houston area retailers such as Kroger and Randalls as well as relative newcomers such as H.E.B. and Wal-Mart are vying to capture a greater share of this diverse and…
Internet Costs States $26.6 Billion
A University of Tennessee study has projected that states will lose $26.6 billion this year and almost $55 billion in 2011 if the federal government does not repeal its moratorium…
Homeland Security: Will That Be a Credit or Debit Card?
The Defense Department, FBI and Transportation Security Administration are working on data capture and analysis systems that will allow them to review consumer transactions and other information to ferret out…
Segregation Hits the Produce Department
New federal guidelines stipulate that organic and non-organic foods shall be kept separated in stores, leading some to wonder if this will give either category of products a boost up…
When I’m 104
Dr. Robert Goldman, clinical assistant professor of medicine in the Department of Medicine Advancements at Oklahoma State sees humans living to 120 years of age with advancements in areas such…
Target Takes the Hudson River Line
The country’s number two mass merchant “has docked a Target-themed boat on the Hudson River at Chelsea Piers and will open it to shoppers for the next two weeks, beginning…
Good News, Bad News Day for Fleming
Yesterday, Fleming announced that Save Mart Supermarkets has agreed to buy 28 Food4Less stores in California. They also made a company announcement that they are under informal investigation by the…
Dominick’s: Let the Takeover Speculation Begin
Safeway’s labor problems in Chicago have led to widespread speculation about the eventual fate of the Dominick’s chain. A sale to Supervalu, Kroger, Ito-Yokado, Schnuck Markets, Meijer Stores as well…
The Good News and Nothing But from FMI
The Food Marketing Institute’s new magazine, ADVANTAGE, will “offer up nothing but warmed over positioning”, writes Ryan Mathews in an editorial on the Grocery Headquarters web site. Are trade associations…
Kmart As Vendor Advocate
Bob House is “the point man for communicating with the vendors caught in the gears of the Kmart (Chapter 11 bankruptcy) drama.” As Kmart’s vice president/voice of the vendor, Mr…
