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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Consumers Want Clean or Else
More than half of supermarket shoppers and nearly three-quarters of fast food patrons would leave immediately if they thought the store was dirty, according to a consumer survey. Is…
Jack in the Box to Expand G/C-store Format
Jack in the Box restaurant chain announced plans yesterday to expand the company’s Box C-Store format. This previously tested configuration includes a Jack in the Box restaurant combined with a…
Minimum Wage Not Enough to Live On
The National Low Income Housing Coalition reports that the average worker needs to make at least three times the minimum wage to be able to afford the rent for a…
The Economically Conscientious Objector
The public declarations of the Bush administration make a war against Iraq sound inevitable. What economic impact will a war against Iraq have on American consumers and retailing? Should the…
HBC: The Battle Continues
Grocery’s failure to excel in HBC has been tied to many factors, including a consumer perception that the channel is not price competitive, out-of-stock issues and being slow to market…
Dragon Fruit to Light Fire Under Produce Sales
A new exotic, the pitahaya or the dragon fruit, may be poised to make an impact in supermarket produce aisles and as an ingredient in other foods. The pitahava is…
Contrarian Picks Fleming
The wholesaler has been taking its hits recently on the business pages and in its share price, but James Fraser, editor of the Ruminations of The Contrary Investor newsletter…
The Spiritual Component of Leadership
Vollie Melson, Director, Leadership Initiatives, NACS, writes in a column titled, The Leadership-Spirituality Connection, that there is a definitive link between leadership and spirituality. Do you agree?
Consumers Go Online for Health Information
A new survey has found that 44 percent of women and 32 percent of men in the USA and Europe go online to search the Internet for health information. How…
A Case of Deja Blue in Water Category
Dr. Pepper/Seven Up (DPSU) bottlers has reportedly made breaking into the water category a “very big priority,” with plans to roll out its Deja Blue water brand nationally from its…
Zero Financing Masks Retail Sales Problems
Zero percent finance offers on cars is one thing, but quite another on $149 vacuum cleaners, according to Todd Kuhrt, an analyst with Midwest Research of Cleveland, Ohio. Will special…
Kmart COO: We’ve Got Product In Stock
Kmart’s sales have been hurt more by the consumer perception of out-of-stocks than actual product being absent from the shelf, according to the company’s chief operating officer. What can…
Designer Logos are Hot – Not!
Designer logos are no longer hip, says a New York Times article. Once a symbol of prestige, designer logos are becoming increasingly hard to find on apparel and other accessories…
Kroger’s Food 4 Less Gets More Stores in Vegas
Kroger has announced an agreement to purchase 18 Raley’s in Las Vegas. The deal is expected to be finalized within 30 days and the former Raley’s will be converted to…
Consumer Group to Protest at 300 Starbucks
The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) has announced that it will distribute leaflets and protest at a Starbucks intending to “call attention to Starbucks’ use of GE ingredients in their food…
What’s for Dinner? Cloned Meat
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) recently issued a report that supported using cloned adult animals as a regular element of the nation’s agricultural production process. Will consumers accept milk…
Are Retail Sales Up or Down?
The U.S. Commerce Department reported on Friday that retail sales increased 0.8 percent last month after consecutive month decreases in June and July. Many of the major retail chains,…
Will the ‘Morning-After’ Pill Make the Rx to OTC Switch?
An article in The New England Journal of Medicine is calling for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve the so-called ‘Morning-After’ pill for over-the-counter distribution. Would the…
A-B Goes National with Low-Carb Brew
Anheuser-Busch plans a national rollout of Michelob Ultra, “the first major beer to claim that it is low in carbohydrates,” supported by consumer print, radio and outdoor ads. How…
Research Shows There’s No Loyalty for Loyalty Programs
According to a new research study done in the UK, loyalty cards do not loyal customers make. Do loyalty cards help retailers acquire and keep customers?
Ahold Acquires Another Foodservice Distributor
U.S. Foodservice, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ahold, announced that is is acquiring Lady Baltimore Foods, a foodservice distributor based in Kansas City, KS. What are the pros and cons of…
