RECENT discussions
Discussions
Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
FDA Says Swedish Researchers May Be Right on Acrylamide
The report seven months ago that Swedish researchers had discovered high levels of potentially cancer-causing acrylamide in baked and fried foods was met with skepticism in this and other news…
Sushi, Slurpees and 7-Eleven
The convenience store chain is rolling out fresh new products that it hopes will broaden its appeal to a greater number of consumers. Sushi roll samplers, Szechuan beef bowls, Fettucine…
Private Label Champagne Wins Taste Test
A panel of seven wine experts rated Tesco’s private label champagne as the winner of a taste test that included some of France’s best known brands. What lessons can American…
The Future is Self-Service
Self-checkouts are a fait accompli. Supermarkets, mass merchandisers and DIY outlets are installing them as standard equipment in new stores and retrofitting front-ends to accommodate them in existing locations. What…
Low Prices Cause Deflation Worries
Sales results from the Thanksgiving weekend pointed out the power of discounting. Low prices are an attractive draw for consumers, but some economists are worried that too much of a…
Nordstrom Spas with Competition
Luxury retailer Nordstrom announced that it is opening a free-standing day spa near the third-floor entrance of its Michigan Avenue store in Chicago. Do beauty, health and wellness programs such…
Malt-O-Meal Bags Quaker Cereal Brands
Private label cereal manufacturer, Malt-O-Meal, has purchased the bagged cereal division of Quaker Oats. Included in the sale are the Frosted Flakes, Marshmallow Safari, Apple Zaps and Cocoa Blasts cereal…
Big Boxes Looking Up
The Hartford Courant reports that Wal-Mart is eschewing its normal one-story layout to open a five-story store at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza in Los Angeles. What impact will cart conveyor…
Bombs Planted in Ikea Stores
Reuters reports that two bombs were found today in Ikea stores in the Netherlands. Another suspicious package, destroyed in a controlled explosion, was discovered in a third store. Does the…
Store Guests Returning Merchandise are Targeted
The Boston Globe reports that Target and Best Buy have adopted policies to make it more restrictive and expensive for consumers trying to return Christmas gifts. How important a factor…
Kings’ Levitan to Return Phone Calls
With the announcement that the deal for D’Agostino Supermarkets to buy Kings has fallen through, the upscale New Jersey supermarket chain is on the market – again. Where does Kings…
Hain Celestial Imagines Growth in Natural Beverages
Natural foods manufacturer, Hain Celestial, announced yesterday that it has acquired Imagine Foods, which has a strong lineup of rice- and soy-based drinks that fit nicely within Hain Celestial’s beverage…
Home Depot to Let Customers Do It Themselves
Home Depot has taken a step in addressing its information technology and customer service issues with the announcement that they will be adding self-service checkouts from NCR in 800 of…
Kraft Tells Grocers Half Now, Half Later
Kraft Foods announced a change in its slotting allowance payment program in which they “will offer half the payment when the retailer accepts its product and the other half only…
Trader Joe’s Goes to the Mall
The Philadelphia Business Journal reports that by the end of 2003, Trader Joe’s will become the sole tenant of a new building being constructed at the Suburban Square Mall in…
Wanted: Execs to Stock Shelves and Run Register
A weak job market is benefiting retailers as highly qualified professionals laid off from other fields and nearing the end of jobless benefits seek store-level employment. What’s your assessment of…
Retailers Give Thanks for Black Friday Weekend
Sales for the two days following Thanksgiving were up 10.9 percent from the same days last year and there was a 40 increase in online sales (excluding travel) from Black…
Spiders Sour the Grapes
A bizarre report out of England from the BBC says that three shoppers that bought grapes from Tesco found black widow spiders in the bunch when they brought them home…
That’s How the Krispy Kreme Krumbles
An article on the Multex Investor web site, says that Krispy Kreme’s decision to sell its doughnuts in other outlets will hurt its ability to expand its own store network…
CEO Superstar
In a Women’s Wear Daily Business Review article, Dan Burrows writes that many companies are looking for bigger than life personalities to help lead them through the turbulent economic conditions…
Reaching Latinos Means More than Speaking Spanish
Effectively connecting with Hispanic consumers requires more than simply translating ads and commercials written in English into Spanish, say experts in the field. For many, MasterCard is a proper example…
