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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Tasty Fries Takes Order for 10,000 Vending Machines
Tasty Fries, Inc. has received a purchase order agreement to manufacture and provide 10,000 state-of-the-art French fry vending machines by 2004. Will American consumers buy French fries from a…
King of the Working Class Sets Sights on Loftier Patrons
After becoming the nation’s biggest company, Wal-Mart is setting its sights on a fresh target: more affluent shoppers. What does Wal-Mart need to do to broaden the consumer base…
Online Shopping: Price Tops Convenience?
Evidence now suggests that online shoppers are more concerned about price than about new features or convenience – the advantage which e-tailers once thought would allow them to charge more…
Holistic Yet Tasteful New Products Abound
A cornucopia of new product ranges from P&G’s Baby Stages line to healthful snacks to organic pet supplements. Are new product failure fees or other up-front monies justified? How can…
Healthy Foods Venture Waxes Dysfunctional
A joint venture of Quaker Oats and Swiss health-care giant Novartis AG to develop products called “functional foods” has quietly been scrapped. Is there a mass market for nutraceuticals?
Stop & Shop Becomes One-Stop for Dunkin’ Donuts
The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company and Dunkin’ Donuts have formed a strategic alliance in which Dunkin’ Donuts will open full-service stores in Stop & Shop locations throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut…
Federal Regulators Favor Big Business with ‘Superficial’ GM Reviews
Federal regulators offer only “superficial” reviews of some GM crops and go too far keeping secrets to protect corporate interests. Considering the criticism from the National Academy of Sciences would…
Bottled Water Rages Fierce Amongst Beverages
The most brutal battle in the beverage industry is the one for dominance of bottled water. As competition for share of the bottled water category increases, do you expect to…
Heartburn Keeps Detroit Awake at Night
Of the nearly 1,000,000 people in the Detroit area who suffer from heartburn, almost 75 percent experience nighttime heartburn, a painful and serious health concern. What role should retailers take…
Online Ads Increase Brand Impact in Combined Campaign
The first study to analyze the combined effects of online, print and TV advertising in a single product campaign found the online component significantly increased the campaign’s measurable brand awareness…
Kellogg Looks to Snack Its Way to Growth
Kellogg Co., the number-two U.S. cereal maker, will introduce more products into its new distribution system, a move it says should stimulate sales growth this year. Does it make sense…
Convenience Drives Internet Retail Channel Growth
Shopping on the Internet is experiencing rapid growth due to a combination of factors led by the convenience that online shopping offers consumers who seek to simplify their day-to-day shopping…
Hispanic Marketers Hit Hay Day Amidst Ad Recession
Despite the slump in overall ad spending, agencies that target Hispanic consumers are scrambling to keep up with ever-growing campaigns. How can retailers market themselves more effectively to immigrants and…
International Industry Awards Small U.S. Breweries
Boston Beer and Bridgeport Brewing of Portland, Ore., were among the finalists for the bi-annual Brewing Industry International Awards, “the Oscars of the brewing industry.” How can stores use announcements…
E-tail and Pizza Beat Retail in Customer Satisfaction
Overall satisfaction with online retail is higher than traditional retail, according to the quarterly American Customer Satisfaction Index. Why do consumers prefer to shop online?
Delhaize 2001 Core Profit Rises, 2002 in the Hot Seat
Delhaize is expected to report a more than 20 percent rise in 2001 core profits after posting strong sales growth earlier this month thanks to acquisitions and its growing U.S…
Albertson’s Introduces Food/Drug Store in Omaha
Albertson’s, Inc., opens its latest combination store format under the Albertson’s/Osco banner in Omaha. What challenges does Albertson’s face in achieving greater market share and profitability?
Retailers Debate Pulling Plug on E-Commerce
Under tremendous pressure to focus on their bottom lines, traditional retailers could re-evaluate and scale back, or terminate investments in their e-commerce operations. Does retailing make business sense online?
Tesco and Sainsbury Deny Price Scam Allegations
Tesco PLC countered accusations that its pricing strategy was a scam and that it had formed a pricing cartel with Sainsbury as “rubbish.” How should retailers deal with negative…
Chicago Mayor Woos Harrods
Mayor Richard Daley, impressed by Harrods in London, invitated owner Mohamed Al Fayed to set up shop in Chicago. Will Harrods be able to duplicate its retailing success if it…
Labor Loses Founding President of the UFCW
Bill H. Wynn, retired president of the 1.4 million member United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and a primary architect of the modern labor movement, passed away after…
