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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Marshall Field’s Expands Nationally via Mail
The department store chain Marshall Field’s has begun publishing its own catalog. It is seen by the company as a means of expanding its geographical reach without having to build…
QFC Delists Locals for National Brands and Private Label
The QFC division of Kroger is delisting local vendor products in favor of national and private label brands. Local vendors such as Snoqualmie Gourmet Ice Cream are being dropped from…
PepsiCo Avoids Snack Police
The outcry over obesity in society has snack food giant, PepsiCo, looking to come up with nutritious alternatives to its popular salted snack and sugar-laden beverage fare. Is PepsiCo making…
Nathan’s Not to Be Famous Much Longer at HD
Home Depot has notified Nathan’s Famous that it will not be renewing its licensing agreements for the restaurant chain to operate restaurants in eight HD locations. What do you think…
Limited Growth Seen for Warehouse Clubs
Warehouse clubs have just about reached their point of diminishing returns, according to some industry analysts: others, not so sure. Are there (almost) too many warehouse clubs operating in the…
Convenience Stores Opposed to FDA Control of Tobacco
NACS has come out against a bill (S.2626) that would give the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco manufacturing. The outcome of this bill could have a significant impact on…
Dumping Retail Stocks a No-Brainer
According to CBS MarketWatch, yesterday was a day when “dumping retail stocks seemed like a no-brainer for many investors.” Kroger’s announcement that Wal-Mart was cutting into its food sales gave…
Kmart Banks on Santa Claus
Kmart is looking to get a head start on the competition for the upcoming Christmas selling season, according to Tom Walsh of the Detroit Free Press. The upcoming holiday selling…
Consumers Want Clean or Else
More than half of supermarket shoppers and nearly three-quarters of fast food patrons would leave immediately if they thought the store was dirty, according to a consumer survey. Is…
Jack in the Box to Expand G/C-store Format
Jack in the Box restaurant chain announced plans yesterday to expand the company’s Box C-Store format. This previously tested configuration includes a Jack in the Box restaurant combined with a…
Minimum Wage Not Enough to Live On
The National Low Income Housing Coalition reports that the average worker needs to make at least three times the minimum wage to be able to afford the rent for a…
The Economically Conscientious Objector
The public declarations of the Bush administration make a war against Iraq sound inevitable. What economic impact will a war against Iraq have on American consumers and retailing? Should the…
HBC: The Battle Continues
Grocery’s failure to excel in HBC has been tied to many factors, including a consumer perception that the channel is not price competitive, out-of-stock issues and being slow to market…
Dragon Fruit to Light Fire Under Produce Sales
A new exotic, the pitahaya or the dragon fruit, may be poised to make an impact in supermarket produce aisles and as an ingredient in other foods. The pitahava is…
Contrarian Picks Fleming
The wholesaler has been taking its hits recently on the business pages and in its share price, but James Fraser, editor of the Ruminations of The Contrary Investor newsletter…
The Spiritual Component of Leadership
Vollie Melson, Director, Leadership Initiatives, NACS, writes in a column titled, The Leadership-Spirituality Connection, that there is a definitive link between leadership and spirituality. Do you agree?
Consumers Go Online for Health Information
A new survey has found that 44 percent of women and 32 percent of men in the USA and Europe go online to search the Internet for health information. How…
A Case of Deja Blue in Water Category
Dr. Pepper/Seven Up (DPSU) bottlers has reportedly made breaking into the water category a “very big priority,” with plans to roll out its Deja Blue water brand nationally from its…
Zero Financing Masks Retail Sales Problems
Zero percent finance offers on cars is one thing, but quite another on $149 vacuum cleaners, according to Todd Kuhrt, an analyst with Midwest Research of Cleveland, Ohio. Will special…
Kmart COO: We’ve Got Product In Stock
Kmart’s sales have been hurt more by the consumer perception of out-of-stocks than actual product being absent from the shelf, according to the company’s chief operating officer. What can…
Designer Logos are Hot – Not!
Designer logos are no longer hip, says a New York Times article. Once a symbol of prestige, designer logos are becoming increasingly hard to find on apparel and other accessories…
