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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Label Policy Draws Praise and Criticism
The FDA has issued an announcement detailing the agency’s plan to ease the criteria for companies wishing to make health claims for products, according to the Washington Post. The Grocery…
Supervalu and Nash Finch Confident
The chief executives of Supervalu and Nash Finch in separate conference calls with analysts expressed confidence that their grocery wholesale operations would fare well in head-to-head competition with C&S Wholesalers…
Asbury Puts Brake on Car Sales with Wal-Mart
The Asbury Automotive Group announced yesterday it was ending its used car sales test at four Wal-Mart stores, according to a Reuters report. Asbury cited lower than expected customer traffic…
Consumers and Retailers Wait on Tax Refunds
By the end of this month, refund checks will be sent to taxpayers as part of the Bush administration’s $350 billion tax-cut package. What they will do with the windfall…
Monsanto Sues Dairy for False Advertising
Monsanto has sued Oakhurst Dairy of Portland, Maine over milk labels that the biotechnology giant claims deceives consumers. Oakhurst’s milk labels include the statement claiming its milk doesn’t contain any…
McD’s Says Buy It Your Own Way
McDonald’s is testing kiosks in several markets that allow customers to place their own orders, according to a report by Reuters. It will review the results of the test and…
Wal-Mart Pulls Tags Off RFID Test
Wal-Mart’s and Gillette’s test of a smart-shelf system using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags was cancelled unexpectedly by the retailer according to reports on the Web site, Silicon.com and The…
Consumers Looking Beyond Big Box Prices
According to the Star Tribune, consumers may be beginning to demonstrate a willingness to pay more for goods if retailers offer them “knowledgeable service, an interesting selection and a pleasant…
Mexican Grocers Become Allies to Fight Wal-Mart
Reuters has reported Grupo Gigante, Organizacion Soriana and Comercial Mexicana announced they have formed an alliance to give them greater bargaining power with suppliers and make them more competitive with…
Clicks Go Better With Bricks
Consumers shopping on the web are increasingly making the trip to the local store to pickup their order, according to a Chicago Tribune report. David Fry, president, Fry Inc., a…
Spam It, Enough is Enough!
Telemarketers may have stopped calling but obtrusive marketing remains alive and well in the form of spam on the Internet, according to The Associated Press. “Consumers are getting inundated with…
Gigante Wants to Be Big in USA
Gigante, the Mexican retailer, has announced it plans to speed up its store expansion in the US to meet the needs of the growing Hispanic market. The chain plans to…
Handheld Watermelons
Families are smaller and more mobile than ever before and so are the watermelons they eat. Smaller, personal-sized watermelons, are proving to be a big hit with consumers who prefer…
7-Eleven Day is Free Slurpee Day
7-Eleven will be giving away up to five million free Slurpees to customers on Friday July 11 to celebrate the anniversary of the chain’s opening 76 years ago. Jim Keyes,…
Co-Branding Costco Style
A visit to Costco these days can turn up Kirkland Signature/Starbucks coffee, Kirkland Signature/Jelly Belly jelly beans, Kirkland Signature/Quaker cereals and, well, you get the idea. While the concept isn’t…
Retailers Get Schooled on Consumer Shopping Behavior
The back-to-school selling period used to be a virtual guarantee of a spike in retail sales, but not anymore. Consumers are putting off purchases, especially in categories such as apparel,…
Kroger Tests Dollar Stores in Houston
The Houston Business Journal has reported Kroger is testing its new dollar store concept in the local market. The dollar stores are located within existing Kroger locations but are setoff…
Execs Multitasking Challenged
Today, technology offers 24/7 connectivity, but does increased access increase productivity? The answer to that depends on whom you ask, according to a New York Times report. Researchers such as…
Rx to OTC Switch Promises Heartburn Relief and Sales
Procter & Gamble is predicting the over-the-counter (OTC) launch of Prilosec heartburn relief medication will be one of the most successful Rx to OTC switches in history. With the FDA…
Europe Requires GMO Labels
The European Parliament has approved legislation requiring food and animal feed containing more than 0.9 percent of a genetically modified organism (GMO), according to a New York Times report. …
Acosta Acquires and Expands
Acosta Sales and Marketing Company has acquired Luke Soules/Acosta Southwest, a broker serving Texas and New Mexico. Gary Chartrand, Acosta’s chairman and chief executive officer, said the acquisition was key…
