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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Health Concerns: BK Says Fuhgetaboutit!
Manufacturers, retailers and restaurant operators may be falling over themselves to introduce consumers to the latest and greatest in healthful food innovations, but Burger King says, “fuhgetaboutit.” The company…
Amazon Knows You Better Than Yourself
There’s no doubt in the minds of many that Amazon.com fits the role of a big brother. The question is whether it’s the kind of big brother that looks after…
Wal-Mart Turns Investigation Over to Authorities
An internal investigation by Wal-Mart into “the alleged unauthorized use of corporate-owned gift cards and personal reimbursements that appear to have been obtained … through the reporting of false information…
Anticipate Needs to Earn Loyalty
According to Forrester Research, as covered by Chief Marketer, meeting the consumer’s current needs isn’t enough to guarantee success. A marketer must also anticipate future needs. What can retailers and…
A&P Stock Surge Not Impressing Everyone
A&P enjoyed the distinction of being the biggest percentage gainer on the NY Stock Exchange yesterday, ending the day up 22.5 percent. Investor enthusiasm was inspired by a ratings upgrade…
Food Scientists Make Their Case for Functional Foods
A newly released report, “Functional Foods: Opportunities and Challenges,” urges government officials to create economic incentives for the food industry to be more active in producing foods designed to improve…
Strategy versus Execution: The Problem of Making it Happen
A new book, Making Strategy Work: Leading Effective Execution and Change by Wharton professor Lawrence Hrebiniak, focuses on the gap between developing business strategies and their implementation. Why is there…
Krispy Kreme Cancels Wal-Mart Test
It never issued a formal grade, but Krispy Kreme’s announcement it was closing six test factory stores in Wal-Marts indicates the doughnut chain was not giving itself any gold stars…
Burkle Getting Busy
Billionaire Ron Burkle and his private equity group, Yucaipa Cos., have been very busy on the deal front. As reported in two separate articles on MarketWatch.com and the Los Angeles…
Will $7 Million More Protect the Food Supply
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns pledged an additional $7 million to help protect the nation’s food supply in front of 2,000 food manufacturers, food processors, restaurant executives and food…
Teamsters Take Shot at Wal-Mart
The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) are not the only union looking to organize Wal-Mart employees. The Warehouse Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters has launched a Web…
Brits Leaving Supermarkets Behind
New research from Mintel says British consumers are increasingly moving away from supermarkets to do their food shopping in the traditional, small grocery store. Do you see a similar movement…
Retailers Seek Converts
Millions of dollars are spent every year trying to get customers inside retail stores. But every day, sales are being lost because of poor customer service and lack of employee…
Brands Unite In Sears/Kmart Deal
When shareholders of Sears, Roebuck and Co. vote tomorrow to approve the retailer’s merger with Kmart and form Sears Holdings Corp., they will be betting that the combined appeal of…
Independents Get Weird to Compete
One person’s unique is another’s weird. Either way, it’s not the same-old-same-old and independent retailers in small and medium-size markets across the U.S. want consumers to know that their businesses…
Having a Spanish-Speaking Organization Means Changing the Rules of HR
With the ever-increasing need to employ Spanish-speakers, HR departments are being challenged to find Hispanics who are fluent in both Spanish and English, who have the educational background, and who…
Survivor: Salem, Oregon
They are a tribe of survivors. For over 50 years, Greenbaum’s Quilted Forest, Cooke Stationery, Jackson Jewelers, Les Newman’s, Saffron Supply Co., Olson Florist, Court Street Lunch and Whitlock’s Vacuum…
The Key To Retail Success: Underpaid Executives
For a retail grocery chain as successful as Publix Super Markets, it sure doesn’t pay its top executives very well. At least not when you compare the salaries and bonuses…
Trade Dollars Not Very Loyal
The PROMO Xtra Trade Promotion 2005 study by Cannondale Associates measured a decline in the money consumer packaged goods companies spend on trade promotions and an increase in their spending…
English-Only Sign Gets Manager in Trouble
A 20-year old manager of a Dunkin’ Donuts in Yonkers, NY may have been doing the right thing when he responded to complaints about workers being disrespectful by speaking in…
Deal Breathes New Life Into Toy Biz
Jim Silver, publisher of the industry magazine Toy Book, thinks the deal by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Bain Capital Partners LLC, and Vornado Realty Trust to buy Toys ‘R’…
