Daily Archives: August 23, 2016

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Sena unveils its new Tufftalk headset: an earmuff Bluetooth communication and intercom headset now available on BuySena.com


SAN JOSE, Calif., 2016-Aug-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sena Technologies, Inc., the global leader in Bluetooth communication devices for motorsport, outdoor and industrial solutions, announced today the release of its new Tufftalk headset, which is engineered with Sena’s almost two decades of industrial wireless Bluetooth expertise.

“Sena Tufftalk is the first fully Bluetooth integrated intercom device to both protect the user and supply a clearer communication channel.” said Tae Kim, president and CEO of Sena Technologies, Inc. “This device marks our continued commitment to the safety and efficiency of the industrial field.”

Sena’s Tufftalk, an earmuff Bluetooth® communication and intercom headset, is designed specifically to meet the communication and connectivity needs of industrial applications. Tufftalk sports a 1.4 km working Bluetooth range – the furthest of any product on the market today. Its sturdy design and tough manufacturing offers up to 15 hours of uninterrupted intercom communication between up to four headsets. Coupled with its seamless compatibility with other Bluetooth and two-way radio devices, including Sena SR10i which allows for wireless two-way radio communication, Tufftalk far outpaces the competition.

Breaking through the noise
In rough and loud environments, safety is key, and this is exactly where Tufftalk truly shines. Tufftalk’s secure earmuffs help protect users from harmful noise with an audio attenuation of 24dB. The ambient mode feature allows users to amplify external sounds – generating greater awareness of surroundings so important alarms or calls can be heard while still protecting hearing. For more active applications, Tufftalk offers an optional hard hat mount package.

“Poor worksite communication is costly for businesses,” Kim said. “With Tufftalk we applied Sena’s two decades of expertise to offer industrial strength seamless communication for the harshest of environments.”

Equipped with HD quality speakers, Tufftalk delivers crystal clear audio that industrial mobile workers need to stay safe on busy and noisy worksites. Tufftalk features Sena’s Advanced Noise-Control™ technology, which limits the interference of background noise while maintaining the full volume of voice communication.

Sena’s patented Jog Dial design is glove-friendly and easy to control, while the VOX technology allows users to answer phone calls, communicate and react to voice commands, all while hands-free. Tufftalk is also compatible with a Sena App to configure settings and presets easily through any smartphone. As with all Sena units, Tufftalk is completely firmware upgradeable to ensure it remains compatible with all of the latest Bluetooth technology.

Features
Firmware upgradable
Study design for industrial environments
Optional 1.4 km communication range, or 800 km with default antenna
Equipped with VOX for hands-free control
Pairs to smartphones and other Bluetooth enabled devices
15 hours of talk time with lithium battery or 12 hours with AAA batteries
Attenuation of 24dB
HD-quality speaker with Sena’s Advanced Noise-Control™ blocking external noise
Compatible with two-way radios
Optional hard hat mounting available
Bluetooth 4.1

Since 1998, Sena has been recognized as a wireless leader specializing in Bluetooth-based solutions that benefit both users and businesses at large. Drawing from its industrial solutions, Sena is a leader in consumer goods in the power sports and action sports industries providing communication solutions for this market since releasing the SMH10 in 2011.

Like all Sena products, Tufftalk comes with Sena’s industry-leading two-year warranty, and is now available on BuySena.com. For more information and the full Sena product line, please visit: www.SenaIndustrial.com.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

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IKEA to host its annual Swedish Crayfish Party on Friday, September 16

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., 2016-Aug-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — As summer comes to an end, IKEA will host its annual Swedish Crayfish Party – an all-you-can-eat crayfish buffet – on Friday, September 16 at participating stores nationwide**. The Crayfish Party is a Swedish tradition that dates back to the 1800’s, when crayfish fishing was limited to August and September. To celebrate the beginning of crayfish fishing season, families and friends would host late summer parties – gathering in paper hats and colorful crayfish-themed bibs – to enjoy good food and good company amongst the sound of music and clinking classes.

This season, IKEA is inviting everyone to join in the fun! Tickets are available for $18.99 per person / $4.99 for kids 12 and under, or at a discounted rate for IKEA FAMILY* members ($14.99 per person / $2.99 for kids 12 and under), for an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring crayfish, cucumber salad and more.

“In Sweden, the Crayfish Party or ‘kräftskiva’ is a loved and celebrated food tradition,” said Patricia Meumann, IKEA Food Manager. “We look forward to sharing our Swedish heritage with our customers in a fun and festive way.”

The IKEA Crayfish Party menu*** includes:
•Crayfish
•Tossed green salad
•Cucumber salad
•Hardboiled eggs with mayo and shrimp
•Rhode Island salad with crayfish
•Najad salmon with horseradish sauce
•Gravad lax with mustard sauceCrispbread, crisprolls, soft bread, thin bread
•Assorted Swedish cheeses
•Meatballs with lingonberries
•Mashed potatoes or boiled dill new potatoes
•Strawberry crumble tart
•Cookies and assorted desserts
•Coffee, tea, fountain beverages

Seating is limited, so those who are interested are encouraged to purchase tickets early at their local IKEA store. To locate and contact the nearest IKEA store for more details, including local seating times, visit the “Store Locator” page on www.IKEA-USA.com and enter your city/state or zip code.

Those not able to make it to the event can still enjoy the festivities at home! Visit the Swedish Food Market in IKEA U.S. stores to explore, find and try ingredients for Swedish recipes such as traditional cheese pie.

CHEESE PIE
Ingredients & Supplies (Serves 6)
•1¼ cup shredded IKEA OST PRÄST® (semi-hard cheese)
•3 tbsp. fresh chopped dill
•1¼ cup wheat flour
•4 eggs
•10 tbsp. butter
•3 tbsp. water
•5 oz. heavy cream
•7 tbsp. chopped chives
•Salt
•Ground black pepper

Directions
•Mix butter and wheat flour. Add water and quickly work into a dough. Leave to cool for 30 minutes.
•Preheat the oven to 350°F.
•Roll out the dough to fit the size of your pie dish (preferably 8–9″ in diameter). Fold the dough about ½” in around the edge so that it does not slide down during baking. To let the steam out during baking, poke holes in the bottom of the dough using a fork.
•Pre-bake the dough at 350°F for 15–20 minutes.
•Mix egg, cheese, cream, chopped chives and dill. Add salt and pepper.
•Pour the filling in the pie dish and bake for another 25–30 minutes.

*IKEA FAMILY is a benefits program that offers membership perks including special product discounts, sneak previews, free coffee and tea in the IKEA Restaurant, and more. Consumers can sign up for the free program online or in-store.

**IKEA Carson will not be participating/will not be hosting a Crayfish Party event.
***Menu is subject to change due to product availability.

About IKEA
Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of good design and function at low prices so the majority of people can afford them. There are currently more than 385 IKEA stores in 48 countries, including 42in the U.S. IKEA incorporates sustainability into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information, see IKEA-USA.com, @IKEAUSANews, @IKEAUSA or IKEAUSA on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.

Media Contact:
Christine Conti
646-935-4057
Christine.Conti@Ketchum.com

Source: IKEA

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Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. to acquire CST Brands, Inc.

Laval, Québec, Canada, 2016-Aug-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (TSX: ATD.A ATD.B), (“Couche-Tard”), today (August 22, 2016) announces a definitive merger agreement with CST Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CST) (“CST”) under which Couche-Tard would acquire CST in an all-cash transaction for US $48.53 per share, with a total enterprise value of approximately US $4.4 billion including net debt assumed. The terms and conditions of the agreement were unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies.

CST is based in San Antonio, Texas and employs over 14,000 people at over 2,000 locations throughout the Southwestern United States with an important presence in Texas, in Georgia, in the U.S. Southeast Region, in the State of New York and Eastern Canada. CST also controls the general partner of Cross America Partners LP (NYSE: CAPL) (“CAPL”), owns 100% of its Incentive Distribution Rights and holds a significant equity investment in it. CAPL distributes branded and unbranded road transportation fuel to more than 1,100 locations in the United States.

The transaction price represents a premium of 42% to CST’s closing share price on March 3, 2016, the last trading day prior to CST announcing that it would explore and review its strategic alternatives to further enhance its stockholder value.

This all-cash transaction is expected to be financed by Couche-Tard’s available cash, existing credit facilities and a new term loan. The CST transaction is expected to close in early calendar year 2017 and is subject to the approval of CST’s stockholders and regulatory approvals in the United States and Canada.

Couche-Tard has also entered into an agreement with Parkland Fuel Corporation (TSX: PKI) pursuant to which it would sell certain Canadian assets of CST after the merger for approximately US$ 750 million. The assets in Canada that would be sold include a) CST’s Cardlock business, b) CST’s Dealer and Commission Agents business, c) CST’s Commercial and Home Energy business, d) a number of company-operated stores to be determined following the Competition Bureau of Canada’s review of the transaction and e) CST’s Montréal corporate head office. This transaction is subject to customary regulatory approval and closing conditions. Couche-Tard intends to use the proceeds from this sale to repay part of its credit facilities.

“We look forward to welcoming CST and CAPL to the Couche-Tard family” says Brian Hannasch, Couche-Tard’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “CST is an excellent company and is well positioned in the Southwestern United States with an important presence in Texas, Georgia, in the U.S. Southeast Region, New York and Eastern Canada. With this transaction we would strategically strengthen our positioning in both the “sun belt” and the east coast of North America. Our teams are looking forward to meeting CST customers and welcoming them into the CoucheTard family.”

“We are excited to share best practices with CST as well as to combine the capabilities of CST’s team with Couche-Tard’s, to enhance value for our stockholders. We strongly believe that our all-cash offer is a compelling one for CST’s stockholders, giving them the opportunity to realize full and immediate value for their investment,” says Brian Hannasch.

Alain Bouchard, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, Couche-Tard says, “I have always thought that in our industry ‘size matters’, whether that be for purchasing, logistics, best practices or for becoming famous for our product categories. The addition of CST’s exceptional people and its strategic assets takes us one step further towards all these goals. I look forward to welcoming the CST and CAPL teams onboard into our growing company.”

Upon completion of the transaction, Couche-Tard would establish a new business unit in San Antonio with attached shared services operations.

Faegre Baker Daniels LLP and Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg are acting as legal advisors to Couche-Tard. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and National Bank Financial advised Couche-Tard in connection with the transaction.

INVITATION TO CONFERENCE CALLS AND WEBCAST FOR ANALYSTS AND MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES – AUGUST 22, 2016

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. invites analysts and media representatives to two separate conference calls in which representatives of Couche-Tard’s management team will participate.

An investor presentation will be available on http://corpo.couche-tard.com.

For analysts: There will be a conference call for analysts only that will take place today, starting at 8:30 a.m. (EDT) promptly. Analysts will need to contact CNW at one of the following numbers: (866) 865-3087, (514) 807-9895 or (647) 427-7450, conference number 69750702# and will need to identify themselves. Lines will be available 30 minutes in advance to allow them to register. Participants will not be able to join the call after it has started. The session will be taped and the recording will be made available on http://corpo.couche-tard.com for a 30-day period.

For media representatives: There will be a conference call and a webcast for media representatives only that will take place today, starting at 11:00 a.m. (EDT) promptly. Media representatives will need to contact CNW at one of the following numbers: (866) 865-3087, (514) 807-9895 or (647) 427-7450, conference number 69746602# and will need to identify themselves. Lines will be available 30 minutes in advance to allow them to register. Participants will not be able to join the call after it has started. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available through the following link: webcast.

About Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.
Couche-Tard is the leader in the Canadian convenience store industry. In the United States, it is the largest independent convenience store operator in terms of number of company-operated stores. In Europe, Couche-Tard is a leader in convenience store and road transportation fuel retail in the Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden and Denmark), in the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, in Ireland and in Russia with an important presence in Poland.

As of April 24, 2016, Couche-Tard’s network comprised 7,888 convenience stores throughout North America, including 6,490 stores with road transportation fuel dispensing. Its North American network consists of 15 business units, including 11 in the United States covering 41 states and 4 in Canada covering all 10 provinces. Approximately 80,000 people are employed throughout its network and at its service offices in North America.

In Europe, Couche-Tard operates a broad retail network across Scandinavia, Ireland, Poland, the Baltics States and Russia through ten business units. As of April 24, 2016, Couche-Tard’s network is comprised of 2,659 stores, the majority of which offer road transportation fuel and convenience products while the others are unmanned automated fuel sites which only offer road transportation fuel. Couche-Tard also offers other products, including stationary energy, marine fuel, aviation fuel, lubricants and chemicals. Including employees at its branded franchise stores, approximately 25,000 people work in its retail network, terminals and service offices across Europe.

In addition, under licensing agreements, almost 1,500 stores are operated under the Circle K banner in 13 other countries and territories worldwide (China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Guam, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam), which brings the total network to over 12,000 stores.

For more information on Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., please visit: http://corpo.couche-tard.com.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

This communication does not constitute a solicitation of any vote or approval. In connection with the proposed transaction, CST intends to file a proxy statement and other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. CST will provide the full proxy statement to its stockholders. Investors and stockholders are urged to read the proxy statement and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC when they become available, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information about the transaction. Investors and stockholders will be able to obtain a copy of the proxy statement as well as other filings containing information about CST free of charge at the SEC’s Web Site at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, the proxy statement, the SEC filings that will be incorporated by reference in the proxy statement and the other documents filed with the SEC by CST may be obtained free of charge from CST’s Investor Relations page on its corporate website at http://www.cstbrands.com.

CST and its directors, executive officers, and certain other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in favor of the proposed transaction from the stockholders of CST. Information about the directors and executive officers of CST is set forth in CST’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and the proxy statement on Schedule 14A for CST’s 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 29, 2016. Additional information regarding participants in the proxy solicitation may be obtained by reading the proxy statement regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements set forth in this press release, which describe Couche-Tard’s objectives, projections, estimates, expectations or forecasts, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation. Positive or negative verbs such as “will”, “plan”, “evaluate”, “estimate”, “believe”, “expect” and other related expressions are used to identify such statements. Couche-Tard would like to point out that, by their very nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties such that its results, or the measures it adopts, could differ materially from those indicated or underlying these statements, or could have an impact on the degree of realization of a particular projection. Major factors that may lead to a material difference between Couche-Tard’s actual results and the projections or expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements include the effects of the integration of acquired businesses and the ability to achieve projected synergies, fluctuations in margins on motor fuel sales, competition in the convenience store and retail motor fuel industries, exchange rate variations, and such other risks as described in detail from time to time in documents filed by Couche-Tard with securities regulatory authorities in Canada. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Couche-Tard disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking information in this press release is based on information available as of the date of the release.

Contacts:

Investor Relations:
Claude Tessier
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: (450) 662-6632, ext. 4407
investor.relations@couche-tard.com

Media Relations:
Karen Romer
Director Global Communications
Tel: (514) 603-4505 / +47 950 74 950
karen.romer@couche-tard.com

Source: Couche-Tard

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SONIC® Drive-In announces the return of Wing Night in America

SONIC® Drive-In announces the return of Wing Night in America
SONIC® Drive-In announces the return of Wing Night in America

 

OKLAHOMA CITY, 2016-Aug-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — SONIC® Drive-In (NASDAQ: SONC) is bringing back the celebrated Wing Night in America, and it’s better than ever! Buying one order of juicy Boneless Wings and getting another free is the perfect way to appease your hunger Monday through Thursday after 5 p.m. with any six-, 12- or 24-piece orders.

SONIC’s Boneless Wings boldly go where no wings have gone before. With daring new flavors like Hot Honey, Garlic Parmesan and Pineapple Habanero joining Honey BBQ, Asian Sweet Chili and Buffalo, SONIC offers a heat scale of flavors for any wing lover. Some sauces are delightfully sweet while others are exotically tangy, but all SONIC Boneless Wings are loaded with mouthwatering flavor and juicy white chicken breast.

“The response last fall for Wing Night in America was overwhelmingly positive. This year we wanted to give our guests more by expanding the buy one, get one free offer to Monday through Thursday and introducing new flavors,” said Sarah Beddoe, vice president of national marketing for SONIC. “We can’t wait for our fans to enjoy the unmatched buy one, get one free value to try all six bold flavors.”

Wing Night in America is available for a limited time only so grab a wing mate and head to your nearest drive-in Monday through Thursday after 5 p.m.

* Of equal or lesser value. Requires purchase at regular price. Please mention offer when ordering. Not good in conjunction with any other offers. See menu for details. For a limited time only at participating SONIC® Drive-Ins.

About SONIC, America’s Drive-In
SONIC, America’s Drive-In is the nation’s largest drive-in restaurant chain, serving more than 3 million customers every day. Nearly 90 percent of SONIC’s 3,500 drive-in locations are owned and operated by local business men and women. Over more than 60 years, SONIC has delighted guests with signature menu items, more than 1.3 million drink combinations and friendly service by iconic Carhops. Since the 2009 launch of SONIC’s Limeades for Learning philanthropic campaign in partnership with DonorsChoose.org, SONIC has donated more than $5 million to public school teachers nationwide to fund essential learning materials and innovative teaching resources to inspire creativity and learning in today’s youth. To learn more about Sonic Corp. (NASDAQ/NM: SONC), please visit sonicdrivein.com and please visit or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. To learn more about SONIC’s Limeades for Learning initiative, please visit Limeadesforlearning.com.

Contact:

Matthew Young
512-542-2802
Matthew.Young@cohnwolfe.com

Source: SONIC Drive-In

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CVS Health Research Institute study reveals medication adherence interventions on patients with common chronic conditions is extraordinarily cost-effective

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2016-Aug-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — A new study from the CVS Health Research Institute found that interventions to keep patients with common chronic conditions adherent is extraordinarily cost-effective. The study, published today in The American Journal of Managed Care, also found an even greater opportunity for cost-savings if medication adherence resources are focused on patients with three or more chronic co-morbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol. In fact, a preliminary analysis shows that payers could save approximately $38-$63 million per 100,000 members by focusing resources on these specific patient populations.

“There is extensive evidence supporting the relationship between better adherence, improved health outcomes and reduced health care costs, but efforts to improve medication adherence, while effective, can be costly,” said Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of CVS Health. “We are now trying to better understand how to maximize health care resources to have the greatest impact on adherence and provide the maximum benefit for payers and patients. This research indicates that targeting adherence interventions to patients based upon their adherence history and co-morbidities would result in greater cost-savings and a better use of health care resources.”

Researchers reviewed de-identified medical and pharmacy claims data of more than 1.2 million patients with at least one of three chronic diseases, including diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, over a two year period. The study found that the best strategy was to focus on the patients who are adherent and keep them adherent. For example, a patient with hypertension who was initially adherent, but became non-adherent, spent an additional $2,663 on medical care. In addition, the researchers found that the number of co-morbid conditions directly influenced the magnitude of cost savings when adherence behavior improved. In fact, patients with three or more chronic conditions had up to seven times greater savings than patients with one or two conditions.

“Short-term changes in adherence can have a meaningful and immediate impact on health care costs, and this kind of research is important in helping our clients understand the value of medication adherence and where the greatest cost-savings opportunities exist for their member populations when it comes to maintaining medication adherence,” said Jonathan Roberts, President of CVS Caremark, the pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) of CVS Health. “We have a number of analytic tools that we use with our clients and offer adherence programs tailored for specific member populations to help improve health outcomes and deliver significant value for our clients.”

At CVS Health, we leverage our analytic expertise across the enterprise to help PBM clients tailor and implement adherence interventions that have the greatest impact. For example, we use predictive analytics to help understand which patients are likely to be non-adherent and as a result, the most costly. In addition, we work with clients to target certain member populations who can most benefit from our adherence programs. In fact, we recently launched Care 1-on-1 , which connects members with multiple chronic conditions to a dedicated Pharmacy Care Team who is available 24/7 to support individual member needs, coordinate medication delivery and address their adherence challenges.

The CVS Health Research Institute is focused on contributing to the body of scientific knowledge related to pharmacy and health care through research collaborations with external academic institutions, participation in federally-funded research, analysis and sharing of CVS Health data sources and coordination of pilot programs and initiatives. CVS Health Research Institute findings support a continuous quality improvement environment, which encourages product innovation and development to benefit CVS Health patients, clients and their members.

About CVS Health
CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) 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

SOURCE: CVS Health

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Whole Foods Market to open at Fern Marketplace, Shreveport, Louisiana on Nov. 16

SHREVEPORT, La., 2016-Aug-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Whole Foods Market will open in Shreveport, Louisiana, on Nov. 16 at Fern Marketplace, 1380 E. 70th Street. The 39,000-square-foot store will be the company’s first Shreveport location and its seventh in the state.

“We’ve had a tremendous response from the community since first announcing our plans to open a store in the Shreveport-Bossier City area,” said Mark Dixon, president of Whole Foods Market’s Southwest Region. “We can’t wait to open our doors and give the Shreveport community a new option for shopping, dining and gathering with friends and family.”

Beginning early September, the store’s team leader, Ralph White, will accept applications for cashiers, prepared foods cooks, fishmongers, butchers and more. Anyone interested in applying can find more information at wholefoodsmarket.com/careers.

“I’m thrilled for Whole Foods Market to open in Shreveport this November,” White said. “We’re excited to offer new and local products, develop strong partnerships with our neighbors, and deliver a shopping experience unlike anywhere else.”

Whole Foods Market is already planning store partnerships and activities leading up to the November opening and beyond. Details and updates will be available at wholefoodsmarket.com/shreveport and facebook.com/wholefoodsshreveport.

Contact:

Kristina Bradford
kristina.bradford@wholefoods.com
225.287.6958

Source: Whole Foods Market

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X5 Retail Group opens two distribution centres in the Republic of Adygeya to develop its logistics infrastructure in the South of Russia

Maykop, Russia, 2016-Aug-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — X5 Retail Group N.V. (“X5” or the “Company”), a leading Russian food retailer (LSE ticker: “FIVE”), announces the opening of two distribution centres (DC) in the Republic of Adygeya as part of the Company’s strategy to develop its logistics infrastructure in the South of Russia. The state-of-the-art logistics facilities, Yuzhny and Adygeya, will boost the efficiency of X5’s supply chain and encourage more local sourcing.

X5’s Chief Executive Officer Igor Shekhterman said: “We have now opened four distribution centres year to date: in St. Petersburg, in Moscow Region and two in the South of Russia. Our logistics infrastructure is now more than just a platform to support the development of our own retail chain. With each new DC, we also provide more and better sales opportunities for our partners, especially local food producers.”

Spanning over 33,000 sq m, the Yuzhny logistics facility will support supplies to 245 Pyaterochkas in 105 towns and cities of the Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories, and the Republics of Adygeya and Karachay-Circassia.

Yuzhny DC, Pyaterochka’s second DC in the Southern Federal District, will support the retail chain’s continued rapid growth in the South of Russia. The new DC will handle part of the traffic which is currently dealt with by Rostov DC in Rostov-on-Don. The launch of Yuzhny will shorten the DC-to-store distance by over 1.5 times for each of the two DCs. Featuring nine storage zones, all with a specific temperature band (from -21 to 25°С), Yuzhny can accommodate all categories of goods.

The Adygeya logistics facility (13,500 sq m) is meant to service Perekrestoks and Karusels in the Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories and in the Rostov Region. The DC will ensure smooth delivery to 27 Perekrestok supermarkets and two Karusel hypermarkets in the South of Russia.

The DC opening ceremony was attended by Aslan Tkhakushinov, Head of the Republic of Adygeya, Olga Naumova, CEO of Pyaterochka, and Denis Shulga, Logistics Director of Perekrestok. They discussed the benefits for the region derived from the continued development of X5’s logistics operations. The opening of the Yuzhny and Adygeya Distribution Centres created over 240 new jobs in the region.

X5 also invited managers of over 50 supplier companies from the Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories, the Rostov Region and the Republic of Adygeya to take part in the ceremony. The launch of the new logistics facilities offers them considerable new opportunities to develop their cooperation with X5’s retail chains, materially reducing logistics costs and boosting supplies to X5 stores, including by taking advantage of X5’s expanded geographic footprint. More than 30 local suppliers are already capitalising on the opportunities offered by the new X5 facilities.

This supply chain centralisation will also increase the share of local suppliers in the product mix of X5’s stores in the region. The share of locally produced items in the Pyaterochka, Perekrestok and Karusel stores stands at around 30%, while in some categories (such as bread and bakery) it reaches as much as 95%.

X5 started implementing its logistics separation strategy in 2013 with a view to splitting product flows for convenience stores, on the one hand, and supermarkets and hypermarkets, on the other hand. Single format DCs are instrumental in maximising product traffic centralisation, streamlining deliveries and in-store product ranges. The logistics split across X5’s retail chains is scheduled for completion this year.

Note to Editors:

X5 Retail Group N.V. (LSE: FIVE, Fitch – ‘BB’, Moody’s – ‘Ba3’, S&P – ‘BB-’) is a leading Russian food retailer. The Company operates several retail formats: the chain of proximity stores under the Pyaterochka brand, the supermarket chain under the Perekrestok brand, the hypermarket chain under the Karusel brand and Express convenience stores under various brands.

As of 30 June 2016, X5 had 7,936 Company-operated stores. It has the leading market position in both Moscow and St. Petersburg and a significant presence in the European part of Russia. Its store base includes 7,164 Pyaterochka proximity stores, 493 Perekrestok supermarkets, 89 Karusel hypermarkets and 190 convenience stores. The Company operates 35 DCs and 1,469 Company-owned trucks across the Russian Federation.

For the full year 2015, revenue totalled RUB 808,818 mln (USD 13,268 mln), Adjusted EBITDA reached RUB 59,413 mln (USD 975 mln), and net profit for the period amounted to RUB 14,174 mln (USD 233 mln). In H1 2016, revenue totalled RUB 483,244 mln (USD 6,878 mln), EBITDA reached RUB 36,498 mln (USD 519 mln), and net profit amounted to RUB 13,004 mln (USD 185 mln).

X5’s Shareholder structure is as follows: Alfa Group – 47.86%, founders of Pyaterochka – 14.43%, X5 Directors – 0.06%, treasury shares – 0.01%, free float – 37.64%.

Forward looking statements:

This announcement includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, “forward looking statements”. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not only relate to historical or current events. Forward-looking statements often use words such as “anticipate”, “target”, “expect”, “estimate”, “intend”, “expected”, “plan”, “goal”, “believe”, or other words of similar meaning.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances, a number of which are beyond X5 Retail Group N.V.’s control. As a result, actual future results may differ materially from the plans, goals and expectations set out in these forward-looking statements.

Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of X5 Retail Group N.V. speak only as of the date of this announcement. Save as required by any applicable laws or regulations, X5 Retail Group N.V. undertakes no obligation publicly to release the results of any revisions to any forward-looking statements in this document that may occur due to any change in its expectations or to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document.

Contact:

Maxim Novikov
Head of Investor Relations
Tel.: +7 (495) 502-9783
e-mail: Maxim.Novikov@x5.ru

Andrey Vasin
Investor Relations Officer
Tel.:+7 (495) 662-88-88 ext. 21-456
e-mail: Andrey.Vasin@x5.ru

Source: X5 Retail Group N.V.

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Andrew Cooper named President, Sequential Brands Group

NEW YORK, 2016-Aug-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sequential Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:SQBG) (“Sequential”), announced today (Aug 22, 2016) the appointment of Andrew Cooper as President reporting directly to CEO Yehuda Shmidman.

“We are pleased to welcome Andrew Cooper to the management team at Sequential. Andrew’s expertise in helping companies achieve operational excellence and maximize productivity will both strengthen our infrastructure and help to drive our long-term goals for the business,” stated William Sweedler, Chairman of Sequential and Co-Founder of Tengram Capital Partners, L.P.

Sequential CEO Yehuda Shmidman added, “The expansion of our corporate management team reflects the overall expansion of our business, and our desire to continue executing our growth plan.  In a short time, our team has successfully built a portfolio of brands that represented less than $100 million in global retail sales a few years ago to a portfolio that currently generates $4 billion in global retail sales. As we work towards achieving our future growth goals, it’s exciting to know that our team has expanded in parallel, putting us in the perfect position to deliver results.

Andrew Cooper has over 20 years of business development, operating, and private equity investing experience at high growth companies across multiple sectors. Most recently, Mr. Cooper served as a Partner of Pegasus Capital Advisors and CEO of Universal Lubricants, a Pegasus Capital portfolio company. Prior to that, Mr. Cooper held the role of Senior Vice President at Priceline.com where he launched the Vacation Packages business unit and drove implementation of private label and brand licensing programs with major travel companies. He graduated from University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and magna cum laude from Duke University.

Mr. Cooper was recruited by Sequential through a process conducted by Tengram Captial Partners, L.P.

ABOUT SEQUENTIAL BRANDS GROUP, INC.
Sequential Brands Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SQBG) owns, promotes, markets, and licenses a portfolio of consumer brands in the fashion, home and active categories. Sequential seeks to ensure that its brands continue to thrive and grow by employing strong brand management, design and marketing teams. Sequential has licensed and intends to license its brands in a variety of consumer categories to retailers, wholesalers and distributors in the United States and around the world.  For more information, please visit Sequential’s website at: www.sequentialbrandsgroup.com. To inquire about licensing opportunities, please email: newbusiness@sbg-ny.com.

Media Contact:

Jaime Cassavechia
212-518-4771 x108
jcassavechia@sbg-ny.com

Source: Sequential Brands Group/Globe Newswire

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CBRE Group, Inc. to provide tenant representation services for Round One Entertainment Inc.

Los Angeles, 2016-Aug-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — CBRE Group, Inc. has been appointed by Round One Entertainment Inc., a family entertainment and amusement company headquartered in the City of Industry, CA to provide tenant representation services to search for new locations in the East and Central parts of the United States.

Round One is a multi-entertainment activity complex company with six sites in California, two in Texas, and one each in Illinois, Massachusetts, and Washington. A typical location is 50,000 square feet large and offers bowling, karaoke, arcade games, billiards, darts, ping pong, and food.

Kenji Sakai, Senior Vice President of CBRE, The Japan Desk, commented: “We are excited to work with Round One Entertainment, a leader in the family amusement center industry, in supporting their goal to provide more family fun by identifying for the most suitable new locations to open in the Eastern and Central United States. This important assignment solidifies the great relationship that our CBRE team has with Round One Entertainment.”

Round One’s operations in the United States have considerably expanded from the time it opened its first location in the City of Industry in August 2010. The company plans to expand even further in the United States by opening five or six locations in the country per year.

About CBRE Group, Inc.
CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (based on 2015 revenue).  The Company has more than 70,000 employees (excluding affiliates), and serves real estate investors and occupiers through more than 400 offices (excluding affiliates) worldwide.  CBRE offers a broad range of integrated services, including facilities, transaction and project management; property management; investment management; appraisal and valuation; property leasing; strategic consulting; property sales; mortgage services and development services.  Please visit our website at www.cbre.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Robert McGrath
Senior Director, Global Media Relations
+1 212 9848267

Source: CBRE

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Davis Food & Drug owner Jim Davis to be inducted into the Utah Food Industry Association’s Hall of Fame

Salt Lake City, UT, 2016-Aug-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Jim Davis, owner of Davis Food & Drug, will receive top recognition this week at the Utah Food Industry Association’s (UFIA) annual conference. The seasoned retailer will be inducted into the UFIA Hall of Fame for his contributions to the grocery industry and his community. The conference and award ceremony will be held at the Davis Conference Center in Layton, Utah on August 23, 2016.

Davis began his 46-year grocery career as a bagger at Safeway in 1970, working his way through various departments until he was made a store manager. In 1988, Davis became a store owner when he opened his first stores, Davis Food & Drug, in Vernal and Roosevelt, Utah. Today, Davis works with his son’s Lee and CJ to operate four stores in Vernal, LaVerkin, Roosevelt and West Valley, Utah. His commitment to the grocery industry has been strengthened by his participation and leadership in multiple Associated Food Stores committees as well as his time as Chairman of the Board for UFIA.

Davis understands the importance of community and giving back to those who have made his stores successful. He adopted the motto “Hometown Proud” for his stores and continues to support the theme. During his career, he has been a member of and served on multiple boards for the Tri-County Economic Development Board, Shriners Hospital for Children, Vernal Rotary and multiple other organizations.

“It is a very humbling, gratifying and surprising acknowledgement. For 46 years I have enjoyed being involved in the grocery business and to receive an award and recognition of this level is indeed flattering,” Davis said of the Hall of Fame induction.

Since 1980, UFIA has recognized the retailers and suppliers that make significant contributions to the grocery industry and community with Hall of Fame induction. Inductees are nominated and voted for by the Board of Directors. Davis joins fellow Associated Food Stores retailers Gerald Day, Stan Barrett and Ken Macey among others as members of the Hall of Fame.

About Associated Food Stores
Associated Food Stores was established in 1940 when 34 independent retailers joined together to battle high supplier costs and strong chain-store competition. The Utah-based wholesaler is the only independently-owned wholesaler in the Intermountain Wests and serves more than 400 independent retailers through multiple services beyond grocery including store engineering and development, financial services, insurance services, marketing, advertising, retail technology and more. For more information about Associated Food Stores, visit www.afstores.com.

Media Contact:
Rachael Wabel
rmwabel@afstores.com
801-978-8913

###

Davis Food & Drug owner Jim Davis to be inducted into the Utah Food Industry Association’s Hall of Fame
Davis Food & Drug owner Jim Davis to be inducted into the Utah Food Industry Association’s Hall of Fame

 

Source: AFS

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Best Buy launches smart home tour Tech Home at Minnesota’s Mall of America

Minneapolis, MN, 2016-Aug-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — It’s time you went on a smart home tour. Let Best Buy be your guide.

It’s our 50th anniversary, and we’re rolling out the welcome mat to Tech Home at Minnesota’s Mall of America to help celebrate Best Buy’s role of bringing the latest technology to you.

Tech Home is a hands-on display of all things smart home, seamlessly connecting devices and appliances in a kitchen, living room, bedroom, office space and entryway. It includes top options for Wi-Fi, security, comfort and organization — including gadgets from Samsung Smart Things, NETGEAR, Canon, Philips Hue, Qualcomm Technologies and more.

Tech Home, designed and built by Chandler, Inc., is open to the public, free and will be located in the Mall of America Rotunda through Sept. 17.

Here’s a quick walk-through:

Wi-Fi
It all starts with a good Wi-Fi network. If you don’t have a strong signal that can handle multiple devices and multiple users, your smart home’s IQ is going to be low.

Enter the NETGEAR Orbi Whole Home Wi-Fi system, a series of devices throughout your house that liven up dead spots to make sure you have a good signal no matter where you are in the house (and no matter what device you use). Orbi will be on display for the first time ever within Tech Home.

Organization
Connected home devices not only need to talk to you, they also need to talk with one another. Samsung SmartThings is the easiest way to set up a smart home by helping you keep your devices connected and organized in one platform. Control hundreds of compatible smart devices — including lights, speakers, locks, thermostats, sensors and more — all with the touch of your smartphone.

Want to keep your groceries in order? The Samsung Family Hub refrigerator has three cameras inside, accessible by smartphone app, so you can see what you need while at the grocery store. Save yourself a trip later in the day, and take your family to the park instead. It also lets you organize your groceries, especially items with expiration dates, based on when you bought them.

If you’re like us, you’ve got dozens of age-old vacation photos sitting on a hard drive instead being displayed to family and friends. Tech Home introduces us to the Canon Connect Station, which stores up to 150,000 photos or 70 hours of videos. Share them wirelessly to social media and friends around the world by syncing it with your Wi-Fi.

Comfort
We’ve come a long way from window-unit air conditioners, dial thermostats and old-fashioned light switches.

Now, you can control your temperature from work, the car or even another country. You can let the ecobee 3 Smart Thermostat use its remote sensors to deliver the right temperature in each room.

Smart lighting can do many things – set the mood (dim the lights while watching television), help out with those wintertime blues (make it brighter, earlier), or tell your children when it’s time to do homework or come to dinner (use different colors of lighting to signal it’s time for a particular family activity).

But how? Use the Savant Remote to control Philips Hue lighting products so you get the amount and type of light that you want, when you want it. You can also set your Smart TV to show the morning news or stream your favorite TV show. In the mood for music? The remote can play your favorite songs on the SONOS Play 1.

Security
Peace of mind is a top priority of the connected home. No matter where you are — in your living room, at your office or on vacation — you can use your smartphone to see everything going on at home.

Many security cameras, like the Arlo HD from NETGEAR, are wireless and can be placed anywhere. And their two-way audio capabilities allow you to communicate with anyone at, or entering, your home.

These features also come in handy at your front door. Devices like Ring doorbell,Yale smart locks and smart garage door openers let you control who visits your home, whether you’re there or not. Imagine it’s raining and you’re expecting a package; now, you can talk to the delivery person through your doorbell, then open your garage or unlock your door so he can put your package inside the house and keep it dry – all while you’re watching, perhaps from thousands of miles away.

You can check out Tech Home at the Mall of America Rotunda now through Sept. 17. Learn more about Best Buy’s smart home product selection online or in a store.

Source: Best Buy

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Albert Heijn start samen met Voedingscentrum actie rondom het bewaren van voedsel

Zaandam, 2016-Aug-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Veel Nederlanders hebben twijfels over de manier waarop voeding het beste kan worden bewaard. Vooral hoe lang (78%) en waar (77%) voeding moet worden bewaard zijn vragen die Nederlanders zichzelf regelmatig stellen, zo blijkt uit onderzoek*. Albert Heijn start vanaf vandaag in samenwerking met het Voedingscentrum een actie rondom het bewaren van voeding. Klanten krijgen antwoord op hun vragen over bewaren en bewaartips. Ook start Albert Heijn vanaf vandaag met een spaaractie waarbij 6 weken lang voor vershouddozen kan worden gespaard.

‘We vinden het belangrijk om onze klanten handvatten en tips te geven om voeding veilig en makkelijk te bewaren. Op die manier kunnen we voedselverspilling tegen gaan. De tips van het Voedingscentrum en de vershouddozen van Albert Heijn maken dat voor iedereen makkelijker. Het bespaart geld en we gooien minder eten weg. Dat is goed voor jezelf en goed voor de wereld. Weggooien is zonde’, aldus Emma Coles, verantwoordelijk voor gezondheid en duurzaamheid bij Albert Heijn.

Veel onduidelijkheid over bewaren voeding
Uit het onderzoek blijkt dat vooral respondenten tussen de 60-65 jaar (61,7%) aarzelen over hoe lang voedsel bewaard kan worden. Tegelijkertijd twijfelt zo’n 55% van de jongvolwassenen (25-29 jaar) vooral over waar ze voedsel het beste kunnen bewaren (gekoeld, niet gekoeld). De producten waar de meeste onzekerheid over bestaat zijn vlees (53,8%), kliekjes (44,2%) en groenten (32,4%). Opvallend is dat 40% van de jongvolwassenen (25-29 jaar) zich regelmatig afvraagt op welke manier fruit moet worden bewaard. Ouderen dubben daar een stuk minder vaak over.

Wieke van der Vossen-Wijmenga, expert voedselveiligheid bij het Voedingscentrum: ‘Het op een verkeerde manier bewaren is een veelgenoemde reden waarom consumenten eten weggooien. Met een paar handige bewaartips kun je eten net iets langer en ook veilig(er) bewaren. Wij delen naast de tips ook onze “Ja-Nee Koelkaststicker” uit. Die sticker toont een top 12 aan producten waar de meeste twijfel over bestaat bij consumenten én of deze wel of niet in de koelkast moeten worden bewaard. Tomaten horen daar bijvoorbeeld niet in.

Over de spaaractie
Vanaf vandaag kan er 6 weken lang worden gespaard voor 5 formaten vershouddozen en een vacuümpomp om het eten nóg langer vers te houden. Bij iedere €10 aan boodschappen krijgen consumenten een spaarzegel. Met een volle kaart (10 zegels) en een kleine bijbetaling (tussen de €0.99 – 1.99) kunnen consumenten een van de vijf vershouddozen aanschaffen. De bakjes zijn lucht- en waterdicht, vaatwasserbestendig en geschikt voor de magnetron. Meer informatie en tips over het bewaren van voeding vind je op www.ah.nl/weggooieniszonde.

Albert Heijn en voedselverspilling
Albert Heijn probeert op vele manieren voedselverspilling te voorkomen. Zo wordt er strak op gestuurd dat het juiste product in de juiste hoeveelheid in iedere winkel is, zodat er geen verouderde voorraad ontstaat. Vanaf deze week zijn de Buitenbeentjes, groente en fruit ‘met een schoonheidsfoutje’, in meer dan 650 winkels van Albert Heijn te koop. Albert Heijn werkt nauw samen met de Voedselbanken om klanten van de Voedselbanken te voorzien van verse en gezonde producten zoals vlees, zuivelproducten en panklare groenten. De bekende 35% kortingssticker maakt het voor klanten aantrekkelijker om producten te kopen waarvan de houdbaarheidsdatum nadert. Weggooien is zonde tenslotte. En Albert Heijn ondersteunt restaurant Instock in Amsterdam en Den Haag, waar wordt gekookt met onverkochte producten van Albert Heijn, die nog wel aan alle voedselveiligheidseisen voldoen.

*Het onderzoek werd in augustus 2016 in opdracht van Albert Heijn representatief uitgevoerd door Kien Onderzoek onder 1.033 Nederlanders tussen de 25 en 65 jaar.

Vertegenwoordigers van de media kunnen contact opnemen met een van de woordvoerders via telefoonnummer: 088-6592020, via e-mail: pers@ah.nl of via twitter @AlbertHeijnPers.

De woordvoerders van Albert Heijn zijn: Anoesjka Aspeslagh en Els van Dijk.

Source: Albert Heijn

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PetSmart and PetSmart Charities come to the aid of animals left homeless by the Louisiana floods

PHOENIX, 2016-Aug-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — PetSmart and PetSmart Charities are dedicated to helping pets and pet parents every day — especially during times of crisis. Through a dedicated emergency response effort, the leading pet specialty retailer in North America and its charitable nonprofit are coming to the aid of hundreds of animals left homeless by the Louisiana floods, which are being dubbed the worst natural disaster to hit the U.S. since Hurricane Sandy.

According to news reports, the rising water has forced more than 30,000 people to evacuate their homes. As well, hundreds of animals have been rescued with a high percentage of them being pets. Local animal welfare organizations are overwhelmed as they care for the rescued animals, providing shelter, food and care and working to reunite pet parents with their beloved pets. The emergency relief is in direct response to PetSmart and PetSmart Charities’ partners requesting the support.

Funded by PetSmart Charities, a large 28-pallet shipment of much-needed pet supplies such as pet food, cat litter, feeding bowls, leashes, crates and beds valued at more than $80,000 arrived from the PetSmart central region Distribution Center (DC) to Louisiana today. PetSmart DC associates worked round the clock to get the shipment out to those in need, while grant makers at PetSmart Charities worked diligently to provide more than $30,000 in financial support to local animal welfare organizations. The grants will help with the financial strain these nonprofits are facing due to the increased need to provide shelter, food and veterinary care for rescued animals.

About PetSmart Charities®
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization that saves the lives of homeless pets. Each year nearly 500,000 dogs and cats find homes through our adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and sponsored adoption events. Each year millions of PetSmart shoppers generously contribute to pets in need by making donations directly to PetSmart Charities on a pin pad at the registers in PetSmart stores.  PetSmart Charities administers and efficiently uses 90 cents of every dollar of those donations by issuing grants and providing other support to help pets in need.  PetSmart Charities grants more money to directly help pets in need than any other animal welfare group in North America, with a focus on funding adoption and spay/neuter programs that help communities solve pet overpopulation. PetSmart Charities has received the Four Star Rating for the past 13 years from Charity Navigator, an independent nonprofit that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization.

About PetSmart
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 53,000 associates, operate 1,466 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico and 203 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and pet products and offers dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp day care services and pet adoption services in-store. Our portfolio of digital resources for pet parents – including PetSmart.com, PetFoodDirect.com, Pet360.com and petMD.com – offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. Through our in-store pet adoption partnership with independent nonprofit organizations, PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, PetSmart helps to save the lives of more than 500,000 homeless pets each year.
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart

Contacts:
Golin for PetSmart Inc.:
Danielle Bickelmann
dbickelmann@golin.com
469-680-2503

PetSmart Media Line: 623-587-2177

Source: PetSmart Inc.

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Defense Commissary Agency store manager selected by United Fresh for its 2016 Retail Produce Manager Award

FORT LEE, Va., 2016-Aug-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — A Defense Commissary Agency store department manager is one of the nation’s best at promoting fruits and vegetables, according to the United Fresh Produce Association.

Ryan Blancas, former produce manager at the Beale Air Force Base Commissary, California, is one of 25 produce managers nationwide selected by United Fresh for its 2016 Retail Produce Manager Award. Since 2005, the association has awarded nearly 300 produce managers from more than 80 grocery retailers.

“It’s truly an honor getting this award,” said Blancas, who is now assistant grocery manager at the Naval Base San Diego Commissary after being at the Beale store since September 2014.

“I still can’t believe that out of hundreds of nominees around the world I’m one of the 25 chosen,” he added. “Although my name is the one being recognized, I owe all my success to the hard-working team at Beale and the produce merchandisers. They’re the ones that helped make this possible.”

The award recognizes the hard work and accomplishments of produce managers who reach out to their community to promote fresh produce and help their customers eat healthier.

Blancas was selected from hundreds of nominations submitted by produce suppliers and retailers from across the industry. The nominations were evaluated on a number of criteria including the nominees’ efforts to increase produce consumption through excellence in merchandising, sampling events and attractive store displays.

“Ryan won the award because he was the most deserving,” said Marlon Walker, Beale assistant store director. “His outstanding performance and local participation in the [installation’s] Quality of Life program contributed to the success as well.”

Blancas echoed the partnership the Beale store had with base leadership and its health officials, one that fit the commissary into the military’s campaign for healthier service members.

“We can educate our customers about the health benefits and nutritional value of fruits and vegetables,” Blancas said. “For example, kiwi can help you fall asleep and has more vitamin C than oranges, and eating broccoli and cabbage has been shown to help prevent cancer.”

As a former “military brat,” Blancas said he took a personal stake in helping convince young airmen at Beale to add more produce to their diets, a definite challenge when you consider they usually shopped for fast food and sweets.

His strategy was simple: Offer demos and samples of cut fruit in checkout queuing lines and the commissary’s grab and go area.

“What I love most about my job is being able to serve those who serve our country,” Blancas said. “Growing up with a Navy dad, I know the sacrifices the troops make to serve our country. Knowing I am making a positive impact on the health of our troops by providing fresh quality produce keeps me going.”

About DeCA:
The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Commissaries provide a military benefit and make no profit on the sale of merchandise. Authorized patrons purchase items at cost plus a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. By shopping regularly in the commissary, patrons save thousands of dollars annually. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America’s military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.

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

Source: Commissary

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Chick-fil-A selects Queens resident Paul Daniels as franchise owner of its third New York City restaurant set to open on Sept. 1

NEW YORK, 2016-Aug-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Chick-fil-A, Inc. has selected Queens resident Paul Daniels as the local franchise owner of its third New York City restaurant – Chick-fil-A at Queens Center Mall – set to open on Thursday, Sept. 1. Daniels has a long history of experience in the quick-service industry, including as a Chick-fil-A Team Member and later as Director of Operations at two Chick-fil-A restaurants in Waco and Odessa, Texas. Between those two stints with Chick-fil-A, Daniels seized the opportunity to move abroad to be a general manager for London’s EAT. The Real Food Company, where he managed day-to-day operations of three restaurants throughout Central and West London.

A Texas native, Daniels relocated to Queens with his wife, Taryn, to open Chick-fil-A at Queens Center Mall and lives a short 8-minute walk from the restaurant. In addition to his vast restaurant experience, Daniels’ work abroad in two of London’s most international neighborhoods was an experience that left him eager to live in and serve the diverse population of Queens. He will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the restaurant, as well as employing approximately 80 full- and part-time employees, building relationships with local organizations and businesses, and serving guests.

“Queens is a thriving global community, and my goal for this restaurant is to establish a global family. I want to make sure that my team members seize the opportunity to learn from one another and embrace the qualities that make each one of us unique,” Daniels says. “I look forward to creating a fun, rewarding workplace and to seeing what my team members can achieve. I’d love to see them grow with Chick-fil-A and to realize the opportunity that they, too, can one day become an entrepreneur and own their own Chick-fil-A franchise.”

Part of Daniels’ role as Operator of Chick-fil-A at Queens Center Mall will be developing and retaining top talent. At Queens Center Mall, team members will be hired locally and paid above the $12 minimum wage slated to go into effect in December 2016. To help its team members pay for college, the restaurant will also offer the opportunity for college scholarships through the restaurant company’s national scholarship program, which has provided more than $30 million to its team members since its inception. As with all Chick-fil-A restaurants, team members are guaranteed Sundays off.

As part of its Grand Opening, the restaurant will bring Chick-fil-A’s signature “First 100” celebration to Queens, giving 100 adults the chance to win free Chick-fil-A meals for a year. The First 100 celebration will transform an entire level of the Queens Center Mall parking garage into a family-friendly campout as the crowd awaits the opening and their shot at 52 free Chick-fil-A meals.

The First 100 event will award more than $37,000 in free food to 100 local residents. A digital offer card loaded with a one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A Meals will be given to each of the first 100 eligible adults, ages 18 and older with identification, in line when the doors open at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1. If more than 100 people are on-site when the line officially forms at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 31, then all 100 spots will be determined by a drawing held that evening. Those selected will camp out in the parking garage to secure their spot.Because the First 100 event is designed to introduce local residents to Chick-fil-A, the event is only open to guests residing in the five boroughs of New York City. A complete listing of eligible zip codes and rules can be found at Chick-fil-A.com/Locations/Openings. A Chick-fil-A meal, snacks and all-night activities will be included in the campout.

Chick-fil-A at Queens Center Mall will be the third Chick-fil-A restaurant in New York City and is the company’s first restaurant in the borough of Queens. Like its NYC counterparts at 37th and 6th and 46th and 6th, Chick-fil-A at Queens Center Mall will partner with New York Common Pantry, a local organization committed to reducing hunger throughout New York City, to donate surplus food. Last year, New York Common Pantry distributed over 3 million meals and served over 70,000 low-income New Yorkers. To date, the New York City Chick-fil-A restaurants have donated more than 2,400 pounds of food to New York Common Pantry since September 2015.

Nearly everything on the Chick-fil-A menu is made from scratch daily, including salads made from whole vegetables and fruits that are hand-chopped throughout the day. The lemonade is fresh-squeezed and is made from three simple ingredients:  lemon, sugar and water. Like all Chick-fil-A restaurants, the chicken served at Chick-fil-A at Queens Center Mall will be 100 percent whole breast meat, without any fillers, hormones or additives. Each chicken breast is hand-breaded to order and pressure cooked in 100 percent refined peanut oil, which is naturally trans-fat- and cholesterol-free. By the end of 2019, every Chick-fil-A restaurant will serve chicken raised without antibiotics.

The restaurant will source its bread locally by purchasing the buns for its signature sandwiches from Automatic Rolls of New Jersey and the flatbread for its low-calorie wraps from Damascus Bakery in Brooklyn.

Chick-fil-A at Queens Center Mall will be open from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday beginning Sept. 1.

Guests are encouraged to visit NYCCFA.com and the restaurant’s Facebook page for the latest information leading up to grand opening and details on the First 100 celebration. Those interested in joining the team at Chick-fil-A at Queens Center Mall can apply at jobs.nyccfa.com.

About Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is a family owned and privately held restaurant company founded in 1964 by S. Truett Cathy. Devoted to serving the local communities in which its franchised restaurants operate, and known for its original chicken sandwich, Chick-fil-A serves freshly prepared food in more than 2,000 restaurants in 43 states and Washington, D.C.

Chick-fil-A system sales exceeded $6 billion in 2015, which marks 48 consecutive years of sales growth. Chick-fil-A earned a top spot in the 2015 Customer Service Hall of Fame for the second year in a row and is the only quick service restaurant to make the Customer Service Hall of Fame. The company was also the only restaurant brand named to the Top 10 “Best Companies to Work For” by 24/7 Wall Street. More information on Chick-fil-A is available on the chain’s website located at www.chick-fil-a.com.

Contact:

Corporate Media Hotline: (800) 404-7196
Email: cfapressroom@chick-fil-a.com
Twitter: @ChickfilANews

Source:  Chick-fil-A

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Harris Teeter to donate one meal through Feeding America network of food banks for every flu shot administered at its pharmacy

Harris Teeter to donate one meal through Feeding America network of food banks for every flu shot administered at its pharmacy
Harris Teeter to donate one meal through Feeding America network of food banks for every flu shot administered at its pharmacy

 

Matthews. NC, 2016-Aug-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Harris Teeter today (8/22/2016) announced a new health and wellness campaign in partnership with Feeding America®, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization. From August 22, 2016 through April 1, 2017 Harris Teeter will donate one meal through the Feeding America network of food banks for every flu shot administered at all Harris Teeter pharmacies.

“This year, receiving your flu shot at Harris Teeter will do more than protect you and your family’s health,” said Danna Robinson, communication manager for Harris Teeter. “For every flu shot administered in our pharmacies, we’ll provide a meal for a neighbor struggling with hunger. We have a long-standing history of promoting healthy communities and serving our neighbors in need. We’re proud to continue that tradition by merging this preventative health & wellness program with our commitment to our supporting food insecure households in our local communities.”

Every year in the United States more than 200,000 individuals are hospitalized by influenza. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a yearly flu vaccination for everyone six months and older by the end of October. Flu shots can reduce the risk of more serious symptoms and outcomes, including flu-related hospitalizations.

“Harris Teeter is deeply committed to feeding community members in their neighborhoods who are facing hunger,” said Kay Carter, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. “This new campaign protects Harris Teeter shoppers this flu season and raises awareness to the thousands of children, seniors and hardworking men and women throughout our communities who struggle with hunger every day.”

About Feeding America
Feeding America is a nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through food pantries and meal programs in communities throughout America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate.  Together we can solve hunger. Visit http://www.feedingamerica.org/. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

Source: Harris Teeter