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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Judge Tosses Suit Against McD’s
The U.S. District judge in New York, Robert Sweet threw out a suit against McDonald’s alleging it used deceptive advertising, reports The Chicago Tribune. What are your thoughts on this…
U.S. Foodservice Not for Sale, Yet
Royal Ahold’s news chief executive officer, Anders Moberg, says the company has no immediate plans to sell U.S. Foodservice. According to a report in The Baltimore Sun, Mr. Moberg told…
C&S Makes Foxy Move
C&S Wholesale Grocers is on the move. The Packer reports, it has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with The Nunes Co. of Salinas, Calif. to distribute vegetables under the Foxy…
C&S Goes Bicoastal
C&S has begun serving Fleming customers in California and Hawaii, some 450 Foodland, IGA, Food 4 Less and other bannered supermarkets and superettes. If it follows the same business model…
Universal Cuts Prices to Sell Music
The Universal Music Group, the world’s largest record company, announced yesterday it was cutting prices on its library of compact discs by up to 30 percent in the hopes it…
Online Grocery Finds Niche
The closing of PublixDirect recast doubt about the viability of online grocery services in the minds of many. Those don’t include customers of FreshDirect, MyWebGrocer, LowesFood.com, WeGoShop, Peapod and other…
Wal-Mart Has Vision for Business Opportunity
As the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart is number one in the sales of numerous product categories from groceries to magazines to toys. Now, the company that Sam built has set…
Albertsons Takes Store Within Store Route Again
Office Depot and Albertsons announced on Tuesday a deal for the office supply retailer to provide office and school supplies to the grocery/drug store operator. Which company benefits more from…
Women Hate Shopping, Love Deals
A new survey, “Retail Rituals: Women’s Changing Attitudes Toward Shopping,” says women have drastically changed the way they shop over the past two years. Carrie McCament, managing director, of the…
Delhaize Buys Harveys
Delhaize has agreed to purchase the J.H. Harvey chain of supermarkets for $26.1 million in cash and $18 million in assumed accounts payables and short-term liabilities. Involved in the deal…
Albertsons Charged for Overcharging
The San Diego Union-Tribune Web site reports Albertsons has been ordered to pay $1.85 million for scanner overcharges in California. According to the report, “Weights and Measures inspectors from 15…
Plastic Bag Costs Called Staggering
Plastic bags are used in approximately 80 percent of supermarket and convenience store transactions, helping to reduce retailer expenses while providing consumers with a sturdy and reliable tote for their…
Growing Share in the Health and Wellness Market
There is no faster growing, large consumer market in the U.S. than health and wellness. But, so far, most retailers have only been passive beneficiaries, e.g., the strong double-digit growth…
Kids Going to College Move Out and Up
Retailers have been quick to pick up on the realities of modern dorm living and have responded with special programs to meet the needs of college students and the parents…
Employees Turn Rite Aid Around
Mary Sammons, chief executive officer and president, Rite Aid credits the drug store chain’s 73,000 employees for getting the company turned around in spite of the difficult times it has…
Asda to Associates: Be Fruitful and Multiply
Asda, the UK-based division of Wal-Mart, is giving company associates paid time-off for in vitro fertilisation (IVF). The company made the decision to offer the program after receiving numerous…
Study: People in Suburbs Are Fat
According to an Associated Press report, “People who live in sprawled-out suburbs where they must drive to school, work or the store are likely to weigh 6 more pounds than…
Dollar General’s Earns Big Bucks
Dollar General announced its earnings climbed 41 percent in the most recent quarter versus the same period the last year. Bernard Sands analyst Richard Hastings said , “Consumer acceptance of…
MLK’s Dream
People around the nation yesterday marked the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech. Have the retail and consumer goods industries reached Martin Luther King’s…
CoolSavings Makes Money Now
Matt Moog, chief executive officer, CoolSavings inherited a company that at one point had $260,000 in the bank and $17 million in current debt. To turn things around, Business Week…
RFID Debates Continues
Mark Baard, in his Wired Web site column, claims that retailers and suppliers, stung by negative reaction to RFID by consumer privacy groups, had added the sensors so they can…
