Monthly Archives: August 2014

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Lowe’s grants $500,000 to The Thurgood Marshall College Fund to assist graduating seniors in need of financial support

Grant to Fund Scholarships for Graduating Seniors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities 

Washington, DC, 2014-8-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Thurgood Marshall College Fund is pleased to announce a $500,000 grant from Lowe’s to assist students attending publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This grant will assist graduating seniors in need of financial support to complete their final course requirements at TMCF’s 47 member-schools.

“Thousands of college students today continue to face the fear of having to drop out, even in their last year, due to financial difficulties,” said TMCF President & CEO Johnny C. Taylor Jr. “With continued funding from foundations, government entities and companies like Lowe’s, TMCF is able to step in and become a lifeline to help students fulfill their college dreams.”

Allek Surratt, a Howard University senior majoring in accounting, was a student in this very dilemma in 2013. Surratt needed additional financial assistance to cover his tuition costs so he could complete his graduation requirements.

“I extend my sincerest gratitude to Lowe’s and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund for the scholarship I received for the 2013-2014 academic year,” Surratt said. “It was a long journey to get to this moment; and now I am face-to-face with the opportunity to graduate from Howard with honors.”

Lowe’s has donated more than $4 million to national partners since 2009 to help college seniors complete their education. For the past four years, Lowe’s has partnered with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to fund scholarships for more than 140 students; and, today’s $500,000 donation brings Lowe’s contributions to TMCF to nearly $1 million.

“Improving educational opportunities for students has been an important focus for Lowe’s for more than 50 years,” said Joan Higginbotham, Lowe’s director of community relations. “In partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, we’re honored to provide the critical assistance students need to reach the finish line and graduate.”

Grant funding and individual giving enables TMCF to continue to build programs that help students get the most from their education and provide opportunities to become part of a new generation of global leaders.

“The increased costs of college, along with stricter grant and loan requirements, makes corporate gifts like this all the more important as we do our best to help all students get to and through college,” Taylor said. “Lowe’s has been a great supporter of TMCF, and its continued partnership demonstrates its commitment to improve education and build tomorrow’s leaders.”

About the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF)
TMCF is named for the U.S. Supreme Court’s first African-American Justice. Established in 1987, TMCF supports and represents nearly 300,000 students attending its 47 member-schools that include publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), medical schools and law schools. Through its scholarships and programs, TMCF plays a key role in preparing the leaders of tomorrow. For more information on TMCF programs, visit thurgoodmarhsallcollegefund.org.

About Lowe’s in the Community 
Lowe’s, a FORTUNE® 100 home improvement company, has a 50-year legacy of supporting the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects.  Since 2007, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together have contributed nearly $200 million to these efforts, and for more than two decades Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers have donated their time to make our communities better places to live. To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility and LowesInTheCommunity.tumblr.com.

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The National Retail Federation comments on the release of IRS instructions on the employer mandate’s reporting requirement

WASHINGTON, 2014-8-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — The National Retail Federation today issued the following statement from Vice President and Employee Benefits Policy Counsel Neil Trautwein on the release of Internal Revenue Service instructions on the employer mandate’s reporting requirement:

“The additional guidance from the administration is welcomed by the employer community and retail industry. Now that we have the regulations, the forms and the instructions, companies can continue their compliance activities. While the instructions were delayed, they remain helpful.

“The Affordable Care Act is still a work in progress and additional regulatory provisions and requirements will be forthcoming. Additional delays or changes may follow.

“The retail industry remains committed to complying with the law and NRF will continue its active dialogue with the administration and its agencies to ease implementation burdens for employers and employees. NRF is hopeful that Congress can continue its productive role in health care implementation.”

NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and Internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. Retail is the nation’s largest private sector employer, supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.5 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’s This is Retail campaign highlights the industry’s opportunities for life-long careers, how retailers strengthen communities, and the critical role that retail plays in driving innovation. www.nrf.com

Stephen E Schatz
202-626-8119
press@nrf.com
(855) NRF-Press

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CarMax, Inc. marks the opening of its first two stores in Portland

Announces more than $100,000 in charitable donations to Portland nonprofits, including a new playground in the Cully Community

RICHMOND, Va., 2014-8-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, today celebrated its first two stores in the Portland area, which are the company’s first stores in Oregon. CarMax’s Clackamas store is now open at 13750 SE Johnson Road. A second Portland area store in Beaverton is set to open at the end of September at 9405 SW Cascade Avenue. Each store will stock more than 250 used vehicles of nearly every make and model.

During today’s grand opening celebration, CarMax announced that The CarMax Foundation will invest approximately $85,000 into building a playground in the Cully community. The playground will be built in the spring of 2015 through a partnership with the Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East, the Helensview Heights Home Owners’ Association and KaBOOM!, the national nonprofit ensuring that all kids get the balance of play they need to become healthy and successful adults. One of 30 playgrounds The CarMax Foundation and KaBOOM! are building nationwide as part of a larger $4.1 million national partnership, the playground will help give children in and around the Helensview Heights neighborhood the joyful childhood they deserve.

“Giving back to the communities in which we live and work is an important part of the CarMax culture. Our new Portland stores are no exception,” said Tom Folliard, president and CEO of CarMax. “These stores will provide residents with the unique CarMax experience when they search for their perfect vehicle, and the new playground will provide children the needed space to be healthy and active.”

The CarMax Foundation also announced $10,000 grants to both the Boys & Girls Club of Portland Metropolitan Area and the YMCA of Columbia Willamette. These grants came at the recommendation of local CarMax associates. The CarMax Foundation has granted more than $20 million on behalf of associates across the country since 2003.

“CarMax associates are the most important part of our company,” said Torrey Moore, location general manager of the CarMax Clackamas store. “We work to hire individuals that value integrity above all else, and we definitely found that in Portland! We are excited about our more than 175 new associates in these two stores.”

CarMax was founded more than 20 years ago to fundamentally change the way car buying is done. We make the process more ethical, fair and transparent by offering a no-haggle, no-hassle experience and an incredible selection of CarMax Quality Certified vehicles. Every CarMax vehicle undergoes a rigorous 125+ point inspection, and we stand behind our vehicles with a 5-Day Money-Back Guarantee and a 30-Day Limited Warranty. CarMax customers can shop for nearly every make and model at our stores or online at carmax.com, with prices clearly listed for each of our more than 35,000 vehicles nationwide. CarMax also takes the hassle out of selling your car by offering fast, commitment free appraisals – we’ll buy your car, even if you don’t buy ours. Shopping at CarMax is truly the way car buying should be.

CarMax is sharing photos and videos from today’s event on the company Facebook page and through Twitter.

About CarMax
CarMax, a member of the FORTUNE 500 and the S&P 500, and one of the FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work For” for 10 consecutive years, is the nation’s largest retailer of used vehicles. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, CarMax currently operates 139 superstores in 70 markets. The CarMax consumer offer features low, no-haggle prices, a broad selection of CarMax Quality Certified used vehicles, and superior customer service. During the 12 months ending February 28, 2014, the company retailed 526,929 used cars and sold 342,576 wholesale vehicles at our in-store auctions. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com.

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Media Contacts 
Casey Werderman, CarMax Public Relations, (804) 747-0422 ext. 4773
Catherine Gryp, Public Relations Manager, (804) 747-0422 ext. 4029
Twitter: @CarMax, Facebook: facebook.com/CarMax

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Gap to air series of films by Academy Award-nominated director David Fincher as part of its new campaign Dress Normal

Dress Normal celebrates individuality and authenticity of personal style

NEW YORK, 2014-8-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — Gap, the iconic American clothing brand, today revealed a series of films that will air on TV, in cinema, in stores and online, created by Academy Award-nominated director David Fincher (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Social Network, Fight Club and the much anticipated Gone Girl). The four new commercials – Kiss, Drive, Golf and Stairs – mark Gap’s return to television.

Fincher’s inspiration and cinematic touch is clearly apparent, with a creative treatment that sets them apart from Gap’s previous TV campaigns.  The four films were created with Wieden+Kennedy New York as part of Gap’s new campaign, Dress Normal.

“We want these films to get people talking.  Each one features a confident woman at the center and tells a story of how liberating it is when you are being your most authentic self.  We believe everyone who watches them will identify with one or more of the characters,” said Seth Farbman, Gap Global Chief Marketing Officer. “We were thrilled to work with David Fincher, one of the greats of modern American cinema and a superb storyteller.  His highly detailed and authentic style resonates with the Gap brand and these films truly bring to life what our Dress Normal message means.”

Dress Normal is rooted in the same core values the brand has unapologetically stood for over the past 45 years – individualism and the liberation that comes from confidently being your most authentic self. Dress Normal boldly instructs individuals to shape their own authentic, personal style – and intentionally challenges every one of us to dress for ourselves.

“We were inspired by the bold and honest spirit of the millennial generation; their authenticity is what makes them stand apart in today’s complex world,” Said Stephen Sunnucks, Gap Global President.  “Gap has always stood for individuality and being your most authentic self.  By challenging the idea of what it means to dress normal, we hope to inspire confidence in everyone’s own personal style.”

The films use taglines such as ‘dress like no one’s watching’ and ‘simple clothes for you to complicate’.  They are all shot in black and white, evoking the era of Film Noir and giving a subtle nod to our fashion point of view that black denim is the must have trend this Fall.  They were all filmed in and around Los Angeles (“Golf” was filmed on location in Industry, CA and “Stairs” was filmed in Pasadena City Hall).  They launch in the US and UK in the week of September 1.

The commercials appear alongside a print campaign that features unique photography stills of recognizable people who are known for their own art of dressing normal, starting with Anjelica Huston, The Royal Tenenbaums; Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men; Michael K. Williams, Boardwalk Empire; Jena Malone, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire; and Zosia Mamet, Girls.

The Fall campaign marks the first creative execution of Dress Normal which begins its story with a classic Gap item and one of the coming season’s biggest trends – black denim – and season after season the narrative will shift to other iconic Gap staples.  The concept was developed in partnership with Wieden + Kennedy New York, known for bringing to life brands like Nike, Coca Cola, and Old Spice through provocative storytelling.

In addition to television, the campaign spans outdoor, mobile, direct, social, in store and digital. Gap has also enhanced its Styld.by platform with amplified digital and video content and a broader range of creative influencers, including popular bloggers, style experts, musicians, photographers, filmmakers and artists to curate the best fall looks and illustrate their version of Dress Normal. In mid-September, the brand will launch an experiential element to the campaign – the Dress Normal Project – which brings to life what it means to dress normal through the lens of consumers across North America.

All four commercials can be downloaded here, or watched and shared now on YouTube.

About Gap
Gap is a global apparel and accessories brand focused on delivering casual, American style. The brand offers classic iconic clothing that helps customers express their individuality through its Gap, GapKids, babyGap, GapMaternity and GapBody collections. With an optimistic point of view and belief that everyone can make their creative mark in the world, Gap embodies what it means to be bright. Founded in San Francisco in 1969 by Donald G. Fisher and Doris F. Fisher, the brand has grown from one store to over 1,700 company-operated and franchise retail locations around the world. Gap is the namesake brand for leading global specialty retailer, Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) which includes Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime, Athleta, and Intermix. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com.

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Whole Foods Market to feature six amazing wines from New Zealand this fall

Company offers chance to win trip for two to New Zealand’s wine country

AUSTIN, TX, 2014-8-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — The South Island’s towering mountains and plunging rivers mix with the North Island’s sun-soaked coastal plains to bring Whole Foods Market shoppers six amazing wines from New Zealand, a wine region that continues to surprise and delight wine lovers.

Wine offerings include everything from a pinot gris with loads of up-front ripe fruit that’s a perfect pair for piccata to a rich, well-rounded pinot noir that is a delicious match for a pork loin with a sour cherry glaze.

“These wines have been handpicked to showcase the flavorful and exotic variety wines that come from New Zealand,” said Doug Bell, global beverage buyer for Whole Foods Market. “Our selection represents the country’s seven “pillars” of sustainability that reinforce a commitment to protect the beautiful environment from where they come and showcase the many flavors of the islands that feature a wine for every palate.”

Shoppers are invited to visit their Whole Foods Market wine department by September 30, 2014, to enter to win a 10-night, 9-day trip for two to New Zealand by matching wine pairings with featured wines. For more information about this wine trip courtesy of Air New Zealand and New Zealand Winegrowers, visit wholefoodsmarket.com/wine.

Twitter Tasting

Wine enthusiasts 21 and older can taste these wines at Whole Foods Market store tasting events or join two Twitter Tastings using hashtag #WFMwine. Dates, times and wines include:

Thursday, September 18, 7-8 p.m. CT:

·        Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc

·        Oyster Bay Chardonnay

·        Villa Maria The Red Blend

Thursday, October 9, 7-8 p.m. CT:

·        Sophora Sparkling Cuvée

·        Kim Crawford Pinot Gris

·        Grove Mill Pinot Noir

Featured New Zealand wines include:

Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc—With forward aromas of green apple and tangerine, this white’s bright acidity gives way to dense flavors of ruby red grapefruit and mango.

Pairings: Piave Oro del Tempo cheese, seafood enchiladas, fish with lemon, fennel salad and Mexican Caesar Salad

Kim Crawford Pinot Gris—This white has up-front ripe fruit with peach, cinnamon and pear skin notes and offers a pleasant minerality and nicely weighted finish.

Pairings:  Anco Saint Agur blue cheese, braised greens, piccata, walnuts, lime-grilled chicken or fish and Poached Halibut with Ginger and Cilantro

Oyster Bay Chardonnay—Meyer lemon and tart apple aromas are found in this sleek, well- balanced white. And, a whisper of oak rounds out the fruitiness, adding complexity to the creamy finish.

Pairings: Emmi Roth Le Gruyère, fish or squash with caramelized onions, onion dip, Vidalia onion soup and Butternut Squash Gratin with Le Gruyère

Grove Mill Pinot Noir—With aromas of red raspberry, this red has a complexity of well-rounded flavors of cherry, cassis and rosemary on the subtly tart finish.

Pairings: Uniekaas Robusto cheese, charcuterie, goat cheese stuffed peppadews, pork loin with sour cherry glaze and Coffee-Rubbed Roasted Chicken

Villa Maria The Red Blend—Dark chocolate and eucalyptus are on the nose of this deeply rich red and give way to hints of mint and black olive. A lush, structured finish brings flavors of chocolate cake and blackberry.

Pairings: Cabot Clothbound Cheddar cheese, lamb with root vegetables, hearty stew, chicken mole and Leg of lamb with Crispy Onions

Sophora Sparkling Cuvée—Rich and ripe, this sparkler has a lasting creaminess and notes of baked fruits and citrus in the clean finish.

Pairings: Rogue Creamery Oregon Blue cheese, French toast, bacon-wrapped figs, hazelnut shortbread, eggs Benedict, full-flavored fish and Baked Cranberry-Walnut French Toast

EXPERTS

Devon Broglie, MSDevon Broglie, MS
Master Sommelier and Associate Global Beverage Buyer
Devon became a Master Sommelier in 2011.

 

 

Doug BellDoug Bell
Global Beverage Buyer
Doug has acquired a rarefied view of the world of buying and selling wine from living in California wine country, traveling to every major wine region of the world, attending wine expositions, blending wines with winemakers, designing wine labels, sitting on wine panels, speaking at wine and beverage conferences, doing media interviews and connecting with our customers via social media and in stores.

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Whole Foods Market to open its 21st store in Florida on Sept. 24

New store marks 21st Florida location for Whole Foods Market

CLEARWATER, Fla., 2014-8-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — Whole Foods Market, the world’s leading natural and organic foods supermarket and America’s first nationally certified organic grocer, will open its 38,000 square-foot Clearwater store on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 9 a.m. Whole Foods Market Clearwater, which is part of the Westfield Countryside Mall, is the company’s 21st store in Florida.

The grand opening will kick-off with a Bread Breaking ceremony in front of the store with officials from the City of Clearwater and Whole Foods Market leadership and team members.

The first 500 customers in line will receive a Whole Foods Market gift card with a mystery value between $5 and $50, with one customer receiving a gift card worth $500. The value of all gift cards will be revealed at checkout.

Whole Foods Market Clearwater will capture the essence of the neighborhood it serves. From community partnerships to unique products and features, the Clearwater store will be one the neighborhood can call its own.

“We are so proud to be part of Clearwater and Pinellas County. Not only are we looking forward to opening our doors, but we’re also excited about the many opportunities to serve this community,” says Mike Crandall, store team leader for Clearwater.

Store features include:

·         Prepared Foods department featuring more than 100 items in the full service chef’s case, hot bar, soups and prepared salad bars

·         Greek and Mediterranean pita sandwich venue featuring souvlaki, falafel and kabobs

·         In-house roasted deli meats

·         Made-to-order sandwiches and panini

·         Open hearth pizza oven serving a variety of full and personal sized pizzas, and individual slices

·         Beer and Wine department featuring more than 400 beers (more than  70 craft beers), including “Build Your Own 6-Pack, ” and more than 750 wines

·         Full-service bar featuring wine, bottled and draft beer, wine-based cocktails and a selection of food items

·         Cheese Cutter’s Corner where customers can learn about our more than 250 artisanal cheeses from around the world that are hand-cut and wrapped daily in the store

·         An American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional

·         Specialty Olive Bar Concierge Program

·         Meat department featuring old-fashioned, in-house-style butchers

·         Dry-aged beef

·         Fresh sausage made in-store

·         Grass-fed beef from White Oak Pastures in Bluffton, Ga.

·         White Oaks Pastures Whole Fryer Chicken

·         Thompson Farms Pork from Dixie, Ga.

·         Grocery, dairy and frozen aisles featuring more than 50 locally produced items

·         Expansive produce department with a wide variety of locally and organically grown fruits and vegetables

·         European-style Bakery department featuring Artisan breads as well as locally crafted specialties featuring gluten-free products

·         Mr. Fresh Donuts machine

 

Local Seafood and Sustainability

Through a partnership with The Safina Center (formerly Blue Ocean Institute), Whole Foods Market has developed a color-coded sustainability rating system to show the sustainability status of all non-MSC-certified wild-caught seafood the stores sell. In 2012, all stores ceased the sale of all red-ranked species, deepening their commitment to having a fully sustainable seafood department.

The Clearwater store will highlight the local fisheries and day-boat fishermen that will provide customers the largest variety of locally caught seafood available.

Gary’s Seafood (Madeira Beach) and Cox Seafood (Tampa), Keys Fisheries (Marathon) and D & D Seafood (Marathon – local stone crabs and lobster) – four of the store’s primary suppliers – employ numerous day-boat fishermen who bring Whole Foods Market the freshest fish available from nearby waters. Clearwater will also work with three other day-boat fishermen out of Panama City to provide the freshest and highest quality seafood in as little as one day.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

The Clearwater store will join other Whole Foods Market locations in Florida by opening its doors to local farms with a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. The program allows local farmers to use the store as a drop-off and pick-up point for their subscribing customers, free of charge.

Animal Welfare Rating System

With the old-fashioned butcher shop style come Team Members who are eager to educate the community on the Global Animal Partnership’s (GAP) 5-Step Animal Welfare Ratings. The rating system provides clear information that helps shoppers make informed buying decisions and offers peace of mind to them that the products at Whole Foods Market comes from animals raised with care. All beef, poultry and pork sold in the store’s fresh cases meet the GAP criteria and are certified by independent third party auditors.

Healthy Eating Specialist

With its Health Starts Here program, the store will open with a full time Healthy Eating Specialist to help educate customers on making informed decisions about healthy foods, teach cooking classes, give guided store tours and be a resource for the community.

Whole Foods Market Clearwater will be open every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Follow the store at facebook.com/WholeFoodsMarketClearwater and twitter.com/wfmclearwater.

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Meijer, SKECHERS and K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers teamed up to give away 2,000 new BOBS from SKECHERS shoes to Detroit children in need

Children from Detroit Public Schools and Variety Detroit also visited the Detroit Zoo, met professional athletic team athletes and mascots

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., 2014-8-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — Meijer, SKECHERS and K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers teamed up earlier this week to give away 2,000 new BOBS from SKECHERS shoes to Detroit children in need during a day of fun at the Detroit Zoo.

An additional 20,500 pairs of BOBS shoes were also donated to Detroit Public Schools for distribution to its students in need throughout the school year.

“Meijer was built on a fundamental philosophy of supporting the communities where our customers and team members work and live,” said Lynn Hempe, group vice president of softlines for the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer. “We’ve worked with SKECHERS for a decade, and are thrilled to bring that partnership to another level by providing children with a brand new pair of shoes that they can call their own. It was a fun day for everyone involved.”

“Through the BOBS from SKECHERS shoe donations we have done in the United States and around the world, we have seen the impact a new pair of shoes can have on a child,” said Jeff Jones, national sales manager at SKECHERS. “We were moved by Meijer’s desire to reach children in Detroit, a community that has been hard hit economically, and believe that the BOBS donation event not only brought smiles to many children, but also may have given them confidence as they begin a school year with a brand new pair of shoes.”

Since the BOBS from SKECHERS program launched in 2011, SKECHERS has donated more than 8 million pairs of new shoes to children in need in more than 30 countries worldwide.

Along with receiving their new shoes, the children had lunch, received school supplies and visited their favorite animal exhibits inside the Detroit Zoo. The shoe donation event also included an opportunity for them to meet the Detroit Tigers mascot “PAWS,” Detroit Lions alumni players and mascot, “Roary,” and the Zoo’s mascots, “Junior Z and the Zooper Heroes.”

“The Detroit Zoo strives to be relevant to our community, including providing ways to help address community needs,” said Paul Good, community and government relations manager for the Detroit Zoological Society. “We were happy to be a part of this effort to help families meet their back-to-school needs.”

K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers worked with the Detroit Public Schools and Variety Detroit to identify children to receive the shoes.

“We are so thankful for this wonderful partnership with SKECHERS and Meijer,” said Karen Ridgeway, superintendent of academics for Detroit Public Schools. “Our students and parents were able to enjoy a day at the Detroit Zoo, and more than 20,000 students will receive brand new BOBS shoes to help ensure they have a great start to the school year. I know that this is a day they will never forget.”

“Today reminded our children that people care about them,” Variety Detroit Executive Director Jennie Cascio said. “They were thrilled about the new SKECHERS, as well as the school supplies they received from Meijer. Variety Detroit is so thankful for all of the organizations involved in this great community event and giving our children the opportunity to spend the day at the Detroit Zoo and enjoy just being kids.”

Downloadable photos from the event are available at http://newsroom.meijer.com/skechers-shoe-donation. B-roll is available for interested media at http://newsroom.meijer.com/broll-footage.

About Meijer
Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 213 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. As a pioneer of the “one-stop shopping” concept, Meijer stores have evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive electronics departments, garden centers and apparel offerings. Additional information on Meijer can be found at www.meijer.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer and @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan atwww.facebook.com/meijer.

About SKECHERS USA, Inc.
SKECHERS USA, Inc. (NYSE:SKX), based in Manhattan Beach, California, designs, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle footwear for men, women and children, as well as performance footwear for men and women. SKECHERS footwear is available in the United States via department and specialty stores, Company-owned SKECHERS retail stores and its e-commerce website, and in over 100 countries and territories through the Company’s international network of subsidiaries in Canada, Brazil, Chile, Japan, and across Europe, as well as through joint ventures in Asia and distributors around the world. For more information, please visit www.skechers.com, and follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SKECHERS) and Twitter (twitter.com/SKECHERSUSA).

About K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers
K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers unites retailers, manufacturers, foundations and individuals to provide people impacted by poverty and tragedy with new merchandise, effectively distributed through a network of agency partners to improve the well-being, self-esteem and dignity of at-risk families and individuals. To date, over $1 billion of donated products have been distributed through our network, serving the poor and disadvantaged worldwide. For more information, visit: donateproduct.com.

Contact: Christina Fecher, 616-735-7968, Christina.Fecher@meijer.com; Lara Diab, 310-402-3784, larad@skechers.com

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Meijer, SKECHERS and K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers teamed up to give away 2,000 new BOBS from SKECHERS shoes to Detroit children in need

Meijer, SKECHERS and K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers teamed up to give away 2,000 new BOBS from SKECHERS shoes to Detroit children in need

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Russia’s largest food retailer OJSC “Magnit” opens its 172nd hypermarket

Krasnodar, 2014-8-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — OJSC “Magnit”, Russia’s largest food retailer (the “Company”; MICEX and LSE: MGNT), is pleased to announce the opening of the 172nd hypermarket of a small format.

Please be informed that today the Company has opened its 172nd hypermarket of a small format located at Rovio street, Petrozavodsk, Republic of Karelia, North-Western federal district. Assortment of the hypermarket consists of about 12,500 SKUs, out of which about 78% are food items. There are 19 cash desks installed in the sales area. The outlet is owned by the Company. The hypermarket is open 7 days a week from 9 am to 11 pm.

For further information, please contact:
Timothy Post Director, Investor Relations
Email: post@magnit.ru
Office: +7-861-277-4554 x 17600
Mobile: +7-961-511-7678
Direct Line: +7-861-277-4562

Dina Svishcheva Deputy Director, Investor Relations
Email: Chistyak@magnit.ru
Office: +7-861-277-45-54 x 15101
Mobile: +7-961-511-0202
Direct Line: +7-861-277-4562

Company description:
Magnit is Russia’s largest food retailer. Founded in 1994, the company is headquartered in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar. As of June 30, 2014, Magnit operated 24 distribution centers and over 8,600 stores (7,614 convenience, 226 hypermarkets, and 778 drogeries) in approximately 2,000 cities and towns throughout 7 federal regions of the Russian Federation. In accordance with the audited IFRS consolidated financial statements for 2013, Magnit had revenues of $18,202 million USD and an EBITDA of
$2,032 million USD. Magnit’s local shares are traded on the Moscow Stock Exchange (MICEX: MGNT) and its GDRs on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: MGNT) and it has a credit rating from Standard & Poor’s of BB. Measured by market capitalization, Magnit is one of the largest retailers in Europe.

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REWE Group joins European association Independent Retail Europe

Brussels/Cologne, 2014-8-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — By joining the European association Independent Retail Europe on 1 September, the REWE Group gets to the final round in reaching one of its key objectives: strengthening its independent retailers. Independent Retail Europe represents groups of independent retailers and associations of these groups, and service providers to independent retailers in the food and non-food retail sectors from all over Europe. The association aims at ensuring that the interests of its members are taken into consideration by policy makers as well as profiling and promoting the group business model. Groups of independent retailers thrive in all European countries and are an indispensable part of a balanced, competitive and diverse retail market. These groups create important impulses for growth, entrepreneurship and SME competitiveness.

Brussels is in a year of transition with the elections of the new European Parliament in May and the appointment of new EU Commissioners in autumn. In this context, it will be one of the priorities of the Cologne-based retail group and the Brussels association to promote together the benefits of the group business model with the new Parliament and Commission.

Ralf Gerking, President of Independent Retail Europe and Verbandsdirektor of EDEKA, comments: “European policy makers increasingly recognise the vital role of the group model for the competitiveness of independent retailers. We are the only EU association that solely represents their interests. As one of Europe’s biggest groups, the REWE Group constitutes in many ways a valuable contribution to our membership. With every new member – and in particular now with the REWE Group – we are in an even stronger position to explain and defend the group model and its benefit for the economy. I look forward to the cooperation with the REWE Group”.

Thomas Nonn, member of the management board of REWE / retailers and Chief Representative at REWE Group, says: “Cooperatives and SMEs (“Genosssenschaft und Mittelstand”) are very important for our company. Unjustifiably, many people regard the cooperative model as outdated whereas it is in fact a contemporary, dynamic and solidarity-based model. It is one of our key objectives to further develop our cooperative roots and to combine them with modern entrepreneurship to strengthen and support our approximately 1,500 independent retailers. We therefore need a strong voice to represent our retailers and their interests. Joining Independent Retail Europe will help us achieve our goals also on EU level.” 

In case of additional questions, please contact: 

REWE Group
REWE Group-Unternehmenskommunikation
Tel.: +49 221-149-1050
Fax: +49 221-138898
presse(at)rewe-group.com 

Independent Retail Europe
Elisabeth von Reitzenstein
Adviser Public Affairs
Tel. : + 32 2 739 60 91
elisabeth.reitzenstein(at)independentretaileurope.eu

REWE Group
The cooperative REWE Group is one of the leading trading and travel and tourism companies in Germany and Europe. In 2013, the company realised a turnover of about 51 billion euros. Founded in 1927, the REWE Group represents 300,000 jobs, 15,000 points of sale and is present in 12 European countries. In Germany, about 226,000 employees achieved a turnover of 36 billion euros in around 10,000 points of sale in 2013. 

The sales lines include super and consumer markets of the brand REWE, REWE CENTER, REWE CITY and BILLA, the discounter PENNY as well as the DIY stores toom Baumarkt and B1 Discount Baumarkt. DER Touristik is the travel and tourism segment of REWE Group and represents the travel operators ITS, Jahn Reisen and Tjaereborg as well as Dertour, Meier’s Weltreisen and ADAC Reisen, the business travel division FCm Travel Solutions und more than 2,100 travel agents (u.a. DER Reisebüro, DERPART), the hotel chaince lti hotels, Club Calimera and PrimaSol Hotels, and the direct operator clevertours.com.

Independent Retail Europe
Independent Retail Europe is the European association that acts as an umbrella organisation for all groups of independent retailers in the food and non-food sectors. Our members are groups of independent retailers, associations representing groups of independent retailers and wider service organisations built to support independent retailers. Independent Retail Europe represents over 358,000 independent retailers (with a combined retail turnover of more than 670 billion euros and more than 560,000 points of sale), and 22 groups and associations of groups in Europe (employing over 5 million people and generating a combined wholesale turnover of more than 310 billion euros).     

Contact
REWE GROUP-Corporate Communications
Tel.: 0221 – 149-1050
E-Mail: presse(at)rewe-group.com
Contact

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PHILIPPINES: SM Development Corp. welcomes new residents to its two condominium developments in Makati and Mandaluyong

Pasay City, Philippines, 2014-8-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — SM Development Corp. (SMDC), the residential development arm of property conglomerate SM Prime Holdings, Inc., has turned over more than 2,500 units in two condominium developments in Makati, and Mandaluyong.

As of end-June, SMDC started the turn over to customers their units in two project phases: 1,077 units of Tower C, Jazz Residences in Makati; and 1,460 units at Tower 3 of Light Residences in Mandaluyong.
“We are pleased to welcome the new residents of Jazz Residences, and Light Residences. We remain committed to bring conveniences and synergies from our retail, banking and property businesses at their doorstep,” SMDC President Jeffrey Lim said.
Jazz Residences is a four-tower “vertical village” at the heart of Bel-Air Makati that features five-star amenities. It also has its own mall – the Jazz Mall, complete with commercial and food establishments, and an SM Hypermarket, bringing the convenience of modern living to the community.
Meanwhile, Light Residences, a three-tower residential condominium, is strategically located along EDSA corner Madison St. and is conveniently linked to the Boni-EDSA MRT station.
The Light Mall, located at the first and second floors of the podium, will offer dining and entertainment areas. It will have three cinemas and a wide array of restaurants to choose from as well as a Savemore Market. The Light Mall is slated to open in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Jazz Residences and Light Residences are part of the 22 condominium brands of SMDC, the residential arm of SM Prime. Other projects are Sun Residences in Quezon City; Chateau Elysee Residences in Bicutan, Paranaque; Mezza Residences and Mezza II Residences on Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City; Berkeley Residences in Katipunan, Quezon City; Grass Residences; Fern at Grass Residences in Quezon City beside SM North EDSA; Sea Residences in the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay;  Field Residences in Sucat, Paranaque; Princeton Residences in New Manila, Quezon City;  MPlace@South Triangle in Quezon City ;   Blue Residences in Katipunan, Quezon City;    Shine Residences in Pasig; Green Residences on Taft Avenue in Manila ; Shell Residences in the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay; Grace Residences in Taguig; Breeze Residences in Pasay; Trees Residences in Novaliches, Quezon City;  Shore Residences in the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay and Wind Residences in Tagaytay.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Jose Mari Banzon
Executive Vice President
SM Development Corporation
Email: josemari.banzon@smdevelopment.com
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Tesco to donate the profits from increased ice sales due to the ice bucket challenge to the Motor Neurone Disease Association

Cheshunt, England, 2014-8-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Tesco will donate the profits from an increase in ice sales due to the ice bucket challenge to the Motor Neurone Disease Association, it was announced today.

The donation currently stands at £20,000 – an amount which is expected to increase after further ice sales over the weekend.

Tesco saw sales of over 36 million individual ice cubes over the last week alone – a significant increase on the number that would be sold in a normal week. More ice has gone into stores this week to make sure Tesco can meet the demand.

Greg Sage, community director for Tesco said:

“The ice bucket challenge has done an amazing job of raising awareness of motor neurone disease – an incredible number of people all over the world have taken part, including a huge number of Tesco colleagues.

“We’ve seen a big increase in sales of bags of ice as a direct result of this phenomenon, and we want the Motor Neurone Disease Association to be the ones to benefit. That’s why today we’ve pledged to donate the extra profits we make to them, and we nominate Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons to do the same!”

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Walmart announced new commitment to advance energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact of its China-based manufacturers

Walmart builds on ongoing commitment to boost energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact of China supply chain

SHENZHEN, China, 2014-8-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — At today’s Walmart Supplier Summit in Shenzhen, Walmart announced a new commitment to further strengthen the sustainability of its global supply chain by advancing the energy efficiency of its China-based manufacturers. The commitment states that suppliers representing 70 percent of Walmart’s business sourced in China will be invited to participate in an energy efficiency program by the end of 2017. As a result, Walmart forecasts significant potential savings over the next 3 years.  An improvement in energy efficiency by 10 percent would translate to lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by more than 1 million metric tons; that is the equivalent of taking over 200,000 cars off the road for 1 year.

“We hope that today’s announcement will continue to pave the way for our operations to become more sustainable in China and globally, as well as continue to set the tone for the industry as a whole,” said Ignacio Lopez, Senior Vice President, who leads Walmart’s Global Sourcing Operations.

To date, 40 factories in China have participated in a 2014 pilot program, and approximately 500 factories will be invited to participate in the program by the end of 2017. In order to reach the 2017 goal set forth for China-based manufacturers, Walmart will assist in providing tools and resources that will help suppliers identify energy efficient projects tailored for each facility, coordinating relevant training when needed to overcome barriers with implementation.  Walmart will also track overall project performance and impact.

“China is a key market for Walmart’s long-term sustainability strategy, and as a company, we’re focused on being part of a solution to help improve environmental issues facing the country,” said Sean Clarke, CEO of Walmart China. “Walmart has made significant progress in advancing factory efficiency in China in recent years, and today’s announcement is an expansion of our efforts to drive a larger impact.”

Continued Focus on Advancing Sustainability in China 
Walmart has a rich history of collaboration with key partners in China – including government representatives, local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and suppliers – building on experience and lessons learned, to create new solutions and models for sustainable growth. As a result, the company’s operations and facilities in China have successfully reduced environmental impact while providing other benefits that translate into everyday low costs for customers.

Since 2008 Walmart has successfully implemented an energy efficiency program in its China facilities, resulting in a 20 percent energy reduction in 210 factories and $279 million savings in energy costs.

Additional recent milestones achieved in Walmart’s China operations include:

·       Investing in LED Technology: Over the past two years, Walmart has invested more than $16 million to add LED technology to China facilities, avoiding 33,000 tons of CO2 emissions. These use 35-50% less energy than conventional fluorescent light bulbs commonly used in the retail industry. .
·       Reducing Energy Consumption: Walmart recently retrofitted refrigerators at 250 its China stores with glass doors, reducing energy consumption by nearly 30 percent. In new stores, Walmart introduced next-generation refrigerators with glass doors, avoiding 30,000 tons of CO2 emissions.
·       Expanding The Sustainability Consortium: In 2012, Walmart announced a $2 million grant to launch The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) in China – an independent research organization that engages industries, universities and other experts from around the globe to develop measurement and reporting systems for product sustainability across consumer goods. The TSC also facilitates ongoing innovation, research and collaboration to continue to advance a green supply chain.
·      Increasing Use of Solar Energy: In 2011, Walmart completed the installation of a roof-mounted solar system at the Walmart Xiangmihu store in Shenzhen, which was the first non-state-owned solar power project under China’s Golden Sun Solar Program, as a result of generating 35,000 kWh monthly.

“Our ongoing collaboration with Walmart in improving energy efficiency has enabled CY TOP to not only reduce overall energy costs, but also boost the overall sustainability of our operations,” said James Han, CEO of CY TOP, a key Walmart supplier. “We look forward to taking our current facilities to the next level with Walmart’s newest program to increase energy efficiency among its China manufacturers.”

“Walmart’s continuous endeavor to help its suppliers improve their environmental and energy efficiency performance, is proved to benefit the suppliers, Walmart itself and more importantly, the environment,” said Jianyu Zhang, managing director, China program at Environmental Defense Fund. “This fits into the global trend of ‘greening’ the supply chain and could become an exemplary effort if all stakeholders are more closely involved.”

For more information, visit Walmart’s sustainability hub at www.walmartsustainabilityhub.com

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About Walmart 
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices.  Each week, more than 200 million customers and members visit our 11,000 stores under 71 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 10 countries. With fiscal year 2014 sales of approximately $473,076 million, Walmart is on top of the list among Fortune 500 companies with an employment of more than 2.2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader retailer industry, and commits to helping people live a better life through CSR initiatives. .

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The first French Netflix original series Marseille to debut exclusively in all Netflix territories in late 2015

AN UNCOMPROMISING LOOK AT POLITICS, AMBITION AND MONEY, MARSEILLE DEBUTS IN ALL NETFLIX TERRITORIES IN LATE

PARIS and BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., 2014-8-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Marseille, an eight episode tale of power, corruption and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the French port city, will debut exclusively in all Netflix territories in late 2015.

The first French production from the world’s leading Internet TV Network, Marseille focuses on the story of Robert Taro, mayor of the city for 25 years. The coming elections have him face the man he chose as his heir, an ambitious youngster aiming high. Both candidates will fight mercilessly. Marseille stages a fight around revenge, animated by drug lords, politicians, unions and the political players of the city.

Shot entirely in France, Marseille is created and written by Dan Franck, writer of La Séparation and Les Hommes de l’ombre and co-writer of Carlos, which won a Golden Globe for best miniseries and a Cesar for most promising actor, Edgar Ramirez, and was nominated for 36 international awards, including two Emmys.

Directing the first two episodes of Marseille will be Florent-Emilio Siri, director of the Cesar-nominated theatrical hits Cloclo and L’Ennemi Intime. Also directing will be Sundance Award-winning filmmaker Samuel Benchetrit (“J’ai toujours rêvé d’être un gangster”)

Marseille is produced by Paris-based Federation Entertainment, led by Pascal Breton, producer of the hit French series Dolmen and Sous le Soleil.

“Creating a series for an enormous audience and without any constraints will let us push to its limits a story about the Shakespearean theater of politics in a city where Alexandre Dumas and Jean-Claude Izzo, among others, have planted many spears,” said Dan Franck. “Netflix has given us a blank page to create a “House of Cards” in French that breaks through unspoken hypocrisy. This is a writer’s dream and a great opportunity for French producers and creators to enter a new world.”

“Movies today sacrifice a lot to almighty pacing and often lose the essential: the characters. Current TV series do exactly the opposite, they stretch time and work characters in depth with all their complexities and contradictions. That’s what makes for their success,” said Florent-Emilio Siri. “The movie business in France today confines itself to comedy or what is called ‘author cinema.’ TV series give movie directors the potential of a new opportunity to be able to explore and express their talents within the full extent of their art. This is why I’m really eager to work on Marseille.”

Added Samuel Benchetrit: “I’m incredibly excited and honored to work on Marseille and to create an original series that will be powerful and unique. Working with Netflix is a great opportunity for artists and creators, it democratizes movies and series in France and globally.”

Producer Pascal Breton said: “Marseille will take the audience right into the political arena where the old regime of traditional politicians are getting ready to face the younger generation of predators, thugs, and sometimes their own heirs. Netflix is giving us the perfect opportunity to tell this story from a uniquely French viewpoint, in association with some of France’s best writers and directors. Produced entirely in France, Marseille has the potential to become one of the most gripping television events of the coming years.”

“Marseille is an ambitious, diabolically smart fictitious exploration of local politics in one of the world’s most vibrant and fascinating cities.” said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos. “We are delighted to be working with some of the best storytellers in France to deliver a series that erases the line between film and television.”

Production is expected to start in spring of 2015 with the series debut everywhere Netflix is available in late 2015.

About Federation Entertainment:Based in Paris, Federation Entertainment is a fully-integrated television production and distribution mini-studio comprised of exclusive partnerships with some of the most renowned executives, producers and showrunners in global entertainment. Established by leading French entertainment executive Pascal Breton, the company represents a new model for the creation, production, distribution, deficit financing and marketing of high quality original television series programming and motion pictures for the global marketplace

About Netflix Netflix is the world’s leading Internet television network with over 50 million members in more than 40 countries enjoying more than one billion hours of TV shows and movies per month, including original series. For a low monthly price, Netflix members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on nearly any Internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.

PR Contact: Joris Evers / joevers@netflix.com / +31 20 241 4462

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H&M announces Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga will star in its Holiday campaign for 2014

H&M is proud to announce that Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga will star in its Holiday campaign for 2014.

Stockholm, Sweden, 2014-8-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — The two superstars will both appear in the commercial, performing a track from their album Cheek to Cheek, which will be released on September 23rd. The upcoming album is a collaboration between these two generation-spanning artists in celebration of jazz music. The campaign will make its global TV debut end of November, with an extended version of the commercial available at hm.com. The campaign also includes ads featuring Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, which will appear in print media, online as well as outdoor.

Lady Gaga, currently on her artRAVE: ARTPOP Ball Tour, is one of her generation’s greatest stars, bridging the worlds of music and fashion in everything she does. In November 2013, Lady Gaga officially opened H&M’s Times Square flagship store in New York, with fans queuing for the chance to meet and shop with their idol. Tony Bennett, in his 7th decade as a world-class performer, is a 17-time Grammy winner, a Kennedy Center Honoree and NEA Jazz Master. Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga’s new album has been long awaited, and brings together a present day icon with one of the legends of music.

GLOBAL MEDIA INQUIRIES

Only for media representatives
Phone: +46 8 796 53 00
Email: mediarelations@hm.com

Please note the contact details above are only for media representatives. For other enquiries contact H&M’s switchboard on +46 8 796 55 00.

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H&M announces Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga will star in its Holiday campaign for 2014

H&M announces Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga will star in its Holiday campaign for 2014

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The National Retail Federation appoints Mary Heitman Vice President of Retail Programs

Mary Heitman Named Vice President of Retail Programs

WASHINGTON, 2014-8-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — The National Retail Federation today announced the hiring of Vice President of Retail Programs, Mary Heitman. Heitman comes to NRF from the Trust for the National Mall, where she served as director of events and deputy director of development. In that role, Heitman managed corporate sponsorships and events designed to increase donor engagement, identified and cultivated prospects, and leveraged relationships in the government affairs and corporate community. Prior to the Trust for the National Mall, she owned and operated a private marketing and fundraising firm and served as finance director for the Republican National Committee.

“Mary brings a wealth of project management, marketing, political affairs and leadership experience to NRF, and I’m positive that her insights and expertise will benefit the programs and initiatives that NRF’s communities undertake,” NRF Senior Vice President and Shop.org Executive Director Vicki Cantrell said. “Given her career experience with non-profits and in the political arena, I know Mary is a perfect fit for this this newly created position. I look forward to working with her as we tackle important issues in the industry and seek ways to best tell retail’s story through content, research, education and other programs.”

At NRF Heitman will be responsible for expanding and managing key strategic initiatives and programs within the organization’s communities, including Shop.org, the Association for Retail Technology Standards, marketing, loss prevention and IT.

NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and Internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. Retail is the nation’s largest private sector employer, supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.5 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’s This is Retail campaign highlights the industry’s opportunities for life-long careers, how retailers strengthen communities, and the critical role that retail plays in driving innovation. www.nrf.com

Kathy Grannis
(202) 783-7971
press@nrf.com
(855) NRF-Press

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Co-op launches its new At Home campaign

Western Canada, 2014-8-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Buying local food items and supporting local businesses has never been easier thanks to new in-store labels and an innovative local scoring system being introduced in 210 Co-op stores throughout Western Canada.

Co-op is launching its new At Home campaign (www.athomewithcoop.ca) this week in Alberta and British Columbia. It will be introduced in Saskatchewan and Manitoba beginning in mid-September.

The At Home strategy has three components:

  • Grown at Home – highlights fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • Raised at Home – highlights sustainable, quality meat products.
  • Produced at Home – highlights local processors developing new and innovative products.

As part of this campaign, Co-op has partnered with Localize, an Edmonton-based company that will help identify products local to each individual store and generate a local score for each item that will appear on the shelf labels.  Products are scored out of 10 based on the location of product, location of ownership, and source of ingredients. This means products made in British Columbia will score higher for stores in that province than they will in Saskatchewan stores. Only products that rate 7.0 or higher on the Localize rating system will be called out in the stores as Grown at Home, Raised at Home, or Produced at Home local products. Shoppers can scan a QR code on shelf labels that takes them to www.localizeyourfood.com, which provides detailed information about the product.

“Co-op has a long tradition of sourcing local products and supporting local farmers, ranchers and producers who grow, raise and produce our food,” says Ron Welke, Associate Vice-President of Food at Federated Co-operatives Limited. “The availability of local products remains a key differentiator in today’s highly competitive retail food industry. Consumers want to know where their food comes from and the story behind it. By partnering with Localize, we have an unbiased rating system to bring enhanced credibility to just how local a product actually is in an easily understandable format for consumers.”

The At Home campaign is the next evolution of a pilot project undertaken last year between 35 Co-op stores in southern Alberta and Localize.

“We built Localize to help shoppers, grocers, and food producers better understand the stories behind where their local food products have come from, presenting credible information on grocery shelves and beyond,” said Localize Founder and CEO Meghan Dear. “With this announcement, Co-op further demonstrates its leadership and commitment to the very communities it serves, by making it easier for its members to find and purchase local products.”

Ed Berney, North Central Co-op General Manager, is looking forward to offering consumers an easier way to identify and buy local products.

“Shoppers’ interest in buying local products has increased significantly in recent years,” said Berney. “While competitors try to be local, we truly are local. We are owned by local members, our profits stay here and we support other local businesses and causes important to our community. Many local growers, ranchers and producers are Co-op members and together we have supported each other for years and in turn, as neighbors, have helped strengthen our communities.”

Siwin Foods, an Edmonton food manufacturer established in October 2005, exemplifies the relationship that Co-op has with local suppliers. Co-op has been instrumental in launching new products, with Siwin Foods progressing from sausage rings to stir fry sizzlers, smokies, specialty frozen meat, dumplings and potstickers, including a private label version for Co-op.

“Co-op and Siwin Foods have a natural bond, both being Western Canadian-based companies and both supporting local first,” said Doug Gordon, Director of Sales and Marketing for Siwin Foods. “Siwin Foods only buys Alberta meat ingredients to use in our products and source our ingredients locally first. So naturally Localize is the perfect fit for our company.”

Product availability will be based on producer supply and will vary across the Co-operative Retailing System. Co-op continues to work with producers and businesses in Western Canada to prepare and introduce food products into stores.

A listing of participating producers and processors can be found at www.localizeyourfood.com. For more information on this initiative, visit www.athomewithcoop.ca.

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Target adopts Like2Buy; lets Instagram users easily buy products featured in photos from participating brands

MINNEAPOLIS, 2014-8-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — You know those moments when that must-have pair of shoes or one-of-a-kind bag appears in your Instagram feed? How about the bummed out feeling after, because you can’t quickly buy what you see? We’re all familiar with the longing that comes from countless hours scouring the Internet tracking down the object of our desire. Well to that we say, no more!

Today, Target’s announcing a real Insta-game changer with the adoption of Like2Buy — a new product from leading visual marketing platform, Curalate, that lets Instagram users easily buy products featured in photos from participating brands.

With more than 300,000 followers a piece, Target and Target Style have been known to garner thousands of likes on a single Instagram. Like2Buy gives Target the chance to turn all those ‘likes’ into actual purchases.

“We’re excited to be one of the first brands to offer guests the opportunity to shop our product on Instagram,” said Dustee Jenkins, vice president of public relations and social media at Target. “We frequently get questions from our guests who are excited about something they see on the platform and want to know how to purchase it  — this tool helps us address this need.”

Instagrammers have been calling for platform shopability for a long time; Target heard the call and delivered. From a place “where products come to play,” Instagram is now a place where Target fans come to shop. That deserves a double tap.

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Target adopts Like2Buy; lets Instagram users easily buy products featured in photos from participating brands

Target adopts Like2Buy; lets Instagram users easily buy products featured in photos from participating brands

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Cooking School @ Market Bistro by Price Chopper to offer variety of classes starting September 4

Latham, N.Y., 2014-8-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Beginning September 4, the Cooking School @ Market Bistro by Price Chopper will be offering a variety of classes that range from basic cooking to more advanced recipes and skill levels, including; ethnic foods, quick meals, appetizers, baking and pastry classes. The registration fee for each class ranges from $20 to $60.

Thursday, September 4; 12pm to 1pm
Lunch and Learn: Making Fresh Pasta
Chef John demonstrates how to make homemade pasta in your own kitchen. Participants will enjoy fettuccini with carbonara/pomodoro sauces and salad with Balsamic vinaigrette for lunch. (Registration: $ 20 per person)

Saturday, September 6; 11am to 12:30pm OR 2 to 3:30pm
Taste Bud: A is for Apple, B is for Baking
The Taste Bud class (geared towards kids ages 5-8; parents are required to stay within Market Bistro for the length of this class) is where kids will peel and slice apples and make apple and grilled cheese sandwiches and apple pie with homemade vanilla ice cream. (Registration: $25 per person)

Wednesday, September 10; 6 to 9 pm
Apple Harvest
Participants will make an entire meal using recipes with apples as the main ingredient. Selections include mixed greens with cider vinaigrette, grilled Jonagold apples, and fried goat cheese croutons; grilled salmon with a Fuji apple-fennel slaw; pan-seared pork chop with Empire apple and cider shallot sauce; and Granny Smith apple-cranberry strudel. (Registration: $ 55 per person (wine served))

Thursday, September 11; 12 to 1 pm
Lunch and Learn: All-American Classics
Chef John demonstrates an all-American classic lunch in honor of our first responders. Participants will enjoy a lunch of buttermilk fried chicken with flaky silver-dollar biscuits and pan gravy and red, white and blue coleslaw. (Registration: $ 20 per person)

Friday, September 12; 6 to 9 pm
Italian Favorites
Participants will create and enjoy some favorite “cibo di conforto” meals including penne á la vodka, braciole and beans and greens. (Registration: $ 55 per person (wine served))

Saturday, September 13; 11am to 1pm OR 3 to 5pm
Junior Chef: Kids Cook Italian
Culinary students ages 9-14 (ages 15-17 are welcome) will learn how to make how to make a family favorite and you can give mom the night off. Dishes include spaghetti and meatballs; homemade marinara sauce; garlic bread and chocolate-dipped cannoli (Registration: $30 per person)

Sunday, September 14; 11am to 2pm (demonstrations begin every half hour)
School Tour and Demonstration
Stop in to see The Cooking School’s own Chef John demonstrate potato pancakes with sour cream and cranberry apple butter. Grab a sample, a brochure and talk with our Culinary Team to see what classes are coming this fall. (FREE/No registration required)

Tuesday, September 16; 6 to 9pm
Popular Restaurant Sauces
We’ll take the mystery out of sauces featured in many restaurants with simple one-pan sauces for chicken, pork, and seafood. Recipes include chicken Française, a lemon and white wine sauce; pork Marsala, a hearty brown sauce with Marsala wine and mushrooms and poached salmon Beurre Blanc, a creamy herb and butter sauce. (Registration: $ 55 per person (wine served))

Thursday, September 18; 12 to 1 pm
Lunch and Learn: Cheeseburger in Paradise
Chef John gives the all-American classic burger a makeover with a tropical twist. Participants will enjoy a Caribbean-Style Burger (a blend of pork and beef) served with mango ketchup, plantain chips, and key lime pie. (Registration: $ 20 per person)

Friday, September 19; 6 to 9 pm
Girls Night Out: Chocolate Decadence
Can’t go a day without chocolate? We’ve got you covered with delicious desserts to satisfy any chocolate craving. Recipes include: chocolate truffles; chocolate mousse and lava cake. (Registration: $55 per person (light fare and wine served))

Saturday, September 20; 1 to 4 pm
Canning Workshop
Capture the flavors of the harvest to enjoy year round. You’ll try them all and take home a jar of each sauce to show off your newly found canning skills. Participants will make tomato basil sauce served with fresh pasta; apple-cranberry relish; and fresh fruit jams served with assorted crackers. (Registration: $55 per person)

Tuesday, September 23; 6 to 9 pm
Gluten-Free Fall Baking
Guest Instructor and author of Easy Gluten-Free Baking and How to Cook Gluten-Free Elizabeth Barbonewelcomes fall with wonderful gluten-free treats. Recipes include rustic apple pie, spicy pumpkin bread, layered trifle; grilled pumpkin bread with pear compote and molasses cookies. Recipes shown and sampled during class will contain dairy, with dairy-free substitutions discussed in class. (Registration: $55 per person)

Wednesday, September 24; 6 to 9 pm
Tailgating
Create some great tailgating recipes to go along with the big game, whether you’re watching from the stands or from the couch. Recipes include: Buffalo chicken wing dip; Commissioner’s crab dip; Philly cheesesteak pinwheels; Cowboy chili; and game day BBQ kabobs. (Registration: $55 per person (beer served))

Thursday, September 25; 6 to 9 pm
The Art of Risotto
In Italy, risotto is served as the “primo” (first course), but has become popular as a side or entrée. Participants will make wild mushroom risotto; butternut squash and farro risotto; and seafood risotto. (Registration: $55 per person (wine served))

Saturday, September 27; 12 to 1 pm
Lunch and Learn: Guest Chef Momma Jean Marotta
Guest Chef and author of Momma Jean’s Kitchen Cookbook Momma Jean Marotta will demonstrate and participants will enjoy a lunch of her fan favorite recipe, spaghetti and meatballs. (Registration: $20 per person)

Tuesday, September 30; 6 to 9 pm
Baking Breakfast
Participants will bake items that will have everyone to the breakfast table on time. Recipes include: strata; seasonal muffins; sour cream coffee cake; and Rachael Ray’s oven home fries. (Registration: $55 per person)

Register online at https://www.marketbistro.com/CookingSchool/Class/UpcomingClass or by visiting The Cooking School @ Market Bistro.

Located in the Latham Price Chopper (873 New Loudon Road, Latham, NY 12110), the Cooking School @ Market Bistro by Price Chopper is a state-of-the-art kitchen equipped with hands-on cooking stations where attendees can learn to cook or expand cooking expertise. Each station is fully stocked with appliances, knives, and cooking equipment designed to resemble a home kitchen. Both hands-on and demonstration cooking classes are offered, including classes for children. With a wide variety of themes, classes will be taught by a member of Price Chopper’s Cooking School Culinary Team, as well as guests such as local chefs, nutrition experts, and cookbook authors.

# # #

About Price Chopper: Based in Schenectady, NY, the Golub Corporation owns and operates 134 Price Chopper grocery stores in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The American owned, family-managed company prides itself on longstanding traditions of innovative food merchandising, leadership in community service, and cooperative employee relations. Golub’s 22,000 teammates collectively own more than 51% of the company’s privately held stock, making it one of the nation’s largest privately held corporations that is predominantly employee-owned. For additional information, visit www.pricechopper.com

Contact:
Maureen Murphy
518.379.1215
maureenmurphy@pricechopper.com

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Groupe Auchan contributes $1.5 million to Rana Plaza Donor’s Trust Fund set up under the auspices of the ILO

Groupe Auchan has decided to contribute a total of $1.5 million to the Rana Plaza Donor’s Trust Fund set up under the auspices of the ILO.

PARIS, 2014-8-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — The company’s employees, buyers, Group council personnel representatives, and shareholders were all distressed by the tragedy of April 24, 2013 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where the collapse of a building housing the sewing workshops resulted in the death of 1,135 workers and wounded 1,800 others.

A pair of children’s trousers of our brand was found there 20 days after the tragedy, although we had never placed any orders with any of those workshops.

Since that time the company has done its best to ensure such a disaster can never be repeated:

  • by signing the Fire & Safety Building Agreement, an international agreement instigated in particular by several international trade unions
  • by setting up an 8-point plan to combat obscure subcontracting and corruption, whose first results were released at the beginning of April.

However, this catastrophe affected more than 3,000 families whose situation is today very precarious. Various initiatives in their favour are being implemented and organised effectively to provide for their healthcare and rehabilitation, and cover their vital necessities and those of their children. But insufficient aid funding has been obtained.

Just recently, under the impetus of the ILO and the OECD, the French Minister of Economy and Finance asked his country’s businesses -as did seven of his European counterparts- to rally in aid of these people experiencing extreme difficulties, and thus mark their support for Bangladesh, a country where many of them procure goods.

This is why on August 20, after ruling out a compensation procedure which would have constituted a recognition of liability, Groupe Auchan decided to contribute a total of $1.5 million to the Rana Plaza Donor’s Trust Fund set up under the auspices of the ILO, to mark its solidarity with the workers of that country where part of its brand’s clothing is manufactured.

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Sainsbury’s poll reveals British parents’ most emotional milestone in bringing up a child is the first day at school

LONDON, 2014-8-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — British parents revealed the most emotional milestone in bringing up a child – the first day at school. Researchers who polled 2,000 parents of school children found that, while parenthood is crammed full of millions of joyous moments, dropping a little son or daughter off at school was hailed as the most emotional.

A third felt a mixture of excitement tinged with anxiousness, while a quarter of the dads polled said they themselves were moved to tears.

And seven in ten mums who took part in the study said they were forced to reach for a tissue when their satchel-clad four year old wandered into a classroom for the first time, the poll by Sainsbury’s found.

A proud eight in ten parents captured the moment with a ‘first day of school’ photo of their son or daughter proudly dressed in their new school uniform before swiftly framing it, issuing copies to other family members or for a quarter- uploading it to Facebook straightaway.

Among the other emotional milestones were a child’s first tentative steps, the first word spoken and celebrating their very first birthday.

The preparation for school starts long before the first day as results showed parents put in extra time to teach their child core skills to have them up to speed for their first day – tying shoe laces, telling the time and basic writing skills were the trickiest to teach.

The countdown to that all important day starts a whole month before for over 1.5 million parents already shopping for school uniforms, bags, lunch boxes and stationery, while 10 per cent are focussed more than two months before that very first day.

The 20 most emotional milestones for parents

  1. First day at school
  2. First steps
  3. First word
  4. First birthday
  5. First day at nursery
  6. First Christmas
  7. First crawl
  8. First nativity/school play
  9. First time riding a bike
  10. First swim
  11. First time writing their name
  12. First holiday
  13. First time reading words
  14. First tooth
  15. First solid foods
  16. First sports day
  17. First school report
  18. First parents evening
  19. When they became fully potty trained
  20. First time they counted to ten

Yesterday John Carolan, Head of Buying for Tu childrenswear at Sainsbury’s said: “Many parents view their child’s first day at school as the main sign that their baby has grown to a child.

“It’s the culmination of a lot of hard setting them up with the right skills for life, and preparing over the weeks or even months to get uniforms, equipment and everything else they need for the big day.

“It’s understandable that saying goodbye at the school gate is such a wrench.”

The research detailed the depth of emotion for parents around their child’s school years and compiled the 20 biggest moments.

The study also found a new family’s first Christmas together and seeing a child take to the stage for the first time in a school play inside the top 10 of the most-cherished parenting moments.

Other moments that parents really savoured were seeing their young one write their own name for the first time, ride a bike or swim unaided.

And many will always save the very first school report they got for their child which featured as one of the 20 most emotional parenting milestones.

But it’s that very first day that sticks with mums most and the whirlwind of emotions was evident with more than half bursting with pride the moment they dropped their child at the school gates or marvelling at how quickly the time had passed.

John Carolan, Head of Buying for Tu childrenswear at Sainsbury’s added: “The first day of school is a huge milestone in a child’s life. It marks the first opportunity for your child to go out and have a go at something new by themselves and this is bound to make any parent feel proud.

“To make parents lives easier at such an emotional time, we have everything they will need for the back to school shop including top quality, hard wearing, uniforms and accessories at great prices.

“With an extensive range of school uniform, school bags, lunch boxes and stationery, we are firmly committed to providing parents with quality products that will last the entire school year, no matter how lively your little angels are.”

Notes to editors

  • Sainsbury’s has put their Back To School range to the test to create durable, high quality uniforms at surprisingly low price points – offering exceptional value from ages 2 to 16
  • Great deals include Boys Trousers, Girls Skirts and Cardigans from £2.25 per item and Unisex White Polo Shirts from 87p per item
  • From pull-tested seams and buttons to fabrics that retain their shape up to 100 washes, every item in the Tu school uniform range at Sainsbury’s has been rigorously trialled; ensuring garments will withstand the daily wear and tear of school life.

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Sainsbury’s poll reveals British parents' most emotional milestone in bringing up a child is the first day at school

Sainsbury’s poll reveals British parents’ most emotional milestone in bringing up a child is the first day at school

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Co-op to help four students begin postsecondary educations toward career in agriculture this fall

Western Canada, 2014-8-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — Four students beginning post-secondary educations this fall are establishing roots toward a career in agriculture with the help of Co-op.  Each student is eligible to receive scholarships up to $20,000, paid summer internships, and the opportunity to secure future employment (including signing bonus) during their pursuit of a diploma or degree in agriculture or business.

Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL), in collaboration with local retail Co-ops in Western Canada, launched the Excellence in Ag program last year. The program provides scholarships up to $20,000, paid summer internships, and the opportunity to secure future employment (including a signing bonus) to students pursuing a diploma or degree in agriculture or business.

“Co-op has a long tradition of supporting agriculture in Western Canada,” says Ron Healey, FCL’s Associate Vice-President of Ag and Home. “We believe in the future of agriculture and are proud to support its growth with our investment in the Excellence in Ag program.”

Healey added there are some misconceptions about what a career in agriculture really means today.

“Few other industries are in the midst of such innovative change and offer so many diverse career paths,” Healey said. “This program encourages students to consider agriculture, allows them to apply classroom principles in a practical internship, while providing them monetary support in pursuing their educational and career aspirations.”

This year’s scholarship and internship recipients include:

  • Alison Kuhn (Unity, Sask.) is entering her first year in the Animal Science Technology program at Lakeland College.
  • Kaylee Morris (Delisle, Sask.) is entering her first year in the Agriculture program at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S).
  • Danean Edgar (Wolseley, Sask.) is entering her first year in the Agribusiness program at the U of S.
  • Michelle Ross (Grenfell, Sask.) is entering her first year in the Animal Science program at the U of S.

The students wrote a 500-word essay as part of the application process on one of three topics, including: co-operatives and their impact on their local communities; the future of agriculture in Western Canada; and how co-operatives can stay relevant in agriculture in Western Canada. They also provided two recommendation letters from a teacher, principal or guidance counsellor.

The deadline for applications for the Excellence in Ag program will be January 31, 2015. Information will be available later this fall through your local Co-op ag centre and this website.

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Excellence in Ag recipients were presented with their awards Aug. 26, from left: Kaylee Morris, Michelle Ross, Ron Healey (FCL Associate Vice-President, Ag and Home), Danean Edgar and Alison Kuhn.

Excellence in Ag recipients were presented with their awards Aug. 26, from left: Kaylee Morris, Michelle Ross, Ron Healey (FCL Associate Vice-President, Ag and Home), Danean Edgar and Alison Kuhn.

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Lowe’s awards $1 million Lowe’s Community Partners grant to Keep America Beautiful

STAMFORD, CONN., 2014-8-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — Keep America Beautiful (KAB), the national nonprofit that builds and sustains vibrant communities, today announced Lowe’s (NYSE: LOW) has awarded KAB a $1 million Lowe’s Community Partners grant. Lowe’s donation will support more than 60 local community service projects and KAB’s Great American Cleanup, the nation’s largest community improvement program. This is Lowe’s third $1 million contribution to KAB to engage volunteers to take action to benefit local communities across the country.

The Lowe’s Community Partners grant will enable the national nonprofit to initiate service projects in 27 states. From building community gardens and planting trees to leading disaster restoration and recycling programs, KAB and its national network of community-based affiliates will execute programs based on the needs of their local communities.

Lowe’s also provides support as a national sponsor of KAB’s flagship program, the Great American Cleanup, which takes place in 20,000 communities from coast to coast. This national program engages on average 2 million volunteers who take action to to create positive change and lasting impact.

“The power of the partnership between the Lowe’s and Keep America Beautiful can be seen in the work accomplished by our affiliates and the Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers who have spent countless hours to make a difference through our Great American Cleanup and targeted community initiatives,” said Jennifer Jehn, president and CEO of Keep America Beautiful. “Keep America Beautiful is thrilled to work with Lowe’s to continue transforming public spaces into beautiful places for a third year.”

Keep America Beautiful affiliates and partnering organizations received support from Lowe’s for 180 initiatives through the first two years of the KAB/Lowe’s grant program. Through this partnership, 130,000 acres of parks and public land have been cleaned; more than 886,000 flowers and bulbs have been planted; nearly 200 playgrounds/recreational areas have been restored; and more than 600 edible and community gardens have been planted.

“Lowe’s shares Keep America Beautiful’s belief that we are all responsible for the health of our communities,” said Joan Higginbotham, Lowe’s director of community relations. “Through our continued partnership, Lowe’s is able to carry out our commitment to community improvement and inspire others to roll up their sleeves and help.”

Over the course of the partnership, KAB and Lowe’s have brought together more than 33,000 volunteers and 800 Lowe’s Heroes. Together, they’ve contributed 170,000 volunteer hours in their respective communities.

Highlights of service projects that are taking place in the 2014 grant cycle include:

  • Keep Indianapolis Beautiful – Four vacant lots will be transformed into a pocket park on the Near Eastside of Indianapolis. The park will complement the new Westminster Neighborhood Services family and adult services center adjacent to this park, while serving as a catalyst for neighborhood engagement and revitalization.
  • Keep Phoenix Beautiful – Grant funding will be used to purchase supplies, topsoil and equipment to maintain and enhance the 15-acre PHX Renews site, the largest urban vacant lot transformation project in the country. This once-barren site has been transformed into urban farms, community garden beds and educational spaces. It was also the site of the recently concluded Clinton Global Initiative University Day of Action.
  • Keep the Rez Beautiful – This Mississippi affiliate, which is dedicated to restoring the Ross Barnett Reservoir, will use the grant to develop a new demonstration project that uses native plants, including a pollinator garden, to improve water quality in the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District.
  • Keep Riverside Clean & Beautiful – Grant funding will be used to build trails and parks, connect communities with more green space and encourage outdoor recreational activity along the Santa Ana River Watershed, a main waterway that runs through Riverside, Calif.

About Lowe’s in the Community 
Lowe’s, a FORTUNE® 100 home improvement company, has a 50-year legacy of supporting the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects.  Since 2007, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together have contributed nearly $200 million to these efforts, and for more than two decades Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers have donated their time to make our communities better places to live. To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility and LowesInTheCommunity.tumblr.com.

About Keep America Beautiful
Keep America Beautiful is the nation’s leading nonprofit that brings people together to build and sustain vibrant communities. With a national network of community-based affiliates, we work with millions of volunteers who take action in their communities to transform public spaces into beautiful places. Through our programs and public-private partnerships, we engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community’s environment. For more information, visit kab.org, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or view us on YouTube.

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More than 20 Lowe’s Heroes helped Keep Cincinnati Beautiful clean up and landscape a half-mile stretch of the Mill Creek Greenway Trail in Cincinnati, Ohio, as part of the Lowe’s Community Partners grant program in partnership with Keep America Beautiful. (Photo courtesy, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful) (PRNewsFoto/Keep America Beautiful, Inc.)

More than 20 Lowe’s Heroes helped Keep Cincinnati Beautiful clean up and landscape a half-mile stretch of the Mill Creek Greenway Trail in Cincinnati, Ohio, as part of the Lowe’s Community Partners grant program in partnership with Keep America Beautiful. (Photo courtesy, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful) (PRNewsFoto/Keep America Beautiful, Inc.)

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ICSC and Goldman Sachs Weekly Chain Store Sales Index increased 4.2% for the week ending August 23 compared to the prior year

NEW YORK, 2014-8-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and Goldman Sachs Weekly Chain Store Sales Index increased 4.2% for the week ending August 23 – relative to the prior year. On a week-over-week basis, sales increased 0.6%.

“According to the ICSC-GS consumer tracking survey business was strong across the board – especially for wholesale clubs, apparel stores, discounters, dollar stores, and furniture stores – as consumers continued their back-to-school shopping,” said Michael Niemira, ICSC research consultant. “I expect sales for August to show a healthy gain of 4-5% – a notable improvement over the 3.6% gain in August 2013,” he added.

Next week’s release will be on Wednesday September 3 due to the Labor Day Holiday.

Fiscal month sales for August will be reported on September 4.

Week Ending        Index 1977=100          Year/Year Change                Weekly Change
23-Aug-14                 571.7                             4.2%                                  0.6%
16-Aug-14                 568.5                             3.8%                                 -1.3%
09-Aug-14                 576.1                             3.2%                                 -1.4%
02-Aug-14                 584.2                             4.5%                                  0.2%
26-Jul-14                   583.2                             4.6%                                  0.2%
Founded in 1957, ICSC is the premier global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its more than 67,000 members in over 100 countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, retailers and brokers, as well as academics and public officials. For more information, visit www.icsc.org.

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Contact: Jesse Tron
+1 646-728-3814
jtron@icsc.org
@JesseTronPR

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Target launches limited-edition girl’s collection inspired by the upcoming “Annie” film

Minneapolis, 2014-8-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — The sun’ll come out tomorrow, but the sun will really shine on Nov. 16, when Target launches a limited-edition girl’s collection inspired by the upcoming “Annie” film. Set to hit theaters Dec. 19, Sony Pictures’ contemporized version of this family favorite features a star-studded cast that includes Jamie Foxx, Quvenzhané Wallis, Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale, and Cameron Diaz.

In celebration of the iconic story, Target partnered with the “Annie” costume designer, Renée Ehrlich Kalfus, on a 25-piece collection of girl’s apparel and accessories that captures the essence of the movie’s spirited characters.Annie for Target by Renée Ehrlich Kalfus includes playful pieces with details like patching, embroidery, buttons, and tulle, as well as a DIY kit that allows budding fashionistas to add even more color and personalization to their wardrobe. You’re never fully dressed without a smile, and with each item less than $30, you can bet your bottom dollar that this collection – including the iconic red dress and heart-shaped locket – will bring a smile to anyone’s face!

“Target is excited to bring guests a piece of the ‘Annie’ movie magic, just in time for the holiday season,” said Stacia Andersen, senior vice president, Apparel and Accessories, Target. “The collection’s mix-and-match theme inspires girls to express themselves by creating a look all their own, at prices moms and dads will appreciate.”

We are thrilled to be part of Target’s first collaboration with a costume designer and their first holiday capsule collection for kids,” said George Leon, executive vice president and head of consumer marketing, Sony Pictures. “Just like our film, this collection was made with every girl in mind. Girls are going to fall in love with it.”

Please visit A Bullseye View for an exclusive Q&A with Renee.

media contact

Carly Rappoport
p: (212) 242-9353

LaForce Stevens
p: (212) 242-9353

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Target launches limited-edition girl’s collection inspired by the upcoming “Annie” film

Target launches limited-edition girl’s collection inspired by the upcoming “Annie” film

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PT. Matahari Putra Prima, Tbk awarded “Best Senior Management Investor Relations Support & Most Improved Investor Relations” from Alpha Southeast Asia

Tangerang, Indonesia, 2014-8-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — PT. Matahari Putra Prima, Tbk (“MPPA”) was awarded the “Best Senior Management Investor Relations Support & Most Improved Investor Relations” from Alpha Southeast Asia. The award was presented at the Mandarin Oriental in Jakarta by Publisher & CEO of Alpha Southeast Asia, Siddiq Bazarwala, to the Chief of Investor Relations & Communications for MPPA, Danny Crayton. This award was held in 5 Southeast Asia countries, such as; Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Philippines.

Alpha Southeast Asia conducted the annual poll for four (4) consecutive years to find the best companies in five categories: Most Organized Investor Relations; Best Senior Management Investor Relations Support; Strongest Adherence to Corporate Governance; Most Consistent Dividend Policy; Best Strategic CSR. In addition, Alpha Southeast Asia also chose the winners in each country for the following categories: Most Improved Investor Relations; Best CFO and Best Annual Report.

The winner of this award was based on the poll that was completed by 477 investors, pension funds, hedge funds, brokers and analysts who have an investment interest in the region.

Chief of Investor Relations and Communications for MPPA, Danny Crayton said, “the award is a form of appreciation for the hard work that has been done by MPPA management to establish and maintain good relationships with domestic and foreign investors as well as financial sector stakeholders who have interest either directly or indirectly with MPPA.”

About Matahari Food Business
PT Matahari Putra Prima (MPPA) operates Hypermart, Foodmart and Boston Health & Beauty. Total 2013 Gross Sales amounted to Rp 12.6 Trillion (audited), a growth of 11.1% from 2012. Net Income 2013 amounted to Rp 445 Billion, which grew 85.8% from Rp 239 Billion in 2012. Hypermart has the widest store network among hypermarket operators in more than 60 cities ranging from Tanjung Balai (Medan) to Jayapura (Papua).

MPPA continues to receive both domestic and international acknowledgement with several awards such as:

2013 Retail Asia – Gold Award, 2011-2014 Superbrand Indonesia, 2013 Best of The Best 50 Performing Companies by Forbes Indonesia, Top Brand Awards, 2013 and 2014 Indonesia Most Admired Companies by Warta Ekonomi, 2013 Excellent Service Experience Award and 2013 Customer Satisfaction Award by Roy Morgan.

For further information please contact:
PT. Matahari Putra Prima, Tbk
www.hypermart.co.id
Danny Kojongian, Director- Communications and Public Relations
Email: danny.kojongian@hypermart.co.id
Fernando Repi, Head of Public Relations
Mobile : +6281511181187
Email : fernando.repi@hypermart.co.id

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Commissary announces sales events this Fall

FORT LEE, Va., 2014-8-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — As summer fades, commissary shoppers will see plenty of cool sales events from Labor Day promotions and National Breakfast Month food samplings to Oktoberfest celebrations, with lots of coupons full of high value savings.

Throughout September, DeCA’s industry partners – vendors, suppliers and brokers – are collaborating with commissaries to offer discounts beyond everyday savings. Overseas stores may have substitute events for certain promotional programs.

The “real” Oktoberfest in Munich runs from late September until early October and shoppers can stage their own celebrations if they can’t make it to Germany. Commissaries have German products ranging from chocolates, cookies, sauerkraut, mustard, and red cabbage, to rich German coffee, and more.

With the worldwide Year of Balanced Products with Nestlé promotion, seven winners will receive a year’s worth of Nestlé products to help balance their diet. They’ll receive 52 free coupons for the following participating brands: Lean Cuisine, Lean Pockets, Stouffer’s Family Size, Hot Pockets, DiGiorno, Nesquik and Coffee-mate.

Quaker and Tropicana present “Breakfast, It’s the Smart Way to Start Your Day,” highlighting the importance of a healthy breakfast and offering savings on participating products. Look for displays Sept. 1-24 with booklets of recipe cards and high-value coupons and breakfast suggestions linking Quaker and Tropicana products with the commissary’s produce department.

Unilever’s annual “Italian & American Festival of Savings” runs through Sept. 10. It features Unilever brands such as Ragu, Hellman’s, Lipton, Knorr, Bertolli and Breyers, as well as personal care brands including Dove, Dove Men, St. Ives, Vaseline and Tresemme. Over 125,000 high-value, in-store coupon flyers will be distributed worldwide. A donation of up to $20,000 will be made by industry on behalf of the commissaries to the Fisher House based on the total commissary sales for this savings event.

“As we head toward the cooler days of autumn, commissary customers can rely on us offering plenty of promotions to help them save money and maximize their benefit,” said Tracie Russ, DeCA director of sales.

About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Authorized patrons purchase items at cost plus a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. Shoppers save an average of more than 30 percent on their purchases compared to commercial prices – savings amounting to thousands of dollars annually. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America’s military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.

Media Contact:
Kevin L. Robinson
(804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773
kevin.robinson@deca.mil

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Titan Farms to donate percentage of the peaches purchased by Harris Teeter during August to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina

Charlotte, N.C. 2014-8-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — Harris Teeter and Titan Farms to donate 26,000 pounds of peaches to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina

WHAT:   Titan Farms’ recently hosted its second annual Peaches with a Purpose program at Harris Teeter stores in North Carolina.  The peach grower founded the program to support local food banks; Titan Farms will donate a percentage of the peaches purchased by Harris Teeter during the month of August to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina.  The donation is 26,000 pounds of peaches and will be delivered to Second Harvest at the end of August.

WHO:       Harris Teeter, Titan Farms, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina

WHEN:      Friday, Aug. 29, 2014
10 a.m.

WHERE:   Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina
500B Spratt Street
Charlotte, N.C. 28206

Live Shots Welcome

CONTACTS:  
Kay Carter
Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina
Phone: (704) 376-1785
Email: kcarter@secondharvest.org

Jen Velasquez
Golden Sun Marketing
Phone: (813) 254-0769
Email: jen@goldensunmarketing.com

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Rawproconcepts, Inc. Launches Rawproconcepts® Supplement Program for Dogs, Delivering a Key Nutritional Advantage for Puppies and Adult Dogs

Green Cove Springs, FL, 2014-8-26 — /EPR Retail News/ — Rawproconcepts®, Inc. introduces a one-of-a-kind advanced supplement program formulated for use with all commercial dog food and homemade diet formulations*. Using Rawproconcepts® supplements, dog owners, breeders, and handlers are able to correctly supplement nutrient deficiencies of homemade dog food diets and commercial dog food diets, without the missing analysis often presented by other supplement programs.

Unique to the development of the Rawproconcepts® product line, and the foundation of the Program, is the published workbook titled, The Complete Nutrition Workbook for Dogs. This premier instructional workbook written by company co-founder Alan Anderson, pulls together nutrient data and nutrient requirements for dogs into an exact, step-by-step/table-based guide to homemade dog food formulation. Following daily feeding profiles recommended in the workbook, combined with daily use of Rawproconcepts®, provides an optimal program for homemade diet enthusiasts.

Spending over seven years in the development of the workbook using computer assisted analysis of food ingredient nutrient data provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the nutrient requirements [Recommended Allowance (RA)] for dogs provided by the National Research Council (NRC) of The National Academies, who are advisors to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine, the Rawproconcepts® master formulations for adult dogs and puppies were developed. These formulations capitalize the science used for canine diet formulation into a premier supplement program of advanced product formulations for all dogs.

The Rawproconcepts® product line is manufactured under the labels Rawpromax™, Rawpromega™, Rawprobial™, and RawproCa:P™.

Rawpromax™ is a Protein, Vitamin, and Mineral supplement, manufactured with a formula variant for adult dogs and a formula variant for puppies; Rawpromega™ is an Omega 6 and Omega 3 Fatty Acid supplement manufactured with a formula variant for adult dogs and a formula variant for puppies; Rawprobial™ is a supplement manufactured for adult dogs to support Eye Health, Joint Health, and Digestive Health; and RawproCa:P™ is manufactured for homemade diets only and is considered a “Special Use” supplement for adult dogs and puppies requiring additional Calcium and Phosphorus.

The Rawproconcepts® Program debuts in the United States through E-Commerce Platforms and veterinary clinics.

*Managed care of a licensed veterinarian on all matters relative to the feeding and healthcare of animals takes precedence.

For more information, please visit Rawproconcepts® Premier Canine Supplement Program

Rawpromax™, Rawpromega™, Rawprobial™, and RawproCa:P™ are trademarks of Rawproconcepts®, Inc.

Rawproconcepts® is a trademark of Royal Atlantic E-Commerce, LLC

Contact Details: 411 Walnut Street, Suite 4495
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
webmaster@rawproconcepts.com
https://rawproconcepts.com/
1-866-340-8245

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JB HI-FI announces the appointment of Tim Carter to the newly created position of Online & Commercial Director

Melbourne, Australia, 2014-8-26 — /EPR Retail News/ — JB HI-FI today announces the appointment of Tim Carter to the newly created position of Online & Commercial Director. Tim will report to the Chief Executive Officer, Richard Murray, and will have primary responsibility for the Company’s online and commercial businesses.

Tim was previously with JB HI-FI between September 2005 and July 2011 in a variety of roles including General Manager, Inventory & Supply Chain. After leaving JB Hi-Fi Tim spent 2 years as Chief Operating Officer at online retailer Catch of the Day and, more recently, he has been providing advisory services, including online strategy development and execution, to a number of businesses.

JB HI-FI CEO, Richard Murray, said “I have worked closely with Tim for many years and hold him in high regard.

I am excited that Tim is rejoining the JB HI-FI team. Our online and commercial divisions are important growth areas for the Company and we believe that it is the right time to appoint a member of the Executive team dedicated to these areas. Tim brings both energy and intellect to the role together with significant experience in online retailing. We look forward to Tim leading the continued growth of our online and commercial businesses.”

Media & Investors:
Richard Murray
Chief Executive Officer
03 8530 7333

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AHOLD REPURCHASED 785,209 AHOLD COMMON SHARES FOR € 10.25 MILLION BETWEEN AUGUST 18 AND AUGUST 22, 2014

Zaandam, the Netherlands, 2014-8-26 — /EPR Retail News/ — Ahold has repurchased 785,209 Ahold common shares in the period from August 18, 2014 up to and including August 22, 2014.
The shares were repurchased at an average price of € 13.0533 per share for a total consideration of € 10.25 million. These repurchases were made as part of the € 500 million share buyback program announced on February 28, 2013 as increased by € 1.5 billion to a total amount of € 2 billion announced on June 4, 2013.

The total number of shares repurchased under this program to date is 130,629,364 common shares for a total consideration of € 1,698.00 million.
During the share buyback program, Ahold publishes a press release every Monday with a weekly update. Click here to view all the relevant information of these these weekly updates. Separate weekly press releases are available upon request. Please send an email to communications@ahold.com if you would like to receive one or more of these weekly releases.

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