Posted on October 22, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Host committee members for the NRF Foundation’s second annual Gala announced

Gala to also welcome Carl Banks of NY Giants fame and executives from American Express, DreamWorks, PwC

WASHINGTON, 2015-10-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — The NRF Foundation today announced the names of several industry insiders, retail CEOs and business partners who will serve as host committee members for the Foundation’s second annual Gala. The NRF Foundation is the non-profit division of the National Retail Federation. On Sunday, January 17 at Pier Sixty in New York City the Gala will bring together the next generation of retail talent, hundreds of the industry’s most illustrious leaders, and honorees on The List of People Shaping Retail’s Future.

Members of the 2016 Host Committee:

Carl Banks, former NY Giant and president of G-III Sports
Steve Barr, U.S. retail and consumer leader, PwC
Stacey Bendet, ceo and creative director, Alice + Olivia
Nate Berkus, designer and author, founder of Nate Berkus Associates
Gunther Bright, executive vice president, merchant services, U.S., American Express Company
Michael Francis, chief global brand officer, DreamWorks Animation
Tommy Hilfiger, principal designer, Tommy Hilfiger
Iman, ceo, Iman Cosmetics, Inc.
Fern Mallis, president, Fern Mallis LLC, International Fashion and Design Consultancy
Joy Mangano, founder and president, Ingenious Designs LLC (subsidiary of HSNi)
Brit Morin, founder and ceo, Brit + Co
Kara Ross, founder, KARA ROSS NY & DIAMONDS UNLEASHED
Rachel Shechtman, founder and ceo, STORY

HSNi CEO and Chairman of the NRF Foundation Board of Directors Mindy Grossman, and Chairman and CEO of The Container Store and Chairman of the NRF Board of Directors Kip Tindell will co-host the event, which will raise funds for the NRF Foundation. All proceeds from the Gala’s ticket sales, donations, sponsorship packages and auction will benefit the Foundation’s initiatives over the next year, including funding for student scholarships and experiences, advancement efforts for young professionals in retail, helping veterans transition to the civilian workforce, and showcasing diverse and innovative retail career opportunities.

“The imagination, inspiration and innovation that happens every day in retail is worth celebrating, and it is incredible to see the industry come together on one night to recognize those shaping the industry,” said Grossman. “The Gala is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for industry leaders to help the NRF Foundation with its mission of shaping retail’s future and sharing the message that retail offers richly rewarding and diverse career opportunities.”

In addition to recognizing the 2016 List of People Shaping Retail’s Future, the Gala will welcome dozens of high-performing students and scholarship recipients who are a part of the NRF Student Association. The List of People Shaping Retail’s Future will be announced in early January 2016.

“One of the most powerful tools in retail that helps keep the industry innovating at lightning speed is the wealth and diversity of our talent. No other industry in the world depends on and values people the way retail does, and that’s why the work of the NRF Foundation is so critical,” said Tindell. “We had an amazing inaugural event last year and I cannot wait to host the Gala again this January.”

The inaugural NRF Foundation Gala in January 2015 raised $1.2 million for scholarships, programs and initiatives. The fundraising goal for this year’s Gala is $1.5 million.

Learn more about how you can participate in the Gala and show your support for the retail industry here: nrf.com/gala.

Note to media: If you are interested in covering the event, please contact NRF’s media team at press@nrf.com.

The NRF Foundation shapes retail’s future by building awareness of the industry through statistics and stories; developing talent through education, experiences and scholarships; and fostering career growth among people who work in retail. The NRF Foundation is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm of the National Retail Federation and is funded in part by generous donations from retail industry supporters. NRF.com/Foundation

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

SOURCE: National Retail Federation

Posted on October 22, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Coalition of 10 associations led by NRF sent a letter to Senate in support of an amendment of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015

WASHINGTON, 2015-10-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — A broad-based coalition of 10 associations led by the National Retail Federation sent a letter today to Senate leadership in support of an amendment by Senator Tom Cotton to S. 754, the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015, that would give liability protection to businesses that share cyber threats with the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the U.S. Secret Service rather than just the Department of Homeland Security.

“NRF is leading the fight against data theft because the retailer-consumer relationship depends on trust, and cyberattacks erode that trust,” said Senior Vice President for Government Relations David French. “Hackers target a wide variety of businesses, but data thefts committed against retailers draw attention because retail stores are names consumers know and places where they shop every day. We are committed to stopping this criminal threat to our customers and the industry.”

Noting in its letter that “A major barrier that prevents the business community from working to combat these unprecedented attacks is the risk of costly frivolous lawsuits,” the coalition urged the Senate to pass CISA and “remove this roadblock to cyber defense.”

The coalition also wrote that CISA would be improved by the amendment offered by Cotton. As written, the legislation would provide liability protection only when threats are shared with DHS. Under Cotton’s amendment, the protection would be extended to cover sharing with all three agencies. “This amendment recognizes the reality that for non-critical infrastructure sectors, the FBI and Secret Service are our longstanding partners and primary points of contact in fighting cyberattacks,” wrote the coalition. “Anything that hinders essential real-time communication cedes the field to our nation’s adversaries and weakens our economic security.”

NRF has led a sustained campaign over the past decade to address data security and protect retail customers. In addition to advocating for information-sharing legislation like today’s Senate bill, NRF has supported passage of a uniform federal data breach notification law to replace separate laws in 47 states and the District of Columbia. Notification legislation has been a top priority in Congress during 2015, and NRF testified before a Senate hearing in February that a federal law should cover banks, card processors and all entities that handle sensitive consumer data, not just retailers.

To help fight cybersecurity threats to retailers’ systems, NRF has also created the Information Technology Security Council, which keeps retailers up to date on the latest news, information and threats and has more than 150 actively-involved retail companies.

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 $2.6 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. nrf.com

J. Craig Shearman
(202) 626-8134
press@nrf.com
(855) NRF-Press

Posted on October 22, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

NRF: migrating to chip-and-signature credit cards “overwhelming” for many small retailers

WASHINGTON, 2015-10-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — A gift shop owner told Congress today that making the change to chip-and-signature credit cards has been “overwhelming” for many small businesses and that owners are disappointed that without PINs they are being pressured to make an expensive investment without receiving the full level of security that could be provided.

“The EMV transition is overwhelming and expensive for an independent, small retailer,” Keith Lipert, owner of The Keith Lipert Gallery, a single-location, three-employee store in Washington, said. “Small retailers are entirely at the mercy and whims of the big players. We have no say and no way to use the marketplace to make our objections heard and our concerns valued.”

“EMV is all new to me, and banks and the networks are not contacting small businesses to help the transition in any way,” Lipert said. “No one from my bank, processor or existing supplier even contacted me about the need to add a new EMV device, let alone a deadline by which to do so.”

Lipert testified today on behalf of the National Retail Federation before the House Small Business Committee during a hearing on how Europay MasterCard Visa cards will affect small businesses. The hearing follows this month’s deadline set by the card industry for merchants to install chip-card readers or face increased fraud liability if a chip card is used in a non-chip reader.

Lipert said a key concern is that the EMV cards being issued by banks in the United States are chip-and-signature cards rather than the chip-and-PIN cards used in virtually all other countries where EMV cards are used. He cited Federal Reserve statistics showing that using a secure, secret personal identification number to approve transactions is seven times more secure than an easily forged and often-illegible signature.

“We find it extremely frustrating that the card industry expects retailers and other businesses to upgrade when it will not allow the U.S. to adopt the most secure form of this technology – chips with PINs,” Lipert said.

Lipert said small businesses in particular are seeing “significant delays” in obtaining chip card readers or getting them certified once they are installed.

“Small business updates are simply not a priority for the hardware manufacturers, the software providers or the certification entities,” he said. “I asked my payment technology rep when I could expect new devices if I ordered it this month and was told the equipment is on backorder.”

With each chip card terminal costing as much as $2,000 when installation, software and other expenses are included, Lipert said the price is “extremely high.” And without PIN, “it makes little sense in any serious customer protection or basic return-on-investment analysis.”

While the chips make the cards more difficult to counterfeit, Lipert said they do nothing to protect lost or stolen cards, while a PIN alone could prevent all three types of fraud.

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 $2.6 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. NRF.com

J. Craig Shearman
(202) 626-8134
press@nrf.com
(855) NRF-Press

SOURCE: National Retail Federation

Posted on October 22, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

RILA: Retailers express support for amendment offered by Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) to the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA)

Arlington , VA, 2015-10-22 — /EPR Retail News/ —In a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) today the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), along with the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA), Food Marketing Institute (FMI), Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS), National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), National Council of Chain Restaurants (NCCR), National Grocers Association (NGA), National Retail Federation (NRF), and the Security Industry Association (SIA), expressed support for an amendment offered by Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) to the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA). The amendment would extend liability protection for electronic sharing of cyber threat indicators with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and United States Secret Service.

“Information sharing is a crucial component in combating cyberattacks and protecting consumer information. In order to rapidly share threat indicators and defensive measures in real time, businesses need to know they are doing so without the risk of frivolous lawsuits,” said Nicholas Ahrens, vice president of privacy and cybersecurity. “CISA addresses this by allowing safer and smarter collaboration across industries to strengthen our overall cyber defense.”

The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) introduced by Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) establishes a strong legal framework for sharing information between the federal government and private entities regarding cyber threat indicators. Earlier this year, the House passed the Protecting Cyber Networks Act (PCNA), bipartisan legislation that similarly allows companies liability protections when sharing narrowly defined cyber threat indicators with the FBI and Secret Service.

“Cybercriminals are growing more sophisticated every day. Retailers remain committed to strengthening our cyber defense to protect consumers’ sensitive information and privacy,” said Ahrens. “We urge the Senate to pass both CISA and the Cotton Amendment without delay.”

Full letter text below.

RILA is the trade association of the world’s largest and most innovative retail companies. RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs and more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers domestically and abroad.

###

October 21, 2015

The Honorable Mitch McConnell The Honorable Harry Reid
Majority Leader Minority Leader
United States Senate United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510

Dear Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Reid:

On behalf of the undersigned associations, we write to express our strong support for an amendment by Senator Tom Cotton to S. 754, the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA), extending liability protection for the electronic sharing of cyber threat indicators with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and United States Secret Service. We urge immediate consideration and passage by the full Senate.

Our associations embrace innovative technology to provide American consumers with unparalleled services and products online, through mobile applications, and in stores. While technology presents great opportunity, nation states, criminal organizations, and other bad actors are using it to attack businesses, institutions, and governments. As we have seen, no organization is immune from attack and no security system is invulnerable. We understand that defense against cyberattacks must be an ongoing effort, evolving to address the changing nature of the threat.

Remove the Roadblocks to Cyber Defense

A major barrier that prevents the business community from working together to combat these unprecedented attacks is the risk of costly frivolous lawsuits. We believe that Congress should enact legislation that gives businesses legal certainty that they have safe harbor against frivolous lawsuits when voluntarily sharing and receiving real time threat indicators and defensive measures and taking actions to mitigate cyberattacks. We urge the Senate to take up CISA to remove this roadblock to cyber defense.

Cotton Amendment Responsibly Enhances Real Time Sharing

Additionally, our associations believe that CISA would be improved by an amendment being offered by Senator Cotton that grants liability protection for electronic sharing of cyber threat indicators with the FBI and Secret Service outside of the DHS portal. This amendment recognizes the reality that for non-critical infrastructure sectors, the FBI and Secret Service are our longstanding partners and primary points of contact in fighting cyberattacks. Anything that hinders essential real time communication cedes the field to our nation’s adversaries and weakens our economic security.

Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed, H.R. 1560, the Protecting Cyber Networks Act (PCNA), with an overwhelming bipartisan majority. That bill contained liability protections for electronic sharing of information with the FBI and Secret Service. The Cotton Amendment similarly would allow companies to be protected when sharing narrowly defined cyber threat indicators with law enforcement without altering sound privacy protective compromises that have been made to limit sharing with the national security apparatus. We call on the Senate to adopt this common sense fix to CISA to improve the bill and strengthen America’s cybersecurity posture.

Our associations are deeply committed to working with you and your colleagues to pass CISA and the Cotton Amendment in order to strengthen our cyber defense and give companies the legal protections they need. Cyberattacks are not going away and we urge the Senate to act without delay.
Sincerely,

Electronic Transactions Association (ETA)

Food Marketing Institute (FMI)

Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)

National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS)

National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC)

National Council of Chain Restaurants (NCCR)

National Grocers Association (NGA)

National Retail Federation (NRF)

Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA)

Security Industry Association (SIA)

cc: Members of the U.S. Senate

Jason Brewer
Senior Vice President, Communications and Advocacy
Phone: 703-600-2050
Email: jason.brewer@rila.org

SOURCE: Retail Industry Leaders Association

Posted on October 22, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Alan B. Colberg elected to the CarMax’s board of directors

RICHMOND, Va., 2015-10-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX) today announced that its board of directors has elected Alan B. Colberg to membership on the board, bringing its total board membership to 12. Colberg will serve on the Audit Committee.

Since January 2015, Colberg, 54, has been president, CEO and director of Assurant, Inc., a global provider of specialty protection products and related services. Colberg joinedAssurant as executive vice president of marketing and business development in 2011 and was named president in 2014. Previously, he spent 22 years at Bain & Company Inc., founding Bain’s Atlanta Office in 1996 and leading it until 2010. He also served as Bain’s global practice leader for financial services.

Colberg holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science in accounting and finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

“It’s a pleasure for us to welcome Alan to the CarMax board,” said Tom Folliard, president and chief executive officer of CarMax. “He brings a wide breadth of business experience not only from his current role as the president and CEO of Assurant, but also from his many years consulting with Bain clients globally. He offers a depth of finance and marketing knowledge that will make him a highly valuable addition to our board of directors.”

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 11 consecutive years, is the nation’s largest retailer of used vehicles. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 153 used car stores in 76 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 fiscal year ended February 28, 2015, the company retailed 582,282 used cars and sold 376,186 wholesale vehicles at our in-store auctions. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com.

Source: CarMax, Inc.

CarMax, Inc.
Investors:
Katharine Kenny, Vice President, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4591
Celeste Gunter, Manager, Investor Relations, (804) 935-4597
or
Media:
pr@carmax.com, (855) 887-2915

###

CarMax Board Elects Alan B. Colberg As New Director (Photo: Business Wire)

Posted on October 22, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

The Bon-Ton Stores closes its Elder-Beerman stores in Huntington Mall in Huntington, West Virginia and Lima Mall in Lima, Ohio

YORK, Pa., 2015-10-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:BONT) today announced it will close its Elder-Beerman stores in the Huntington Mall in Huntington, West Virginia and the Lima Mall in Lima, Ohio. The Company will not renew these leases, which terminate January 31, 2016. Additionally, the Company announced the closing of its Bon-Ton store in the Carousel Center in Syracuse, New York upon its scheduledFebruary 28, 2016 lease termination. The closings will impact 58, 51 and 43 associates at the Huntington Mall, Lima Mall and Carousel Center locations, respectively.

Bon-Ton acquired the leasehold interests in the Carousel Center store as part of its Chappell’s acquisition in 1994 and the Huntington Mall and Lima Mall stores as part of its Elder-Beerman acquisition in 2003. The Company does not expect costs associated with the closing of the locations to be material. The stores will close at the end of their lease terms.

Kathryn Bufano, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We actively review our store portfolio to ensure efficient asset utilization. While decisions to close stores are not taken lightly, closings are part of ongoing real estate initiatives in which we strategically conclude operations at underperforming locations, enabling us to redirect capital into more profitable and productive assets. As a result of our performance reviews, we felt it prudent to close the aforementioned stores. We are very grateful for the dedicated Huntington, Lima and Carousel Center store associates and are committed to providing assistance to these associates.”

The affected associates in the Huntington Mall, Lima Mall and Carousel Center stores will be offered the opportunity to interview for available positions at other Elder-Beerman or Bon-Ton stores, or receive career transition benefits, including severance, according to established practices and state employment service support.

The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., with corporate headquarters in York, Pennsylvania and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operates 270 stores, which includes nine furniture galleries and four clearance centers, in 26 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains under the Bon-Ton, Bergner’s, Boston Store, Carson’s, Elder-Beerman, Herberger’s and Younkers nameplates. The stores offer a broad assortment of national and private brand fashion apparel and accessories for women, men and children, as well as cosmetics and home furnishings. For further information, please visit the investor relations section of the Company’s website at http://investors.bonton.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information included in this press release contains statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “plan,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend” or other similar expressions and include the Company’s fiscal 2015 guidance, involve important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. Factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to: risks related to retail businesses generally; a significant and prolonged deterioration of general economic conditions which could negatively impact the Company in a number of ways, including the potential write-down of the current valuation of intangible assets and deferred taxes; risks related to the Company’s proprietary credit card program; potential increases in pension obligations; consumer spending patterns, debt levels, and the availability and cost of consumer credit; additional competition from existing and new competitors; inflation; deflation; changes in the costs of fuel and other energy and transportation costs; weather conditions that could negatively impact sales; uncertainties associated with expanding or remodeling existing stores; the ability to attract and retain qualified management; the dependence upon relationships with vendors and their factors; a data security breach or system failure; the ability to reduce or control SG&A expenses, including initiatives to reduce expenses and improve efficiency; operational disruptions; unsuccessful marketing initiatives; the ability to expand our capacity and improve efficiency through our new eCommerce fulfillment center; changes in, or the failure to successfully implement, our key strategies, including initiatives to improve our merchandising, marketing and operations; adverse outcomes in litigation; the incurrence of unplanned capital expenditures; the ability to obtain financing for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes; the impact of regulatory requirements including the Health Care Reform Act and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; the inability or limitations on the Company’s ability to favorably adjust the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets; and the financial condition of mall operators. Additional factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ from those contained in these forward-looking statements are discussed in greater detail under Item 1A of the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT: Kim George

Divisional Vice President

Investor Relations

717.751.3071

kim.george@bonton.com

Source: The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.

News Provided by Acquire Media

Posted on October 22, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

NACS Board member congressional testimony: costs to small businesses of the transition to EMV credit and debit card technology are “staggering”

WASHINGTON, 2015-10-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — The costs to small businesses of the transition to EMV credit and debit card technology are “staggering”—averaging more than half of annual profits for convenience stores—yet the switch still represents a “missed opportunity” to further reduce fraud, according to congressional testimony by a NACS Board member.

Testifying before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business, Jared Scheeler, managing director of The Hub Convenience Stores Inc., indicated that it has cost his chain of four North Dakota convenience stores $134,500 to date to install point-of-sale and pump card readers that accept EMV chip transactions. The average transition cost is more than $26,000 per store, compared with an average profit of $47,000 per year, bringing the total cost to roughly $3.9 billion for the 152,000-plus convenience stores nationwide.

“As a small business, the transition to EMV has been a costly and burdensome undertaking. It does not appear that the card companies took into consideration the realities of operating a small business when they came up with their transition plans,” asserted Scheeler. “In addition to the substantial time and money involved, the card companies have erected considerable obstacles that restrict my ability to reduce payment card fraud at my stores.”

In addition to the direct cost of replacing equipment, Scheeler cited lost management time; payments and lost income due to downtime from required software upgrades; as well the substantial but yet not fully known obstacles of getting equipment programmed and certified by the card companies. Each company requires separate certifications for credit, PIN debit and signature debit, which will be followed by pilot testing and “significant” staff training before EMV transactions can be accepted. Finally, ongoing maintenance and upgrade expenses are expected to exceed $2,200 per store annually.

Despite these upgrades, Scheeler testified, convenience stores will continue to bear “far more than 100% of the cost of fraud” due to “exorbitant” swipe fees, chargebacks and payments for data breaches. Moreover, the card companies failed to require chip-and-PIN technology, a “simple and very effective security measure” that they promote abroad and “would substantially reduce fraud losses for everyone, including small business owners.” PIN, according to the Federal Reserve, is six times more effective than signature in preventing fraud on debit transactions, a critical advantage to stores with gas pumps where merchants do not see customers.

“As a small business owner, paying for this costly EMV transition and substantial annual fraud costs, I am frustrated that I will not see the fraud relief that I and other retailers could easily get if the networks were making the type of genuine fraud-reduction effort that they have made around the world,” stated Scheeler.

Scheeler’s full testimony is available here.

-###-

Founded in 1961 as the National Association of Convenience Stores, NACS (nacsonline.com) is the international association for convenience and fuel retailing. The U.S. convenience store industry, with more than 152,700 stores across the country, posted $696.1 billion in total sales in 2014, of which $482.6 billion were motor fuels sales. NACS has 2,100 retail and 1,600 supplier member companies, which do business in nearly 50 countries.

Posted on October 22, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Tracy Gardner to serve on Gap Inc. Board of Directors effective November 11, 2015

SAN FRANCISCO, 2015-10-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) today announced that Tracy Gardner has been elected to serve on the Gap Inc. Board of Directors, effective November 11, 2015.

“With more than 30 years of experience, Tracy is an accomplished merchant, creative advisor and leader in growing multi-channel brands,” said Bob Fisher, chairman of the board, Gap Inc. “Tracy’s deep product expertise will bring a powerful creative voice to our already accomplished Board.”

Ms. Gardner held a number of leadership roles at J.Crew Group, Inc. from 2004 to 2010, where she ultimately served as president of Retail and Direct. During her tenure, the business expanded across channels, completed its public offering and grew revenue by approximately $1 billion. Additionally, she advised numerous startups and well-known brands as an independent consultant between 2010 and 2013, and served as chief executive officer of dELiA’s Inc. from 2013 to 2014.

During 2015, Ms. Gardner has served as an advisor to the company’s namesake brand, offering creative support to Gap’s new leadership team, led by global brand president Jeff Kirwan. She held a similar role in 2012, working alongside Gap Inc. chief executive officer Art Peck, who was then leading a product and business resurgence as president of Gap North America.

Ms. Gardner began her Gap Inc. career in 1991, serving in several creative roles across Gap and Banana Republic until 1994. She returned to the company in 1998 to hold senior leadership positions including the head of Gap Adult Merchandising from 2002 to 2004, a period of considerable growth for the brand.

“I’m honored to join the company’s Board of Directors at a time of exciting transformation,” said Ms. Gardner. “I look forward to contributing to the next phase of Gap Inc.’s growth.”

Since 2011, Ms. Gardner has served on the board of directors at Women in Need, Inc. She served on the board of directors at Lands’ End between 2014 and 2015.

Ms. Gardner becomes the 11th board member and the fourth woman on the Gap Inc. board. In addition, Gap Inc. co-founder, Doris Fisher, became an honorary lifetime director in 2009.

About Gap Inc.
Gap Inc. is a leading global retailer offering clothing, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, and children under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta, and Intermix brands. Fiscal year 2014 net sales were $16.4 billion. Gap Inc. products are available for purchase in more than 90 countries worldwide through about 3,300 company-operated stores, over 400 franchise stores, and e-commerce sites. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com.

SOURCE: Gap Inc.

Posted on October 22, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Darden Restaurants, Inc’s board approved tax-free spin-off of select real estate and restaurant assets into Four Corners Property Trust, Inc

Transaction allows Darden to reduce approximately $1 billion in debt; Creates new opportunities for both companies to increase shareholder value

ORLANDO, Fla., 2015-10-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI) announced today that its board of directors has approved, subject to certain conditions, the tax-free spin-off (Spin-off) of select real estate and restaurant assets into Four Corners Property Trust, Inc. (FCPT), which will become an independent, publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT). In addition, today the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) declared effective the registration statement of FCPT with respect to the Spin-off.

“Today’s announcement is one of the final steps in the spin-off transaction, which will allow us to optimize the value of a significant portion of our captive real estate while also positioning two companies for success,” said CEO Gene Lee. “Among other advantages, Darden will benefit from an improved capital structure and strong financial position ready to meet the short- and long-term needs of the business while maintaining our investment-grade credit profile. FCPT will be well positioned to efficiently dedicate financial resources and access capital markets to provide an attractive yield to shareholders with the immediate ability to grow and diversify.”

Darden expects to distribute all of the FCPT shares on November 9, 2015, pro rata to Darden shareholders of record as of 5 p.m. EST on November 2, 2015. Upon close of the transaction, Darden shareholders will retain their Darden shares and will receive one FCPT share for every three Darden shares held. The Spin-off is expected to be a tax-free distribution to Darden shareholders. Darden shareholders will receive cash in lieu of fractional FCPT shares in the Spin-off. No action is required by Darden shareholders to receive their FCPT shares.

The distribution is conditioned upon satisfaction or waiver of certain customary closing conditions, including financing of the transaction, and receipt of an opinion from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP with respect to the qualification of the Spin-off as tax free. Darden’s request for an Internal Revenue Service private letter ruling remains pending.

Following the Spin-off, Darden will continue to be listed on the NYSE under the symbol “DRI,” while FCPT has applied to list its common stock on the NYSEunder the symbol “FCPT.” The NYSE has approved the listing of FCPT’s common stock, subject to official notice of issuance. As previously disclosed, Darden intends to use proceeds from the sale leaseback of select real estate properties, debt financing from FCPT and Darden’s balance sheet cash to retire approximately $1 billion in debt.

It is expected that between the record date of November 2, 2015, up to the distribution date, the Darden stock will trade with “due bills” allowing the Darden common stock to trade with an entitlement to receive shares of FCPT common stock on the distribution date. Any holder of Darden stock who sells shares of Darden on or before the distribution date may be selling the entitlement to receive shares of the FCPT common stock in the Spin-off. Holders of Darden common stock are encouraged to consult with their financial advisers regarding the specific implications of selling Darden common stock on or before the distribution date.

Information Statement
Darden will promptly begin mailing to its shareholders the information statement regarding the Spin-off that appears as an exhibit to the FCPT registration statement filed with the SEC on Form 10. The information statement will provide Darden shareholders with more information on the Spin-off and the details of the transaction.

Darden is being represented in the Spin-off by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Hogan Lovells US LLP. J.P. Morgan and Moelis & Company are serving as financial advisers.

About Darden
Darden Restaurants, Inc., (NYSE: DRI) owns and operates more than 1,500 restaurants that generate $6.8 billion in annual sales. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, and employing 150,000 people, Darden is recognized for a culture that rewards caring for and responding to people. Our restaurant brands – Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, Eddie V’s and Yard House – reflect the rich diversity of those who dine with us. Our brands are built on deep insights into what our guests want. For more information, please visit www.darden.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements in this communication are made under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are first made, and we undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after such date. We wish to caution investors not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to materially differ from those anticipated in the statements.

Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the completion of the transaction, the effective date of the distribution and other transaction dates, the expected benefits of the transaction, and the pro forma dividend for each company. Such statements are based on estimates, projections, beliefs, and assumptions that Darden believes are reasonable but are not guarantees of future events and results. Actual future events and results of Darden may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of important factors.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in Darden’s forward-looking statements include, among others: (i) risks related to the anticipated timing of the proposed separation, the expected tax treatment of the proposed transaction, the ability of each of Darden (post-spin) and FCPT to conduct and expand their respective businesses following the proposed Spin-off, the ability of Darden to reduce its debt by the currently-anticipated amounts, and the diversion of management’s attention from regular business concerns; (ii) the risk that the conditions to the Spin-off, including financing of the transaction, are not satisfied; and (iii) those additional factors under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of Darden’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2015, and in subsequent filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

SOURCE Darden Restaurants, Inc.: General

Darden Contacts – (Analysts) Kevin Kalicak, (407) 245-5870, or (Media) Rich Jeffers, (407) 245-4189

Posted on October 22, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Toys“R”Us® rolls out its 2015 holiday marketing campaign on TV, digital and print

Dual Approach Features Clever TV Spots That Capture What Really Goes on When the Toy Store is Closed, While Ads that Tug at the Heartstrings Showcase the True Spirit of the Season of Giving

WAYNE, NJ, 2015-10-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — This week, Toys“R”Us^® will begin to roll out its 2015 holiday marketing campaign with a fully-integrated program that encompasses television, digital and print advertising. At the center of the campaign is the notion of “AWWWESOME,” which is used to punctuate the company’s value offerings, competitive advantages and emotional connection with its customers. Key holiday messages are conveyed through a series of clever advertisements that reveal what goes on in toyland after store closing, while a number of poignant spots capture the spirit of the season and intimacy of special moments with loved ones.

Check out the AWWWESOME commercials and some behind-the-scenes photos here: https://toysrus.sharefile.com/d-s70e6c6e32604025b.

“AWWWESOME is central to this year’s campaign, because it speaks not only to our breadth of selection and expertise, but it is exactly what kids see when they walk wide-eyed into a Toys“R”Us store,” said Rich Lennox, Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, Toys“R”Us, U.S. “As consumers begin to make decisions on where to shop this holiday season, we wanted to clearly convey the unique value proposition we are offering through strong promotional messages – but ones that are delivered in a fun and engaging way. And, as a brand that is truly synonymous with the holidays, we wanted to take pause and reflect on those special moments that are at the heart of what Christmas is all about.”

Witty “Shelf-Talker” Spots Put Toys On Center Stage

To illustrate the company’s breadth of products and unique services, Toys“R”Us is imagining what happens in toyland when no one is looking through a series of more than a dozen “Shelf Talker” spots. The 15- and 30-second ads, which will begin to air this week, reveal a whole new world where hijinks and drama ensue among the varied personalities of toys found in the store. One demonstrates the company’s vast selection of toys as everyone’s favorite power couple, Ken^® and Barbie^®, lost, drive through the store aisles in their pink convertible. Ken is in the driver’s seat – and, in that all-too-true scenario – he is convinced they are headed in the right direction and refuses to ask for help in finding their destination. In a second spot, which reinforces the company’s Price Match Guarantee, Optimus Prime learns a tough lesson as a baby doll inadvertently lets it slip that he is but one of many tough Transformers^® on the shelf, sending him into hysterics. New “Shelf Talker” spots will be introduced throughout the holiday season featuring popular toys while delivering customer benefits, such as current deals and services available at Toys“R”Us.

Capturing the True Spirit and Heart of the Season

In a series of beautifully filmed 30- and 60-second spots, Toys“R”Us seeks to place a spotlight on those moments of giving, surprise and wonder that make Christmas so special. The first ad, which will begin to air November 1, unfolds as a young child notices her elderly neighbor has the only house on the block left undecorated for the holiday season. The girl decides to make this gentleman’s holiday merrier by enlisting the help of a friend to trim a large tree in his front yard. Her efforts appear to go unappreciated, and she is crestfallen. On Christmas morning, however, the little girl awakens to find a note at her front door and is amazed to discover that her neighbor has left mountains of gifts under the tree. As she and her friends run to unwrap the presents, the little girl notices the gentleman peering out his window, and they smile at each other knowing each has been given the best possible gift of the season.

Additional ads, which demonstrate the spirit of Christmas, will be unveiled throughout the holiday season. They will air on TV and be featured in cinemas across the country.

Created in partnership with BBDO Worldwide, an international, award-winning creative agency, the spots will air on all major networks and cable stations, including ABC, CBS, CW, FOX and NBC, as well as ABC Family, Animal Planet, A&E, BET, Bravo, Discovery Family, E!, Food Network, Hallmark, HGTV, Lifetime, OWN, Oxygen, TBS, TLC and TNT, among others. Top national morning and syndicated talk shows, including TODAY, Live with Kelly & Michael, ELLEN, Rachael Ray, The Dr. Oz Show, The Fab Life and Steve Harvey, will air the commercials throughout the holidays.

Extending the Campaign with Unique Digital Content

To extend the reach of the “AWWWESOME” campaign, Toys“R”Us will feature brand new, exclusive content on the company’s social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube. Continuing all season long, Toys“R”Us will have an exciting playlist on YouTube, combining the wit of “Shelf Talkers” with the concept of the immensely popular unboxing videos. Fans can watch as their favorite playthings release each other from their packaging, while showcasing the unique features and personalities of these toys. Kids and kids at heart can also check out YouTube.com/ToysRUs for fun, time-lapse videos and behind-the-scenes content of the campaign, as well as to replay the magical moments of the commercials.

Additionally, now through mid-December, Toys“R”Us promotional activity will be seen across the Web. The strategy includes premier placements on high-impact homepages, including YouTube and Hulu.com, among others. And, as a digital extension of the retailer’s broadcast promotions, ABC.com, CBS.com, FOX.com and NBC.com will feature Toys“R”Us ads online as part of a larger partnership with the networks.

For company news and updates throughout the season, please visit “R” Holiday Press Room.

About Toys“R”Us, Inc.
Toys“R”Us, Inc. is the world’s leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer, offering a differentiated shopping experience through its family of brands. Merchandise is sold in 863 Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us stores in the United States, Puerto Rico and Guam, and in 740 international stores and 245 licensed stores in 38 countries and jurisdictions. In addition, it exclusively operates the legendary FAO Schwarz brand and sells extraordinary toys at FAO.com. With its strong portfolio of e-commerce sites including Toysrus.com, Babiesrus.com and FAO.com, it provides shoppers with a broad online selection of distinctive toy and baby products. Headquartered in Wayne, NJ, Toys“R”Us, Inc. employs approximately 66,000 associates annually worldwide. The company is committed to serving its communities as a caring and reputable neighbor through programs dedicated to keeping kids safe and helping them in times of need. Additional information about Toys“R”Us, Inc. can be found on Toysrusinc.com. Follow Toys“R”Us, Babies“R”Us and FAO Schwarz on Facebook at Facebook.com/Toysrus, Facebook.com/Babiesrus and Facebook.com/FAO and on Twitter at Twitter.com/Toysrus, Twitter.com/Babiesrus and Twitter.com/FAOSchwarz.

# # #

Media Contacts:
Toys“R”Us, Inc.
Kathleen Waugh
(973) 617-5888
Kathleen.Waugh@toysrus.com

Cheryl O’Brien
(973) 617-4380
Cheryl.Obrien@toysrus.com

Posted on October 22, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Whole Foods Market reopens its location in White Plains, NY on Saturday, October 24

White Plains Location to Officially Reveal New Store Renovations on October 24th, 2015

WHITE PLAINS, NY, 2015-10-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFM), America’s Healthiest Grocery Store®, is excited to announce the grand reopening of its location in White Plains, NY on Saturday, October 24th. Timed perfectly for the start of the Thanksgiving and Holiday season, the store will be showcasing its new look including the introduction of its new Juice and Coffee Bar, upgraded Whole Body department, an expanded beer selection with specialty growlers. In addition, the store’s prepared foods department will now offer an expansive selections of pizzas, Italian sandwiches and salads, in addition to seasonal house made options.

Throughout reopening day, shoppers can expect to find a variety of giveaways and in-store activities for the whole family, including:

First 50 customers will receive a custom-designed White Plains Resusable Bag
“Pop-Up” Art Gallery displaying work from White Plains High School students
Apron Decorating Class for kids
Grand Reopening Cake Cutting

“The White Plains community has embraced Whole Foods Market since we first opened,” said George Galanakis, Store Team Leader for Whole Foods Market White Plains. “We’re excited to bring our community a new and improved store, featuring some of our most fun and delicious innovations to continue to elevate their shopping experience for years to come.”

Customers are invited to celebrate these exciting renovations while getting a jump-start on their fall holiday prep! As early as November 1st, shoppers will be able to order from Whole Foods Market’s holiday menu—including everything from tasty appetizers to the perfect turkey to freshly baked pies—ensuring all your holiday festivities are simply, delicious.

Whole Foods Market – White Plains
110 Bloomingdale Rd
White Plains, NY 10605
Regular Store Hours: [Mon –Sun] 8 AM – 10 PM
Twitter/Instagram: @wfmwestchester #whiteplains
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wholefoodswestchester
Phone Number: (914) 288-1300

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Whole Foods Market reopens its location in White Plains, NY on Saturday, October 24

Posted on October 22, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

SUPERVALU reports 2Q fiscal 2016 net sales of $4.06 billion

Consolidated operating earnings of $94 million for Q2 fiscal 2016
Adjusted EBITDA of $166 million for Q2 fiscal 2016
Save-A-Lot sales, operating earnings and Adjusted EBITDA increase over last year’s second quarter
- Ninth consecutive quarter of positive Save-A-Lot corporate stores ID sales

MINNEAPOLIS, 2015-10-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — SUPERVALU INC. (NYSE:SVU) today reported second quarter fiscal 2016 net sales of $4.06 billion and net earnings from continuing operations of $31 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, which included $6 million in after-tax costs related to the potential separation of Save-A-Lot and severance costs. When adjusted for these items, second quarter fiscal 2016 net earnings from continuing operations were $37 million, or $0.13 per diluted share.

Net earnings from continuing operations for last year’s second quarter were $31 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, which included $1 million in after-tax information technology intrusion costs. When adjusted for this item, second quarter fiscal 2015 net earnings from continuing operations were $32 million, or $0.11 per diluted share. [See tables 1-5 for a reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP (adjusted) results appearing in this release.]

“I’m pleased that we increased adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter compared to last year in spite of several operating headwinds,” said President and CEO Sam Duncan. “Our focus remains on driving sales across all three segments and finishing the year strong.”

Second Quarter Results – Continuing Operations

Second quarter net sales were $4.06 billion compared to $4.04 billion last year, an increase of $21 million or 0.5 percent. Save-A-Lot network identical store sales were negative 1.6 percent. Identical store sales for corporate stores within the Save-A-Lot network were positive 0.9 percent. Retail Food segment identical store sales were negative 3.3 percent. Total net sales within the Independent Business segment decreased 0.2 percent. Fees earned under transition services agreements (“TSAs”) in the second quarter were $48 million compared to $44 million last year.

Gross profit for the second quarter was $583 million, or 14.4 percent of net sales. Last year’s second quarter gross profit was $574 million, or 14.2 percent of net sales. The increase in gross profit rate compared to last year was primarily driven by higher base margins across all three segments, lower logistics costs, and higher TSA fees partially offset by higher levels of shrink.

Selling and administrative expenses in the second quarter were $489 million and included $4 million of costs related to the potential separation of Save-A-Lot and $4 million of severance costs. When adjusted for these items, selling and administrative costs were $481 million, or 11.9 percent of net sales. Selling and administrative expenses in last year’s second quarter were $480 million and included $1 million in pre-tax information technology intrusion costs. When adjusted for this item, last year’s selling and administrative expenses were $479 million, or 11.9 percent of net sales.

Net interest expense for the second quarter was $44 million compared to $46 million in last year’s second quarter.

SUPERVALU’s income tax expense was $19 million, or 40.0 percent of pre-tax earnings, for the second quarter, compared to $18 million, or 36.9 percent of pre-tax earnings in last year’s second quarter. The change in the effective tax rate is primarily due to an unfavorable mix of income in state taxing jurisdictions.

Independent Business

Second quarter Independent Business net sales were $1.83 billion, compared to $1.84 billion last year, a decrease of 0.2 percent. The decrease is primarily due to lower sales to existing customers and lost stores, partially offset by sales from new stores with existing customers and new customers.

Independent Business operating earnings in the second quarter were $49 million, or 2.7 percent of net sales. Last year’s Independent Business operating earnings in the second quarter were $54 million, or 2.9 percent of net sales. The decrease in Independent Business operating earnings was driven by higher employee costs related to new business activity.

Save-A-Lot

Second quarter Save-A-Lot net sales were $1.09 billion, compared to $1.06 billion last year, an increase of 3.2 percent. The sales increase reflects the impact of new store openings. Identical store sales within the Save-A-Lot network were negative 1.6 percent.

Save-A-Lot operating earnings in the second quarter were $32 million, or 3.0 percent of net sales. Last year’s Save-A-Lot operating earnings in the second quarter were $26 million, or 2.5 percent of net sales. The increase in Save-A-Lot operating earnings as a percent of sales was primarily driven by higher base margins and lower logistics costs.

Retail Food

Second quarter Retail Food net sales were $1.09 billion, compared to $1.11 billion last year, a decrease of 1.2 percent. The sales decrease reflects negative identical store sales of 3.3 percent and closed stores.

Retail Food operating earnings in the second quarter were $10 million, or 0.9 percent of net sales. Last year’s Retail Foodoperating earnings were $20 million, or 1.8 percent of net sales. The decrease in Retail Food operating earnings was driven by higher shrink expense and employee related costs.

Corporate

Second quarter fees earned under the TSAs were $48 million, compared to $44 million last year. The increase was primarily driven by fees earned under the Company’s transition service agreement with Haggen.

Net Corporate operating earnings in the second quarter were $3 million and included $4 million of costs related to the potential separation of Save-A-Lot and $4 million of severance costs. When adjusted for these items, net Corporate operating earnings were$11 million. Last year’s second quarter net Corporate operating loss was $6 million and included $1 million in information technology intrusion costs, net of insurance receivable. When adjusted for this item, last year’s net Corporate operating loss was $5 million. The improvement in net Corporate operating earnings was primarily driven by lower employee related costs and higher fees earned under the TSAs.

Cash Flows – Continuing Operations

Year-to-date fiscal 2016 net cash flows provided by operating activities of continuing operations were $276 million compared to$158 million in the prior year, reflecting lower levels of investment in working capital. Year-to-date net cash flows used in investing activities of continuing operations were $119 million compared to $121 million in the prior year. Year-to-date net cash flows used in financing activities of continuing operations were $25 million compared to $34 million in the prior year.

Conference Call

A conference call to review the second quarter results is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. central time today. The call will be webcast live at www.supervaluinvestors.com (click on microphone icon). A replay of the call will be archived at www.supervaluinvestors.com. To access the website replay go to the “Investors” link and click on “Presentations and Webcasts.”

About SUPERVALU INC.

SUPERVALU INC. is one of the largest grocery wholesalers and retailers in the U.S. with annual sales of approximately $18 billion.SUPERVALU serves customers across the United States through a network of 3,395 stores composed of 1,854 independent stores serviced primarily by the Company’s food distribution business; 1,342 Save-A-Lot stores, of which 901 are operated by licensee owners; and 199 traditional retail grocery stores (store counts as of September 12, 2015). Headquartered in Minnesota,SUPERVALU has approximately 40,000 employees. For more information about SUPERVALU visit www.supervalu.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELEVANT TO FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF “SAFE HARBOR” PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995.

Except for the historical and factual information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release, particularly those pertaining to SUPERVALU’s expectations, guidance, or future operating results, and other statements identified by words such as “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “plans,” “intends,” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including competition, ability to execute initiatives, substantial indebtedness, labor relations issues, escalating costs of providing employee benefits, relationships with Albertson’s LLC, New Albertson’s Inc., and Haggen, intrusions to and disruption of information technology systems, impact of economic conditions, governmental regulation, food and drug safety issues, legal proceedings, severe weather, natural disasters and adverse climate changes, disruption to supply chain and distribution network, changes in military business, adequacy of insurance, volatility in fuel and energy costs, asset impairment charges, fluctuations in our common stock price and other risk factors relating to our business or industry as detailed from time to time in SUPERVALU’s reports filed with the SEC. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Unless legally required, SUPERVALU undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Source: SUPERVALU INC.

SUPERVALU INC.
Investor Contact
Steve Bloomquist, 952-828-4144
steve.j.bloomquist@supervalu.com
or
Media Contact
Jeff Swanson, 952-903-1645
jeffrey.s.swanson@supervalu.com

Posted on October 22, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Rite Aid’s director Jesse McCullough testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health

Testimony Highlights Rite Aid’s Efforts to Improve Health of Patients, Increase
Access to High-Quality Healthcare and Lower Healthcare Costs

CAMP HILL, Pa., 2015-10-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Emphasizing Rite Aid’s commitment to patient care, Jesse McCullough, a registered pharmacist and Rite Aid’s director of field clinical services, testified today before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health during its hearing titled, “Examining the Medicare Part D Medication Therapy Management Program.”

McCullough’s testimony focused on the importance of medication therapy services in improving the health of senior Americans as well as recent progress in advancing the program and opportunities to improve its utilization in the future, including the introduction and passing of legislation (S. 776, the Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act) that would expand access to medication therapy management services for people with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, COPD, and high cholesterol.

Defined as a service or group of services that optimize therapeutic outcomes for individual patients, medication therapy management services (MTM) include medication therapy reviews, pharmacotherapy consults, medication management, immunizations, health and wellness programs and other clinical services.

“Rite Aid has participated in MTM programs since their inception, and we have helped thousands of patients get more out of MTM to optimize their medication therapy,” stated McCullough. “The fact of the matter is that we can do more.”

McCullough explained how community pharmacists present an optimal solution for expanding the Medicare Part D MTM program. As one of the most accessible healthcare providers, community pharmacists are in a unique position to provide MTM services through regular interactions with their patients, by actively managing drug therapy and by identifying, preventing, and resolving medication-related problems.

Additionally, McCullough cited the possible cost savings for the U.S. healthcare system that could be realized through the expansion of the Medicare Part D MTM program noting that, “poor medication adherence alone costs the nation approximately $290 billion annually – 13 percent of total healthcare expenditures – and results in avoidable and costly health complications.”

In closing, McCullough thanked the subcommittee for the opportunity to participate in the discussion surrounding opportunities to expand the Medicare Part D MTM program and reaffirmed the Company as a resource as Congress explores ways in which it can improve the health of senior Americans and the country’s healthcare system.

McCullough’s complete testimony can be accessed at:http://energycommerce.house.gov/hearing/examining-medicare-part-d-medication-therapy-management-program.

To read the press release issued in support of the hearing by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, please visit http://www.nacds.org/Categories/Press_Release.

Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) is one of the nation’s leading drugstore chains with nearly 4,600 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia and fiscal 2015 annual revenues of $26.5 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company’s website at www.riteaid.com.

###

Contact:

Media: Ashley Flower 717-975-5718

Posted on October 22, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Auchan statements on Rana Plaza accident

Cedex, France, 2015-10-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Following the publication in today’s press regarding events subsequent to the Rana Plaza accident and reviving allegations regarding a former Dacca purchasing office employee whose contract was terminated for misconduct, Auchan wishes to assert the following …

– Firstly, Auchan restates firmly that it had absolutely no involvement in the Rana Plaza accident. We have never placed a single order with any company working on that production site.

– Auchan was, of course, appalled by this catastrophic accident. To the best of our knowledge, Auchan has done more to implement practical measures to improve employment conditions for workers in Bangladesh than any other French company, and has done so in accordance with the ILO recommendations:

Continuing our activities in Bangladesh to protect industry workers engaged in the manufacture of our products
Signing the Fire and Safety Building Agreement collective agreement now supported by 200 international companies, trade unions and national organisations, which is designed to monitor and improve building safety in Bangladesh
Donating $1.5 million to the Rana Plaza Donors Trust Fund set up to support victims of the disaster and their families
Launching and monitoring an 8-point plan to combat opaque subcontracting, with regular progress updates available to view online at www.groupe-auchan.com
Creation of the Weave Our Future Foundation dedicated to improving the living and employment conditions of workers in developing countries

– These measures represent a continuation of the policy initiated by Auchan nearly 20 years ago to work alongside its suppliers in implementing measures to ensure responsible production and respect for people. As early as 1997, Auchan adopted a code of business ethics, which took its inspiration from ILO conventions and is integral to all the contracts it signs with its business partners. This code was updated in 2014.

– The civil proceedings brought in June this year by 3 NGOs follow an initial action brought unsuccessfully in January. The Auchan response will, of course, be the same as it was in 2014: full transparency in answering all requests and questions it may receive from the justice system, and an immediate readiness to once again set out its policies in detail, together with details of the progress already made and the long-term responsible actions already implemented.

Contact
Groupe Auchan
40, avenue de Flandre – BP 139
59964 Croix Cedex – France

SOURCE: Groupe Auchan

Posted on October 22, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Thailand’s first Decathlon store opens in Bangkok

On 22 October, Thailand’s first Decathlon store opened its doors in Bangkok. In its wake, four other stores are set to launch in the capital between now and the end of November.

Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France, 2015-10-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — People in Thailand are particularly passionate about football, water sports, trekking, running, road biking and golf. As of 22 October, they’ll have access to a wide range of technically sophisticated products available in Decathlon stores designed to help them enjoy these sports. Operational in Thailand for around twenty years with its production activities, the company has now swung its distribution arm into action!

“We’re opening five stores in Bangkok, whose surface areas range from 1,700m2 to 2,700m2. They’re nicely spread out across the capital, including one right in the centre,” explains Decathlon Thailand boss Frédéric Bichet. These stores will be exclusive retailers of Decathlon’s Passion brands.

Team recruitment based on sporting values
In order to provide the best possible service for Thai customers, we had to attract new employees who weren’t yet familiar with the company. In total, 120 new team members will be joining the latest stores to serve our customers. So we could share our company values with them, they were recruited locally at sports events, at sales and retail workshops and at interviews with directors appointed to run the new stores.

Just like the business itself, these teams have a strong international flavour. Decathlon’s new employees have come from Belgium, China, Romania and even Russia, looking to be part of the company’s next growth phase. One of the new store directors is even a former employee of the Thai production office, where he worked for twenty years. “It’s a great asset being able to benefit from all of these viewpoints and experiences brought to us by such international profiles,” insists Frédéric, “and it’s also important for the countries where these employees hail from. It’s proof that it is possible to successfully run this type of international project at Decathlon.”

SOURCE: Décathlon

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Thailand’s first Decathlon store opens in Bangkok

Posted on October 22, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

BESTSELLER signs ‘Social and Labor Convergence Project’ facilitated by the SAC (Sustainable Apparel Coalition)

AFTER THE ANNUAL SUSTAINABLE APPAREL COALITION MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN JAPAN LAST WEEK, BESTSELLER HAS COMMITTED TO WORKING IN COOPERATION WITH LARGE INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES LIKE H&M, INDITEX, LEVI STRAUSS & CO., NIKE ETC. TO CREATE A COMMON AUDIT STANDARD FOR THE INDUSTRY.

Brande, Denmark, 2015-10-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today (21 October 2015), many companies have their own social audit standards and methods, some with only minor differences, which means that suppliers spend a lot of time and resources on managing the many audits. With this new project that goes under the name ‘Social and Labor Convergence Project’ and is facilitated by the SAC (Sustainable Apparel Coalition), apparel brands, retailers, verification companies, industrial organisations and NGO’s have committed to working towards aligning all standards and making one audit manual. This will release time and resources for our suppliers to focus on making continuous improvements at their factories.

“In BESTSELLER we are excited about this new opportunity to find more effective and efficient ways of raising labour standards at industry level and work on continuous improvements. We acknowledge the challenge to agree on a common standard, but with the experiences gained from similar cooperative approaches, e.g. the Bangladesh Accord, we believe that the industry is ready to work on finding joint solutions on this matter too”, says Katrine Milman, CSR Responsible in BESTSELLER.

Part of working group
BESTSELLER is part of the working group that will develop this audit manual, and once agreed upon, it will replace our existing audit manual. This means that all companies will use the same audit questions and verification, but each company can evaluate the outcome according to own standards. “By joining this working group, we will have great influence on the outcome and follow the development closely. It also means that we get an even greater insight into the problems other companies are facing”, says Katrine.

The project was initiated due to company and industry requests to make social auditing simpler, and it is very much welcomed by the European Commission, The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and a number of European countries who have also called for a standardised global approach.

The SAC meeting
The SAC meeting took place from 13 -16 October 2015 in Osaka with the participation of 236 people. Besides presenting the ‘Social and Labor Convergence Project’, updates on the HIGG Index were given and discussed in groups.

“Even though we are competitors, there is an open dialogue and culture in the SAC group, and everyone are keen on sharing knowledge and forming working groups to find cooperative solutions.”, says Katrine.

The next SAC meeting will be held in Copenhagen in May 2016, hosted by H&M and Danish Fashion Institute(DAFI) in collaboration with BESTSELLER and the other Danish members, ECCO and IC Group. The meeting will be arranged in connection with the international sustainability conference, Copenhagen Fashion Summit.

Sustainable Apparel Coalition
• The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) is a trade organisation comprised of brands, retailers, manufacturers, government, NGO’s and academic experts, representing more than a third of the global apparel and footwear market.
• SAC is working to reduce the environmental and social impacts of apparel and footwear products around the world
• BESTSELLER became a member in December 2013.
• All members commit to using the Higg Index (see below)

The Higg Index
• The Higg Index is a self-assessment tool that empowers brands, retailers and facilities of all sizes, at every stage in their sustainability journey, to measure their environmental and social and labour impacts and identify areas for improvement.
• The Higg Index comprises several easy-to-access, online tools or ‘modules’ designed for members from every segment of the industry.
• The Facility Environmental Module has just been updated and BESTSELLER has agreed to pilot test it together with a selection of our suppliers.
• Most brands have already come far in regards to social compliance, and it would make no sense to refine the existing social module as this would have no effect on the number of audits. That is why we have agreed to develop the common industry standard for social audits.
Read more about the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and the Higg Index here (http://apparelcoalition.org/)

Social and Labor Convergence Project signatories
Brands/Retailers:
Adidas
Asics
BESTSELLER
Burton
Columbia Sportswear Co.
Gap Inc.
H&M
IC Group
Inditex
Levi Strauss & Co.
MEC
Nike
Patagonia
Puma
PVH Corp.
REI
Target
VFcTimberland

Manufacturers:
Avery Dennison
W.L. Gore & Associates, Fabrics Division
Hanbo
L&E International, Ltd. Organization

NGO’s:
European Outdoor Group (EOG)
International Apparel Federation (IAF)
IDH
Outdoor Industry Association (OIA)
Sedex
Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC)
Solidaridad
Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP)

Auditing Firms:
Bureau Veritas
Control Union
SGS

Corporate Communication
Phone: +45 99 42 16 62
E-mail: communications@bestseller.com

SOURCE: BESTSELLER

Posted on October 22, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

PT Matahari Putra Prima Tbk reopened Hypermart outlet at Royal Plaza Surabaya with the latest concept, G7

Tangerang, Indonesia, 2015-10-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — PT Matahari Putra Prima Tbk (MPPA), a multi-format modern retailer in Indonesia, which operates Hypermart, Foodmart and Boston Health & Beauty, today has reopened Hypermart outlet at Royal Plaza Surabaya with the latest concept, G7. This outlet which come with a new appearance and a modern concept has a selling area of 5,287 m².

Hypermart is one of the pioneer of modern retail hypermarket outlets in Surabaya, where this outlet was operated along with the establishment of Royal Plaza Surabaya Mall with an older concept G4 (Generation 4) before it was renovated on August 16, 2015 to be the G7 concept.

In terms of design, Hypermart G7 Royal Plaza Surabaya follows other Hypermart outlets which have adopted G7 concept. To meet the growing of consumers’ daily needs, the presence of Hypermart G7 at Royal Plaza is following Hypermart PTC Surabaya, which has brought the concept of G7 with a more complete selection of assprtments. Besides to appear more appealing, these outlets also provide extra comfort and wider shopping aisle.

Director of Public Relations & Communications MPPA, Danny Kojongian stated, “Today we reopen Hypermart Royal Plaza with the concept of the G7. This reinforces the existence of Hypermart outlets in Surabaya city, which has a rapid growth of economic and modern lifestyles. Hypermart present in the middle of society as modern retailers in several strategic locations such as PTC Surabaya, Ciputra World, Pakuwon East Coast, Cito Waru and Royal Plaza. It also defines MPPA’s commitment in operating Hypermart G7 across Indonesia despite the challenging macroeconomic conditions.”

“We are proud to be able to take part in creating a modern lifestyle through Hypermart expansion, Foodmart supermarket format enhancement and services in the wholesale market nationwide. MPPA has been in the right direction to become the No. 1 Multi-Format Retailer in Indonesia,” he continued.

For further information, please contact:
Phoa Marchea Trenggono,
Investor Relations & Communications Officer
marchea.phoa@mppa.co.in

Danny Kojongian,
Director of Public Relations & Communications
danny.kojongian@hypermart.co.id

About PT Matahari Putra Prima Tbk (MPPA)
PT Matahari Putra Prima (MPPA) operates Hypermart, Foodmart and Boston Health & Beauty. Total 2014 Sales amounted to Rp 13,59 Trillion (audited), a growth of 14.1% from 2013. Net Income 2014 amounted to Rp 554,0 Billion, which grew 24.5% from Rp 444,9 Billion in 2013. 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: 2014 Customer Satisfaction by Roy Morgan, 2014 Excellence Experience by Bisnis Indonesia & Carre CCSL, 2014 Top 500 Bronze Award by Retail Asia, 2014 Charta Peduli Indonesia by Dompet Dhuafa, 2014 Superbrand Indonesia by Superbrand, 2014 Best Senior Management IR Support & Most Improved Investor Relations by Alpha Southeast Asia, 2014 Most Admired Companies by Fortune Indonesia, and 2014 Most Admired Company by Warta Ekonomi.

SOURCE: PT Matahari Putra Prima Tbk

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PT Matahari Putra Prima Tbk reopened Hypermart outlet at Royal Plaza Surabaya with the latest concept, G7

Posted on October 22, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

NCR Small Business president Chris Poelma will speak at Mobility LIVE! 2015

DULUTH, Ga., 2015-10-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Chris Poelma, president and general manager of NCR Small Business, will speak at Mobility LIVE! 2015, an event that brings together key thought leaders in the mobile technology industry.

The event, hosted by the Metro Atlanta Chamber, will provide attendees with insight into mobile technology standards, strategies and innovations. Poelma’s session will be from 3:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Oct. 28 at the Georgia World Congress Center. The session, entitledPaid in Full in Your Pocket: mPayments – Nascent or Natural, will focus on the disruption in payment options and how retailers can adapt to satisfy consumer demand.

Within the past year, NCR Small Business has integrated a variety of alternative payment options with its tablet point-of-sale (POS) solution, NCR Silver®. Apple PayTM, Bitcoin and LevelUp have all been added to the POS system to accommodate growing consumer demand for smarter, safer and more seamless ways to pay.

“We are experiencing a fundamental shift in the payments landscape,” said Poelma. “As consumers are increasingly adopting mobile wallets, retailers have to adapt to keep up, or they run the risk of losing business. I’m looking forward to providing clarity and insight around the need for, and accessibility of, mobile payment acceptance.”

To learn more about NCR Silver’s features, visit www.ncrsilver.com, or call 1-877-630-9711. NCR Small Business provides live, 24/7 U.S.-based customer support for NCR Silver users. NCR Silver mobile POS runs in the cloud, uses consumer-friendly technology, works on Apple® devices running the latest iOS, and offers a POS solution catered to franchises as well.

About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is the global leader in consumer transaction technologies, turning everyday interactions with businesses into exceptional experiences. With its software, hardware, and portfolio of services, NCR enables more than 550 million transactions daily across retail, financial, travel, hospitality, telecom and technology, and small business. NCR solutions run the everyday transactions that make your life easier.

NCR is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia with over 30,000 employees and does business in 180 countries. NCR is a trademark of NCR Corporation in the United States and other countries. The company encourages investors to visit its web site which is updated regularly with financial and other important information about NCR.

Website: www.ncr.com; www.ncrsilver.com
Twitter: @NCRCorporation; @NCRSilver
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ncrcorp
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ncr-corporation
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/ncrcorporation

Apple, Apple Pay, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
iOS is a trademark or registered trademark of Cisco in the U.S. and other countries and is used under license.

News Media Contacts

Jackie Parker
Arketi Group
404.929.0091, ext. 220
jparker@arketi.com

Tim Henschel
NCR Corporation
770.299.5100
tim.henschel@ncr.com

SOURCE: NCR

Posted on October 22, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Citycon to publish its Interim Report for 1 Jan – 30 Sep 2015 on Wednesday, 28 Oct

Helsinki, Finland, 2015-10-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Citycon will publish its Interim Report for 1 January – 30 September 2015 on Wednesday, 28 October approximately at 9 am Helsinki time (Helsinki time is EET, which is CET +1). The report will be available on Citycon’s website immediately after publication.

Citycon’s investor, analyst and press conference call and live audiocasting will begin one hour later at 10 am Helsinki time. The audiocasting can be participated by calling in and followed live on the following website: http://wms.magneetto.com/citycon/2015_1028_q3/view

Conference call numbers are:
Participants from Europe +44 203 194 0552
Participants from the US +1 855 716 1597

The audiocasting will be recorded and it will be available afterwards on Citycon’s website.

SOURCE: CITYCON OYJ

For further information, please contact:
Henrica Ginström
Vice President, Investor Relations and Communications
Tel. +358 50 554 4296
henrica.ginstrom@citycon.com

Posted on October 22, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Colruyt Group’s fresh market CRU opens in Ghent, Belgium

Halle, Belgium, 2015-10-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — CRU, Colruyt Group’s fresh market, is coming to Ghent. CRU announced this to the press today at the presentation of the new Matexi Kouterdreef project. CRU is a new concept created for and by people with a passion for great food, pure flavours and authentic quality products. The market will open in the spring of 2016.

Expansion of the test
Having tested the CRU concept in a renovated farmhouse in Overijse, we are now ready to expand the test to a city. The second market will be located at the Kouter in Ghent: a large open ‘market’ space with 10 trades and a lunch corner.

Child of the soil
“Establishing the second CRU in Ghent is not a coincidence”, says Jean-Pierre Roelands, CRU director: “Three of the key employees of our CRU concept were born and bred in Ghent. Wherever we go, we want to be a ‘local’. The location along the Kouterdreef is ideal to get tuned into the city centre. This test will help us determine the further roll-out of CRU.”

Enthusiastic colleagues
CRU is looking for passionate professionals for the open bakery and butcher’s workshops and the fish department. The team also needs people who love food and like to welcome and serve customers. Experience in catering is a strength. Since it is a new concept and a young team, they will have ample opportunity to grow in the trade and as a person.

Contact
Jan Derom
press@colruytgroup.com
+32 (0)2 363 55 45
+32 (0)473 92 45 10

SOURCE: Colruyt Group

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Colruyt Group’s fresh market CRU opens in Ghent, Belgium