BTS sales gain momentum at Meijer
Meijer Inc., which has priced 100 back-to-school items at $1 or less, is reporting that business for its BTS items have “consistently doubled over the past few weeks,” and while shoppers have gotten a jumpstart on shopping for school supplies, they’ll continue to purchase them over the next several months.
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2014 SN Category Guide: The new normal
IRI’s MarketPulse survey findings released last week indicate that fewer Americans are cutting back on nonessential items (51% in Q2 2014 vs. 60% in Q2 2011) and trying new brands priced below their regular brands (39% vs. 46% in Q2 2011), compared with three years ago.
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Demoulas encourages online applications
Demoulas Super Markets on Monday said that interested job applicants could submit interest via email, citing concern for safety at a scheduled job fair.
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Acquisitions, shutdowns impact Roundy's Q2 results
Roundy’s said acquisitions in Chicago and store closures in Minneapolis had a negative impact on financial results for the second quarter and first half ended June 28, though sales on continuing operations were up.
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Attorneys general urge market Basket to abide by law
In the wake of an ultimatum set forth by the management of Demoulas Market Basket stating that any associates who fail to return to work by Monday could be replaced, attorneys general for New Hampshire and Massachusetts acknowledged their awareness of the possible layoffs in a memo to the company.
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SpartanNash names EVP, merchandising and marketing
SpartanNash has promoted Larry Pierce to EVP, merchandising and marketing, effective immediately. Pierce most recently served the company as interim EVP, merchandising and marketing, since August 2013, and as VP, center store merchandising, since 2008. He has 35 years of food and beverage industry experience.
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Pathmark, like Waldbaums, drops loyalty card
Pathmark is the latest banner of A&P to drop its loyalty card, according to ads breaking this week.
As reported previously in SN, A&P’s Waldbaums division last month dropped the requirement that shoppers use loyalty cards. As at Walbaums, Pathmark said the new offer accompanies a program of everyday lower prices on staple items, reduced retails on America’s Choice private label products and specials detailed in a weekly sales circular.
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Five mega-trends driving category sales
I’m often asked for a brief overview of how categories are performing at retail, but it’s not a topic that leads to a quick take. There are many thousands of products on store shelves and a continued flood of new item introductions each year, so how can the situation be effectively summarized? Enter SN’s annual Category Guide. Written by SN’s editors, it provides a snapshot of hundreds of categories and a deeper look at 50. Readers can scan for a quick look or dig deeper.
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Full speed ahead in fresh foods
Although it was another strong year for the perimeter, retailers need to be in tune with customer trends and tastes to keep increasing fresh sales.
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Publix posts Q2 sales, earnings gains
Publix Super Markets said Friday that sales for the second quarter of 2014 were $7.5 billion, a 6.6% increase from last year’s $7 billion. Sales for the second quarter of 2014 were positively impacted 1.3% due to the Easter holiday being in the second quarter of 2014 but the first quarter of 2013.
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