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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Warehouse Clubs Reign in January Sales
Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s posted jumps in same-store sales in January. However, warehouse club chains did not conquer the world as predicted.
Anheuser-Busch, Bacardi Team up to Enter Malternative Race
Anheuser-Busch Cos. rushes in with Bacardi USA to launch its entry “malternative” product, potenitally beating malt beverage releases from Miller Brewing Co. and SKYY Spirits, and Miller and Allied Domecq…
Tobacco Giant Puts the Kibosh on Magazine Ads
Philip Morris’ cutting back significantly for the rest of the year in what could be a last call for its paid media advertising, is hardly good news for magazine publishers…
Blimpie Swaps Coke for Pepsi
Atlanta-based Blimpie International is dumping Coca-Cola from its 1,900 sandwich outlets for a better deal from Pepsi. Is Coke losing its grip fountain-side?
Moody’s Cuts Rite Aid, Prematurely?
Moody’s Investors Service cut Camp Hill, Pennsylvania-based Rite Aid Corp.’s credit and debt ratings, warning that the struggling number-three U.S. drugstore chain could have difficulty making interest payments and that…
Wal-Mart Puerto Rico Acquires Supermercados Amigo
Wal-Mart Puerto Rico has acquired Supermercados Amigo, the number one supermarket chain in Puerto Rico, operating 35 supermarkets and employing more than 4,500. As soon as the pertinent government authorities…
Coors Seals Deal for Carling, Stirs Other Brewers
Adolph Coors Co., third-largest brewer in the U.S., completed the purchase of the Carling business portion of Bass Brewers from Interbrew S.A. for $1.7 billion. The deal makes newly created…
Anheuser-Busch’s ‘Satin Sheets’ Rates Most Popular During Super Bowl
St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. won USA Today’s Super Bowl Ad Meter for the fourth year in a row. Its “Satin Sheets” ad was voted the most popular commercial. Does…
Study Finds Kids Love the Internet and Recognize Banner Ads as Bunk
According to a study conducted for Advertising Age by NeoPets.com, a youth-oriented Web site, a majority of children would rather have access to the Internet than TV, radio or magazines…
Oh Thank Heaven for Store Closings and Growth Initiatives
7-Eleven Inc. will close approximately 120 under-performing stores in the first quarter of 2002. It plans on a number of growth initiatives manned by a newly-hired maverick ad agency to…
Kohl’s Comes up Smelling Like a Rose
In a landscape littered with retail chain downsizing and demises, Menomonee Falls, Wis.-based Kohl’s is growing, and at a manageable rate. Analysts wonder when Kohl’s luck will run out or…
CVS Posts Historic Loss in the Face of Stringent Competition
CVS Corp. based in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, reports its first quarterly loss, a net loss of $133.8 million, compared with year-earlier net income of $206.2 million. Although results were in…
Addressing Consumers with Faster Sampling Rates
How do you create and distribute new product marketing messages that reach and are acted on by consumers?
Shoppers Strive for Health and Hearth
What are the most important factors motivating current shopping behavior on a macroeconomic level?
Maryland and Texas Wine Lovers Persist on Interstate Shipments
Moderator Comment: Should there be a prohibition on direct delivery of alcoholic products from an out-of-state location?
Business Enhancement Tools Introduced at FMI MARKETECHNICS
What technology exhibited at FMI MARKETECHNICS will have the greatest impact on retailing and distribution practices?
Merger of Breweries May Usurp Bud
Will being part of a bigger brewery mean greater share for Miller brands?
9-11 Fallout on California Wine Sales Less than Expected
What are the prospects for the wine category in 2002 and beyond?
Success Rests on Laurels of Good Service
What defines good service at retail?
Private Exchanges Find Foothold
What is the future of public exchanges?
Wal-Mart Tests Its Own Candy Store Within a Supercenter
Wal-Mart continues to stay focused on its “retailtainment” strategy and it clearly sees the Kid Connection as an opportunity to drive take-home candy sales.
