Daily Archives: August 24, 2016

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Nordstrom Rack to open at The Ottawa Train Yards in Ontario on fall 2018

SEATTLE, 2016-Aug-25 — /EPR Retail News/ — Seattle-based Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN) announced today (Aug. 23, 2016) plans to open a Nordstrom Rack at The Ottawa Train Yards in Ottawa, Ontario. The approximately 35,000-square-foot store is scheduled to open in fall 2018. The property was developed by, and it is owned and managed by The Ottawa Train Yards Inc.

The store will be located just east of downtown in the former rail yard turned shopping centre. Nordstrom Rack will join Marshall’s, Winner’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, SAIL, Golf Town, DSW, and Shepherds Fashions as well as many other fashion and home furnishings retailers.

Nordstrom Rack is the off-price retail division of Nordstrom, Inc., offering customers a wide selection of on-trend apparel, accessories and shoes at an everyday savings of 30-70 percent off regular prices.Nordstrom Rack merchandise, available at Rack stores and at Nordstromrack.com, comes from Nordstrom stores, Nordstrom.com as well as specially purchased items from many of the top brands available at Nordstrom. The Rack is designed to provide the ultimate treasure hunt to style-savvy customers.

“It has been a pleasure getting to know customers in Ottawa since we opened our doors at Rideau Centre in 2015,” said Karen McKibbin, president of Nordstrom Canada. “We’re excited to offer customers a new way to shop with Nordstrom and bring them more of the great brands they love at great prices.”

“We are very excited to have Nordstrom Rack joining our offering of more than 75 stores and more than 800,000 sq. ft. of retail area in the largest open-air shopping district in Ottawa,” said Marty Koshman, President of The Ottawa Train Yards Inc.

Nordstrom first announced plans to expand to Canada in 2012 and to date has opened three full-line stores in Calgary at CF Chinook Centre on September 19, 2014; CF Rideau Centre in Ottawa on March 6, 2015 and CF Pacific Centre in Vancouver on September 18, 2015. The company will open three additional full-line stores in the Toronto area including CF Eaton Centre on September 16, 2016, Yorkdale Shopping Centre on October 21, 2016 and CF Sherway Gardens, fall 2017.

About Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is a leading fashion specialty retailer based in the U.S. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 329 stores in 39 states, including 121 full-line stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico; 200 Nordstrom Rack stores; two Jeffrey boutiques; and one clearance store. Additionally, customers are served online through Nordstrom.com, Nordstromrack.com and HauteLook. The company also owns Trunk Club, a personalized clothing service serving customers online at TrunkClub.com and its five clubhouses. Nordstrom, Inc.’s common stock is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol JWN.

About The Ottawa Train Yards
The Ottawa Train Yards is one of the largest mixed-used development in the Ottawa area.  Centrally located and just minutes from downtown, the development covers 135 acres with capacity to grow to over 1 million square feet of retail space and 2.2 million square feet of office space. It enjoys excellent linkages from major highways and transportation routes, inter-city heavy rail, urban transit routes, and soon the new light rail urban transit system.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jessica Canfield
Nordstrom, Inc.
(206) 303-4250
Jessica.Canfield@nordstrom.com

Marty Koshman
The Ottawa Train Yards Inc.
(613) 723-7490 X 124
MKoshman@controlex.ca

SOURCE: Nordstrom, Inc.

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Nordstrom expands its in-store boutique SPACE to four additional stores in Los Angeles, Nashville and Toronto

SEATTLE, 2016-Aug-25 — /EPR Retail News/ — Nordstrom is expanding its in-store boutique SPACE to four additional stores in Los Angeles, Nashville and Toronto, thereby doubling the number of locations since its launch one year ago.

Introduced in fall 2015 by Olivia Kim, Vice President of Creative Projects at Nordstrom, SPACE features collections from emerging and advanced designers such as Simone Rocha, Vetements, Comme des Garçons Collection, Koché, Undercover, Ellery, Colovos, Phelan, Molly Goddard and more. The shop lives as a standalone boutique within the store’s designer department, and houses cross-category collections of apparel, shoes, handbags, accessories, home goods and fragrance.

SPACE initially launched exclusively in the retailer’s flagship locations, yet now expands to new markets known as shopping destinations. On August 24th, SPACE will open at The Mall at Green Hills in Nashville, Tenn. followed by The Grove in Los Angeles on August 26th. Nordstrom will open its first Toronto store on September 16 at Eaton Centre, followed by Yorkdale Centre on October 21. Both will open with SPACE.

“These cities are known for their amazing fashion and the people there have such a strong sense of individual style,” said Kim. “We want to make a statement with our stores in these markets and identify them as destinations for fashion, style, art and culture. Our customers are really curious and educated about fashion, and part of our goal with SPACE is to create a platform to introduce our customers to this side of designer fashion – this place where the directional collections or up-and-comers have a place to live and grow.”

The boutique was designed with artistic elements and pops of color to distinguish it from the rest of the retail floor – think pink mannequins, mixed materials and art objects to accent the area. Kim worked with the Nordstrom design team to create a framework that feels open and airy to allow customers to flow in and out of the boutique, then decorated each with work from artists, furniture makers and artisans so each feels uniquely warm and inviting.

The shops feature pieces like neon pink mirrors from Ettore Sottsass, bright pink woven rubber benches by Kwangho Lee and graphic printed end tables by Michele De Lucchi. SPACE also includes colorful vintage benches by Verner Panton, rainbow resin polychrome shelving from Gaetano Pesce, and other one-of-a-kind pieces from Kim’s favorite artists sourced from Johnson Trading Gallery in New York City.

To celebrate the launch of SPACE in Toronto, Kim and the Creative Projects team created a special capsule collection of exclusive ready-to-wear and accessory items from Canadian designers Brother Vellies, Steven Tai, WWAKE and Vejas. The capsule collection will be available in-store only at SPACE Vancouver and Toronto locations.

This fall, SPACE will be found in the following Nordstrom stores and online:

  • Downtown Seattle, Seattle, Wash.
  • Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Ill.
  • Pacific Centre, Vancouver, B.C .
  • San Francisco Centre, San Francisco, Calif.
  • The Mall at Green Hills, Nashville, Tenn. (opening August 24, 2016)
  • The Grove, Los Angeles, Calif. (opening August 26, 2016)
  • Eaton Centre, Toronto, Ont. (opening September 16, 2016)
  • Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Toronto, Ont. (opening October 21, 2016)
  • Nordstrom.com/SPACE

DESIGNERS INCLUDE:

Acne Studios Faustine Steinmetz Pièce à Conviction
Adieu Isa Arfen Pippa Small
Anita Ko Jacquemus Roksanda
Anna Sheffield Jemma Wynne Sarah & Sebastian
Anthony Vaccarello Julien David Shrimps
Ashley Williams Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons Simon Miller
Bella Freud Kara Simone Rocha
Betony Vernon Koché Sofie D’Hoore
Brooke Gregson Lara Melchior Sophie Bille Brahe
Brother Vellies Léa Peckre Sophie Buhai
Bzippy & Co. Maison Michel Steven Tai
Charlotte Chesnais Maria La Rosa Toga
Colovos Maria Tash Tom Wood
Comme des Garçons Collection Marques’Almeida Tricot Comme des Garçons
Comme des Garçons, Comme des Garçons Meadowlark Tu es mon TRÉSOR
Comme des Garçons Fragrance Mira Mikati Undercover
Comme des Garçons Girl Mociun Vejas
Creatures of Comfort Molly Goddard Vetements
Christopher Kane Nektar de Stagni WWAKE
Daniela Villegas Noir Kei Ninomiya Wassonfine
Ellery Paskal Y’s by Yoji Yamamoto
Etienne Derœux Phelan

 

ABOUT NORDSTROM
Nordstrom, Inc. is a leading fashion specialty retailer based in the U.S. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 329 stores in 39 states, including 121 full-line stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico; 200 Nordstrom Rack stores; two Jeffrey boutiques; and one clearance store. Additionally, customers are served online through Nordstrom.com, Nordstromrack.com and HauteLook. The company also owns Trunk Club, a personalized clothing service serving customers online at TrunkClub.com and its five clubhouses. Nordstrom, Inc.’s common stock is publicly traded on the NYSEunder the symbol JWN.

ABOUT OLIVIA KIM
Olivia Kim joined Nordstrom in February 2013 in a then newly-created position of Creative Projects Director. Kim was named Vice President of Creative Projects in September 2015. In her role, Kim focuses on creating energy, excitement, and inspiration throughout the retailer’s locations through new and unique experiences, curated partnerships, the Pop-In@Nordstrom series of pop-up shops and in-store boutique SPACE. Additionally in 2016, Kim took on the role of creative director for company’s brand campaigns. The Spring 2016 campaign under her direction was Nordstrom’s first brand campaign in 15 years.

She launched her first initiative, Pop-In@Nordstrom, in October 2013. Pop-In is an ongoing series of themed pop-up shops, each with a curated mix of new, often exclusive merchandise spanning the high/low price range. The series was built on a monthly rotation to keep customers coming back to discover new brands, and create a fun and compelling experience in stores and online. Past partnerships have included: Aesop, Warby Parker, Nike, Opening Ceremony, VANS, Hong Kong fashion collective I.T., and Danish home goods brand HAY.

A prominent figure in the fashion industry, prior to joining Nordstrom Olivia was a founding member of and Vice President of Creative at Opening Ceremony where she was responsible for the retailer’s leadership in merchandising and store planning, art direction, and collaborative projects. Kim has played an essential role in launching emerging designers such as Suno, Pamela Love, and Patrik Ervell. Kim is a long-time champion of emerging designers, which is evident in her brand selections in SPACE and Pop-In shops. In 2015, Kim was selected to join the prestigious ANDAM jury, which supports young designers.

Contact:

Brie Cross
Nordstrom, Inc.
206.303.4315
brie.cross@nordstrom.com

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Nordstrom expands its in-store boutique SPACE to four additional stores in Los Angeles, Nashville and Toronto
Nordstrom expands its in-store boutique SPACE to four additional stores in Los Angeles, Nashville and Toronto

 

SOURCE: Nordstrom, Inc.

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Tesco supports this year’s Notting Hill Carnival with in store displays, offers and Caribbean beach parties

Tesco supports this year's Notting Hill Carnival with in store displays, offers and Caribbean beach parties
Tesco supports this year’s Notting Hill Carnival with in store displays, offers and Caribbean beach parties

 

CHESHUNT, England, 2016-Aug-25 — /EPR Retail News/ — Last Saturday (Aug. 20, 2016), customers at Notting Hill Gate and Portabello Road Metro stores were invited to soak up the spirit of Carnival with the help of the Ebony Steelband group who performed outside the store.

For a real taste of the Caribbean, customers were invited to sample a variety of tropical punches served in coconuts, and snacks including tropical fruit skewers and plantain crisps.

The stores were also decked out with palm trees and oceanfront signs to complete the beach party vibe and face painters were also on hand to create glittering Caribbean-inspired designs.

Martin Smith, Tesco London Convenience Director, said:

“We’re absolutely delighted to be supporting this year’s Notting Hill Carnival and were thrilled to host our very own Caribbean beach party in two of our local stores.

“The festival is such a vibrant and unique London event and we’ve made sure our stores near the parade have everything Carnival-goers need, from rum cocktails to plantain crisps. Stores across London will also be getting into the spirit with amazing Caribbean products and promotions.”

Special offers on Tesco’s Caribbean range have been introduced in stores citywide until Tuesday 30 August, including Carib/ Banks Caribbean larger 330 ml two for £2, 5 KG Liberty Easy Cook rice price cut to £3.50 and £1 for three 330 ml Old Jamaica Ginger Beer cans.

Six stores along the Carnival route have also been given a colourful makeover with bespoke balloons, bunting and Carnival inspired t-shirts for colleagues.

Beginning in 1964, Notting Hill Carnival has become Europe’s biggest street party, attracting thousands of revellers every year. Held every August bank holiday weekend the carnival celebrates Afro-Caribbean communities in London in a haze of music, colour and fun.

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

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

Source: Tesco

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John Lewis announces £9m investment for its beauty halls across several branches

London, 2016-Aug-25 — /EPR Retail News/ — John Lewis has announced a £9M investment package for its beauty halls across several branches. This will include exciting new brands as part of its ambitions to supercharge its beauty business.

The retailer’s shops in Cambridge, Cribbs Causeway and Bluewater will be refurbished with each shop increasing the footprint of their beauty halls by around 50%. John Lewis shops in Cardiff, Stratford, Peter Jones, and Cheadle, have also received investments in the beauty halls.

The investment by the department store will introduce new brands to customers as well as extend the distribution of existing popular brands. This will include brands such as Marc Jacobs Beauty, Tom Ford Beauty,  Charlotte Tilbury, M.A.C., Chanel, Jo Malone, Urban Decay and La Prairie.

These brands will be available to customers throughout the country on johnlewis.com through our Click & Collect proposition, and many will also feature in the two new shops opening later this year in Chelmsford (29 September) and Leeds (20 October).

The investment follows the opening of John Lewis’s own &Beauty full-service spa in its Birmingham shop, and the Clarins Beauty BAR which was an international first for Clarins when it opened at John Lewis Oxford Street last year.

Ed Connolly, buying director for fashion and beauty, said: ‘Beauty is one of the best performing categories at John Lewis and a significant footfall driver, so this investment is a reflection of our ambition in this space.

‘We are continuing to bring new and contemporary brands to our customers across both fashion and beauty, and we have one of the widest and best beauty selections of any department store in the world.’

The refurbishments will be complete by the end of October this year. The new beauty brands that each shop will receive are as follows:

John Lewis Cardiff
Charlotte Tilbury
La Prairie

John Lewis Stratford
Charlotte Tilbury
Tom Ford Beauty

Peter Jones
Charlotte Tilbury
La Prairie

John Lewis Cheadle
M.A.C

John Lewis Cambridge
Charlotte Tilbury
Chanel
Marc Jacobs Beauty
M.A.C

John Lewis Bluewater
Charlotte Tilbury
Chanel
Marc Jacobs Beauty
M.A.C
Tom Ford Beauty

Cribbs Causeway
Charlotte Tilbury
Chanel
Creme de la Mer
Khiel’s
Marc Jacobs Beauty
M.A.C
Jo Malone
Urban Decay

Notes to editors
John Lewis – John Lewis operates 46 John Lewis shops across the UK (32 department stores, 12 John Lewis at home and shops at St Pancras International and Heathrow Terminal 2) as well as johnlewis.com. It is part of the John Lewis Partnership, the UK’s largest example of worker co-ownership and all 30,000 John Lewis staff are Partners in the business.

John Lewis stocks more than 350,000 separate lines in its department stores and johnlewis.com across fashion, home and technology, and was named  ‘Best In-Store Experience’, ‘Best Clothing Retailer,’ ‘Best Electricals Retailer,’ ‘Best Furniture Retailer,’ ‘Best Homewares Retailer’ and ‘Best Click & Collect Retailer’ in the 2016 Verdict Customer Satisfaction awards.

Johnlewis.com is consistently ranked one of the top online shopping destinations in the UK. John Lewis Insurance offers a range of comprehensive insurance products – home, car, wedding and event, travel and pet insurance and life cover – delivering the values of expertise, trust and customer service expected from the John Lewis brand.

You can follow John Lewis on the following social media channels:
www.johnlewis.com/twitter
www.johnlewis.com/facebook
www.johnlewis.com/youtube.

General enquires:
For further information please contact:

Emma Cole
Communications Officer, Corporate
Telephone: 0207 798 3829
Email: emma.cole@johnlewis.co.uk

Source: John Lewis

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Lowe’s announces $2.5 million initiative through Renovation Across the Nation to renovate 50 Boys & Girls Clubs

Lowe’s announces $2.5 million initiative through Renovation Across the Nation to renovate 50 Boys & Girls Clubs
Lowe’s announces $2.5 million initiative through Renovation Across the Nation to renovate 50 Boys & Girls Clubs

 

NEW YORK, 2016-Aug-25 — /EPR Retail News/ — For millions of American kids and teens, back-to-school means more than class time, it also means ‘Club time’ as they spend after school hours at local Boys & Girls Clubs across the nation. This fall, Club members at 50 Boys & Girls Clubs – one in each state – will be greeted with refreshed, enhanced or expanded facilities as Lowe’s gives fifty $50,000 grants through Renovation Across the Nation, a $2.5 million initiative through its national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA).

Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes vaulted the program into the spotlight this morning, kicking off the initiative at one of the 50 Clubs, the Boys & Girls Club of Harlem in New York City. The nationwide revitalization effort will enhance both the environment and the experience for more than 50,000 Club members, driving new membership among kids and teens. Dawes, a long-time friend of Boys & Girls Clubs and a mother herself, understands the value of the Club experience in bringing hope and strength to kids and teens in need of a safe and inspiring place to go after school.

“Boys & Girls Clubs drive academic success, influence positive health and wellness, and build good character and citizenship for America’s kids and teens, putting them on a path to great futures,” said Jim Clark, president and chief executive officer of BGCA. “Our partnership with Lowe’s holistically impacts Clubs – addressing critical improvements needed while bringing the skills and dedication of Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers to leave a lasting mark on Clubs and in the lives of our members, staff and local communities.”

To create the largest single initiative ever undertaken by Lowe’s and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, one Club in each state was selected from Clubs in need of significant repairs and improvements. Lowe’s will support a wide range of enhancements ranging from kitchen repairs to amenities that influence creativity and well-being like music studios and counseling spaces. To see a full list of Renovation Across the Nation Club recipients, visit the Boys & Girls Clubs of America partner page.

To further commemorate Renovation Across the Nation, each Club will mark the occasion with an original mural masterpiece, uniquely designed by Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 2016 National Fine Arts “Best in Show” winner.  Debora C., a 16-year-old member of the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida, was selected to design a mural that represents what belonging to a Club means to her and all the young people who make Boys & Girls Clubs part of their lives. Debora C. will paint her original mural design in Harlem, and then each Club will be able to stencil and customize the design to their location and engage Club members and Lowe’s Heroes in hand painting the mural with paint donated by Sherwin-Williams.

“Over the last six years, my Club has empowered my passion for art and I’ve been supported by the mentors and friends who have encouraged me along the way,” said Debora C. “When sketching the mural I wanted to bring the values, growth and opportunities that come with being a Club member to life through my design.”

Lowe’s Heroes will provide hands-on support from a volunteer force of more than 1,000 employees to complete critical repairs at each of the 50 Renovation Across the Nation Clubs.

“Since 2009, Lowe’s and Boys & Girls Clubs of America have refurbished and improved 130 Clubs across the country to provide young people with safe places to learn and grow,” said James Frison, Lowe’s director of community relations. “We’re significantly expanding that partnership this year with Renovation Across the Nation so we can make a larger impact on kids and teens – who will become our leaders of tomorrow – all across the country in the communities we serve.”

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,200 Clubs serve nearly four million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at Facebook and Twitter.

About Lowe’s in the Community
Lowe’s, a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company, has a 50-year legacy of supporting the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects.  Since 2007, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together have contributed more than $250 million to these efforts, and for more than two decades Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers have donated their time to make our communities better places to live. To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility and LowesInTheCommunity.tumblr.com

Contact:

If you’re a journalist working on a story about Lowe’s: 704-758-2917 PublicRelations@lowes.com

For customer inquiries: 1-800-445-6937

SOURCE: Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

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IKEA celebrates 40th Birthday of POÄNG Chair with one new limited-edition frame and six new armchair covers

CONSHOHOCKEN, PA, 2016-Aug-25 — /EPR Retail News/ — IKEA announced today ( Aug 23, 2016) that it will release one new limited-edition* POÄNG frame and six new armchair covers** – including one based on the original design — to honor the iconic product’s 40th birthday.

Created and introduced forty years ago by Japanese designer Noboru Nakamura, the POÄNG armchair, with its clean Scandinavian frame and wide range of cover designs, remains one of the top-selling products at IKEA, with approximately 1.5 million POÄNG chairs sold each year.

“POÄNG is a modern classic that has stood the test of time and a great example of what IKEA calls Democratic Design,” said Gillian Firth, Sales Leader of Living Rooms at IKEA. “For 40 years the POÄNG chair has brought together style, function, quality and comfort at a price point that’s affordable for the many.”

POÄNG History & Evolution

Nakamura arrived in Sweden in the 1970s to study European design. “The reason why I wanted to go to northern Europe is that the design there has essential, creative elements for humans,” Nakamura said. “Their products are pleasant, fun and soothing to touch and use, with each having significant meaning and value.”

Once at IKEA, Nakamura met and collaborated with fellow IKEA designer Lars Engman, and soon the POÄNG – originally named POEM – was born.

Functional everyday living and comfort was top of mind while designing POÄNG, which is easily recognized by its unique, springy bentwood frame. “A chair shouldn’t be a tool that binds and holds the sitter,” Nakamura said. “It should rather be a tool that provides us with an emotional richness and creates an image where we let off stress.”

The layered bentwood frame was also designed for durability, providing the strength to stand being sat down in, day after day.

While the design of POÄNG has remained largely unchanged since its inception, the IKEA product icon has undergone some alterations – particularly as it relates to efficiency. “By being good stewards of our resources and reducing waste to a minimum, we have been able to cut costs associated with POÄNG significantly, without changing the style and comfort POÄNG fans have come to know and love,” said Firth.

One prominent change came in 1992, when the chair’s steel pipes were replaced by a frame made entirely of layered bentwood. The alteration allowed POÄNG to be flat-packed and shipped more efficiently, contributing to a 21% price reduction consumers enjoy today.

POÄNG Facts and Figures

  • The chair was originally called POEM, but was renamed POÄNG in 1992 to correspond with a series of changes and improvements made to it.
  • Globally, more than 30 million POÄNG chairs have been sold its debut forty years ago.
  • Currently, approximately 1.5 million POÄNG chairs are sold each year worldwide.
  • The price of the POÄNG chairs today is approximately 21% lower than the price forty years ago.
  • A test machine in IKEA stores since 1978 shows the durable form of the POÄNG chair. The machine pressure-tests the chair 20 times per minute at 1000 newton for a standard 50,000 times. That’s like a 220 lbs person sitting in the chair 20 times per minute.

POÄNG Range & Limited-Edition Offerings

Today, POÄNG is available in four frames and sixteen covers. New limited-edition* “40th birthday” POÄNG styles – including one new frame and six new covers in new colors, patterns and a version based on the original design – will be available in all IKEA U.S. stores beginning in September**.

NOTE FOR PRESS: Please visit our press site at IKEA-USA.com/POANG40 for downloadable information and assets, including the press kit, images, videos and more. For additional information, product loans or images, please contact us at Chloe.Kivestu@ketchum.com

*Products available for a limited-time. Check local store for availability.

**Four of six limited edition covers – including, Sandbacka (green), Edum (dark blue), Edum (pink) and Seglora (natural) – are available in all U.S. stores beginning September 2016. The two remaining limited edition covers – Stenli (black and white) and Vislanda (black and white) – will be available in all U.S. stores beginning October 2016.

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 42 in 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:

Chloe Kivestu
646-935-4303
Chloe.Kivestu@ketchum.com

Source: IKEA

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IKEA plans for its first biogas-powered fuel cell system at its store in New Haven, CT

CONSHOHOCKEN, PA, 2016-Aug-25 — /EPR Retail News/ — IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today (08/23/2016 ) announced plans to further the Swedish retailer’s renewable commitment with plans for its first biogas-powered fuel cell system on the east coast, at its store in New Haven, CT. More than a year ago, IKEA completed installation of such a project at IKEA Emeryville, one of the Swedish company’s two San Francisco-area stores. And, earlier this summer, IKEA announced plans for similar projects at four additional California stores. Pending permits, the New Haven fuel cell system will be installed, commissioned and operational by this Fall, bringing the IKEA fuel cell portfolio to more than 1.5 MW.

“We are excited about furthering our sustainability commitment with fuel cells at IKEA New Haven,” said Christof Stein, store manager. “Similar to our rooftop solar array, this fuel cell system will greatly reduce our carbon footprint and the store’s reliance on the power grid as well as contribute to our vision of creating a better everyday life for the many.”

Slightly larger than the physical size of a commercial back-up generator, the 250-kw, biogas-powered project will produce approximately 2,081,376 kWh of electricity annually for the store, the equivalent of reducing 1,218 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) – equal to the emissions of 233 cars or to providing electricity for 163 homes yearly (calculating clean energy equivalents at www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator). Combined with the 940.8-kW solar array installed atop the store in 2012, the fuel cell project will help generate a majority of the store’s energy onsite.

For the design, development and installation of this fuel cell system, IKEA contracted with Sunnyvale-based Bloom Energy a provider of breakthrough solid oxide fuel cell technology generating clean, highly-efficient on-site power.Drawing from its Swedish heritage and respect of nature, IKEA strives to minimize its operations’ carbon emissions because reducing its environmental impact makes good business sense. IKEA evaluates locations for conservation opportunities, integrates innovative materials into product design, works to maintain sustainable resources, and flat-packs goods for efficient distribution. U.S. sustainable efforts include: recycling waste material; incorporating key measures into buildings with energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems, recycled construction materials, warehouse skylights, and water-conserving restrooms; and operationally, no plastic bags in the check-out process, and selling only LED lighting. IKEA U.S. has installed electric vehicle charging stations at 14 stores and solar arrays at 90% of its locations, integrated two geothermal projects at two store locations and owns two wind farms. This investment in fuel cell technology reflects the company’s goal to be energy independent by 2020.

Located on 20 acres near the I-95/I-91 interchange, the 311,000-square-foot IKEA New Haven opened July 2004 and features 10,000 exclusively designed items, 48 different room-settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area, and a 350-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as meatballs with lingonberries and salmon plates, as well as American dishes. Other family-friendly features include a ‘Children’s IKEA’ area in the Showroom, baby care rooms, play areas throughout the store and preferred parking.

Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of good design and function at affordable prices. There are currently more than 380 IKEA stores in 48 countries, including 42 in the U.S. IKEA has been ranked among “Best Companies to Work For” and, as further investment in its coworkers, has raised its own minimum wage twice in two years. 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.

Contact:

Joseph Roth
Property Public Affairs
(610) 834-0180 ext. 6500

Source: IKEA

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Plantasjen AS CEO and Mothercare CEO proposed as new board members for INGKA Holding B.V. Supervisory Board

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., 2016-Aug-25 — /EPR Retail News/ — Jon Abrahamsson Ring (Plantasjen AS, Sweden) and Mark Newton-Jones (Mothercare, UK) have been proposed as new board members for INGKA Holding B.V. Supervisory Board, the parent company of IKEA Group. If successful, the new members will be formally voted in during the annual meeting in November.

Currently President and CEO of Plantasjen AS, Jon Abrahamsson Ring has previously held a number of senior Executive roles, including CEO for Filippa K Group. Jon has more than 10 years of international retail experience from IKEA Group in Sweden, Canada and China.

Mark Newton-Jones has been the CEO of Mothercare Plc since 2014. Prior to joining Mothercare, Mark was CEO of ShopDirect Group. Earlier in his career, Mark held various senior Executive roles at Next Plc, including Director of the Next Directory.

“With their customer focused and solid background in retail, both from logistics and digital development, Jon and Mark will bring additional contribution of experiences to the Board, which will further enable us to develop our offering as a multichannel retailer for the many people” says Lars-Johan Jarnheimer, Chairman of the INGKA Holding B.V. Supervisory Board

”I’m very happy to be a part of the IKEA family again and hope that I with my experiences, both from roles within IKEA and outside, will contribute to the continued development of IKEA Group as a multichannel retailer, now and in the future” says Jon Abrahamsson Ring

“IKEA is a household name globally and is a hugely successful retailer in its sector. It is a privilege to be proposed to serve on the Supervisory Board” says Mark Newton-Jones

About IKEA Group
Our vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. IKEA Group offers well-designed, functional and affordable home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them. IKEA Group has 338 stores in 28 countries. In addition, 50 stores are operated by franchisees outside the IKEA Group. IKEA Group stores had 771 million visitors during FY15 and 1.9 billion people visited www.IKEA.com.

For further information, please contact:
Media relations IKEA Group
+46-709 936376
corporate.communications.gl@ikea.com

Source: IKEA

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Zara reopens complete refurbished and expanded store in Antwerp, Belgium

Zara reopens complete refurbished and expanded store in Antwerp, Belgium
Zara reopens complete refurbished and expanded store in Antwerp, Belgium

 

Arteixo, Spain, 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Zara has unveiled its latest image in Antwerp with the reopening of its flagship store after a complete refurbishment and expansion of the store first opened by the brand in 1995. The general concept and interior design of the new store are in line with the brand’s other flagship stores in major cities such as New York, London and Shanghai. It is located at no. 28, the Meir, the most important shopping street in Antwerp’s old quarter, in a building which is one of the city’s best examples of late nineteenth-century neo-Classical architecture.

The store’s commercial surface area measures 1,500 square meters, some 30 percent more than before the refurbishment. It is housed in one of Antwerp’s most historical buildings, constructed in 1889 by the architect E. Thielens. From the very start of the refurbishment, the building’s façade and roof have been preserved, protected and catalogued as a monument of public interest, respecting the premises’ historic and artistic value.

Zara Meir boasts five floors of commercial premises offering the full range of the brand’s Autumn/Winter 2016 collections in Woman, Man and Kids, with interiors designed entirely by Zara’s Architecture team, which has worked to bring together the city’s past and future. This has involved painstaking work to preserve the building’s historical features while creating an airy, rationalistic space in line with the essential principles of Zara’s image: beauty, clarity, functionality and sustainability.

All of the spaces privilege the importance of contact with the customer, a principle that is expressed in the simplicity of the design, with large white surfaces that blur the boundaries between walls and ceilings to create a sense of freedom and space.

In the context of the Inditex Group’s objective to achieve 100% eco-efficient stores by 2020, Zara Meir is notable for its far-reaching sustainability and energy efficiency measures, which offer savings of 30% electricity and 50% water consumption compared to conventional stores.

Zara currently has 28 stores in Belgium, as well as an online store which was launched in March 2011. Zara’s online sales platform offers the whole range of products featured in its Woman, Man and Kids collections and available in its physical stores.

For any press request please contact with:

Communication and Corporate Affairs Division
Edificio Inditex
Avda. de la Diputación s/n
15143 – Arteixo
A Coruña – ESPAÑA

Tlf: +34 981 185 400
Fax: +34 981 185 544
comunicacion@inditex.com

Source: Inditex

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RediClinic and Hackensack Meridian Health to open convenient care clinics inside select Rite Aid pharmacies

Camp Hill, Pa. and Wall, NJ, 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — RediClinic, a leading operator of retail clinics, and Hackensack Meridian Health, the most comprehensive and integrated Network in New Jersey, today announced the formation of a joint venture to open convenient care clinics inside select Rite Aid pharmacies in Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties in New Jersey. The first of 10 clinics, which will be cobranded as Hackensack Meridian Health RediClinics, are expected to begin opening later this year.

“It has always been a core part of RediClinic’s strategy to partner with leading health care systems, and we are excited to be continuing this strategy with one of the leading providers in New Jersey,” said Web Golinkin, RediClinic CEO. “The joint venture structure will facilitate and accelerate a high level of clinical integration with other Hackensack Meridian providers and facilities, which will maximize the quality, accessibility and cost-effectiveness of care for New Jersey residents.”

The Hackensack Meridian Health RediClinics will be staffed with nurse practitioners who will be licensed to diagnose, treat, and, when appropriate, prescribe medications for common medical conditions. The nurse practitioners, who will be employees of Hackensack Meridian, also will administer a broad range of preventive services, including health screenings, medical tests, immunizations, and basic physical exams, including back-to-school and sports physicals. RediClinic’s acclaimed Weigh Forward© weight/lifestyle management program will also be available. The nurse practitioners will be overseen by local medical directors who are affiliated with Hackensack Meridian Health. The clinics will be open seven days a week, including extended weekday hours. No appointments will be necessary, but online appointments will be available.

“We are excited to be partnering with RediClinic, one of the pioneers in convenient care, as we continue to find more ways for people to access high-quality care when and where they need it at affordable rates,” said Dean Lin, regional president for Hackensack Meridian Health and the Network’s executive sponsor of convenient care. “Working with our broad network of primary care physicians, we want to continue to connect people to convenient services.”

The clinics will join nine urgent care centers and four AfterHours walk-in care centers currently operating throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties in partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health as convenient and cost-effective alternatives to going to an emergency room.

Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) is one of the nation’s leading drugstore chains with nearly 4,600 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia and fiscal 2016 annual revenues of $30.7 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company’s website at www.riteaid.com.

RediClinic currently operates 35 clinics inside H-E-B grocery stores in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio, Texas, and 48 clinics inside select Rite Aid stores in the greater Philadelphia, Baltimore/Washington D.C. and Seattle areas. Since opening its first in-store clinic in 2005, RediClinic has successfully treated more than 2 million patients. In addition to treating common medical conditions and providing preventive care, the company’s acclaimed Weigh Forward® weight/lifestyle management program is offered in the company’s clinics and licensed to other providers. RediClinic is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Rite Aid Corporation. For more information about clinic locations, hours of operation, services, insurance coverage and prices, visit www.rediclinic.com.

Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care. Hackensack Meridian Health comprises 13 hospitals, including two academic medical centers, two children’s hospitals and nine community hospitals, physician practices, more than 120 ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, fitness and wellness centers, rehabilitation centers, and urgent care and after-hours centers. Hackensack Meridian Health has 28,000 team members, more than 6,000 physicians and is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy, committed to the health and well-being of the communities it serves.

The Network’s notable distinctions include having one of only five major academic medical centers in the nation to receive Healthgrades America’s 50 Best Hospitals Award for five or more consecutive years, the number one hospital in New Jersey as ranked by U.S. News and World Report, consistently achieving Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, recipient of the John M. Eisenberg Award for Patient Safety and Quality from The Joint Commission and the National Quality Forum, a six-time recipient of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For,” one of the “20 Best Workplaces in Health Care” in the nation, and the number one “Best Place to Work for Women.” Hackensack Meridian Health is a member of AllSpire Health Partners, an interstate consortium of leading health systems, to focus on the sharing of best practices in clinical care and achieving efficiencies.

The hospitals of Hackensack Meridian Health include: academic medical centers – HackensackUMC in Hackensack, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune; children’s hospitals – Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital in Hackensack, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital in Neptune; community hospitals -　 Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, HackensackUMC Mountainside in Montclair, Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, and HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley in Westwood. To learn more, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org.

Contact:

Investors:
Matt Schroeder
717-214-8867
investor@riteaid.com

Media:
Ashley Flower
717-975-5718

Source: Rite Aid

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Stein Mart CEO Dawn Robertson and CFO Greg Kleffner to present at the B. Riley & Co. Consumer Conference

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Stein Mart, Inc. (NASDAQ:SMRT) announced today (Aug. 22, 2016) that Dawn Robertson, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Greg Kleffner, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, will be presenting at the B. Riley & Co. Consumer Conference being held at the Sofitel New York hotel on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. ET.

The audio portion of the presentation will be webcast live through Stein Mart’s investor relations website http://ir.steinmart.com.  The webcast and presentation materials can be found under “Events & Presentations”.  An archive of the presentation will remain available for 30 days after the live event.

About Stein Mart
Stein Mart, Inc. (NASDAQ:SMRT) is a national retailer offering designer and name-brand fashion, accessories and home decor at everyday discount prices. Stein Mart provides real value that customers will love every day both in stores and online. Stein Mart currently operates 283 stores across 31 states and has plans to expand over the next year. Stein Mart is adding new modern brands to its stores this year to offer discriminating shoppers even more of the fashion and savings they want. For more information, please visit www.steinmart.com.

For more information:
Linda L. Tasseff
Director
Investor Relations
(904) 858-2639
ltasseff@steinmart.com

Source: Stein Mart, Inc./GlobeNewswire

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Stein Mart CEO Dawn Robertson and CFO Greg Kleffner to present at the 7th Annual Credit Suisse Small & Mid Cap Conference

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Stein Mart, Inc. (NASDAQ:SMRT) announced today ( Aug. 23, 2016) that Dawn Robertson, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Greg Kleffner, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, will be presenting at the 7th Annual Credit Suisse Small & Mid Cap Conference being held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City on Wednesday, September 14, 2016. Given the conference format, a web cast is not available for this presentation.

Stein Mart management will also host one-on-one meetings with interested investors during the conference. For more information on the conference or to schedule a one-on-one meeting, please contact a Credit Suisse representative or the conference coordinator at:  brett.weiss@credit-suisse.com.

A copy of the Stein Mart’s latest investor presentation is available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at http://ir.steinmart.com.

About Stein Mart
Stein Mart, Inc. (NASDAQ:SMRT) is a national retailer offering designer and name-brand fashion, accessories and home decor at everyday discount prices. Stein Mart provides real value that customers will love every day both in stores and online. Stein Mart currently operates 283 stores across 31 states and has plans to expand over the next year. Stein Mart is adding new modern brands to its stores this year to offer discriminating shoppers even more of the fashion and savings they want. For more information, please visit www.steinmart.com.

For more information:
Linda L. Tasseff
Director
Investor Relations
(904) 858-2639
ltasseff@steinmart.com

Source: Stein Mart, Inc./GlobeNewswire

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Co-op reports of sales growth on British fresh pea

MANCHESTER, England, 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — The humble fresh garden pea has seen the green shoots of growth as sales have trebled, according to new figures from the Co-op. The British fresh pea season lasts between May and September with 2016 witnessing a bumper crop because of the warm, wet weather the UK has been experiencing.

Adele Balmforth, Commercial Manager at Co-op says;
“We are having a really amazing season on British vegetables, especially fresh peas with sales trebling on last summer. They are particularly sweet and juicy this year which means they can be eaten raw or quickly cooked, whilst the task of shelling them is good fun for kids and gets them involved, even if a few do end up on the floor rather than in the bowl”.
Co-op says their British peas are mainly grown in Somerset which has a good growing climate and takes advantage of the Somerset Vale that gives a range of soil types and rolling hills all around it to ‘catch’ the weather.

The bumper crop is providing a full sweet juicy flavour to the peas this year and is cited as the reason for the sales uplift. The crop is hand-picked at the optimum time to give it its maximum flavour and early season peas will be picked from the fields, packed and in to stores in just 36 hours.

The green pea is widely recognized as one of the first food crops to be cultivated by humans, originating back thousands of years ago to the field pea native to the Middle East yet it is still such a popular vegetable with adults and children alike.  Peas can often be the only green vegetable a child will eat, and while frozen peas have always been a family favourite, the fun of podding peas and getting the kids involved in shelling them has meant British fresh peas have seen their most popular sales period at the Co-op to date.

For further information:

Victoria Simons
Co-op Press Office
victoria.simons@co-operative.coop

Source: Coop

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Advance Auto Parts honored five partners during its annual vendor summit

ROANOKE, Va., 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE: AAP), a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America, presented its 2016 Vendor of the Year awards during the company’s annual vendor summit held this week. Advance honored five companies, including GRI Engineering & Development, LLC, which received the prestigious recognition as Advance’s 2016 Vendor of the Year. Additional vendor partner awards included:

  • Commercial Excellence Vendor of the Year – CARDONE Industries
  • DIY Excellence Vendor of the Year – Valvoline
  • Superior Availability Vendor of the Year – Dorman Products, Inc.
  • Supply Chain Reliability Vendor of the Year – TRICO Products

2016 Vendor of the Year GRI Engineering & Development provides Advance with quality parts and solutions for its line of brake pads and brake products, and was also selected for delivering exemplary customer support, and providing industry-leading testing and product management. The Vendor of the Year Award was presented to Steve Wang, founder and CEO of MAT Holdings, Inc., at an annual awards dinner, which opened the 2016 Advance Auto Parts vendor summit.

“The five partners honored with our Vendor of the Year awards make possible Advance’s commitment to get the right part at the right time to every customer,” said Charles Tyson, Executive Vice President, Merchandising, Marketing & Replenishment for Advance Auto Parts. “The quality products and services provided by each of these organizations make them industry leaders and integral business partners for Advance.”

GRI has partnered with Advance on brake products for more than a decade, and has received the Commercial Excellence award in previous years. The 2016 Commercial Excellence Vendor of the Year, CARDONE, was recognized for innovative category management, excellent field team support and delivering quality products that commercial customers trust.

Valvoline received the DIY Excellence Vendor of the Year award for advancing motor oil strategy through analytics, while Dorman was honored as the Superior Availability Vendor of the Year for first-to-market successes and expanded coverage offerings to benefit customers across the country. This is the second year in a row that Dorman has received the Superior Availability Vendor of the Year award from Advance.

TRICO Products Corporation, a global leader in wiper blade technology, received the Supply Chain Reliability Vendor of the Year award for its superior planning and management of weather-dependent product availability.

For more information about quality parts and services available from Advance, visit AdvanceAutoParts.com.

About Advance Auto Parts
Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America, serves both professional installer and do-it-yourself customers. As of July 16, 2016, Advance operated 5,066 stores and 126 Worldpac branches and served approximately 1,300 independently owned Carquest branded stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. Advance employs approximately 74,000 Team Members. Additional information about the Company, employment opportunities, customer services, and on-line shopping for parts, accessories and other offerings can be found on the Company’s website at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com.

Contact: 1-877-ADVANCE (238-2623)

Source: Advance Auto Parts, Inc.

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PetSmart donates $25,000 and all puppy essentials to America’s VetDogs to support NBC’s TODAY “Puppy with a Purpose”

PHOENIX and NEW YORK CITY, 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ —North America’s leading pet specialty retailer, PetSmart, and America’s beloved national morning show, NBC’s TODAY, has announced their collaboration on “Puppy with a Purpose,” TODAY’s 16-month series where a puppy is raised and trained to serve those in need and his progress is featured as part of the daily show.

The pet-centric content series on TODAY was launched last year with “Wrangler,” who went on to be a guide dog. This year, the “Puppy with a Purpose” is a two-month-old male black lab who will be trained by America’s VetDogs to serve as a service animal for a disabled military veteran. Yesterday, the puppy’s name was chosen through national online voting and revealed this morning. Charlie is the winner!

As part of the collaboration, PetSmart has donated $25,000 to America’s VetDogs, TODAY’s partner that provides custom-trained service dogs to veterans and first responders with disabilities. PetSmart has also outfitted the puppy’s in-studio home on TODAY and delivered all the puppy essentials Olivia Poff, the dog’s raiser, will need for the puppy’s first life stage. PetSmart will continue to provide pet supplies as Charlie matures, and will also support the “Puppy with a Purpose” series with expert resources including tips on puppy care, safety, grooming and ways to include pets in celebrations.

“Last year, we watched Wrangler every step of the way as he flourished into an amazing guide dog and we just knew we wanted to join in and support this important work on TODAY,” said Eran Cohen, chief customer experience officer, PetSmart. “We love pets and we know they make us better people, and the value of a service dog to a person in need is even more crucial to that person’s quality of life. We are proud to support this program and look forward to watching Charlie develop into a loyal and caring companion to a chosen military veteran in about 16 months.”

Aligned with the American theme for a dog serving a military vet, PetSmart chose several puppy essentials for Charlie and his trainer, Poff, including a comfy cuddler bed, sized perfectly for the new puppy stage; a monogrammed cozy fleece blanket; feeding bowls; red and blue collars, comfort harnesses and leashes; crate set-up including mattress insert; a range of puppy toys across the chew, active, cuddle and puzzle categories; at-home grooming supplies from iconic human brands, Burt’s Bees and CHI, which is exclusively available at PetSmart; and puppy solutions like flea & tick treatments and multi-vitamins.

Tune in to TODAY’s “Puppy with a Purpose” every weekday and watch as PetSmart continues to support Charlie. Check out our puppy product collection at www.petsmart.com/todaypuppy.

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-storePetSmart® 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.comand 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
Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

ABOUT America’s VetDogs
Since 2003, America’s VetDogs (www.VetDogs.org) has trained and placed guide and service dogs to provide independence, enhanced mobility, and companionship to veterans with disabilities from all eras. In 2015, VetDogs opened its programs to first responders, including fire, police, and emergency medical personnel.  America’s VetDogs is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded by the Guide Dog Foundation. VetDogs relies on contributions from generous individuals, corporations, service clubs, and foundations to fund its mission to help those who have served our country live with dignity and independence. It costs over $50,000 to breed, raise, train, and place one assistance dog, but America’s VetDogs provides its services completely free of charge to the individual.

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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September is all about sales and promotions at Commissary

FORT LEE, Va., 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Commissary shoppers will see various sales events throughout their store in September with Labor Day promotions, football fever events, Oktoberfest celebrations, case lot sales, and lots of coupons to help save even more money.

“September is a busy month for commissaries, and there are plenty of promotions available for our patrons to help them save money and maximize their benefit,” said Tracie Russ, the Defense Commissary Agency director of sales.

Commissary shoppers can easily find out about the sales and promotions by going online, where they can also enter contests and win trips. The best places to check are the Sales & Events and Exclusive Savings sections, while the case lot sale schedule is at the Customer Appreciation Case Lot Sale page.

These discounts result from DeCA’s industry partners – vendors, suppliers and brokers – who collaborate with commissaries to offer discounts beyond everyday savings. Overseas stores may have substitute events for certain promotional programs. Customers are asked to check their local commissary for details on dates and times for the following promotions:

  • Customer Appreciation Case Lot Sales are continuing through September for stateside commissaries. Each store hosts individual two- or three-day case lot sales on one weekend between mid-August and the end of September. Commissaries in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico are also participating. This year’s sales recognize DeCA’s 25th birthday celebration. The agency was officially formed Oct. 1, 1991, consolidating the commissary systems of each of the military services. These sales provide commissary shoppers up to 50 percent savings on bulk buys of cereals, breakfast bars, chips, beverages, paper goods and other items. During these “parking lot” sales, commissaries also offer seasonal fresh produce on sale and provide high-value coupons for products inside the store. Look on the Case Lot Sales page for the schedule of local case lot events.
  • “It’s Football Tailgating Time!” Starting Sept. 3, commissaries will offer game-day recipes, high-value coupon booklets for discounts on football favorites and will make it easy to shop with recipe items adjacent to the fresh meats featured in the recipes. Participating brands are Kraft, Heinz, Frito Lay, Entenmann’s, Kellogg, Ball Park Franks, Johnsonville, Nabisco, DiGiorno and Tombstone. Mymilitarysavings.com will also feature promotional details to include Hot Deals, blogs, social media, e-newsletter blasts and more.
  • For Better Breakfast Month, the Kellogg Company is offering $2 off coupons worldwide (Save $2 off coffee, milk, or fruit with the purchase of any two Special K products) from Sept. 1 to 11. These coupons will also be distributed in stores by industry representatives who will demonstrate healthy recipes.
  • How’s Your Team Spirit? Starting Sept. 3 through Jan. 3, 2017, patrons who purchase four Campbell’s Chunky Soup or Chili canned items in one transaction, and present their Commissary Rewards Cards at checkout will be automatically entered to win a $100 NFL gift card. Four gift cards will be awarded each week (three in the U.S. and one overseas) for 17 weeks. Official rules will be available at Rewards Card coupon selection page starting Sept. 3.
  • Free Groceries for a Year is a Kraft Heinz promotion that will give away six prizes of $7,500 each in Commissary Gift Cards to winning commissary patrons. The online giveaway runs now through Sept. 11. Participating brands include Kraft Natural Cheese, Kraft Singles, Velveeta, Kraft Grated Parmesan, Cracker Barrel, Jell-O, Breakstone’s, Knudsen, Kraft Dinners, Kraft Salad Dressings, Kraft BBQ Sauce, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Planters, Cool Whip and Kraft Mayo. No purchase is necessary. Participation is limited to stateside customers including those in Alaska and Hawaii commissaries. For details, go to the Mymilitarysavings.com website.
  • From Sept. 12-25, commissary shoppers who cannot attend Oktoberfest in Germany can find value savings on products for their own celebrations. Commissaries have a full line of German products from chocolates, cookies, sauerkraut, mustard and red cabbage, to rich German coffee and more.
  • “Celebrate Family Values Sweepstakes.” Commissary Rewards Card users worldwide have a chance to win one of 30 $250 Commissary Gift Cards in the “Celebrate Family Values Sweepstakes.” Those who buy two Kimberly Clark products in one transaction from Sept. 15 to Oct. 23 and present their Commissary Rewards Cards at checkout, will be automatically entered to win. Details will be available Sept. 15 on the Rewards Card coupon selection page.
  • Unilever is offering its annual “Italian & American Festival of Savings”from Sept. 26 to Oct. 9. This year’s promotion features Unilever brands such as Hellman’s, Lipton, Knorr and Breyers, as well as personal care brands such as Dove, St. Ives, Vaseline, Q-Tips and Tresemme. More than 150,000 high-value in-store coupon flyers will be distributed worldwide. Unilever will donate up to $20,000 to the Fisher House based on sales from this event.
  • “Extra savings” signs will highlight discounts near mass displays throughout the commissaries: Sept. 1-25; General Mills will offer “Big G” cereal savings worldwide with coupons located adjacent to their displays; and beginning Sept. 19, the J.M. Smucker Company will offer the “Crisco Cares” deeply discounted savings from Pillsbury, Folgers, JIF and Martha White.”

“Don’t miss these hot fall savings,” Russ said. “It’s always worth the trip to your local commissary.”

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 to serve guests in Reno in 2017

NEW YORK, 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — It’s official – Chick-fil-A is coming to the beautiful city of Reno, Nevada in 2017! We are excited to serve our guests in Reno next year and committed to the great state of Nevada with 8-10 restaurants planned in the next five years. More details on our first location and the selected local owner will be available soon. In the meantime, here’s a bit about us:

Our Food

  • Our menu items are made with fresh, simple ingredients right in our kitchens.
    • We freshly squeeze lemons for our three-ingredient lemonade (lemons, water, sugar).
    • Our creamy Milkshakes are hand-spun.
    • Our chicken is 100 percent pure breast meat (no fillers or additives), hand-fileted and hand-breaded every day in each restaurant’s kitchen.
    • We hand-chop and prepare all of our salads fresh daily.
  • In 2014, Chick-fil-A became the first quick-service restaurant to commit to serving only chicken raised without antibiotics in all of our restaurants within five years.

Our People

  • Chick-fil-A franchise Owner/Operators live and work in the community in which their restaurants are located, and are highly involved in the day-to-day operations, as they only oversee one or two locations.
  • Creating a happy and valuable workplace experience for team members is important to Chick-fil-A franchise Owner/Operators. In fact, Chick-fil-A was the only restaurant brand named to the Top 10 “Best Companies to Work For” by 24/7 Wall Street.
  • Chick-fil-A provides leadership and scholarship opportunities for restaurant team members. Over the years, Chick-fil-A has awarded $34 million in scholarships.

Community

  • Chick-fil-A’s franchise Owner/Operators engage with and support local communities through Spirit Night fundraisers, charitable donations and other involvement with causes that matter to their community and guests.
  • Many Chick-fil-A franchise Owner/Operators offer a weekly Kid’s/Family Night with themes or events where they encourage families to come to together to have some fun while enjoying great food.

Contact:

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

Source:  Chick-fil-A

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Boston Retail Partners report identifies key areas where retailers should utilize social media to improve the customer journey

Boston, MA, 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — According to a new special report from Boston Retail Partners (BRP), social media produces unlimited opportunities to create a memorable and personalized customer shopping experience; however, most retailers are not successfully executing their social media strategies. According to the BRP SPECIAL REPORT: Enhancing Customer Engagement Through Social Media, 81% of retailers using social media to engage with customers indicate that their processes need improvement.

“Social media provides retailers with unprecedented visibility into their customer base. It provides a venue where retailers can directly communicate with their customers and it can be an extremely powerful tool for collecting and using customer insights to improve planning decisions,” said Brian Brunk, principal at BRP. “Retailers can understand who the customer is, what she wants, when and where she wants it, and even why she wants it based on social media postings and feedback.”

This Special Report provides insight into BRP’s 2016 Customer Experience/Unified Commerce Survey and highlights the social media opportunities and challenges facing leading retailers today.

The report identifies five key areas where retailers should utilize social media to improve the customer journey:

  • Experience – 69% of retailers see opportunities to utilize social media to enhance the customer experience
  • Interaction – 75% of retailers support customer interaction via social media
  • Endorsement – 59% of retailers plan to utilize brand advocacy/ social media endorsement as a source for identifying their most valuable customers within three years
  • Satisfaction – 59% of retailers utilize social media comments as a means of measuring customer satisfaction
  • Insight – 60% of retailers capture customer feedback and insights from social media and online comments

To download the complete BRP SPECIAL REPORT: Enhancing Customer Engagement Through Social Media, visit:

https://bostonretailpartners.com/2016-brp-special-report-social-media/

The 2016 Customer Experience/Unified Commerce Survey sponsors are Aptos (platinum), Experian Data Quality (gold), Fujitsu (gold),Manhattan Associates (gold), NCR (gold), PCMS (gold), Radial (gold), and Enactor (silver).

About BRP
BRP is an innovative and independent retail management consulting firm dedicated to providing superior service and enduring value to our clients. BRP combines its consultants’ deep retail business knowledge and cross-functional capabilities to deliver superior design and implementation of strategy, technology, and process solutions. The firm’s unique combination of industry focus, knowledge-based approach, and rapid, end-to-end solution deployment helps clients to achieve their business potential. BRP’s consulting services include:

Strategy | Business Intelligence | Business Process Optimization | Point of Sale (POS)
Mobile POS | Payment Security | E-Commerce | Store Systems and Operations | CRM
Unified Commerce | Customer Experience | Order Management | Networks
Merchandise Management | Supply Chain | Information Technology | Private Equity

For more information on BRP, visit www.bostonretailpartners.com.

Media Inquiries:

David Naumann
916-673-7757

Source: Boston Retail Partners

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London & Cambridge Properties announce Yours Clothing store opening at Wulfrun Shopping Centre in Wolverhampton

London, 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Wulfrun Shopping Centre in Wolverhampton has welcomed its newest store with the opening of Plus Size fashion brand Yours Clothing.

The centre, which is owned and managed by London & Cambridge Properties (LCP), has seen Amplifon and Burger King open its doors to Wolverhampton customers, with more retailers due to open later in the year.

Yours Clothing has taken on units 54 and 55, a 1,111 sq ft shop, after agreeing a five-year lease with LCP.

Resh Dorka, managing director at Yours Clothing, said it was keen to open in the city because it already has a strong online customer base, all of whom wanted the brand to open a store. Wolverhampton is its 91st store in the UK and it has plans to expand by at least 10 more stores by the end of the year.

“We have received an overwhelming number of requests from our customers to open,” he said. “To be able to bring the Yours Clothing brand to a new market in Wolverhampton, by offering the latest fashions for exceptional prices, has been our promise to our customers. We want our customers to have a unique and enjoyable shopping experience.”

Andrew Barrett, asset manager for Black Country-based LCP, said: “We’ve had a flurry of interest by retailers over the past few months at the Wulfrun Shopping Centre, which is not only great news for shoppers who need a wide retail offering but also for jobs in the city. The opening of Yours Clothing is a welcome addition to our existing fashion stores Primark and Peacocks.”

Yours Clothing offers a range of clothing in sizes 16-36, designed to fit and flatter, including the latest fashions in evening and daywear, all at highly competitive prices. Yours Clothing is committed to offering a range of plus size clothing to customers that is both stylish and great value.

Media Enquiries:

If you have any media enquiries please email kyates@lcpproperties.co.uk

Source: London and Cambridge Properties

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Dunkin’ Donuts’ DD Perks® Rewards program reaches more than five million members

Dunkin’ Donuts' DD Perks® Rewards program reaches more than five million members
Dunkin’ Donuts’ DD Perks® Rewards program reaches more than five million members

 

CANTON, MA, 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Dunkin’ Donuts today (August 22, 2016) announced that the brand’s DD Perks® Rewards program has reached an exciting new milestone of more than five million members. As a way to celebrate the achievement and thank the brand’s loyal fans, Dunkin’ Donuts is offering 50 Bonus Points for each DD Perks member on their next purchase when using an enrolled DD Card, through Sunday, August 28th.

“The number of DD Perks members has more than doubled in less than two years, which has surpassed all of our goals,” said Sherrill Kaplan, Vice President of Digital Marketing and Innovation for Dunkin’ Donuts U.S. “Our loyal guests are always top of mind in everything we do, and with DD Perks we have continued to provide an experience that adds value to each trip our guests take to Dunkin’ Donuts. We look forward to keeping our loyal guests running on Dunkin’ with product offers, exclusive rewards and our newest offering, On-the-Go Ordering.”

With the DD Perks Rewards program, guests earn five points for every dollar they spend on qualifying purchases at Dunkin’ Donuts when they pay using an enrolled Dunkin’ Donuts Card, either plastic or via the Dunkin’ Mobile App. Once a member accrues 200 points, he or she receives a coupon for a free any-size beverage of their choice, redeemable at participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants. DD Perks members also receive a coupon for a free, any-size beverage upon enrollment and on their birthday. Additionally, throughout the year DD Perks members receive exclusive, personalized, special offers to earn bonus points for specific food and beverage purchases. To enroll in DD Perks and for complete details about the program, visit www.DDPerks.com.

Dunkin’ Donuts guests also have the exclusive opportunity to order ahead and speed past the line in store through On-the-Go Ordering, which was just recently launched in June 2016. With On-the-Go Ordering, DD Perks members can place a mobile order up to 24 hours in advance, select their desired location, and then simply confirm via the new Dunkin’ Donuts Mobile App when they are ready to pick up their order inside the restaurant, or at the drive-thru. The order is automatically paid for using their Dunkin’ Donuts Card within the App. In the restaurant, DD Perks Members have no need to wait, as they can speed past the line in store and go straight to pick up their items at a designated area. They also have the ability to save their recent orders as a favorite to speed up their next Dunkin’ run. To enjoy On-the-Go Ordering, DD Perks members nationwide must download the newest version of the popular Dunkin’ Donuts Mobile App, called “New Dunkin’ Donuts” in the App Store or Google Play Store.

To learn more about Dunkin’ Donuts, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/DunkinDonuts), Instagram (www.instagram.com/DunkinDonuts) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/DunkinDonuts).

About Dunkin’ Donuts
Founded in 1950, Dunkin’ Donuts is America’s favorite all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin’ Donuts is a market leader in the hot regular/decaf/flavored coffee, iced coffee, donut, bagel and muffin categories. Dunkin’ Donuts has earned a No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand Keys for 10 years running. The company has more than 11,900 restaurants in 44 countries worldwide. Based in Canton, Mass., Dunkin’ Donuts is part of the Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN) family of companies. For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather McIntyre
Phone: 781-737-5200
Email: heather.mcintyre@dunkinbrands.com

Source: Dunkin’ Donuts

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Take an ice cream break and enjoy a sweet deal on August 31 with Baskin-Robbins’ “Celebrate 31” promotion

Take an ice cream break and enjoy a sweet deal on August 31 with Baskin-Robbins' “Celebrate 31” promotion

 

CANTON, Mass., 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Baskin-Robbins, the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops, encourages guests to take an ice cream break on Wednesday, August 31 and enjoy a sweet deal on their favorite ice cream flavor as part of its August “Celebrate 31” promotion. On that day at participating Baskin-Robbins shops nationwide, guests can enjoy all regular and kids-sized ice cream scoops for just $1.31.* Guests can enjoy this special “Celebrate 31” deal on the classic Baskin-Robbins flavors including Pralines ‘n Cream and Jamoca® Almond Fudge, along with the new August Flavor of the Month, OREO® Milk ‘n Cereal, which features cereal milk-flavored ice cream with OREO® cookie pieces, frosted corn flake cereal pieces and a frosted corn flake cereal ribbon.

“We’re excited to continue the celebration of our ‘31 flavors’ heritage on August 31st with our next ‘Celebrate 31’ promotion,” said Carol Austin, Vice President of Marketing, Baskin-Robbins. “It’s a great opportunity for guests to enjoy their favorite Baskin-Robbins ice cream flavor or to try something new, like one of our seasonal summer ice cream flavors that are only available for a limited time.”

Baskin-Robbins is also inviting guests to donate $1.00 to The Dunkin’ Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation (DDBRCF) during their in-store visits throughout August as part of its Community Cones program. Funds raised will support local and national non-profit organizations that are focused on improving children’s health and providing food for the hungry.

Guests can also receive a mobile coupon for a free regular 4-oz scoop of their favorite Baskin-Robbins ice cream flavor when they download the new Baskin-Robbins Mobile App. The app is available for iPhone and Android users and gives ice cream lovers access to deals and coupons, the ability to pay for their order using virtual Baskin-Robbins cards, updates on current and upcoming promotions and events, like “Celebrate 31,” and more in order to make enjoying ice cream even easier.

For more information about Baskin-Robbins’ wide variety of premium ice cream flavors and frozen desserts, visit www.BaskinRobbins.com or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BaskinRobbins), Twitter (www.twitter.com/BaskinRobbins) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/BaskinRobbins).

OREO is a registered trademark of Mondelēz International group, used under license.

* Offer valid on August 31st. Participation may vary. Scoop offer good on every size scoop. All listed flavors are optional amongst Baskin-Robbins’ stores. Waffle cones and toppings are extra. Cannot be combined with other offers. Plus applicable tax.

About Baskin-Robbins
Named the top ice cream and frozen dessert franchise in the United States by Entrepreneur magazine’s 37th annual Franchise 500® ranking in 2016, Baskin-Robbins is the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops. Baskin-Robbins creates and markets innovative, premium hard scoop ice cream and soft serve, custom ice cream cakes and a full range of beverages, providing quality and value to consumers at more than 7,700 retail shops in nearly 50 countries. Baskin-Robbins was founded in 1945 by two ice cream enthusiasts whose passion led to the creation of more than 1,300 ice cream flavors and a wide variety of delicious treats. Headquartered in Canton, Mass., Baskin-Robbins is part of the Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN) family of companies. For further information, visit www.BaskinRobbins.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Justin Drake
Phone: 781-737-5200
Email: press@dunkinbrands.com

Source:  Baskin-Robbins

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USDA FSIS announces that Panna Café Express To Go Inc. recalls various meat and poultry products produced without benefit of federal inspection

WASHINGTON, 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Panna Café Express To Go Inc., a North Miami Beach, Fla., establishment, is recalling approximately 1,951 pounds of various meat and poultry products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection and used the USDA marks of inspection without authorization, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today (Aug 21, 2016).

The various heat-treated, not fully cooked, not shelf stable meat and poultry products were produced and packed on various dates between June 2, 2016 and Aug. 17, 2016.

The following products are subject to recall:

  • 7.6-lb. tray packages containing 20 units of raw “ZERPA’S ANTOJOS CRIOLLOS CACHITOS HAM FILLED BREAD” with best by dates of Feb. 15, 16, 17, or 23, 2017 and bearing UPC code 854631003448.
  • 2.2-lb. tray packages containing 6 units of heat and serve “PANNA NEW LATINO FOOD EMPANADA VENEZOLANA POLLO CHICKEN” with best by dates of Dec. 2, 3, 8, 2016, or Feb. 15, 16, 17, 2017 and bearing UPC code 820103507561.
  • 1.4-lb. tray packages containing 6 units of heat and serve “PANNA NEW LATINO FOOD EMPANADA ARGENTINA POLLO CHICKEN” with best by dates of Feb. 15 or 17, 2017 and bearing UPC code 820103507509.
  • 1.25-lb. tray packages containing 3 units of heat and serve “MISTER FOOD CACHITOS HAM/JAMON” with best by dates of Feb. 15, 16, or 17, 2017 and bearing UPC code 856305006038.
  • 1.25-lb. tray packages containing 3 units of heat and serve “PANNA TO GO CACHITO DE JAMON Y QUESO HAM AND CHEESE CACHITO” with best by dates of Feb. 15, 16, or 17, 2017 and bearing UPC code 815026020174.
  • 60-unit cases of raw “MISTER FOOD CACHITO DE JAMON Y QUESO HAM & CHEESE WRAPPED IN DOUGH” with best by dates of Feb. 15, 16, 17, or 23, 2017 and bearing UPC code 856305000006.
  • 30-unit cases of pre-baked “MISTER FOOD CACHITO DE JAMON Y QUESO HAM & CHEESE WRAPPED IN DOUGH” with best by dates of Feb. 15, 16 or 17, 2017 and bearing UPC code 856305000013.
  • 30-unit cases of pre-baked “PANNA TO GO CACHITO DE JAMON Y QUESO HAM & CHEESE WRAPPED IN DOUGH” with best by dates of Feb. 15, 16 or 17, 2017 and bearing UPC code 815026020013.
  • 30-unit cases of pre-baked “ZERPA’S ANTOJOS CRIOLLOS CACHITO DE JAMON Y QUESO HAM & CHEESE WRAPPED IN DOUGH” with best by dates of Feb. 15, 16 or 17, 2017 and bearing UPC code 854631000013.
  • 60-unit cases of raw “PANNA TO GO CACHITO DE JAMON Y QUESO HAM & CHEESE WRAPPED IN DOUGH” with best by dates of Feb. 15, 16, 17, or 23, 2017 and bearing UPC code 815026020006.
  • 30-unit cases of pre-fried “PANNA TO GO PASTEL DE POLLO TIPO VENEZOLANO VENEZUELAN BRAND CHICKEN PASTEL” with best by dates of Dec. 2, 3, 8, 2016 or Feb. 15, 16, 17, 2017 and bearing UPC code 815026020976.
  • 30-unit cases of pre-fried “MISTER FOOD PASTEL DE POLLO TIPO VENEZOLANO VENEZUELAN BRAND CHICKEN PASTEL” with best by dates of Dec. 2, 3, 8, 2016 or Feb. 15, 16, 17, 2017 and bearing UPC code 856305000976.
  • 60-unit cases of pre-baked “PANNA TO GO EMPANADA DE POLLO TIPO ARGENTINA ARGENTINIAN BRAND CHICKEN EMPANADA” with best by dates of Feb. 15 or 17, 2017 and bearing UPC code 815026020686.
  • 30-unit cases of pre-baked “MISTER FOOD EMPANADA DE POLLO TIPO ARGENTINA ARGENTINIAN BRAND CHICKEN EMPANADA” with best by dates of Feb. 15 or 17, 2017 and bearing UPC code 856305000068.
  • 30-unit cases of pre-baked “PANNA TO GO EMPANADA DE POLLO TIPO ARGENTINA ARGENTINIAN BRAND CHICKEN EMPANADA” with best by dates of Feb. 15 or 17, 2017 and bearing UPC code 815026020068.
  • 25-unit cases of pre-baked “PAN & PLUS EMPANADA DE POLLO CHICKEN EMPANADA” with best by dates of Feb. 15 or 17, 2017 and bearing UPC code 815026021423.
  • 6-unit cases of raw “ZERPA’S ANTOJOS CRIOLLOS CACHITO DE JAMON Y QUESO HAM & CHEESE WRAPPED IN DOUGH” with best by dates of Feb. 15, 16, 17, or 23, 2017 and bearing UPC code 854631003431.
  • 60-unit cases of raw “ZERPA’S ANTOJOS CRIOLLOS CACHITO DE JAMON Y QUESO HAM & CHEESE WRAPPED IN DOUGH” with best by dates of Feb. 15, 16, 17, or 23, 2017 and bearing UPC code 854631000006.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 40245 or P-40245” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to food service, distributors, and retail locations in Florida.

The problem was discovered when FSIS personnel visited the uninspected facility following their application for a federal grant of inspection that had not yet been approved.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall can contact Luis Villegas, Plant Manager, at (786) 218 – 1802.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.

USDA Recall Classifications
Class I This is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.
Class II This is a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product.
Class III This is a situation where the use of the product will not cause adverse health consequences.

Contact:

Congressional and Public Affairs
Julie Schwartz
(202) 720-9113
Press@fsis.usda.gov

Source: USDA

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USDA issues food safety tips this back-to-school season

WASHINGTON, 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Back to school, back to the books, back in the saddle, or back in the car for those of us shuttling students to and from school. The new school year means its back to packing lunches and after school snacks for students, scouts, athletes, dancers, and all the other children who carry these items to and from home. One ‘back’ you do not want to reacquaint children with, however, is foodborne bacteria.

Bacteria that can cause foodborne illness, commonly known as food poisoning, grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. In just two hours, these microorganisms can multiply to dangerous levels. To make sure lunches and snacks are safe for those you pack for, follow the USDA’s four steps to food safety: Clean – Separate – Cook – and Chill.

Packing Tips

  • If the lunch/snack contains perishable food items like luncheon meats, eggs, cheese, or yogurt, make sure to pack it with at least two cold sources.  Harmful bacteria multiply rapidly so perishable food transported without an ice source won’t stay safe long.
  • Frozen juice boxes or water can also be used as freezer packs. Freeze these items overnight and use with at least one other freezer pack.  By lunchtime, the liquids should be thawed and ready to drink.
  • Pack lunches containing perishable food in an insulated lunchbox or soft-sided lunch bag. Perishable food can be unsafe to eat by lunchtime if packed in a paper bag.
  • If packing a hot lunch, like soup, chili or stew, use an insulated container to keep it hot. Fill the container with boiling water, let stand for a few minutes, empty, and then put in the piping hot food. Tell children to keep the insulated container closed until lunchtime to keep the food hot – 140 °F or above.
  • If packing a child’s lunch the night before, parents should leave it in the refrigerator overnight. The meal will stay cold longer because everything will be refrigerator temperature when it is placed in the lunchbox.
  • If you’re responsible for packing snacks for the team, troop, or group, keep perishable foods in a cooler with ice or cold packs until snack time. Pack snacks in individual bags or containers, rather than having children share food from one serving dish.

Storage Tips

  • If possible, a child’s lunch should be stored in a refrigerator or cooler with ice upon arrival. Leave the lid of the lunchbox or bag open in the fridge so that cold air can better circulate and keep the food cold.

Eating and Disposal Tips

  • Pack disposable wipes for washing hands before and after eating.
  • After lunch, discard all leftover food, used food packaging, and paper bags. Do not reuse packaging because it could contaminate other food and cause foodborne illness.

Consumers can learn more about key food safety practices at Foodsafety.gov, by ‘following’ @USDAFoodSafety on Twitter, and by ‘liking’ Facebook.com/FoodSafety.gov. Consumers with questions about food safety, can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or chat live with a food safety specialist at AskKaren.gov, available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, in English or Spanish.

If you have questions about storage times of food or beverages, download USDA’s new FoodKeeper application for Android and iOS devices. By helping users better understand food storage, the FoodKeeper empowers the public to choose storage methods that extend the shelf life of the food and beverages in their home. Better food storage should reduce food waste and reduce the frequency of users preparing and eating products that may be spoiled. The application was recently updated to include food storage information in both Spanish and Portuguese.

USDA has made some of the most significant updates made since the 1950s to the U.S. food safety system during the Obama Administration. New consumer-facing tools, like the FoodKeeper application, allow Americans to further guard themselves and their family against foodborne illnesses. Estimates show that the food safety standards implemented for meat and poultry will reduce illnesses by about 75,000 annually. More information about these efforts can be found on USDA’s Medium page at http://bit.ly/results-ch7.

Contact:

Food Safety Education Staff
Press Inquiries: (202) 720-9113
Consumer Inquiries: (888) 674-6854

Source: USDA

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USDA FSIS issues food safety recommendations for those in Louisiana who may be impacted flooding

WASHINGTON, 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing food safety recommendations for those in Louisiana who may be impacted flooding.

On Tuesday, the National Weather Service issued a flood warning for the following Parish in Southeastern Louisiana: Livingston, West Baton Rouge, Northern St. James, Northern St. John, Pointe Coupee, Iberville, East Baton Rouge, and Ascension. The following areas already experienced or are expected to experience flooding include, Baton Rouge, Zachary, Baker, Denham Springs, Gonzales, Donaldsonville, Melville, Oak Hills Place, Far northern portions of Reserve, Far Northern Portions of Laplace, St. Gabriel, Walker, Gramercy, Addis, Lutcher, and Brusly. A flood warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring. All impacted parties should take necessary precautions immediately.

FSIS recommends that consumers take the following steps to reduce the risk of foodborne illness during severe flooding events.

Food Safety After a Flood:

  • Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with flood water – this would include raw fruits and vegetables, cartons of milk or eggs.
  • Discard any food that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance that it has come into contact with flood water. Food containers that are not waterproof include those packaged in plastic wrap or cardboard, or those with screw‐caps, snap lids, pull tops, and crimped caps. Flood waters can enter into any of these containers and contaminate the food inside. Also, discard cardboard juice/milk/baby formula boxes and home canned foods if they have come in contact with flood water, because they cannot be effectively cleaned and sanitized.
  • Inspect canned foods and discard any food in damaged cans. Can damage is shown by swelling, leakage, punctures, holes, fractures, extensive deep rusting, or crushing/denting severe enough to prevent normal stacking or opening with a manual, wheel‐type can opener.

Steps to follow in advance of losing power:

  • Keep appliance thermometers in both the refrigerator and the freezer to ensure temperatures remain food safe during a power outage. Safe temperatures are 40°F or lower in the refrigerator, 0°F or lower in the freezer.
  • Freeze water in one-quart plastic storage bags or small containers prior to a storm. These containers are small enough to fit around the food in the refrigerator and freezer to help keep food cold. Remember, water expands when it freezes so don’t overfill the containers.
  • Freeze refrigerated items, such as leftovers, milk and fresh meat and poultry that you may not need immediately—this helps keep them at a safe temperature longer.
  • Know where you can get dry ice or block ice.
  • Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerator food cold if the power will be out for more than four hours.
  • Group foods together in the freezer—this ‘igloo’ effect helps the food stay cold longer.
  • Keep a few days’ worth of ready-to-eat foods that do not require cooking or cooling.

Steps to follow if the power goes out:

  • Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. A refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if the door is kept closed. A full freezer will hold its temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if half-full).
  • Place meat and poultry to one side of the freezer or on a tray to prevent cross contamination of thawing juices.
  • Use dry or block ice to keep the refrigerator as cold as possible during an extended power outage. Fifty pounds of dry ice should keep a fully-stocked 18-cubic-feet freezer cold for two days.

Steps to follow after a weather emergency:

  • Check the temperature inside of your refrigerator and freezer. Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, seafood, eggs or leftovers) that has been above 40°F for two hours or more.
  • Check each item separately. Throw out any food that has an unusual odor, color or texture or feels warm to the touch.
  • Check frozen food for ice crystals. The food in your freezer that partially or completely thawed may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is 40°F or below.
  • Never taste a food to decide if it’s safe.
  • When in doubt, throw it out.

The FoodSafety.gov, has compiled a list of what foods should be discarded if a refrigerator has been held at a temperature above 40 °F for more than two hours:

Refrigerated perishable foods that should be discarded:

  • Raw or leftover cooked meat, poultry, fish, or seafood; soy meat substitutes
  • Thawing meat or poultry
  • Salads: Meat, tuna, shrimp, chicken, or egg salad
  • Gravy, stuffing, broth
  • Lunchmeats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, dried beef
  • Pizza – with any topping
  • Canned hams labeled “Keep Refrigerated”
  • Canned meats and fish, opened
  • Casseroles, soups, stews
  • Soft Cheeses: blue/bleu, Roquefort, Brie, Camembert, cottage, cream, Edam, Monterey
  • Jack, ricotta, mozzarella, Muenster, Neufchatel, queso blanco, queso fresco
  • Shredded Cheeses
  • Low-fat Cheeses
  • Milk, cream, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk, yogurt, eggnog, soy milk
  • Baby formula, opened
  • Fresh eggs, hard-cooked in shell, egg dishes, egg products
  • Custards and puddings, quiche
  • Fresh fruits, cut
  • Opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, horseradish (discard if above 10°C for over 8 hours)
  • Fish sauces, oyster sauce
  • Opened creamy-based dressings
  • Spaghetti sauce, opened jar
  • Refrigerator biscuits, rolls, cookie dough
  • Cooked pasta, rice, potatoes
  • Pasta salads with mayonnaise or vinaigrette
  • Fresh pasta
  • Cheesecake
  • Pastries, cream filled
  • Pies – custard, cheese filled, or chiffon; quiche
  • Vegetables: Greens, pre-cut, pre-washed, packaged
  • Vegetables, cooked; tofu
  • Vegetable juice, opened
  • Baked potatoes
  • Commercial garlic in oil
  • Potato salad
  • Casseroles, soups, stews

FSIS will provide relevant food safety information as the storm progresses from its Twitter feed @USDAFoodSafety and on Facebook at Facebook.com/FoodSafety.gov.

FSIS’ YouTube video “Food Safety During Power Outages” has instructions for keeping frozen and refrigerated food safe. The publication “A Consumer’s Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes” can be downloaded and printed for reference during a power outage. FSIS also has an infographic covering what to do before, during and after a power outage.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at www.AskKaren.gov  or m.AskKaren.gov on a smartphone. The mobile Ask Karen can also be downloaded from the iTunes and Google Play app stores. Consumers can e-mail, chat with a live representative or call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline directly from the app. To use these features from Mobile Ask Karen, simply choose “Contact Us” from the menu. The live chat option and the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline, 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), are available on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET in English and Spanish.

Contact:

Press Inquiries: (202) 720-9113
Consumer Inquiries (888) 674-6854

Source: USDA

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PVH Corp. to present at Goldman Sachs Twenty-Third Annual Global Retailing Conference on September 7, 2016

NEW YORK, 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — PVH Corp. (NYSE: PVH) announced today (Aug. 19, 2016) that Company management will participate in the Goldman Sachs Twenty-Third Annual Global Retailing Conference on Wednesday, September 7, 2016. A live audio webcast of management’s fireside chat will be broadcast online at 8:05 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time.

The live webcast, as well as the replay, which will be available following the conference, may be accessed by logging onto www.pvh.com and going to the Events section under the Investors tab.

With a history going back over 130 years, PVH Corp. has excelled at growing brands and businesses with rich American heritages, becoming one of the largest apparel companies in the world. We have over 30,000 associates operating in over 40 countries with over $8 billion in revenues. We own the iconic Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Van Heusen, IZOD, ARROW, Speedo*, Warner’s and Olga brands and market a variety of goods under these and other nationally and internationally known owned and licensed brands.

*The Speedo brand is licensed for North America and the Caribbean in perpetuity from Speedo International, Ltd.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995: Forward-looking statements and information about PVH’s current and future prospects and PVH’s operations and financial results made and provided during management’s appearance at the conference, including, without limitation, statements relating to the Company’s future revenue and earnings, plans, strategies, objectives, expectations and intentions are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy, and some of which might not be anticipated, including, without limitation, the following: (i) the Company’s plans, strategies, objectives, expectations and intentions are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the Company; (ii) the Company may be considered to be highly leveraged and uses a significant portion of its cash flows to service its indebtedness, as a result of which the Company might not have sufficient funds to operate its businesses in the manner it intends or has operated in the past; (iii) the levels of sales of the Company’s apparel, footwear and related products, both to its wholesale customers and in its retail stores, the levels of sales of the Company’s licensees at wholesale and retail, and the extent of discounts and promotional pricing in which the Company and its licensees and other business partners are required to engage, all of which can be affected by weather conditions, changes in the economy, fuel prices, reductions in travel, fashion trends, consolidations, repositionings and bankruptcies in the retail industries, repositionings of brands by the Company’s licensors and other factors; (iv) the Company’s plans and results of operations will be affected by the Company’s ability to manage its growth and inventory, including its ability to realize benefits from its acquisition of The Warnaco Group, Inc. (“Warnaco”); (v) the Company’s operations and results could be affected by quota restrictions and the imposition of safeguard controls (which, among other things, could limit the Company’s ability to produce products in cost-effective countries that have the labor and technical expertise needed), the availability and cost of raw materials, the Company’s ability to adjust timely to changes in trade regulations and the migration and development of manufacturers (which can affect where the Company’s products can best be produced), changes in available factory and shipping capacity, wage and shipping cost escalation, and civil conflict, war or terrorist acts, the threat of any of the foregoing, or political and labor instability in any of the countries where the Company’s or its licensees’ or other business partners’ products are sold, produced or are planned to be sold or produced; (vi) disease epidemics and health related concerns, which could result in closed factories, reduced work forces, scarcity of raw materials and scrutiny or embargoing of goods produced in infected areas, as well as reduced consumer traffic and purchasing, as consumers limit or cease shopping in order to avoid exposure or become ill; (vii) acquisitions and issues arising with acquisitions and proposed transactions, including without limitation, the ability to integrate an acquired entity, such as Warnaco, into the Company with no substantial adverse affect on the acquired entity’s or the Company’s existing operations, employee relationships, vendor relationships, customer relationships or financial performance; (viii) the failure of the Company’s licensees to market successfully licensed products or to preserve the value of the Company’s brands, or their misuse of the Company’s brands and (ix) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Company’s presentation will include non-GAAP financial measures, as defined under SEC rules. Reconciliations of these measures are included in the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K furnished to the SEC on March 17, 2005, March 26, 2007, March 23, 2009, March 28, 2011,March 27, 2013, March 25, 2015, March 23, 2016 and August 24, 2016. Each of these reports is available on the Company’s website at http://www.pvh.com and the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, including, without limitation, any estimate regarding revenue or earnings, whether as a result of the receipt of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:
Dana Perlman
212-381- 3502
Treasurer, Senior Vice President
Business Development & Investor Relations

Source: PVH Corp.

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SPAR Switzerland launches two new healthy SPAR Natur pur snacks: Organic spelt cookies and organic mini corn cakes

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — SPAR Switzerland is helping customers to stay fit and strong with the launch of two new healthy SPAR Natur pur snacks: Organic spelt cookies and organic mini corn cakes.

A healthy snack can help increase performance and concentration in day-to-day life, be that at school, at work or during exercise. SPAR’s organic Natur pur snacks are made of 100% natural ingredients and are a great addition or alternative to fresh fruit and vegetables, containing no artificial additives, preservatives or flavourings.

Spelt, an ancient grain dating back to the Bronze Age, is nutritious and easily digestible. The new spelt cookies in the SPAR Natur pur range are 100% natural, containing organic sugar and flour sourced from Austria. Their crunchy texture makes them truly irresistible.

The second new product – organic mini corn cakes with a tangy and fresh taste of sour cream and onion – are the ideal savoury snack and are also suitable for people intolerant to gluten. Only organic ingredients have been used for these delicious treats.

Contact:

Email: info@spar-international.com
Tel.: +3120 626 6749

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SPAR Switzerland launches two new healthy SPAR Natur pur snacks: Organic spelt cookies and organic mini corn cakes
SPAR Switzerland launches two new healthy SPAR Natur pur snacks: Organic spelt cookies and organic mini corn cakes

 

Source: Spar International

 

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Office Depot CEO Roland Smith announces plans of retirement

BOCA RATON, Fla, 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Office Depot, Inc. (NASDAQ:ODP) today (August 22, 2016) announced that Roland Smith plans to retire as Chief Executive Officer of the company. Smith will continue to serve as CEO until a successor is named, which is expected by the end of first quarter 2017. It is expected Smith will remain Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors will evaluate, with the assistance of an executive search firm, both internal and external candidates for CEO.

“Since joining Office Depot in November 2013, Roland has built and led a talented management team that has done an outstanding job of integrating Office Depot and OfficeMax, and delivered synergies and efficiencies that significantly exceeded expectations,” said Warren Bryant, Lead Director of the Board of Directors. “In addition, Roland and his team worked closely with the Board to develop a clear and compelling three-year strategic plan that positions the company for profitable growth. Roland has led the company to a position of solid standing, and we appreciate his ongoing leadership and commitment to Office Depot as we identify and transition to our next CEO.”

“My decision to retire has not been an easy one. In 2013, I set aside a number of personal ambitions to accept a three-year contract with Office Depot, and it’s now time for me to refocus on those priorities,” said Smith. “I am extraordinarily proud of what the Office Depot team has accomplished these past three years, and I am confident that we will successfully execute our new strategy and grow shareholder value.”

Executive Reorganization

Office Depot also announced today that it is reorganizing its Executive Committee to better align with the three-year strategic plan unveiled by the company earlier this month. As part of that plan, Office Depot is consolidating its retail, contract, ecommerce and marketing operations to better serve our customers in today’s omni-channel marketplace. These functions will now report to Troy Rice, who has been named to the newly-created position of Chief Operating Officer, North America. Rice currently serves as Office Depot’s Executive Vice President, Retail, where he successfully led the integration of the Office Depot and OfficeMax store operations, drove same store sales improvements and significantly grew operating profit.

The company has also named Rob Koch to the newly-created position of Executive Vice President, Business Development, where he will be responsible for identifying and commercializing new business opportunities. In this role, Koch will have substantial responsibility for rolling out Office Depot’s store of the future and the expansion of adjacency opportunities, including Jan-San. Koch is currently Senior Vice President, Real Estate, and will continue to oversee the company’s real estate portfolio, including leading Phase II of the retail optimization plan.

Rice and Koch will report to Mark Cosby, President, North America, until a new CEO is named, at which time the President and CEO roles will be consolidated and they will report directly to the CEO and serve on the company’s Executive Committee.

Additionally, Steve Calkins, Executive Vice President, Contract, has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer. Calkins is a seasoned legal and business leader who previously served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of the company, as well as spent a number of years in private law practice. Calkins replaces Elisa Garcia, who recently left the company. Calkins will report to the CEO and serve on the company’s Executive Committee.

“Troy and Rob are both experienced and talented executives who have provided critical leadership during extraordinary times at Office Depot,” said Smith. “Troy’s ability to lead our organization through the integration of the Office Depot and OfficeMax stores and significantly improve retail profitability positions him perfectly to align our retail, contract and ecommerce functions for optimal customer service and efficiency. Rob’s leadership in rolling out the first phase of our store of the future has demonstrated his capacity to think creatively and commercialize new opportunities.

“In addition, Steve’s excellent work as head of our contract business combined with his previous role as Office Depot’s Deputy General Counsel allows him to return to the legal department as a well-rounded leader with a broader business perspective.”

Roland Smith will provide a statement via webcast for analysts and investors today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The live audio of the webcast can be accessed via the Internet by visiting our Investor Relations website at investor.officedepot.com.

About Office Depot, Inc.

Office Depot, Inc. is a leading global provider of products, services, and solutions for every workplace – whether your workplace is an office, home, school or car.

Office Depot, Inc. is a resource and a catalyst to help customers work better. We are a single source for everything customers need to be more productive, including the latest technology, core office supplies, print and document services, business services, facilities products, furniture, and school essentials.

The Company has annual sales of approximately $14 billion, employs approximately 49,000 associates, and serves consumers and businesses in 59 countries with approximately 1,800 retail stores, award-winning e-commerce sites and a dedicated business-to-business sales organization – all delivered through a global network of wholly owned operations, franchisees, licensees and alliance partners. The Company operates under several banner brands including Office Depot, OfficeMax, Grand & Toy, and Viking. The company’s portfolio of exclusive product brands include TUL, Foray, Brenton Studio, Ativa, WorkPro, Realspace and HighMark.

Office Depot, Inc.’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “ODP”. Additional press information can be found at: http://news.officedepot.com .

All trademarks, service marks and trade names of Office Depot, Inc. and OfficeMax Incorporated used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Office Depot, Inc. and OfficeMax Incorporated, respectively. Any other product or company names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This communication may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements or disclosures may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future trends, plans, events, results of operations or financial condition, or state other information relating to, among other things, Office Depot, based on current beliefs and assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Forward-looking statements generally will be accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “propose” or other similar words, phrases or expressions, or other variations of such words. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of Office Depot’s control. There can be no assurances that Office Depot will realize these expectations or that these beliefs will prove correct, and therefore investors and stockholders should not place undue reliance on such statements.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among other things, risks related to the termination of Office Depot’s pending acquisition by Staples, disruption in key business activities or any impact on Office Depot’s relationships with third parties as a result of the announcement of the termination of the Staples Merger Agreement; unanticipated changes in the markets for Office Depot’s business segments; the inability to realize expected benefits from Office Depot’s European restructuring plan; fluctuations in currency exchange rates, unanticipated downturns in business relationships with customers; competitive pressures on Office Depot’s sales and pricing; increases in the cost of material, energy and other production costs, or unexpected costs that cannot be recouped in product pricing; the introduction of competing technology products and services; unexpected technical or marketing difficulties; unexpected claims, charges, litigation, dispute resolutions or settlement expenses; new laws and governmental regulations. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Investors and stockholders should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in Office Depot’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, as amended, and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Office Depot does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Investor Relations:
Richard Leland
561-438-3796
Richard.Leland@officedepot.com

Media Relations:
Karen Denning
630-438-7445
Karen.Denning@officedepot.com

Source: Office Depot, Inc.

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Sprouts Farmers Market CEO Amin Maredia and CFO Brad Lukow to present at the Goldman Sachs 23rd Annual Global Retailing Conference, September 8, 2016

PHOENIX, 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (Nasdaq:SFM) today (8/22/2016) announced that Amin Maredia, chief executive officer, and Brad Lukow, chief financial officer, will present at the Goldman Sachs 23rd Annual Global Retailing Conference at the Plaza Hotel in New York, NY. The presentation will begin at 10:35 am EDT on September 8, 2016.

A live webcast of the presentation will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website, http://investors.sprouts.com/, under “Events and Presentations.” A replay will be archived and available at the same location.

About Sprouts Farmers Market
Sprouts Farmers Market is a healthy grocery store offering fresh, natural and organic foods at great prices. Sprouts offers a complete shopping experience that includes fresh produce, bulk foods, vitamins and supplements, packaged groceries, meat and seafood, deli, baked goods, dairy products, frozen foods, natural body care and household items catering to consumers’ growing interest in health and wellness. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Sprouts employs more than 23,000 team members and operates more than 240 stores in 13 states from coast to coast. For more information, visit www.sprouts.com or @sproutsfm on Twitter.

Investor Contact:
Susannah Livingston
(602) 682-1584
susannahlivingston@sprouts.com

Media Contact:
Donna Egan
(602) 682-3152
media@sprouts.com

Source: Sprouts Farmers Market/ globenewswire

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Wiedereröffnung des Coop Restaurants im Basler Pfauen

BASEL, SWITZERLAND, 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Am 25. August wird das Coop Restaurant im Basler Pfauen wiedereröffnet. Nach rund drei Monaten Umbauphase präsentiert sich das Restaurant der neuen Generation modern und frisch. Kundinnen und Kunden erwartet ein abwechslungsreiches Eröffnungsprogramm.

Nach einer mehrmonatigen Testphase an verschiedenen Standorten, ist das neue Restaurantkonzept der Coop Gastronomie nun bereit für das Flagship-Restaurant in Basel. Das erste, was beim Betreten des neuen Coop Restaurants im obersten Stock des Pfauen auffällt, ist die freundliche Atmosphäre. Helle Farben und warmes Holz laden zum Verweilen ein. Das moderne Design erzeugt eine Ambience zum Wohlfühlen, in dem sich die Gäste von der Frische und Kulinarik der Angebote verwöhnen lassen können. Die Anzahl der Plätze im Restaurant ist in etwa gleich geblieben und auch der Wintergarten ist noch da. Beim Umbau wurden dafür zahlreiche, praktische Verbesserungen für unsere Kundinnen und Kunden realisiert, Abläufe vereinfacht und es ist nun generell mehr Platz.

Kulinarischer Genuss und hohe Qualität
Herzstück des neuen Restaurant-Konzepts ist die Frischeinsel, welche den Gast bereits beim Betreten mit einer breiten und tageszeitaktuellen Auswahl an saisonalen Köstlichkeiten empfängt. Im Coop Restaurant Pfauen wird ausgewogen und genussvoll gekocht: Mit frischen Kräutern, natürlichen Gewürzen und hochwertigem Oliven- und Rapsöl.
An Pasta- und Wok-Stationen werden die Gerichte fortlaufend nach hauseigenen Rezepten vor den Augen der Gäste zubereitet.

Nachhaltig und modern
Neben dem modernen Design steht beim neuen Pfauen-Restaurant vor allem die Nachhaltigkeit im Mittelpunkt. So wurden zum Beispiel die Tische aus FSC-zertifiziertem Eichenholz gefertigt und auch im Buffetbereich wird auf nachhaltiges Holz gesetzt. LED-Lampen sorgen für eine gemütliche und zugleich energiesparende Beleuchtung.

Für die Kleinen
Neben Kulinarik und der freundlichen Atmosphäre ist auch für die jungen Gäste gesorgt: Dank der neuen JaMaDu-Kinderspielecke gibt es jede Menge Spiel und Spass. Und weil Spielen hungrig macht, gibt es auch feine Kindermenüs. Und jeden Samstag ab 11 Uhr gibt es im Coop Restaurant ein Family-Menü für die ganze Familie.

Eröffnung
Zur Eröffnung des Coop Restaurants am 25. August begrüssen Restaurantleiter Andreas Dunke und sein Team die Gäste mit einem abwechslungsreichen Angebot: Eröffnungsmenü zum Vorteilspreis, Aktionen, Ballonkünstler und vieles mehr.

Kontaktpersonen:

Urs Meier
Leiter Medienstelle
Tel. +41 61 336 71 10

Ramón Gander
Mediensprecher
Tel. +41 61 336 71 67

Nadja Ruch
Mediensprecherin
Tel. +41 61 336 71 87

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Wiedereröffnung des Coop Restaurants im Basler Pfauen
Wiedereröffnung des Coop Restaurants im Basler Pfauen

 

Source: Coop

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MIGROS BRONSCHHOFEN FEIERT ERÖFFNUNG

Gossau, Switzerland, 2016-Aug-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Am 1. September 2016 öffnet an der AMP-Strasse 2 in Bronschhofen die neue Migros erstmals ihre Türen. In der gut sechsmonatigen Bauzeit ist ein moderner Supermarkt entstanden, der die Kundschaft mit viel Frische und einer angenehmen Atmosphäre empfängt.

Auf einer Fläche von 567 m2 finden die Kundinnen und Kunden ein einladendes und frisches Sortiment für den täglichen Bedarf. Mit den 30 unentgeltlichen Kundenparkplätzen sowie der nahe gelegenen Bushaltestelle an der Hauptstrasse bietet die Migros Bronschhofen einen hohen Einkaufskomfort. Die Migros Ostschweiz hat insgesamt 2,1 Millionen Franken in die neue Filiale investiert und beschäftigt dort zehn Mitarbeitende.

Filialleiter mit viel Migros-Erfahrung

Für die Geschicke der neuen Migros Bronschhofen zeigt sich Thomas Wohlrab verantwortlich. Der 34-jährige Filialleiter arbeitete nach seiner Lehre in der Filiale Amriswil für die Migros Ostschweiz und kann im nächsten Jahr bereits sein 20-Jahr-Jubiläum feiern. In dieser Zeit sammelte er in verschiedenen Funktionen wertvolle Erfahrungen, beispielsweise als Bereichsleiter Food in der Migros Uzwil oder als stellvertretender Marktleiter im MM Weinfelden. Seinem neuen Arbeitsplatz in Bronschhofen blickt Thomas Wohlrab mit Vorfreude entgegen: „Ich freue mich auf mein neues Team, welches ich von Grund auf zusammenstellen konnte sowie auf die neuen Kundenkontakte.“ Die Migros Bronschhofen übernehmen zu können, ist für den Detailhandelsspezialisten Wertschätzung und Herausforderung zugleich. Einerseits sei es toll, eine neue Filiale selbständig einrichten zu können, andererseits sei in der Anfangsphase gerade das Bestellwesen herausfordernd. Fest steht: „Die Kundschaft darf sich auf ein freundliches und motiviertes Team freuen“, so der Filialleiter. „Gemeinsam werden wir uns täglich dafür einsetzen, eine hohe Qualität zu liefern und die Warenverfügbarkeit sicherzustellen.“

Nachhaltigkeit – ein zentrales Thema

Ein besonderer Fokus lag auch bei der neuen Migros an der AMP-Strasse darauf, beim Ausbau materialökologisch sinnvolle Produkte zu verwenden. So wurde die Beleuchtung beispielsweise mit LED-Leuchten realisiert. Die Vorteile liegen auf der Hand: Eine höhere Lebensdauer bei gleichzeitig kleinerem Energieverbrauch und weniger Abwärme. Die Kühlmöbel gehören der neusten Generation an und sorgen dank mehr Effizienz für weitere Energieeinsparungen. Mit der Abwärme der Kälteanlagen wird der Supermarkt beheizt.

Attraktive Angebote für Kundschaft

Vom Donnerstag bis Samstag, 1. bis 3. September 2016, feiert die Migros Bronschhofen Eröffnung. Kundinnen und Kunden profitieren an allen drei Tagen von zehn Prozent Rabatt beim Einkauf im Supermarkt. Für nur 2.50 Franken gibt es jeweils ab 10.30 Uhr eine Bratwurst vom Grill mit Bürli, dazu ein Aproz-Mineralwasser. Zudem darf sich die Kundschaft auf eine süsse Überraschung freuen – es het solang’s het.

Kontakt für Medienanfragen:

Genossenschaft Migros Ostschweiz
Herr Christian Possa
Kommunikation/Kulturprozent/Sponsoring
Industriestrasse 47
9201 Gossau
tel:071 493 24 92
fax:071 493 27 89
mailto:christian.possa@gmos.ch

Source: Migros