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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Wal-Mart and Albertsons Looking at BJ’s
The Deal reports that Wal-Mart may have made a bid to buy the BJ’s Wholesale Club chain and that Albertsons is another rumored suitor. Investors are unhappy with BJ’s…
Old Age Not Good for Pizza Sales
Mike Smith, a restaurant analyst at Fahnestock & Co. told Reuters, “On a longer-term basis, they (pizzerias) probably suffer more than other fast food companies from the aging of America.”…
7-Eleven’s PL Import Beer to Debut
7-Eleven will roll out its Santiago private label beer in June to about half of its stores in the US. The product will be brewed by SABMiller for 7-Eleven at…
Former Rite Aid CEO Settles
Martin Grass, the former chairman and chief executive officer of Rite Aid has agreed to settle a lawsuit by paying $1.45 million to shareholders who alleged the chain’s books were…
Retailers Broaden Options with Bandwidth
A report by Forrester Research says online retailers have a significant opportunity to drive greater sales through consumers with broadband connections if sites are upgraded to take advantage of the…
Low Prices and Bad Medicine Online
The good news for consumers is that they can save a bundle of money buying prescriptions online. The bad news is that fifty percent of online pharmacies are not properly…
Study: No Time to Get Organized
A new study conducted by Harris Interactive for American Demographics says 44 percent of Americans do not have enough time to get organized. Does the lack of organization in Americans’…
Driving Consumer Loyalty
A new research study says that, for inner-city consumers, the answer to better customer loyalty may lie in in transportation services. The study details Numero Uno Market and Ralphs free…
Eagle Needs Help to Keep Flying
Reuters reports Eagle Food Centers has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection citing an inability “to compete effectively with larger, more cost-efficient food retailers.” What do you expect to happen…
A-B Says Venus and Mars Are Alright
Anheuser-Busch has taken a unique route to marketing its beers, according to a piece in USA Today. The world’s largest brewer has moved past the typical “beer, buddies and babes”…
Red Cross: Businesses At Risk
Forty percent of small businesses damaged or destroyed during a major disaster close permanently, according to The Disaster Relief organization’s web site. Do retailers need to have a formal response…
States Come to Rescue Philip Morris, Sort Of
Attorney generals from 37 states filed a friend of the court brief yesterday seeking to reduce the bond Philip Morris USA must post to appeal a verdict that found the…
Gun Sales Become Problem For Wal-Mart
A report in The Los Angeles Times said California attorney general’s office found Wal-Mart stores “committed nearly 500 violations of the state’s gun laws, including selling weapons to felons and…
Chain to Add Store Jobs, Cut HQ
The UK’s number two supermarket chain, Sainsbury’s, is planning on adding 10,000 part-timers to its store payrolls to improve speed through the checkout. Sainsbury is also said to be considering…
Gas Prices Drop as Coalition Force Gains
Prices at the pump fell an average of six cents across the country over the past two weeks as concerns have eased over a possible gas shortage caused by the…
Judge to Philip Morris: Show Me the Money
Philip Morris USA asked Madison County (IL) Circuit Court Judge Nicholas Byron on Friday to reduce the $12 billion bond required to appeal the judge’s ruling the tobacco company had…
“Free From” Market Grows
Greater awareness on the part of medical authorities and consumers has spurred 165 percent growth in the sale of products that address food intolerance and allergies since 2000, according to…
The Next Big Thing is Really Small
An article in The Boston Globe reports that the growing segmentation of the consumer market means that, for every shopper who wants their’s super-sized, there is another who would prefer…
King Soopers Delivers with HomeShop
The Denver Post reports, “King Soopers is rolling out a revamped version of its home-delivery service that lets shoppers order and receive groceries on the same day for a $10…
Amazon Goes Google Over Search Feature
Reuters reports Amazon.com will offer Google’s web search technology and advertising services on the Internet retailer’s web site. The two companies signed a multi-year deal that will allow shoppers to…
Now in Aisle 7, Home and Auto Insurance
Asda announced earlier in the week that the chain’s shoppers can purchase auto, home and travel insurance through the retailer. Asda has also confirmed it is considering offering additional financial…
