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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Consumers Shop Less and Trade Down More
The Star Tribune of Minneapolis/St. Paul maintains that consumers are shopping less often and purchasing fewer items as concerns over the economy continue to grow. Grocery shoppers are trading down…
Convenience Items Clean Up
Products such as Procter & Gamble’s Swiffer, SC Johnson’s Pledge Grab-Its and other items designed to cut the time consumers spend cleaning are apparently here to stay. Will convenience…
NOW: Shame on Wal-Mart
The National Organization of Women and organized labor advocates are again taking exception with how Wal-Mart treats its employees. Wal-Mart’s position is that it pays competitive wages. Does NOW have…
Fred’s Small Boxes Keep Growing
The Memphis-based retail chain, Fred’s, is using its small box discount store format to ring up impressive sales and profit growth. Net income increased 73% in the second quarter of…
A Publix Record of Customer Service
Publix has built its reputation “not so much with the lowest prices, but rather with immaculate stores in the right locations, savvy marketing, and well-trained and friendly employees who own…
Boomers in Hog Heaven
Motorcycle unit sales have tripled over the last 10 years and risen 7.8 percent in the first six months this year. The growth has come, in large part, from aging…
D’Agostino: Kings’ Sized Opportunity or Mistake?
D’Agostino Supermarkets is expected to complete its $160 million deal to acquire Kings Supermarkets this week. In making the deal, D’Agostino is buying a chain with more stores (28…
Pre-paid Milk Card is a Hit with Consumers
Farm Stores in Florida is offering customers a card that prepays for milk. In addition to promoting dairy, card data is being mined to help Farm Stores identify its best…
Samples Getting Tossed by Cosmetics Industry
Lower volume numbers are causing cosmetics makers and retailers to become stingier about handing out free samples to consumers. Manufacturers are looking to contain costs while still acknowledging that most…
Consumers Get Real
Terrorist attacks, a struggling economy and scandals involving everyone from CEOs to the clergy have many wondering which way is up. The result according to an Orlando Sentinel piece is…
The King of Kmart’s Grocery Strategy
Former Albertson’s president and current consultant, Richard King was brought in last month by Kmart management to fix the retailer’s food business. Disappointing food sales have been given as one…
Food Lion and Kash ‘n Karry Losing Price War
Delhaize has cut its forecast for the second time in two months, because of slower sales in its U.S. operations. A weakening economy and Wal-Mart are given as the reasons…
Report: Target’s on Target (Mostly)
A new Retail Forward report examines moves Target is likely to make over the next five years. Retail Forward sees a number of growth opportunities and challenges for Target. What…
The Big Chain that Could (Maybe)
Kmart chairman James Adamson and president Julian Day recently expressed optimism about the retailer’s future, despite a loss of $1.83 billion for the six-month period from February through July. September…
Starbucks Good for the Competition’s Business
Although it has often been cast as the villain in a big brute versus small guy scenario, it turns out that Starbucks is often good for business – other coffee…
Fruits and Veggies Dangerous to Your Health
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) wants consumers to know that they are most likely to contract food-borne illnesses from fruits and vegetables and not meat, as…
Sexual Enhancement Products Fail to Enhance
A new study says that nearly 60 percent of products marketed for their sexual enhancement properties fail to live up to their claims. Do retailers have a responsibility to their…
Melting Pot Food Trends
The American Culinary Federation conference held in July identified a number of consumer eating trends that will impact food purchases outside and inside the home, among them “healthy” comfort and…
It’s the Consumer’s Choice for Grocery
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and what makes the best supermarket pretty much follows the same logic, according to a column by Linda Moore on the gomemphis.com…
Does FMI/FDI Have 20/20 Vision?
The FDI 2002 Midyear Executive Conference provided Tim Hammonds (FMI) and John Block (FDI) an opportunity to update members on the progress of the merger between the two associations. …
The Grocery War Against Terrorism
The events of September 11, 2001 reinforced the need for securing the safety of food throughout the supply chain. Have retailers made food security their top priority as has been…
