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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
The Mother of All Union Battles
The Socialist Worker believes the outcome of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) strike in Southern California will determine the fate of unions throughout the grocery industry and is…
Why CRM Doesn’t Work
Why CRM Doesn’t Work, How to Win By Letting Customers Manage the Relationship by Frederick Newell (Bloomberg Press, 2003) provides a concisely written, easy-to-follow analysis of the missteps and opportunities…
After the Hype is Gone
A report in the Los Angeles Times covers the fall of antioxidant supplements from the next big thing in medical breakthroughs to the poster child for quackery in some scientific…
Kraft Target of Anti-GMO Consumers
Reuters reports that activists across the country demonstrated in front of supermarkets and Kraft Foods facilities to protest the manufacturer’s use of genetically modified ingredients in its branded products. Should…
Amazon Delivers Gourmet Groceries
Amazon.com is in the grocery retailing business. This past weekend, Jeff Bezos and company launched a gourmet-food department on the Web site offering products from nearly 200 merchants, including Seattle…
Barnesandnoble.com Ups Free Delivery Ante
Barnes & Noble’s online store shoppers in some eastern states were given an added reason to place an order when the books, music and gifts retailer sent an email earlier…
New Label Laws To Cost a COOL $4B
New country of origin labeling (COOL) requirements could cost the food industry up to $4 billion in the first year, more than twice the original estimate, according to anonymous sources…
Estee Lauder to Create New Line for Kohl’s
A deal is expected to be announced as early as today that would put Estee Lauder cosmetics counters in Kohl’s stores, reports the Wall Street Journal. What are your thoughts…
KFC Takes Healthy Marketing Approach
A new commercial form KFC will try and convince consumers that fried chicken has a place in the diets of people who want to eat more healthfully, reports the New…
RJR To Buy Brown & Williamson
R.J. Reynolds has agreed to buy Brown & Williamson from British American Tobacco in a stock deal valued at $2.6 billion, reports the New York Times. What will this deal…
The Un-Wal-Mart
The strike continues in California and coincidentally, or not, Wal-Mart has moved up its plans to open its Supercenters in the state beginning next year with 40 units to be…
Cub Foods Splits Merchandising Duties
The Packer reports Cub Foods has plans to split its merchandising functions into two divisions in an attempt to be more responsive to the needs of local consumers. Is there…
OJ Promises to Lower Cholesterol
Minute Maid will begin rolling-out its new cholesterol-lowering orange juice with plant sterols, Minute Maid Premium Heart Wise, today with plans to have the product in national distribution by Thanksgiving…
Feds Arrest Illegals Cleaning Wal-Marts
Federal agents arrested more than 250 alleged illegal immigrants working as janitors in 60 separate Wal-Mart stores across the country yesterday, reports the New York Times. What are your thoughts…
Drugstore.com Campaign Warning
Drugstore.com announced yesterday it was launching a public awareness campaign to warn consumers about the dangers of buying medications online, reports the Washington Post. Has the Internet turned the prescription…
Judge Rules on Unsavory Sauce Case
By accounts, Maurice Bessinger makes a pretty decent barbecue sauce. It was good enough to be sold in retail stores including Sam’s, Wal-Mart, Food Lion and Winn-Dixie at one point…
McD’s Settles Different Kind of Obesity Suit
When you hear McDonald’s is being sued again, you almost immediately think the chain is being hit with another nuisance suit by a super-sized consumer who treats every drive-thru window…
Marshall Field’s Boutique Motors Along
The department store chain, which has been criticized in the past for offering a less than scintillating shopping experience, has opened a new in-store boutique selling, of all things, Italian…
Commissary’s Sales Take Sail Due to Strike
Commissaries at the San Diego Naval Station and in other areas with military installations dealing with the strike by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union are among the…
Discrimination Suit Settled
Albertsons has settled a suit, which alleged the grocery chain discriminated against female employees by excluding prescription contraceptives from the company’s health care plan. Do you agree? Does the exclusion…
Pricing for Profit
A study conducted by University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business professor Marshall Fisher and Vishal Gaur of NYU’s Stern School of Business points out the need for retailers to…
