Daily Archives: June 17, 2016

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Tesco to sell Dobbies Garden Centres to an investor group led by Midlothian Capital Partners and Hattington Capital

CHESHUNT, England, 2016-Jun-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Tesco has today confirmed the sale of its Dobbies Garden Centres business to an investor group led by Midlothian Capital Partners and Hattington Capital.  The sale represents the entire share capital of Dobbies Garden Centres Ltd.  Tesco will receive £217m in cash, which will be used for general corporate purposes.

Tesco bought Dobbies Garden Centres in 2007, and since then it has grown to become the UK’s second largest specialist garden centre retailer, operating 35 garden centres across Scotland, England and Northern Ireland.

Tesco Chief Executive Dave Lewis said: 

“Through their hard work and dedication to customer service, Dobbies colleagues have built a great business, and I would like to thank them for everything they have done. It was a difficult decision to sell the business, but we believe this agreement will give Dobbies a bright future, while allowing our UK retail business to focus on its core strengths.”

Andrew Bracey and Barney Burgess, of Midlothian Capital Partners and Hattington Capital respectively, said:

 “We are delighted to have been chosen by Tesco to take ownership of the Dobbies Garden Centres business. It is a great business with fantastic colleagues. We’re very optimistic about the potential of the business, and we look forward to growing the business across the UK from its base in Scotland.”  

Tesco will continue to offer customers a wide selection of Home and Garden products through its own stores and online.

Notes

Gross assets relating to Dobbies Garden Centres Ltd. included in the Tesco PLC accounts as at 27 February 2016 were £255m.

Dobbies Garden Centres Ltd. made a contribution of £17m to Tesco PLC’s reported profit before tax for the year ended 27 February 2016.

Enquiries:

Tesco

Media                           Steve Milton                                        01707 918701

Investors                      Chris Griffith                                       01707 912900

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Tesco to sell Dobbies Garden Centres to an investor group led by Midlothian Capital Partners and Hattington Capital

Tesco to sell Dobbies Garden Centres to an investor group led by Midlothian Capital Partners and Hattington Capital

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Tesco launches low-priced Perfectly Imperfect range ‘wonky’ cucumbers

CHESHUNT, England, 2016-Jun-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Tesco has launched a brand new range of low-priced ‘wonky’ cucumbers to help customers looking to save over the summer months.

The cucumbers are priced at 35p per 100g and will form part of the Perfectly Imperfect range, which already includes parsnips, potatoes and strawberries.

Matt Simister, Commercial Director for Fresh Food and Commodities at Tesco said:

“Providing great quality produce at low prices is clearly something our customers find really helpful, and we’re expecting our new Perfectly Imperfect cucumbers to prove just as popular as the rest of the range. We want to do everything we can to cut food waste, and we’ll continue to do more to help our suppliers and customers reduce the amount of food that is wasted from farm to fork.”

The Perfectly Imperfect range has proved extremely popular with Tesco customers, and since it was launched:

·         Sales volumes of Perfectly Imperfect are ten times bigger now than they were when the range was introduced, thanks to increased customer awareness as well as a rapid expansion of the range;

·         Sales of Perfectly Imperfect Apples have more than trebled; and

·         Sales of Perfectly Imperfect Parsnips have more than doubled.

It is expected the Perfectly Imperfect range will be expanded to cover up to 10 different types of fruit and vegetables. From next week Perfectly Imperfect courgettes will also be on sale at Tesco stores.

For more information please contact the Tesco Press Office on
01707 918 701

We are a team of 480,000 in 11 markets dedicated to serving shoppers a little better every day.

 

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Tesco launches low-priced Perfectly Imperfect range ‘wonky’ cucumbers

Tesco launches low-priced Perfectly Imperfect range ‘wonky’ cucumbers

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Tesco CEO Dave Lewis urged collaboration in tackling food waste right across the supply chain at the Global Summit of the Consumer Goods Forum

CHESHUNT, England, 2016-Jun-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — In a keynote speech at the Global Summit of the Consumer Goods Forum in Cape Town today Tesco CEO Dave Lewis encouraged business to do more to tackle food waste, and called on the wider industry to publish their food waste data in order to make meaningful progress.

Appealing for action across the food industry, Dave Lewis urged collaboration in tackling food waste right across the supply chain – in farms, distribution, in supermarket operations, and in customer’s own homes.

A key part of this agenda is transparency. Tesco has published data on food waste in its own operations since 2013, and the approach has proved instrumental in helping identify hotspots in order to tackle root causes.

Dave Lewis said:

“When I arrived at Tesco we were the only UK retail company to publish our food waste data.

“What the data shows is that it’s clear where we need to focus our efforts…nearly three years after we announced it, we are still the only UK retailer publishing our data.”

He called on companies, in the short term, to do more to redistribute their surplus edible food waste to people in need.

Earlier this year, Tesco pledged its commitment to redistribute all of their edible food waste from stores to charities by the end of 2017.

He told the audience:

“Tackling #foodwaste makes sense for business, it will help people and our planet, and it’s also the right thing to do.”

Some of the actions Dave Lewis called for include:

  • Cutting time out of the supply chain to provide customers with fresher produce that lasts longer;
  • Widening specifications to take much more of the crop, maximising the amount of fresh produce Tesco can sell in stores. A new range of ‘wonky’ fruit and vegetables, called ‘Perfectly Imperfect’, was launched by Tesco in February;
  • Publishing data on food waste to identify hotspots and tackle problems;
  • Redistributing edible food to people in need, with a commitment to give away all surplus edible food waste from Tesco stores to charity by the end of 2017; and
  • Introducing simpler to understand date coding, and ending ‘buy one, get one free’ offers on fruit and vegetables.

In his speech, Dave Lewis highlighted the fact that:

  • A third of the world’s food is wasted – 1.3 billion tonnes;
  • Almost a billion people – one in nine globally – go to sleep hungry;
  • Food loss and waste costs the world  $940 billion per year in unnecessary costs;
  • The healthiest food is often the most wasted – in the UK around 800,000 tonnes of fresh veg and salads are wasted annually; and
  • More than 13 billion ‘5 a day’ portions of fruit and vegetables were thrown away in 2012, enough to provide more than 7 million people with their ‘5 a day’ for a year.

To support delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Dave Lewis is the Chairman of “Champions 12.3”, a coalition of leaders from government, businesses, international organisations, research institutions, and civil society which will work to create political, business and social momentum to halve food loss and waste around the world by 2030. It aims to inspire action by leading by example, motivating others to reduce food waste and communicating the importance of food loss and waste reduction.

Notes to editors

  • Also speaking at the event were Zelda La Grange, former private secretary for Nelson Mandela and Sir Martin Sorrell, founder and CEO WPP.
  • More information about Champions 12.3 can be found here: www.champions123.org
  • More information about The Consumer Goods Forum can be found here: www.tcgfsummit.com

For more information please contact the Tesco Press Office on
01707 918 701    

We are a team of 480,000 in 11 markets dedicated to serving shoppers a little better every day.

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Tesco CEO Dave Lewis urged collaboration in tackling food waste right across the supply chain at the Global Summit of the Consumer Goods Forum

Tesco CEO Dave Lewis urged collaboration in tackling food waste right across the supply chain at the Global Summit of the Consumer Goods Forum

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Amazon announces the release of album Novelties for the entire family

  • Amy Lee, Bob Schneider, Lisa Loeb and Recess Monkey are among artists set to release exclusive albums curated for kids and families
  • The new album from trio Recess Monkey, Novelties, is available today for Prime members to exclusively stream and enjoy

SEATTLE, 2016-Jun-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — (NASDAQ:AMZN)-Amazon today announced that customers and Prime members in the US, UK, Germany, Austria and Japan have access to new original music for the entire family with the release of the album Novelties from Recess Monkey. The latest album from the Seattle trio, Jack Forman, Drew Holloway and Korum Bischoff, features 14 fun songs like “Time to Make the Donuts,” “Sweaty Yeti” and “Chasing My Tail” that the entire family can sing along to and enjoy. Prime members can listen to Novelties on Prime Music at no additional cost to their membership on compatible devices, including Amazon Echo, Fire devices, iPads, iPhones, Android devices, Sonos players and more. To find out how to listen, visit http://www.amazon.com/howtolisten. In addition, Recess Monkey’s album is available for digital download or physical purchase on Amazon Music at www.amazon.com/Novelties-Recess-Monkey.

In addition to today’s release of Novelties, Prime members will soon be able to enjoy more never-heard-before original music for kids and families from artists such as Amy Lee, the lead vocalist of the multi-platinum band Evanescence, Bob Schneider, the former lead singer of The Ugly Americans, as well as the second original kid’s album from Lisa Loeb-Loeb’s first original album for Amazon, Nursery Rhyme Parade!, was released last year. New albums from Lee, Schneider and Loeb will become available later this year for streaming on Prime Music, as well as for digital download and physical purchase.

“Prime members have loved having a variety of music to listen to on Prime Music, including songs and albums just for kids and families,” stated Steve Boom, VP of Digital Music for Amazon. “We’re excited today to give our Prime members even more family-fun music with today’s release of Recess Monkey’s Novelties, and look forward to even more great family music from Bob Schneider, Amy Lee and Lisa Loeb this year.”

“Novelties is a really eclectic bunch of songs that each shine in their own crazy way, but come together in one madcap, high-energy assortment. Some of the titles and stories came directly from conversations with kids, while others were more fueled by the kid-centric energy that we’ve absorbed throughout our years in the classroom,” stated Recess Monkey. “Novelties is our mirror on childhood: our own, the kids we teach, and our own children. Creating this album with Amazon was a complete dream come true for us-we had total artistic freedom to follow these songs exactly where they were trying to lead us.”

“I’ve been writing and working on these songs for the last 5 or 6 years, with my son Luc. When Amazon said they were interested in working with me, and wanted to release the songs, I jumped at the opportunity,” stated Bob Schneider. “I’m really happy with how they turned out, and working with my son has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve had the pleasure to do since I began making music. Even though the songs are primarily children songs, I think of them the way I think of Roald Dahl books, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The BFG, in that I think they will appeal to all ages.”

The full track listing for Novelties:

  • Every Flavor
  • Sweaty Yeti
  • Show and Tell
  • Chasing My Tail
  • Snowball
  • Piggyback
  • Bear With a Bear
  • Mustaches of the World
  • Smitten for Kitten
  • Time to Make the Donuts
  • Wind up Robot
  • Lovestruck Unicorn
  • The Band Next Door
  • My Guitar

Prime members can listen to the entire album at no additional cost to their membership on compatible devices that support Amazon Music, including Amazon Echo, Fire devices, iPads, iPhones, Android devices, Sonos Players, the Web and more-songs can also be downloaded for offline listening on mobile devices.

About Amazon Music

Prime Music offers Prime members unlimited ad-free access to more than a million songs and thousands of playlists and stations as part of their Prime membership. Prime members can listen to the entire collection at no additional cost to their membership on compatible devices that support Amazon Music, including Amazon Echo, Fire devices, iPads, iPhones, Android devices, Sonos Players, the Web and more, with tracks available to download for anytime, anywhere listening. To find out more on how to listen, visit www.amazon.com/howtolisten. Prime members and customers also have access to tens of millions of tracks to purchase and download in MP3 format in the Amazon Music store at www.amazon.com/digitalmusic.

More to Prime

Amazon Prime is an annual membership program for $99 a year that offers customers unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on more than 30 million items across all categories, unlimited Free Same-Day Delivery on more than a million items in 27 metro areas, and one- and two-hour delivery with Prime Now on tens of thousands of items available in more than 25 metro areas. In addition to fast, free shipping, members have access to unlimited streaming of tens of thousands of movies and TV episodes, more than one million songs and thousands of curated playlists and stations with Prime Music, early access to select Lightning Deals all year long, free secure, unlimited photo storage in Amazon Cloud Drive with Prime Photos and access to more than one million books to borrow with the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library. Not a member? Start a free trial of Amazon Prime at amazon.com/prime.

About Amazon

Amazon.com opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995. The company is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about.

Contacts

Amazon.com, Inc.
Media Hotline, 206-266-7180
Amazon-pr@amazon.com
www.amazon.com/pr

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Amazon announces Eat the World with Emeril Lagasse to premiere on Prime Video

  • The docuseries follows world-famous Lagasse as his award-winning friends and colleagues José Andrés, Mario Batali, Danny Bowien, Marcus Samuelsson, Aarón Sánchez and Nancy Silverton introduce him to the history, techniques and cooking traditions of their favorite locales across the globe
  • All six episodes of season one will premiere exclusively for Prime members in the U.S.
  • In addition to streaming or downloading thousands of titles on Prime Video, Amazon Prime members enjoy fast, free shipping, unlimited access to more than a million songs with Prime Music, unlimited secure photo storage with Prime Photos, and more—customers can enjoy a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime today

SEATTLE, 2016-Jun-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — (NASDAQ:AMZN)—Amazon today (06/16/16) announced Eat the World with Emeril Lagasse, an Amazon Original Series, will premiere on Prime Video on September 2 in the U.S. The series follows the ever-popular Emeril Lagasse (Emeril Live, Top Chef) and some of the world’s most celebrated chefs—Mario Batali (The Chew), José Andrés (Made in Spain), Nancy Silverton (Hell’s Kitchen), Marcus Samuelsson(Chopped), Aarón Sánchez (Chopped) and Danny Bowien—as they each join Emeril to embark on a global culinary journey to their favorite destinations. The six-episode season will premiere exclusively for Prime members via the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices including Fire TV, mobile devices and online at Amazon.com/originals. For a list of all Amazon Video compatible devices, visit www.amazon.com/howtostream.

“Eat the World is more than just a travel or cooking show, it’s a heartwarming look at Emeril and his relationship with his friends, as he learns about new foods and cultures,” said Conrad Riggs, Head of Unscripted, Amazon Studios. “Prime members will get an inside look at incredible destinations and unbelievable cuisine with one of the world’s most respected chefs.”

Each 30-minute episode of Eat the World takes viewers on a new adventure to a different country with Lagasse and one of his master chef friends. Throughout these exciting trips, Prime members will get to share these once-in-a-lifetime experiences along with their two intrepid guides. This season Emeril visits:

  • China with Mario Batali—Emeril and his longtime friend Batali, the founder of restaurants including Babbo and Eataly, start off their journey with ravioli in New York City, and then head to China in search of the best soup dumpling in Shanghai
  • Spain with José Andrés—Emeril arrives in his good friend and modernist chef Andrés’ hometown, Oviedo, to explore the roots of Modernist cuisine. Together they visit Ferran Adrià’s never before filmed and famed ElBulli Lab in Barcelona, in which Adrià is decoding the secrets of food.
  • Italy with Nancy Silverton—Silverton, founder of LA’s Pizzeria Mozza and La Brea Bakery, brings Emeril to her second home to seek out what she thinks is the world’s best pizza, courtesy of Franco Pepe
  • Sweden with Marcus Samuelsson—Samuelsson, who at 24 became the youngest chef ever to receive a three-star restaurant review from TheNew York Times, brings Emeril to Sweden to experience New Nordic Cuisine, which incorporates new flavors into traditional Swedish food
  • Cuba with Aarón Sánchez—Emeril and Sánchez, Chef-Partner of Johnny Sánchez restaurants and co-star of the Food Network series Chopped, head to Cuba to meet with leaders of the modern Cuban culinary world at the moment the country is on the brink of epicurean and economic change
  • South Korea with Danny Bowien—Bowien, winner of the James Beard Award in 2013, has credited Emeril as a de facto mentor for years, and relishes the opportunity to travel with him to Korea to meet Jeong Kwan, a Zen Buddhist nun who’s been called “the Philosopher Chef” by The New York Times

Eat the World with Emeril Lagasse is produced and created by Ugly Brother Studios (House of Food, Startup U, Life or Debt), and executive produced byTim and Mike Duffy, Emeril Lagasse and four-time Emmy winner Bill Pruitt (The Amazing Race, Deadliest Catch).

About Amazon Video
Amazon Video is a premium on-demand entertainment service that offers customers the greatest choice in what to watch, and how to watch it. Amazon Video is the only service that provides all of the following:

  • Prime Video: Thousands of movies and TV episodes, including popular licensed content plus critically-acclaimed and award-winning Amazon Original Series and Movies from Amazon Studios like Transparent, The Man in the High Castle, kids series Tumble Leaf, and Chi-Raq, available for unlimited streaming as part of an Amazon Prime membership
  • Add-on Subscriptions: Dozens of subscriptions to networks like SHOWTIME, STARZ and more, available to Amazon Prime members as add-ons to their membership
  • Rent or Own: Hundreds of thousands of titles, including new-release movies and current TV shows available for on-demand rental or purchase for all Amazon customers
  • Instant Access: Instantly watch anytime, anywhere through the Amazon Video app on TVs, mobile devices, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, and Fire tablets, or online. For a list of all compatible devices visit www.amazon.com/howtostream.
  • Premium Features: Top features like 4K Ultra HD, High Dynamic Range (HDR) and mobile downloads for offline viewing

In addition to Prime Video, the Prime membership includes unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on millions of items across all categories, more than one million songs and thousands of playlists and stations with Prime Music, early access to select Lightning Deals all year long, free secure, unlimited photo storage in Amazon Cloud Drive with Prime Photos, access to borrow books with the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, and more. To sign-up for Prime or to find out more visit: www.amazon.com/prime.

About Amazon
Amazon.com opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995. The company is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about.

Source: Amazon.com, Inc.

Amazon.com, Inc.
Media Hotline, 206-266-7180
www.amazon.com/pr

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4th of July Fireworks: Macy’s to celebrate Independence Day with an unparalleled display of color, shapes, light and sound

  • The Nation’s Largest Display of Independence Day Firepower Returns to Celebrate America’s Birthday Live fromNew York City
  • Macy’s Fireworks will ignite the skyline in Macy’s largest display in more than a decade covering two locations on the East River

NEW YORK, 2016-Jun-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — On Monday, July 4, the nation’s largest patriotic pyrotechnic display will ring, thunder and boom over New York City as the 40th Anniversary Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks® come to life. Set over the East River, Macy’s (NYSE:M) annual Independence Day celebration will dazzle millions of spectators with an unparalleled display of color, shapes, light and sound. Beginning at approximately 9:25 p.m., the celebration will illuminate the shores of Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn with more than 56,000 effects in Macy’s largest pyrotechnic display in more than a decade.

Since 1976, when Macy’s celebrated the nation’s bicentennial with a grand pyrotechnic display at the Statue of Liberty, Macy’s Fireworks have grown to become the nation’s largest Independence Day celebration, annually attracting more than 3 million spectators and tens of millions of viewers nationwide who marvel at the synchronized explosions and soaring musical tributes.

“As the nation’s premiere Independence Day pyrotechnic display, the 40th anniversary of Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks promises to celebrate America’s 240th birthday in grand style,” said Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks. “Bringing friends, family and loved ones together under a blanket of stars, Macy’s Fireworks, always the nation’s largest display, grows even larger, pulling together a grand spectacle with more than 56,000 effects ignited from five firing locations on the water, making this year the biggest Macy’s Fireworks show since our once-in-a lifetime millennial display in 2000.” She added, “From three boroughs along the East River in New York City and in homes across the nation, millions of spectators and television viewers will be dazzled by the incredible high-flying effects, colors and shapes igniting the night – all choreographed to a soaring and patriotic score performed by the United States Air Force Band and the incomparable voice of Jennifer Holliday.”

America’s most breathtaking 4th of July party will take place from two locations on the East River in midtown and within the Seaport District. The midtown portion of the show will be fired from four barges positioned between 23rd and 37th Streets in and from one double-barge positioned below the Brooklyn Bridge.

The 40th edition of the celebration will showcase a 25-minute incredibly synchronized display featuring new shells and effects. From multi-colored transformation ghost shells which ignite in one color, disappear and reappear in another position in the sky having changed hues to blue jellyfish; the ever-popular happy faces with blinking eyes; and a mesmerizing list of effects in 22 different colors including gamboge, lavender and magenta; the show will be a feast for the senses. The 2016 celebration will also feature the New York debut of pyro-writing, an explosive version of skywriting created using fireworks which will spell out U.S.A. in the night sky.

The score, to which the show is choreographed, will feature performances from The United States Air Force Band, who has lent its vocal and instrumental talents to create an inspiring all-American musical tribute. Featuring patriotic classics like “This Land is Your Land,” “God Bless America” and “Stars and Stripes Forever,” the show will ignite patriotism in the hearts of millions. With the United States Air Force Band’s Singing Sergeants lending vocal harmonies, Grammy and Tony-Award winner, Jennifer Holliday, will also perform an exhilarating rendition of the “America the Beautiful,” during a climactic moment in the show.

In addition to the pyro in the sky, this year Macy’s is putting light into the hands of revelers everywhere via a partnership with the Makelight app. A new mobile special effects platform, Makelight has specially designed a program to incorporate audiences into the display. On July 4, spectators will marvel as their phones synch with the awe-inspiring display mirroring the colors seen in the show as they ignite the night. Spectators in New York City and at home can participate by downloading the Makelight app, available free on Google Play and iTunes.

Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks are made possible in part by signature partners Cracker Jack®, Ghostbusters, TheHoward Hughes Corporation, Kool-Aid® and PLANTERS, and are presented in partnership with the City of New York.

Revelers enjoying the show are encouraged to experience the full explosive display by tuning in to radio station 1010 WINS to hear the musical score to which the show is choreographed. Spectators lining the shores of the East River will also enjoy an NYPD Helicopter flyover and an FDNY Waterboat show prior to the start of the display. Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks can be seen from any unobstructed view of the sky above the East River where the barges are located. Public viewing locations and dedicated entry points will be set up along various streets on F.D.R. Drive and in the Seaport District, as well as various points in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. Check macys.com/fireworks for the most up-to-date information including exact points of entry, viewing locations for persons with disabilities and for marine viewing details.

Independence Day spectators from coast-to-coast can catch all the action in the sky by tuning to NBC’s two-hour live national broadcast of “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular” beginning at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT, with an encore presentation at 10 p.m. (check local listings). In addition to the pyrotechnic splendor, the 4th of July’s most popular entertainment special will be hosted by “TODAY” show co-hosts Willie Geist and Tamron Hall, and will feature performances from Kenny Chesney, 5 Seconds of Summer, the Radio City Rockettes®, Meghan Trainor, and more.

For more information on the 40th Anniversary Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, please visit www.macys.com/fireworks or call the Macy’s Fireworks Hotline at (212) 494-4495.

Source: Macy’s

Macy’s Media Relations
Orlando Veras, 646-429-7450
Orlando.Veras@macys.com
or
Christine Olver, 646-429-5713
Christine.Olver@macys.com
or
Holly Thomas, 646-429-5250
Holly.Thomas@macys.com

 

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4th of July Fireworks: Macy’s to celebrate Independence Day with an unparalleled display of color, shapes, light and sound

4th of July Fireworks: Macy’s to celebrate Independence Day with an unparalleled display of color, shapes, light and sound

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King’s Hawaiian float to showcase Hawaii’s natural landscapes during 90th Anniversary Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® this November

A King’s Hawaiian float depicting Hawaii’s landscapes, food and culture will debut in the 2016 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

NEW YORK & HONOLULU, 2016-Jun-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sharing the Aloha Spirit with the rest of the world is one of Hawaii’s most beloved traditions. This November, King’s Hawaiian®, the Hawaiian foods company founded inHilo, HI, in 1950, will partner with Macy’s to bring Hawaii’s unique foods, culture and breathtaking beauty to a worldwide audience of more than 50 million viewers, when it debuts a new float in the 90th Anniversary Macy’sThanksgiving Day Parade®. On Thursday, Nov. 24, millions will marvel as the Hawaiian Islands take center stage down the streets of New York City in a marvelous showcase of the welcoming and enduring Aloha spirit.

“The 90th edition of Macy’sThanksgiving Day Parade is shaping up to be a stellar celebration of this milestone anniversary,” said Amy Kule, executive producer of this internationally recognized holiday spectacle. “We are so excited to partner with King’s Hawaiian, as together we bring the beauty, food and welcoming spirit of the Hawaiian Islands to the East Coast of the U.S. and to a worldwide audience this November.”

“In addition to the float showcasing Hawaii’s natural beauty and Aloha spirit, we also wanted to highlight Hawaii’s unique agricultural significance,” said King’s Hawaiian CEO Mark Taira. “The Macy’s design team has done a great job combining each of these aspects into this float.”

Rising more than three stories high, the King’s Hawaiian float will showcase Hawaii’s natural landscapes – from its iconic waterfalls to its explosive volcanoes, famed beaches and indigenous foliage. Spectators will be welcomed to the scene by a surf shop café beckoning Aloha! to millions as it makes its way down the route, and a warm Mahaloas it leaves ear-to-ear smiles in its wake. The floating marvel’s centerpiece will showcase a working waterfall, emitting from the peak of a mountain that features sound and rising steam. Hawaii’s iconic sumptuous vegetation – from pineapples and coffee to sugar cane crops – will take root and sprout on the sides of the mountain in a terraced farming formation and also will be peppered lavishly above the entire float. The wondrous scene would not be complete without an explosive element, with an erupting volcano that will serve as the stage for a special performance by an acclaimed musical act (to be announced later this fall). The volcano will erupt throughout the march in highly dramatic fashion, showering the crowds not with lava, but with the event’s signature multi-color confetti showers. Aboard the float and escorting it down the line of march will be children and adults festively dressed, all spreading the Aloha spirit to millions of spectators lining the streets of New York or watching the spectacle from home.

The great state of Hawaii will have an incredible presence in the 2016 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which also will showcase the return of the Hawaii All-State Marching Band. The high-spirited group, made up of exceptional high school musicians from every island, was selected early last year to be one of 11 chosen from a highly competitive field to bring the musical beat to the holiday spectacle. Numbering over 500 strong, the band will be the largest musical ensemble in the Macy’s Parade line-up this year.

The 90th Anniversary Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airs nationwide on NBC-TV, on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., in all time zones.

About the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade:
With more than 50 million viewers across the country and more than 3.5 million spectators that line up along the streets of New York City each year, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a national icon that has grown into a world-famous holiday event. For 90 years, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has marked the official start of the holiday season. Growing in size and scale, the Parade proudly marches down a more than 2-mile route in New York City with more than 8,000 participants in tow including Macy’s employees, their families, celebrities, athletes, clowns and dance groups spreading holiday cheer. The Parade also features America’s best marching bands, fabulous floats and Macy’s signature giant helium character balloons. For more information on the Macy’s Parade, please visit www.macys.com/parade or call the Parade hotline at (212) 494-4495.

About King’s Hawaiian:
Founded more than 60 years ago in Hilo, Hawaii, by Robert R. Taira, KING’S HAWAIIAN is a family-owned business that for three generations has been dedicated to providing irresistible, original recipe Hawaiian foods made with Aloha Spirit. A priority for the company is sharing the Hawaiian Way – a uniquely Hawaiian approach to hospitality based on graciousness, generosity, and a commitment to making everyone feel a part of the KING’S HAWAIIAN ‘ohana’ (extended family). KING’S HAWAIIAN makes the #1 branded dinner roll in the United States, along with other great Hawaiian foods. The company operates baking facilities in Torrance, California, and Oakwood, Georgia. For more information visit the company’s website at www.KingsHawaiian.com, “Like” KING’S HAWAIIAN on Facebookand Follow KING’S HAWAIIAN on Twitter.

Source: Macy’s

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Orlando Veras, 646-429-7450
Orlando.Veras@macys.com
or
Christine Olver, 646-429-5713
Christine.Olver@macys.com

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Sainsbury’s unveils UK’s first Vegetable Butcher Amber Locke

LONDON, 2016-Jun-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today Sainsbury’s has unveiled the UK’s first Vegetable Butcher in its Wandsworth superstore, South West London.

Working with vegetable expert and artist Amber Locke, the new service aims to show customers there’s no limit to the ways vegetables can be incorporated into everyday meals, and encourage them to make the most of their favourites from ‘root to tip’.  

Following a year on year surge* in Sainsbury’s vegetable sales – with avocado* (147%), asparagus spears* (118%), broccoli* (40%), courgettes* (30%) and bunched beetroot (25%)* leading the way, Sainsbury’s is opening the innovative veg counter to customers on a trial basis until Saturday 18th June.

Vegetables are becoming more central to British eating with over two thirds (68%)* of households now enjoying at least one vegetarian meal a week – even if they are meat eaters.  Families are also increasingly replacing carbohydrates with on-trend vegetable alternatives, with new Sainsbury’s products “courgetti” (courgette spaghetti) and “boodles” (butternut squash noodles) exceeding expectations by selling an average of nearly 30,000 units per week since their launch in January 2016.

Inspired by the rise in nose to tail eating and the expert knife skills found in traditional butchers, The Vegetable Butcher will allow customers to discover new ways to prepare classics such as carrots, broccoli and cucumbers whilst also inspiring them to try less familiar veg including beetroot and parsnip.

The Vegetable Butcher will be using more than six different techniques to prepare veg including ribbon cut, spiralised, mandolin sliced, wave-cut and julienne.  Customers can buy their favourite loose vegetables, then take them to the counter for a preparation of their choice (or to be inspired by a new way to cook and enjoy them) at no additional cost.

Amber Locke, who is manning The Vegetable Butcher, says: “I’ve been trying to use vegetables in an exciting and inspiring way for years but I know it’s new for a lot of people who are used to the traditional ways of cutting up and cooking courgette, carrot and broccoli. I have a passion for showing people how fun and delicious vegetables can be and, more importantly, how you can avoid wasting parts of them that may seem unusable.”

British shoppers (62%) are now buying a larger variety of vegetables than they did five years ago – due to understanding more about the health benefits of different vegetables (44%) and being more likely to consider vegetables as the main part of a meal (28%).  Over 20% are even inspired by chefs and restaurants serving interesting vegetable dishes that they want to recreate at home.  Of those who have bought at least one new variety of vegetable this year, sweet potato (40%), kale (36%), avocado (19%) and asparagus (19%) top their choices.

While Sainsbury’s is already leading the way with innovative products such as “Courgetti” and “Boodles” – made primarily from vegetables that would otherwise be wasted – there is still a way to go in the fight against food waste.  As part of her role as The Vegetable Butcher, Amber will demonstrate easy ways to use the whole vegetable – from grating to roasting and juicing.

Georgina Lunn, product developer for fresh produce at Sainsbury’s, commented: “We are always looking for new and interesting ways to inspire our customers. The innovative new products we’ve recently introduced to the prepared vegetable category, such as courgetti and beetroot rice, have been really popular , so we love the idea of an in-store Vegetable Butcher, to build on this success and hope it will be well-received by our shoppers too.”

For more vegetable inspiration, please visit www.homemadebyyou.co.uk or follow us on Twitter at @SainsburysNews.

Notes to editors 

*Total Sainsbury’s vegetables sales volume from PD 03 2015 – PD 03 2016: 6% growth

*Sales volume of Sainsbury’s Large Ripe & Ready Avocado Single from Total P4 2014 – P3 2015: to Total P4 2015 – P3 2016: 4,353,289

*Sales volume of Sainsbury’s Asparagus Spears 250g from Total P4 2014 – P3 2015: to Total P4 2015 – P3 2016: 4,353,289

*Sales volume of Sainsbury’s Broccoli 335g from Total P4 2014 – P3 2015: to Total P4 2015 – P3 2016: 4,353,289

*Sales volume of Sainsbury’s Courgettes 500g from Total P4 2014 – P3 2015: to Total P4 2015 – P3 2016: 4,353,289

*Sales volume of Sainsbury’s Bunched Beetroot from Total P4 2014 – P3 2015: to Total P4 2015 – P3 2016: 4,353,289

*Research carried out by OnePoll amongst 2,000 UK shoppers in June 2016

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Sainsbury’s unveils UK’s first Vegetable Butcher Amber Locke

Sainsbury’s unveils UK’s first Vegetable Butcher Amber Locke

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ARGOS reveals toy predictions on children’s wish lists this Christmas

  • Widest range of toys ever to appear on the Top Toy red carpet
  • Argos poll also reveals what kids think will be on Santa lists in ten years’ time, with self-building LEGO, self-tidying toys and conversational robots all making the grade!

Milton Keynes, UK, 2016-Jun-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today, Thursday 16 June 2016, the UK’s leading toy retailer ARGOS reveals its predictions for the toys destined for stardom on children’s wish lists this Christmas.

The toys set to play starring roles on every kid’s letter to Santa this year are:

Zoomer Chimp Paw Patrol Air Patroller
LEGO City Volcano VTech Toot Toot Drivers Goldmine
Nerf Modulus Tri-Strike Tiny Treasures Baby Doll
SelfieMic Design a Friend Tiffany
Snuggles My Dream Puppy Fisher Price Codeapillar
BB-8  

Commenting on the predictions, Linzi Walker, Chief Toy Buyer for Argos says: “This year’s list shows just how much toys are evolving – lots of our Top Toys have their roots in parents’ Christmas Past. Now they’ve truly moved on, with more sophisticated tech, realistic life-like functions and up-to-date pop culture references.

“We’ve progressed from the toy caterpillar that toddlers could pull across the floor, to one that starts infants on the road to clever coding. Where once there was a baby doll that simply looked like the real thing, we now have one that SMELLS as sweet as a newborn. And while past festivities might have featured a karaoke machine, 2016’s budding Beliebers will be making and sharing their own pop videos with a SelfieMic.”

She adds: “With cross-generation appeal toys from LEGO, NERF and Star Wars, households are expected to be lively and fun across the UK this Christmas.”

Fast forwarding to Christmas Future, Argos polled 1,000* children aged five to thirteen for their insight into what toys will star on Christmas wishlist in a decade’s time.

Almost a quarter predict self-building LEGO (23%) and one in five believe that toys that can tidy themselves away will be festive must-haves in 2026. There’ll be more virtual reality games (41%), conversational robots (40%), toys that never run out of batteries (37%), and – for instant gratification – toys that appear magically in real life from their own imagination (10%).

The poll also revealed that construction toys are the most played-with toys (72%), with LEGO being named the favourite toy ever by 19% of kids. And Christmas toys are most certainly for the big kids too – a quarter of parents polled by Argos admitted to enjoying playtime with their kids’ NERF blasters!

Many parents also use toys to help inspire their children’s future careers, with over a quarter (27%) using science-based toys to set their little ones on a tech career path.

All toys will be available to buy via www.argos.co.uk from July 2016 onwards unless otherwise indicated.

PRODUCT DETAILS:

Zoomer Chimp, Spinmaster, £119.99, ages 5+

Kids will go bananas for this fun robotic pet, boasting a host of life-like movements, voice command recognition and over 100 tricks

Paw Patrol Air Patroller, Spinmaster, £39.99, ages 3+

Everyone’s favourite rescue dog, this Robopup pilot comes with his own jet complete with lights, sounds and cool rotating propellers

LEGO City Volcano, LEGO, £79.99, ages 8-12

The must-have LEGO set for scientists big and small! Drive the mobile operations center to the volcano site and get discovering with the drone, excavator, 6 minifigures and accessories

VTech Toot Toot Drivers Goldmine, VTech, £52.99, ages 1-5

Steaming ahead of its rivals, VTech’s latest offering for little ones is a trainset with mine and drop chute, as well as a motorised engine to climb slopes

Nerf Modulus Tri-Strike, Hasbro, £59.99, ages 8+

The first NERF with three ways to blast. An Elite Dart blaster, the MEGA Dart Barrel Extension, and a mighty Missile Launcher Stock

Tiny Treasures Baby Doll, Chad Valley, £39.99, ages 3+

The most lifelike 18” baby doll – which is weighted like a real new-born – is exclusive to Argos. Boy or girl, it features sleepy eyes, silky new-born hair, super-soft skin and an authentic scent of baby aroma!

SelfieMic, Worlds Apart, £19.99, ages 8+

The next evolution in karaoke is here! Wannabe pop stars and lip synch-ers can create their own music videos with this fun-packed selfie stick that features a karaoke microphone, ear piece and music app

Design a Friend Tiffany, Chad Valley, £49.99, ages 3+

Exclusive to Argos, this Chad Valley Design a Friend doll is all set for the red carpet in her dazzling evening dress, sparkly glitter sandals and pretty clutch bag. She also has an extra outfit, perfect for strutting her stuff on the carry-case catwalk packaging!

Snuggles My Dream Puppy, Character Options, £49.99, ages 4+

With his super-soft fur, nodding head and tummy that moves when he breathes, this cute pooch will brings smiles aplenty this Christmas

Fisher Price Codeapillar, Mattel, £49.99, ages 3-6

Set to inspire a new generation of super-coders, this motorised caterpillar can be programmed to move through obstacles, accompanied by colourful lights, music and fun sounds effects

BB-8, Hasbro, £59.99, ages 3+

This is the droid you’re looking for! Star Wars remains popular this year, and this remote control BB8 is the perfect gift for any fan of the movie franchise

-ENDS-

 

For further information, interview requests, product photography and additional survey stats, please contact the team at Playtime PR:

Alex Frith – alex@playtimepr.com – 07791 592 011

Peter Jenkinson – peter@playtimepr.com – 07504 023 373

Lesley Singleton  – Lesley@playtimepr.com – 01908 299 088/07852 451 093

High resolution image bank: http://tinyurl.com/ArgosTopToys2016

Notes to Editors

  • The featured results are from an independent UK survey of 1,000 children aged five to 13, plus 1,000 parents of children aged five to 13, conducted in June 2016
  • Argos’ Top Toys for Christmas 2016 are not featured or ranked in any order of importance or popularity

About Argos

Argos is a leading UK digital retailer, offering around 60,000 products through www.argos.co.uk, its growing mobile channels, stores and over the telephone.

Argos continues to be the UK’s largest high street retailer online with around 120m customer transactions a year through its stores and over 975 million website and app visits in the 12 months to February 2016.  Customers can take advantage of Argos’ convenient Check & Reserve service available through its network of 842 stores and concessions across the UK and Republic of Ireland.

In the financial year to February 2016, Argos sales were £4.1 billion and it employed c.30,000 people across the business.

Argos is part of Home Retail Group, the UK’s leading home and general merchandise

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ARGOS reveals toy predictions on children’s wish lists this Christmas

ARGOS reveals toy predictions on children’s wish lists this Christmas

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H&M launches new sports collection For Every Victory

With the technical high-fashion sports collection For Every Victory, H&M celebrates the power of personal victories. The collection has been developed in collaboration with the Swedish Olympic team, and the campaign is fronted by inspirational personalities who have all achieved their own victories, whether in sport or through life experiences. The collection will launch together with the campaign in stores and online at hm.com on 21st July 2016.

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, 2016-Jun-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — “This is a collection about performance with great style and the input of the Swedish Olympic team has been invaluable in the creation process. The result is high fashion technical sports pieces for everyone to wear,” says Pernilla Wohlfahrt, Design and Creative Director at H&M.

The collection combines high-fashion styles with the help of technical expert knowledge, focusing on core sports and training pieces that have all been tested by the Swedish Olympic team. The athletes advised on design, performance and wearability. H&M is also proud to have designed outfits for the Swedish Olympic and Paralympic team for Rio 2016, including the opening ceremony uniform, selected competition pieces and the prize ceremony outfits.

The For Every Victory collection has a similar aesthetic to the Swedish Olympic team collection, with its own colour palette in black, grey, dusty pink and gold. It is centred on performance T-shirts, running shorts and leggings, as well as sports bras for women. The technical benefits include quick-drying, breathable materials that help to optimise performance, while recycled polyesters prove that high-function sportswear can also be conscious and more sustainable − all showing that there’s no compromise on either fashion or performance.

The For Every Victory campaign celebrates the power of sport and self-belief to transform people’s lives. Among many, the campaign features Caitlyn Jenner with her Olympic gold medal in the decathlon, who dared to stand up for her true identity; Chelsea Werner, a gymnast who has never let Down Syndrome halt her progress; surfer Mike Coots who still takes to his board even though he lost his leg in a shark attack and boxer Namibia Flores who has fought against prejudice to pursue her dreams.

GLOBAL MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Only press enquiries

Phone: +46 8 796 53 00
Email: mediarelations@hm.com

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H&M launches new sports collection For Every Victory

H&M launches new sports collection For Every Victory

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M&S and Energy4All launch new clean energy initiative M&S Energy Society

  • M&S and Energy4All launch M&S Energy Society
  • Members of M&S Energy Society can  invest between £100 and £100,000 to fund solar panels on nine M&S stores, with a targeted interest rate of 5%
  • M&S buys the energy generated from the solar panels to power its stores

LONDON, 2016-Jun-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today (16 Jun 2016) M&S and Energy4All have launched M&S Energy Society – an exciting new initiative designed to generate renewable electricity from solar panels installed on M&S stores from Cheshire Oaks to Cheshunt. The project is a unique collaboration between a major retailer and community energy organisation.

The Society is inviting Members to invest £100 to £100,000 towards solar panels which will be installed on up to nine M&S stores. M&S will then buy back the energy to power its stores. The Society is targeting an interest rate of 5% each year for its Members; parents and grandparents can also purchase shares on behalf of children or grandchildren.

As well as providing an alternative investment opportunity for ethically conscious customers, each installation will result in a reduction of CO2 emissions released by the M&S stores. The initiative will also help to fulfil M&S’s green energy commitment; to ensure that 50% of electricity used in its UK and ROI building operations comes from small-scale renewable sources by 2020.

After paying interest to its Members, any remaining funds will be invested back into the community, helping to deliver M&S Energy Society’s social and environmental aims; Members will decide which causes will benefit from the money raised.

Lydia Hopton, Plan A Project Manager at M&S said, “This project is a great opportunity for customers to invest in green energy and help the environment, while also supporting local community groups. We’re really excited that M&S will be the first retailer to launch a scheme of this kind”.

Mike Smyth, Chair of Energy4All said, “There’s a real appetite for community energy funds. With community energy, investors can see the tangible difference their investment makes. Every pound invested means more solar panels, increasing renewable energy generation and cutting carbon emissions every day. We’re really pleased to be working with M&S and are looking forward to getting started”.

Lord Bourne, Minister for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) said, “This new initiative from M&S is an excellent example of private enterprise working with its customers to produce clean, green energy and support local community groups. I would urge other companies to follow suit.”
Notes to Editors

How interest is calculated:

  • M&S Energy Society plans to pay Share Interest annually in arrears on the balance of each Member’s shareholding with the first payment being made in September 2017.
  • Members should receive return on their investment targeted at an annual rate of 5% for the first three years.  After the third year the targeted interest rate will be increased by the rate of inflation in the previous three years, and each year after the third year the targeted interest rate will be increased by inflation in the previous year.
  • As an illustration, if inflation is 2.5% each year then the targeted annual rate of interest is as follows:
Year Years 1-3 Year 4 Year 6 Year 11 Year 16
Targeted interest rate 5% 5.38% 5.66% 6.4% 7.24%
Members’ investment held by The Society £1,230,000 £1,045,500 £922,500 £615,000 £307,500

This table also shows how Members’ investment is targeted to be repaid during the life of the Project.  The effect of repaying the investment is to reduce the amount of capital on which Interest is paid and to correspondingly increase the profits of the Society which are paid to the Community Benefit Fund.

The Project has a modular structure and the targeted rate of return is not dependant on successfully building on all 9 sites.
Other solar projects:

  • M&S’s first store installation was completed at Muswell Hill in 2010.
  • In March 2015 M&S completed the installation of the UK’s largest single roof mounted solar panel array on its East Midlands distribution centre in Castle Donington. It spans the site’s 900,000 sq ft roof and generates over 5,000 MWh of electricity per year, the equivalent amount of energy to power 1,190 houses.
  • Energy4All projects have raised over £50 million to construct and operate community-owned renewable energy generation at sites throughout the UK.

Find out more:

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CVS Health to support the OneOrlando Fund to raise money for victims and families affected by the Pulse nightclub tragedy

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2016-Jun-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — CVS Health announced today that it will come together with the Orlando community to support the OneOrlando Fund, established by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, to raise money for victims and families who have been affected by the Pulse nightclub tragedy.

The CVS Health Foundation will donate $100,000 to the OneOrlando Fund, which is also accepting online donations from the public at www.OneOrlando.org. The Fund will support nonprofits that are helping victims and families, the LGBTQ, Hispanic and faith communities, along with future needs of the community as it tries to move forward. The OneOrlando Fund is part of the nonprofit organization, Strengthen Orlando, created in 2009.

“We are heartbroken for our customers, colleagues and the community that have been impacted by the senseless tragedy that occurred in Orlando and offer our condolences to their families and loved ones,” said Larry J. Merlo, President and CEO of CVS Health. “We hope our commitment will help the victims and families affected by this horrific act and support the Orlando community as it begins the healing process.”

In addition, beginning Friday, June 17, CVS Pharmacy locations in the Greater Orlando, Miami and Ft. Lauderdale areas will hold an in-store fundraising campaign for the OneOrlando Fund that will allow customers and colleagues to make a $1, $3or more donation at the register directly to the Fund. All proceeds will support the initiative.

“Our City has just begun to recover from the impact of the Pulse tragedy. The support of partners like CVS Health and the CVS Health Foundation sends a signal to our City that we are not in this alone,” said Buddy Dyer, Mayor of Orlando. “The money we are raising will provide a way to help us respond to the needs of our community, now and in the time to come. Words cannot begin to express how grateful we are for the outpouring of support from across the globe.”

The CVS Pharmacy in-store donation campaign for the OneOrlando Fund will run until Saturday, July 9.

About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,600 retail pharmacies, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 80 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, and expanding specialty pharmacy services, the Company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contact
Mary Alfieri
Mary.Alfieri@CVSHealth.com
401.770.9811

SOURCE CVS Health

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CVS Health’s executives to present at 2016 America’s Health Insurance Plans Institute and Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2016-Jun-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) President and Chief Executive Officer Larry Merlo and Chief Medical Officer Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., will deliver remarks about the major public health challenges facing our country at this week’s annual America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) Institute and Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. CVS Health’s executives will discuss how innovation can create new models of patient care and delivery to address rising rates of chronic diseases while lowering health care costs for both payers and patients.

“Between now and 2030, the cumulative cost of chronic illness is projected to grow to $42 trillion and, despite all efforts to encourage Americans to live healthier lifestyles, we don’t seem to be gaining ground,” Merlo says. “I believe the way to find solutions is to look at the problems through the eyes of your customers, and at CVS Health, we are working to do just that by collaborating with stakeholders across the health care continuum including patients, caregivers, providers and payers to provide better, more cost-effective care.”

In his keynote address during the AHIP General Session on Thursday, Merlo will outline innovative patient care delivery strategies that increase health care choice, quality and access with the goal of delivering better health outcomes. Examples include the expanding role of retail health clinics, such as CVS MinuteClinic, in providing high-quality care in convenient, low-cost settings and the rapid rise in on-demand digital tools that make care and disease management easier and improve overall health care delivery. In addition, Merlo will emphasize that pharmacy care is one of the most cost-effective solutions to address rising health care costs.

“In fact, increasing medication adherence for chronic diseases such as high cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension results in significant returns of five to nine times that of the additional pharmacy spend and could drive billions in costs out of the health care system,” Merlo adds.

Merlo will also talk about the essential role pharmacists play as they work closely with providers, payers and patients to drive the use of the highest-value drugs, ensure patients understand how to take them, prevent errors, support patients during care transitions and intervene when prescriptions are not filled or problems arise.

In remarks during a separate presentation at the AHIP meeting on Friday, Brennan will describe how pharmacy benefits manager CVS Caremark is working to help control the cost of medicines through innovative plan design and is evolving to keep pace with a rapidly changing marketplace. He will also examine the factors impacting drug trend, including expensive specialty medicines as well as brand drug price inflation and utilization.

“The problem today is that even though clinically effective and lower cost generic alternatives are often available, we still see high brand utilization in certain categories, such as diabetes,” Brennan says. “The most effective thing we can do is to move people from higher cost branded drugs to their generic alternatives, which not only aligns with clinical practice guidelines but also reduces waste, saves money and can improve health outcomes.”

About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,600 retail pharmacies, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 80 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, and expanding specialty pharmacy services, the Company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contacts:
Christine Cramer
CVS Health
(401) 770-3317
christine.cramer@cvshealth.com

Christina Beckerman
CVS Health
(401) 770-8868
christina.beckerman@cvshealth.com

SOURCE CVS Health

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Harris Teeter to host hiring events throughout North Carolina, Maryland

MATTHEWS, NC, 2016-Jun-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today (6/16/2016), Harris Teeter announced it is seeking qualified applicants to fill nearly 650 new positions within its upcoming and existing stores throughout its various marketing areas.

Available positions range from full-time department heads and assistant store managers to part-time cashiers and department clerks. Interested candidates are invited to attend one of the company’s upcoming hiring events or apply online at harristeeter.jobs.

Upcoming Hiring Events

Date  Location City/State
June 17, 2016  Homewood Suites
100 MacAlyson Court		 Cary, N.C.
June 23, 2016 Doubletree Hotel
120 Wisconsin Ave		 Bethesda, Md.
July 21, 2016 Steele Croft Harris Teeter
13000 S. Tryon Street		 Charlotte, N.C.
*hiring for new Gastonia, N.C. location
August 18, 2016 Steele Croft Harris Teeter
13000 S. Tryon Street		 Charlotte, N.C.
*hiring for a new Charlotte, N.C. location

The company is also working to schedule events in Bowie, Md., Loudoun County, Va., and Fairfax, Va., this summer.

“We have nine new stores scheduled to open over the next few months,” said Danna Robinson, communication manager for Harris Teeter. “We are looking for hard-working people passionate about customer service excellence, who want to work in a fun, team environment with great benefits and advancement opportunities.”

Over the last year alone, Harris Teeter has created more than 1,050 new jobs throughout the markets where it operates stores – North & South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Delaware, Florida and the District of Columbia.

“We owe our company’s success to our valued associates,” said Robinson. “We are growing, and we invite full-time and part-time job seekers to grow with us as we expand Harris Teeter’s footprint, creating jobs throughout new and existing markets.”

Harris Teeter opened a total of 10 new stores in 2015 and is expected to open 11 new stores in 2016.