Daily Archives: September 22, 2016

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Nordstrom Rack to open at IDS Center’s Crystal Court on Nicollet Mall at downtown Minneapolis in fall 2017

SEATTLE, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Seattle-based Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN) announced today (Sept. 21, 2016) plans to open a Nordstrom Rack at IDS Center’s Crystal Court on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, Minn. The approximately 39,000-square-foot store is scheduled to open in fall 2017.

“We’ve been eager to find a home for Nordstrom Rack in downtown Minneapolis and we’re thrilled to announce the location at Crystal Court,” said Geevy Thomas, president of Nordstrom Rack. “Our new store will offer greater convenience for those who live and work in the heart of the city, and we look forward to bringing customers the brands they love at great Rack prices.”

This will be the fifth Rack store in Minnesota following the announcement of a new store at nearby City Place, opening in spring 2017. The company also operates two full-line stores at Mall of America and Ridgedale Shopping Center.

“We are delighted to have Nordstrom Rack, one of the nation’s most successful off-price retailers, join the IDS Center community,” said Deb Kolar, general manager. “The Rack will be in good company and will be joined by 26 other prominent retailers, restaurants, banks in the Crystal Court, which is the centerpiece of one of the world’s most extensive skyway systems and attracts some 50,000 business people and shoppers daily,” added Kolar.

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.

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 334 stores in 39 states, including 121 full-line stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico; 205 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 IDS CENTER
Heralded by the New York Times as “one for the finest skyscrapers built in any American city,” the IDS Center, is than a landmark—it is the centerpiece of the downtown Minneapolis skyline. Owned by Accesso Partners, LLC of Hallandale Beach, FL and managed by its subsidiary, Accesso Services, LLC, the two million square foot complex occupies a full city block on Minneapolis’s Nicollet Mall.

Designed by world renowned architect Philip Johnson, the IDS Center’s mixed-use, post-modern design is comprised of a 57-story office tower with an 8-story annex, 2-story retail center and 19-story, four diamond Marquette Hotel, all surrounding the distinctive, enclosed 8-story Crystal Court.

Expertly managed and environmentally conscious, IDS Center received the Four Green Globes certification for continual improvement of existing buildings as well as being Energy Star and BOMA 360 certified.

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

Deb Kolar
IDS Center
(612) 376-8037
dkolar@accessoservices.com

SOURCE: Nordstrom, Inc.

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Nordstrom, Inc. announces the appointment of Ken Worzel as president, Nordstrom.com

SEATTLE, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — To further accelerate its e-commerce, digital and mobile efforts, Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN) announced that it has appointed Ken Worzel as president, Nordstrom.com.

Worzel has served as executive vice president of Strategy and Development at the company since 2010, where he has been responsible for strengthening the company’s competitive position and relevance through developing and executing customer-driven strategies to support the company’s growth. Prior to Nordstrom he worked as a consultant, including partnering with Nordstrom for 13 years while at Marakon Associates and McKinsey & Company.

“Through his six years as a leader at Nordstrom and many years prior to that working alongside our executive team, Ken has gained a deep understanding of how our e-commerce, digital and mobile efforts play an integral role in providing customers a differentiated experience through service, personalisation and convenience,” said Erik Nordstrom, co-president of Nordstrom. “Ken comes into this position with expertise around Nordstrom.com’s current position and a strong vision for its future potential that will continue to bring the company a tremendous amount of value as we evolve our strategy and build on our success.”

Additionally, to better serve the changing needs of its customers and how they shop, the company also announced a strategic shift of leadership responsibilities to better support the Nordstrom (full-price) and Nordstrom Rack (off-price) brands across both stores and digital. New assignments include:

  • Co-President Erik Nordstrom will now be responsible for the Nordstrom brand, including Nordstrom stores, Nordstrom.com, and Trunk Club as well as Customer Care, Marketing and Supply Chain.
  • Co-President Blake Nordstrom will be responsible for the Nordstrom Rack brand, including Rack stores and NordstromRack.com/HauteLook and other corporate functions including Finance, Technology, Legal and Human Resources.
  • Co-President Pete Nordstrom will continue to support all of the company’s merchandising functions and Store Planning. He will also remain closely involved in all areas impacting the Nordstrom brand, including marketing.

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 334 stores in 39 states and Canada. Customers are served at 121 Nordstrom stores in the U.S. and Canada; 205 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.

INVESTOR CONTACT:
Trina Schurman
Nordstrom, Inc.
(206) 233-6550

MEDIA CONTACT:
Tara Darrow
Nordstrom, Inc.
(206) 303-3016

SOURCE: Nordstrom, Inc.

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Starbucks opens its third South African store in Menlyn Maine in the city of Tshwane

Starbucks opens its third South African store in Menlyn Maine in the city of Tshwane
Starbucks opens its third South African store in Menlyn Maine in the city of Tshwane

 

Johannesburg, South Africa, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — In partnership with Taste Holdings, Starbucks has opened its third South African store in Menlyn Maine in the city of Tshwane. Once the mall is complete in 2017, Menlyn Maine will be the biggest green development in South Africa, and the new epicenter of the city. Beginning today (September 21, 2016), Tshwane residents have their own place to enjoy Starbucks 100% arabica coffee, fresh food offerings and free high-speed Wi-Fi in a beautiful new store.

“We are honored to open our doors in a city with such a rich culture and appreciation for food. Just like in our first two Starbucks stores, we hope our customers will consider this new store as a ‘third place’ between home and work, where people connect, share and create. It is a place where ideas are born and memories are created – it’s about so much more than a cup of coffee,” said Carlo Gonzaga, CEO of Taste Holdings.

The store’s design was inspired by the cityscape of Tshwane. Strong geometric lines of the buildings and the city’s warm tones had an influence on the store’s aesthetic. The natural, scored concrete walls celebrate the hard work and craft of the city. The highlight of the store is a hand-painted mural by Seven Veil Studios that pays homage to the very first Starbucks store in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, while celebrating South Africa through the local flora.

“Every aspect of this store has been created to be the ultimate ‘third place.’ We hope that this store will become a part of the city and our history,” said Gonzaga.

Starbucks Reserve™ Bar offers special small-batch single origin coffees served by skilled baristas through a variety of brewing methods, including Siphon, Pour-Over, and the Clover™ brewing system. Customers can enjoy Reserve coffees from Colombia San Fermin, Colombia Los Rosales, and Cape Verde Figo Island.

“With our first two South African stores open and doing well in Johannesburg, I am delighted to see a new store open in Pretoria,” said Martin Brok, president, Starbucks Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Our whole business is excited about being part of these South Africa neighborhoods and I’m proud that this store will extend the Changing Lanes program even further. We’ll now be able to offer great career opportunities to local young people in Pretoria, including training in world class customer service and barista mastery.”

The store team of 30 partners has been recruited from the surrounding communities through Taste’s Changing Lanes program, which focuses on giving opportunities to currently unemployed youth.

About Taste Holdings
Taste Holdings is a South African-based management group and a leading licensor of global brands in the Southern Africa region. It owns and licenses a portfolio of franchised and owned category specialists, Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) and retail brands currently represented in five countries in Southern Africa. Its food division has a 30-year master license agreement for Domino’s Pizza in Southern Africa. It also owns, operates and franchises Zebro’s Chicken, The Fish & Chip Co., Maxi’s Restaurants, Scooters Pizza and St Elmo’s Woodfired Pizza. Its luxury goods division is underpinned by three owned retail brands – NWJ, Arthur Kaplan and World’s Finest Watches. NWJ is the third largest national jewelry chain by store numbers in the region. Arthur Kaplan and World’s Finest Watches are, together, the leading retailers of luxury Swiss watch brands in the region. Taste is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) under the symbol “TAS.” www.tasteholdings.co.za.

About Starbucks
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with more than 24,000 stores around the globe, Starbucks is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit our stores or online at news.starbucks.com and Starbucks.com.

For more information on this news release, contact us

Media contact:

Global
Phone: 206 318 7100
Email: press@starbucks.com

Source: Starbucks

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Carrefour Belgium announces new partnership with Cubzz to collect donations to help children’s charities

Boulogne-Billancourt, FRANCE, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Carrefour Belgium is selling a healthy drink – exclusively via its hypermarkets and supermarkets – the proceeds from which will go to an SOS Children’s Villages project of the customer’s choice.

Humanitarian aid is in Carrefour Belgium’s very DNA – it regularly organises campaigns to help various charities. This new partnership with Cubzz goes still further. Customers can get even more involved and can “customise” their act of goodwill.

Cubzz 100% Belgian
Cubzz is a Belgian brand created by Wouter Cauwenbergh. After many years working in the private sector, he set up his own company to collect donations in an original way for children’s charities. Cubzz sells a chocolate beverage (33 cl) and then gives all its proceeds to various projects. Customers can currently support various projects managed by SOS Children’s Villages – Cubzz’s founding partner – which has believed in this initiative right from the outset. This collaboration will bolster the partnership between SOS Children’s Villages and Carrefour Belgium, which has already been supporting it for several years now. Over time, customers will be able to support other charities.

How does it work?
Each beverage has its own unique code. Once they’ve purchased the product, customers go to www.cubzz.be and enter their code. Then all they have to do is choose one of the projects listed on the site – the one they want to lend their support to – and then Cubzz will give the proceeds to that project. Any money that is not directly allocated by customers will be equitably distributed among all of the projects supported by Cubzz.

Cubzz, it’s fashionable
This beverage that Carrefour Belgium is selling exclusively to its customers is very much in keeping with contemporary trends, since it is:
– made with soya milk only cultivated in Europe
– made with sustainable cocoa beans
– guaranteed gluten- and lactose-free
– less sugary – 60% less sugar – than other products on the market.
This healthy charity beverage is on sale in Belgium’s Carrefour hypermarkets, Carrefour Markets and Carrefour Express stores starting this week.

For all request about the Carrefour Group (sales, financial results, governance, international,…), please contact the Carrefour Group media relations office:

. By phone:

Switchboard: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 00

For journalists: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 17

. By e-mail: presse_groupe@carrefour.com

Source: Carrefour

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Carrefour Belgium to test its own meal boxes “Simply You Boxes”

 

Boulogne-Billancourt, FRANCE, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — At the start of October, Carrefour Belgium will start putting together, selling and distributing meal boxes, with particular emphasis on Belgian and seasonal ingredients.

Next month, Carrefour Belgium will commence online sales of its “Simply You Boxes” – its own meal boxes. Simply You is the recipe magazine of which Carrefour Belgium distributes 600,000 copies every month. These boxes will be tested in ten stores – five Carrefour hypermarkets and five Market supermarkets.

Nine fresh, healthy recipes every week
Each week, nine new recipes will be on offer from which customers will be able to select three meals. Although obviously they will be free to choose, they can allow themselves to be guided by flavours, their favourite main ingredient (fish, meat, poultry or vegetarian) and how their families are made up – Carrefour Belgium has also given some thought to traditional family meals. In putting these meals together, Carrefour Belgium’s nutrition specialists will give preference to fresh, healthy products – and preferably ones from Belgium. Simply You Boxes will therefore most certainly delight all “Belgetarians”.

Fast and easy
In addition to the fresh and healthy ingredients used in their preparation, Simply You Boxes are all about speed and ease. With the help of easily identifiable icons, customers immediately know how much preparation and cooking time is needed, and just how straightforward the dish is to prepare. Carrefour has set itself the target of meals that can be on the table in a maximum of 30 minutes – including preparation time. Needless to say the recipes are explained with step-by-step instructions on practical sheets. For those who want more in the way of explanation, or who enjoy following tutorials on tablet computers when cooking, videos of each recipe are available on the Simply You Box website (link: www.SimplyYouBox.be).

Fast and easy to order
Preparing the meals has to be simple… and customers also have to be able to order their Simply You Boxes quickly and easily. Customers just go to the Simply You Box website and select the dishes they want in their meal box for the following week. They have up until Wednesday 11:59 PM to order their Simply You Boxes for the following week. And they can also submit orders for several weeks all in one go.

Obviously they’ll find all the ingredients they need for their meal inside their Simply You Box – except for traditional spices, cooking utensils and other general products. These extra ingredients are carefully listed in the descriptions of each recipe. If customers have run out of these ingredients, they can order them in just a few clicks.

Wine suggestions from the sommelier of the year
Benoît Couderé – the sommelier of the year – joined Carrefour Belgium’s wine team a few months ago and recommends a wine to go with each meal. As well as spices and olive oil, customers can also order the recommended wine in just a few clicks when they are putting together their Simply You Box.

Collect your box from a Carrefour Hypermarket or Market
On 1 October, Carrefour Belgium will be testing its Simply You Box concept on customers from ten of its stores; five Carrefour hypermarkets (Kuringen, Ninove, Auderghem, Bierghes and Mons) and five Market stores (Brasschaat, Schilde, Etterbeek, Waterloo and Tervueren). They’ll have up to Wednesday 11:59 PM to order their boxes online from the site and pick them up (and pay for them) at their store’s Drive or collection point. Depending on customers’ comments and suggestions, Carrefour Belgium will then extend its Simply You Box service across the rest of the country.

Price
Unlike many other meal box services, Simply You Box does not require any restrictive subscription. So customers don’t have to unsubscribe if they’re not going to be at home very much – or indeed at all – one week. But if they want, they can put together their Simply You Boxes once for several weeks. Customers then go to their store’s Drive or collection point every Monday to pick up their order. The cost is €40 for three meals for two people or €60 for three meals for four people. Carrefour has the following special launch offer: a Simply You Box for €30 for two people or €45 for four people.

For all request about the Carrefour Group (sales, financial results, governance, international,…), please contact the Carrefour Group media relations office:

. By phone:

Switchboard: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 00

For journalists: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 17

. By e-mail: presse_groupe@carrefour.com

Source: Carrefour

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Carrefour invites hackfest enthusiasts to its first hackathon “Back2Hack” from 23 to 25 September

Carrefour invites hackfest enthusiasts to its first hackathon "Back2Hack" from 23 to 25 September
Carrefour invites hackfest enthusiasts to its first hackathon “Back2Hack” from 23 to 25 September

 

Boulogne-Billancourt, FRANCE, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — From 23 to 25 September, Carrefour is inviting hackfest enthusiasts to come and improve the customer experience and make predictions about future trends.

Carrefour is holding “Back2Hack” – its first hackathon – at the IO Factory. Over three days of intense hacking, around a hundred or so attendees from a range of different backgrounds (developers, designers, makers, marketing specialists, data scientists, etc.) will be supported by Carrefour mentors, the aim being to develop a solution in record time.

The focus will be on two topics:
●     Data for predicting trends and stock outages, and for tackling wastage.
●     Data for improving the customer experience, by giving consumers data about them to make their day-to-day shopping easier.

An “Algo Prize” – a cheque for €2000 – will be awarded to the best algorithm.  Five teams will also be selected by the panel to receive two months’ worth of business sponsorship. They will get to share a prize worth €8000.

During the event, Carrefour will be unveiling its Carrefour.io platform – a cloud-based platform designed to provide secure access to the APIs and data which make up the Carrefour ecosystem – both for developers and for the group’s trusted partners as part of an open innovation approach.

The event will take place in Paris’ largest fablab: the IO Factory in the 13th arrondissement.

For all request about the Carrefour Group (sales, financial results, governance, international,…), please contact the Carrefour Group media relations office:

. By phone:

Switchboard: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 00

For journalists: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 17

. By e-mail: presse_groupe@carrefour.com

Source: Carrefour

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Walmart awarded more than $200 million second quarter cash bonuses to more than 900,000 hourly associates nationwide

Bentonville, Ark., 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — As part of Walmart’s continued focus on improving and enhancing the store experience for customers, the company recently awarded more than $200 million in second quarter cash bonuses to more than 900,000 hourly associates across the United States.

The bonuses, which were based on stores’ performances from May through July of this year, are part of an overall incentive plan designed to reward associates whose stores have met their performance and customer service goals. Eligible associates can earn these bonuses four times a year.

“Whether it’s buying something for their kids, treating themselves or saving for something great, bonus time at Walmart is always a special time for our associates,” said Mike Moore, executive vice president of Supercenters for Walmart U.S.

“Our people have always been the most important part of our business and they continue to do amazing things for our customers,” said Julie Murphy, executive vice president of Neighborhood Markets for Walmart U.S. “Sam Walton built this business on the idea of sharing profits with our associates and treating them as partners.”

Walmart’s Investment in our Associates

  • In 2015, Walmart announced a two-year, $2.7 billion investment in our associates. The commitment includes investments in education, training and higher wages. As a result, more than 1.2 million Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club associates received pay increases on the same day earlier this year. The second quarter bonuses are not part of the $2.7 billion.
  • Associate training is a key component of Walmart’s associate investment strategy. This year Walmart announced plans to open 200 Academies across the U.S. designed to teach advanced retail skills to department managers and hourly supervisors. More than 140,000 associates are expected to go through the training program each year.
  • Walmart is investing in training at all levels of its stores. In February the company rolled out its Pathways training program for all entry-level workers, providing training, education and opportunities for associates, offering them a clearer career path from entry level positions to jobs with more responsibility and higher pay.

About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, we serve nearly 260 million customers who visit our 11,504 stores under 65 banners in 28 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries. With fiscal year 2015 revenue of $486 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.

Contact: 1-800-WALMART (1-800-925-6278)

Source: Walmart

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Macy’s, Inc. to hire 83,000 seasonal associates for the 2016 Christmas and holiday season

CINCINNATI, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE:M) today (Sep. 20, 2016) said it plans to hire seasonal associates for approximately 83,000 positions at its Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores, call centers, distribution centers and online fulfillment centers nationwide for the 2016 Christmas and holiday season. The company’s 2016 seasonal hiring plan is essentially flat to last year.

The company also announced its first national holiday hiring day, to take place on Friday, Sept. 30, an expansion of successful events which took place in certain locations last year. Job candidates can visit all Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s Backstage store locations between 2 – 8 p.m. (in local time zones) during the event. Candidates should apply in advance at macysJOBS.com or bloomingdalesJOBS.com to discover open positions and opportunities for on-site interviews.

“However our customers connect with us – in stores, online and mobile, or over the phone – Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s shoppers have come to appreciate the higher level of our staffing and service throughout the Christmas and holiday season, and our associates love the merchandise discount and income-earning opportunities at this special time of the year,” said Terry J. Lundgren, Macy’s, Inc. chairman and chief executive officer. “We first offer our current associates the opportunity to work extra hours over the holidays, and then supplement our ongoing workforce with seasonal hires. This significant increase in staffing allows us to provide additional service to customers, however they engage with us.”

Seasonal associates at Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s serve customers on the selling floor, work in store operations positions, interact with customers via call centers, and staff the distribution and fulfillment centers that coordinate shipments to stores and directly to customers who buy online or via mobile. Macy’s, Inc. is one of the largest online retailers in America.

Wherever seasonal associates join the company, all will qualify for a 20 percent merchandise discount on most of their purchases – especially appreciated during the holiday gift-giving time.

Macy’s, Inc.’s 2016 seasonal hiring plan includes the following:

  • Approximately 15,000 of the 83,000 total seasonal positions will be based in direct-to-consumer fulfillment facilities that support sales generated by the company’s omnichannel business strategy. This is an increase of 3,000 positions compared to 2015. These positions are located in megacenters in Goodyear, AZ; Cheshire, CT;Tulsa, OK; Portland, TN; and Martinsburg, WV, as well as in product-specific fulfillment centers in Sacramento, CA; Stone Mountain, GA; Secaucus, NJ; and Joppa, MD.
  • About 1,000 associates will be hired to interact with customers via telephone, e-mail and online chat at customer service centers in Mason, Ohio, Clearwater, FL, and Tempe, AZ.
  • More than 1,000 people will be hired across the country to support the 90th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Santalands and other iconic holiday events.

“These seasonal positions fill an important niche in the American employment spectrum. Especially at the holidays, we employ students working during break to help pay tuition, retirees seeking to remain active, and individuals from many walks of life wanting to supplement their income and benefit from receiving a merchandise discount on their purchases. We are proud to offer them this opportunity to work in a fun, fast-paced and collegial environment,” Lundgren said.

Applications for seasonal positions at Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s are being accepted at macysJOBS.com and bloomingdalesJOBS.com, the company’s easy-to-navigate hiring sites. Candidates who submit applications online will receive a response via e-mail.

Most seasonal positions are part-time, often with flexibility to fit the availability of the individuals hired. Many positions require the applicant to work evenings and weekends and some require overnight. In some cases, temporary seasonal associates are offered open year-round positions based on their skills and performance over the holiday season.

“We have many examples of associates who started with us in temporary seasonal positions and stayed to enjoy a long and fulfilling career with our company. Seasonal employment is often an opportunity to get to know potential future employees and to identify talent that we can recruit as needs arise,” added Lundgren. “The holidays are a magical time of year, and helping customers select gifts from Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s is a special experience that generations of associates have enjoyed and found rewarding.”

Macy’s, Inc. employs about 157,900 associates on a year-round basis.

Macy’s, Inc., with corporate offices in Cincinnati and New York, is one of the nation’s premier retailers, with fiscal 2015 sales of $27.079 billion. The company operates about 880 stores in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guamand Puerto Rico under the names of Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Bloomingdale’s Outlet, Macy’s Backstage and Bluemercury, as well as the macys.com, bloomingdales.com and bluemercury.com websites. Bloomingdale’s in Dubai is operated by Al Tayer Group LLC under a license agreement.

All statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Macy’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this release because of a variety of factors, including conditions to, or changes in the timing of, proposed transactions, prevailing interest rates and non-recurring charges, store closings, competitive pressures from specialty stores, general merchandise stores, off-price and discount stores, manufacturers’ outlets, the Internet, mail-order catalogs and television shopping and general consumer spending levels, including the impact of the availability and level of consumer debt, the effect of weather and other factors identified in documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(NOTE: Additional information on Macy’s, Inc., including past news releases, is available at www.macysinc.com/pressroom)

Contact:
Media:
Holly Thomas
646-429-5250
Holly.Thomas@macys.com

Investor:
Matt Stautberg
513-579-7780

Source: Macy’s, Inc.

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Sainsbury’s opens its purpose built, online fulfilment centre in Bromley-by-Bow

Sainsbury’s opens its purpose built, online fulfilment centre in Bromley-by-Bow
Sainsbury’s opens its purpose built, online fulfilment centre in Bromley-by-Bow

 

London, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sainsbury’s predicts that demand in the capital for its online groceries service will double over the next eight years, as more people switch to a mixture of shopping online and in stores. The retailer announced the forecast as it opened its purpose built, online fulfillment centre in Bromley-by-Bow – a milestone in the retailer’s plans to help customers in London shop whenever and wherever they want.

Laid out in aisles, like an enormous supermarket, the online fulfillment centre in East London is 185,000 sq. ft. and has the capacity to fulfil 25,000 customer orders per week. The chilled picking area alone is ten times the size of an average Sainsbury’s convenience store.  Once Sainsbury’s colleagues have picked orders from the shelves they are transferred to a giant automated system, the first of its kind in the UK. The automated system operates 1.5km of conveyor belts which can carry over 7,000 crates per hour to Sainsbury’s vans.

To ensure its fleet of over 160 vans make deliveries on time, day and night, the site has its own fuel pumps and van servicing area.

The centre also has a bakery where professional bakers, trained at Sainsbury’s bakery college will bake hundreds of loaves from scratch, every day, just as bakers do in Sainsbury’s stores.

Nearly 500 people have already been recruited to work at the centre and Sainsbury’s expects to recruit another 430 colleagues by 2020

Clodagh Moriarty, Sainsbury’s Director of Online commented: “Operating day and night, this state-of-the-art centre, with its cutting edge technology will enable us to handle exceptional volumes at high speed.

“The additional capacity provided by the centre means that, working with our 30 London stores which pick online orders, we’ll be able to keep up with demand for our service in London, which we expect to double over the next eight years.”

Sainsbury’s launched its online grocery business in 1999 and, by 2013, sales had reached £1billion. Since then demand has continued to grow. Last year sales grew by nearly nine per cent and orders grew by nearly 15 per cent.

Press Enquiries please contact: press_office@sainsburys.co.uk or call 020 7695 7295.

Source: Sainsbury

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Thomas Pink introduces new collection of premium and luxury shirts

Thomas Pink introduces new collection of premium and luxury shirts
Thomas Pink introduces new collection of premium and luxury shirts

 

Paris, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Thomas Pink, the modern British shirtmaker renowned for shirts with impeccably cuts and superior quality, is introducing a new approach to this essential element of men’s business attire with shirts precisely tailored to each need.

The shirtmaker associated with the emblematic fox has disrupted its shirting range, putting business first to cater to the real needs of Thomas Pink customers. Following two years of in-depth research to identify the real wants and needs of customers – both of Thomas Pink and others – the London-based house has created a new collection of premium and luxury shirts.

To match different customer profiles and occasions to wear shirts, Thomas Pink revamped its selection according to four key moments in a man’s day.Business shirt styles meet formal business dress codes while About Town shirts feature stylish seasonal updates. Casual shirts are for dressing down to relax on weekends or vacation, and Evening revisits classics for formal evening dress.

The British tailor has identified Business as its main opportunity, offering a distinctive assortment to address the sartorial needs of elegant and demanding professional gentlemen. What’s more, the price points cater to all stages of the corporate ladder. Prices range from £45 for the classic Bulldog, as robust as its namesake, to £225 for the Imperial 200s, made from superfine Italian cotton and including special features like mother-of-pearl buttons. Other innovations include “The Business Bundle”, a selection of four shirts for £200, and the 1984 non-iron, a perfect combination of luxury and performance, because no man ever wished he could do more ironing!

The innovative shirting range is accompanied by new creative communications with a bold and witty campaign featuring clever messages like “It’s hard to be an alpha male in a beta shirt”, or “Are you really going to wear that shirt to the meeting?”. Digital activation will boost the brand’s presence on social networks, in particular LinkedIn to reach the specific target audience. The 360 campaign will run across the UK, the US, India, Mexico, China and Dubai.

Contact:

LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton
22, avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris – France
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 13 22 22
Fax: +33 (0)1 44 13 22 23

Source: LVMH

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Fundación EROSKI pone en marcha la V edición del Programa Educativo en Alimentación y Hábitos de Vida Saludables

Fundación EROSKI pone en marcha la V edición del Programa Educativo en Alimentación y Hábitos de Vida Saludables
Fundación EROSKI pone en marcha la V edición del Programa Educativo en Alimentación y Hábitos de Vida Saludables

 

ELORRIO,España, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Fundación EROSKI, a través de su Escuela de Alimentación, pone en marcha estos días la V edición del Programa Educativo en Alimentación y Hábitos de Vida Saludables (PEAHS). El objetivo primordial del programa es sensibilizar a los estudiantes sobre la importancia de tener una alimentación equilibrada y seguir un estilo de vida saludable. Los colegios interesados en participar en el PEAHS durante el curso 2016-2017 pueden inscribirse a través de www.escueladealimentacion.es o en el teléfono de atención 94 607 28 41.

Cerca de 123.000 escolares de 1.330 centros de Educación Primaria de toda España participaron en la IV edición del PEAHS, desarrollada durante el curso escolar 2015-2016. Los colegios inscritos en el programa desde su inicio en 2013 suponen el 15% de los centros escolares de Educación Primaria de toda España.

“Desde Fundación EROSKI somos conscientes del crecimiento de la tasa de obesidad infantil, debido principalmente a las nuevas costumbres de alimentación y a las actuales rutinas de ocio de los más pequeños”, ha señalado el director de la Fundación EROSKI, Alejandro Martínez Berriochoa. “En 2013 pusimos en marcha este programa educativo dirigido a los centros escolares para promover la alimentación y los hábitos de vida saludables. Desde entonces, más de 200.000 escolares de Primaria de 2.000 centros escolares han participado en él”, añade.

Nuevo taller en colaboración con el Basque Culinary Center

El PEAHS ha sido configurado por un Comité Científico formado por profesionales de diferentes disciplinas: medicina y pediatría, nutrición y dietética, psicopedagogía y pedagogía. El programa, dirigido a estudiantes de Primaria, cuenta con diez sesiones didácticas que se desarrollan en el aula. Y se completa con talleres prácticos. Los alumnos aprenden a realizar una compra saludable en una tienda EROSKI y tienen la oportunidad de visitar las instalaciones de un productor agroalimentario local, para conocer de primera mano el origen de los alimentos.

“Este año incorporamos como novedad un taller en colaboración con cocineros del Basque Culinary Center en el que los estudiantes cocinan un menú equilibrado y se convierten en chefs por un día. También se han unido al programa nuevos proveedores agroalimentarios. El pasado curso se realizaron más de 1.300 talleres, que contaron con la participación de 31.300 escolares”, ha explicado Martínez Berriochoa.

Los contenidos del programa forman al alumnado  sobre los elementos básicos de una alimentación equilibrada, hábitos de vida saludables, el conocimiento de los productos locales, diferentes realidades de la nutrición en el mundo y la sostenibilidad del planeta. Unicef, WWF y la Fundación Española del Corazón son colaboradoras de la Escuela de Alimentación y han elaborado parte de los contenidos del programa educativo.

Reconocimientos a la promoción de hábitos saludables

El programa formativo de Fundación EROSKI para promover una alimentación más saludable cuenta con numerosos reconocimientos, entre ellos, el premio NAOS del Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, y el premio “El Chupete” por la calidad creativa de este programa y los valores que transmite al público infantil.

Durante el pasado curso 2015-2016, el programa siguió recibiendo nuevos galardones como el “Premio Ciudadanos”en la categoría de Salud y Calidad de Vida, y el sello Gosasun, concedido por la Agencia de Innovación Vasca.

Datos de contacto con el Departamento de Comunicación:
944 158 642
comunicacion@eroski.es

Source: Eroski

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New report shows that the new American Dream is ‘living life on one’s own terms’

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — An Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) report sponsored by IKEA US shows that the American Dream, which was once outlined by owning a home with a ‘white picket fence,’ having a comfortable amount of money, and ‘keeping up with the Joneses,’ is now transitioning into ‘living life on one’s own terms*.’ The new dream is defined by quality of life experiences; 57% of Americans say the dream is more about quality of life, as opposed to 20% citing material possessions. More than half (57%) cited spending time with family and friends as the way they are currently living the American Dream.

The EIU report also shows that Americans continue to believe in the value of hard work to achieve success, but the measurement of this success is now based on one’s personal goals, not necessarily those set by society.
•65% believe ‘the American Dream’ is more personal today, less about society’s goals
•76% believe the expression of the American Dream is as diverse as the people in America
•72% of Americans believe they are in some way living the American dream today, while 76% think the dream is a journey and not an end goal

Alex, a 28-year-old woman who lives on a farm co-op in Madison, Wisconsin, embodies this new view of living on one’s own. “Having the freedom to do what I want, take on projects that I want, and to make a difference is really important to me. I can’t be happy in a job that doesn’t allow me to do these things—regardless of the pay check. I live in a co-op because I need that human connection and sense of collaboration,” Alex said. “My favorite parts of any day are spontaneous adventures with the people I love.”

It’s not just what defines the American Dream that is marking this transformation, but rather what people are striving for overall. With regard to the pervasive challenges to success, the EIU study cites:

•The recession of 2008 changed people’s expectations of the ‘American Dream’ according to seven in ten Americans. This is felt more strongly in the middle income bracket ($50,000–$75,000), where 74% believe this, compared with 63% of those in the lowest income bracket and 70% of those in the highest.

•The majority of Americans also agree that “the cost of living today makes it harder to see how one can achieve the American Dream” (78%) and that “college is no longer a guarantee to living the American Dream” (72%).

•Some Americans have fears about “being able to retire comfortably” with fewer than half (42%) believing it’s possible. Those in the lowest income bracket see it as even less achievable (32%).
“It’s confirming to know that the new American Dream is about ‘living life on your own terms,’ because we have always embraced this mindset. We believe all homes are created equal, and we are committed to the many people by producing well-designed, quality, functional and affordable home furnishings that accommodate their diverse lifestyles and wallets. Everyone deserves a home that they love, that is sustainable, looks good and works well – and where they can live happily with family and friends. We understand cost of living hikes and that college tuition is sky high, but no matter what the dream, we want to help our customers achieve it,” stated Lars Petersson, IKEA US president.

“The American Dream can seem very diverse, and today the dream and definitions of success takes many forms, but at the core there is a similarity: to be happy. The means of acquiring the American Dream is the biggest change. For example, more than 70% no longer see college as a guarantee to the American Dream, so we see people are developing new workarounds and goals,” commented Rebecca Lipman, editor of the Discovering the New American Dream EIU report.

On the upside, 77% believe technology has opened new doors for people to achieve their American Dream. A little over half (53%) believe the sharing economy will open up more opportunities for Americans to reach financial prosperity.

These foundational elements of the America Dream today are shared to varying degrees across income levels, generations, political affiliations, and genders.Looking ahead, a majority (62%) of Americans believe being treated equally regardless of one’s background and the freedom to live as they choose will define the American dream for future generations. As time has passed, generations have shaped the American Dream based on the current state of the country, but at its core, it has remained steadfast in the right to ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.’ What defines happiness is what has truly changed.

This report, Discovering the New American Dream, captures the perspectives of Americans of all different backgrounds to explain what the age-old term, American Dream, means to today’s society and how it will continue to evolve. It is based on a survey of 2,050 individuals from all regions of the country of varying ages, ethnicities and incomes, providing a balanced representation of the U.S. as a whole. For more survey results, go to http://discoveringthenewamericandream.eiu.com to download the report.
*This survey ranking result is the highest ranked attribute.

About The Economist Intelligence Unit
The Economist Intelligence Unit is the world leader in global business intelligence. It is the business-to-business arm of The Economist Group, which publishes The Economist newspaper. The Economist Intelligence Unit helps executives make better decisions by providing timely, reliable, and impartial analysis on worldwide market trends and business strategies. More information can be found at www.eiu.com or www.twitter.com/theeiu.

About IKEA
Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of good design and function at low prices. The IKEA Group operates 340 IKEA stores in 28 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.

For more information, please contact:
Becca Lipman
Editor
Economist Intelligence Unit
212-641-9825
beccalipman@eiu.com

Mona Astra Liss
Corporate Public Relations Director
610.834.0180, ext.5852
Mona.Liss@ikea.com

Brock Thatcher
Senior Account Manager
212-641-9885
brock.thatcher@tvcgroup.com

Source: IKEA

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Conforama and Casino Groups to create joint central agency for non-foods products, “Mano”

Paris, France, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Named “Mano”, the agency will aim to optimize for both groups purchasing in France from the main international suppliers of household appliances (both white and brown goods).

It will thus be positioned as the leader or co-leader in its areas of activity and enhance the competitiveness of the Conforama, Cdiscount, Géant, Monoprix and Casino Supermarket banners.

The Conforama and Casino Groups will each continue to independently operate their sales outlets and e-commerce sites in line with their banners’ identities and their respective sales strategies.

About:
Conforama, a major player in the European household goods market, currently operates a total of 286 stores, of which 203 in France and 83 spread among Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, Luxembourg, Italy, Croatia and Serbia. The banner generated net sales of €3.5 billion in the 2016 financial year and has 13,400 employees. For more information: www.conforama.fr

Casino Group:
A food and non-food retail specialist, the Casino Group generated €46.1 billion in sales in 2015 thanks to its 15,344 sales outlets, including 10,627 in France, and more than 325,820 employees worldwide.* In France, the Group has successfully implemented a multi-format, multi-brand and multi-channel model that draws on its extensive network of hypermarkets (Géant), supermarkets (Casino), urban supermarkets (Monoprix, Franprix, Leader Price) and convenience stores (Casino Shop, Vival, Spar, Leader Price Express) as well as its market-leading e-commerce site, Cdiscount. The Group is notably present in Latin America, where it is No. 1 in Brazil thanks to GPA and Via Varejo and in Colombia with Grupo Éxito.

Conforama press contacts:
Isabelle Hoppenot
+33 (0)1 60 95 25 62
+33 (0)6 25 58 14 38
E-mail: ihoppenot@conforama.fr

Rhizlène Mimoun
+33 (0)1 60 95 26 43
+33 (0)6 25 58 95 52
E-mail: rmimoun@conforama.fr

Casino Group press contacts:
Corporate Communications
directiondelacommunication@groupe-casino.fr
Tel. +33 (0)1 53 65 24 78

Image 7
Karine Allouis
kallouis@image7.fr
+33 (0)1 53 70 74 81

Simon Zaks
szaks@image7.fr
+33 (0)1 53 70 74 63

Source: Casino Group

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Shop.org announces lineup of breakout sessions for Retail’s Digital Summit, Sept. 26-28, Dallas, TX

Washington, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today (September 20, 2016) Shop.org announced this year’s lineup of breakout sessions for Retail’s Digital Summit, to be held Monday, Sept. 26 through Wednesday, Sept. 28 in Dallas. Retail’s Digital Summit will feature tactical and comprehensive breakout sessions presented by industry experts and other business leaders, for more than 5,000 retail, e-commerce and multichannel executives in attendance.

The breakout sessions are broken down into six tracks covering almost every digital retail hot topic, providing practical takeaways and proven tactics. Highlights include:

“We are thrilled to be able to provide conference attendees the opportunity to learn from industry experts on topics that are critical to today’s dynamic retail environment,” NRF Vice President of Digital Retail Artemis Berry said. “Our goal is that they leave summit with practical skills and knowledge that they are able to implement into their current business practices so that they can continue to grow and succeed.”

Breakout Sessions schedule (in its entirety):

Tuesday, September 27
1:45 – 2:30pm

2016 Shop.org Digital Commerce Startup of the Year
Doing Well By Doing Good – How to Build Trust and Win the Modern Customer
Reinvent Your Business (and Save Retail Stores!) with Mobile: Chatbots and Location Analytics
Search: The New and the Now for 2016
When Old and New Collide: Transformation for Digital-First Commerce

3:30 – 4:15pm

Lands’ End – Elevating an Iconic Company Into a Meaningful Global Lifestyle Brand
The Big Opportunity: Discussing Strategies for Entering Emerging Markets with Calvin Klein
The Jason and Scot Show: The Shop.org Edition
Ulta Beauty’s Unconventional Growth Story: Omnichannel Expansion is a Beautiful Thing
Why Email Just Doesn’t Die – Bright Shiny Objects: What’s Sexy Now in Digital Marketing

4:15 – 5:00pm

Post-Session Chat Room – Cross-Border E-commerce
Post-Session Chat Room – Customer Experience
Post-Session Chat Room – Cutting Edge Digital
Post-Session Chat Room – Digital Marketing
Post-Session Chat Room – Omnichannel Retail

Wednesday, September 28
11:30 – 12:15pm

Best Practices: Driving Loyalty in the Age of Hypercompetition
How Boxed Wholesale is Dominating in Mobile
How to Compete and Win in China E-Commerce
How to Thrive in an Era of Constant Change

2:00 – 3:00pm

How is Mobile Changing the Omnichannel Shopper Experience? A Facebook Perspective
It’s All Connected – The Secrets of Customer Journey Mapping
Retail Innovation: Omnichannel and The Future of Personalization

Complimentary registration is available to editorial members of the news media as well as accredited retail analysts and bloggers. For more information, please visit the Digital Summit media registration page.

Shop.org, a division of the National Retail Federation, is the world’s leading community for digital retail, offering thought leadership through original research and gold standard events. The community is made up of exclusive networking groups and committees that lead the global conversation surrounding innovative e-commerce trends and digital retail.

About NRF
NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and Internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. Retail is the nation’s largest private sector employer, supporting one in four U.S. jobs — 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.6 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’s This is Retail campaign highlights the industry’s opportunities for life-long careers, how retailers strengthen communities, and the critical role that retail plays in driving innovation. nrf.com

Contact:
Ana Serafin Smith
(202) 626-8189
press@nrf.com
(855) NRF-Press

Source: NRF

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NRF filed suit against Labor Department’s changes to the federal overtime rules

WASHINGTON, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — The National Retail Federation filed suit in U.S. District Court today (September 20, 2016) on behalf of the millions of employers and employees who will be drastically affected if the Labor Department’s changes to the federal overtime rules go into effect on December 1.

“The Labor Department’s extreme and reckless changes to the overtime rules will hobble the career paths of millions of Americans trying to climb the professional ladder,” said NRF Senior Vice President for Government Relations David French. “Retailers are already struggling to implement this new government mandate before the swiftly approaching deadline, and the automatic update included in the rule would make them do this same dance every three years for as long as they are able to remain in business. This is a massive government overreach of executive authority, and the courts need to put a stop to it.”

Research conducted for NRF shows that the overtime regulations will force employers to limit hours or cut base pay in order to make up for the added payroll costs, leaving most workers with no increase in take-home pay despite added administrative costs. A separate survey found that the majority of retail managers and assistant managers the regulations are supposed to help oppose the plan.

NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and Internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. Retail is the nation’s largest private sector employer, supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.6 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’s This is Retail campaign highlights the industry’s opportunities for life-long careers, how retailers strengthen communities, and the critical role that retail plays in driving innovation. nrf.com

Contact:
Robin Roberts
press@nrf.com
(855) NRF-Press

Source: NRF

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British retail industry employs 100,000 people in roles that didn’t even exist five years ago – BRC

LONDON, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — British retail today employs 100,000 people in roles that didn’t even exist five years ago, figures compiled by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) reveal today (September 21, 2016). While overall numbers of employees in retail are expected to fall over the coming few years, innovative ways of working will also create tens of thousands of new types of job including digital artworkers, online merchandisers and even personal stylists.

As 42 retail businesses employing 1,200,000 people lent their support to a shared vision of The Journey to Better Jobs in the industry, BRC Chief Executive Helen Dickinson said the data proved just how creative and dynamic retailers are becoming as structural changes in the market, competitive pressures and higher costs drive the unprecedented pace of transformation:

“Retailers have always been quick to adapt to the changing competitive environment, but the fact that over the coming five years they will create more jobs in new roles than Google employs worldwide[1] shows just what fantastic opportunities retail offers in all kinds of roles,” Dickinson said.
“Where once retail jobs were stigmatised as just ‘shelf-stacking,’ the industry is now a leader in offering opportunities in app development, microbiology or events planning.”

Data from BRC members showed that over three per cent of retail employees are occupied in roles that didn’t exist five years ago. With the majority of these jobs in occupations requiring high levels of technical, scientific or creative skill, this means that there are more people working in new roles in retail than are employed by the entire UK aerospace industry[2].

The Journey to Better Jobs is the third report in its ‘Retail 2020′ series, which examines the way retail jobs are changing and how we can ensure more rewarding and better-paid jobs in the industry in years to come.

The report provides a roadmap for improvement in a broad range of areas that are vitally important to retail employees. These include the way in which training supports progression, customising jobs to cater for differing life needs, making routes to progression more accessible and means of engaging people in improving productivity.

Chairman of John Lewis Partnership Sir Charlie Mayfield said: “The UK retail market is the most competitive in the world and it is undergoing a level of structural change not seen before, driven by the phenomenal speed of new technology. We all need to rethink how our businesses operate, what our customers need in the future and what this means for the skills of the people we employ. We don’t believe the transition will be easy but we are committed to ensuring that in the future there will be better jobs in retail.”

Conor D’Arcy at the independent think tank the Resolution Foundation said: “The fast-changing nature of retail presents huge challenges for employers and their staff. But the vast creation of new kinds of jobs also creates opportunities to boost the skills of retail staff and support progression up the career ladder and onto higher pay. It’s vital that retailers get on board with this task of making retail an attractive industry to work and grow in.”

Case Study
Luke Simmons – Product Owner in Sainsbury’s Digital and Technology Division
In 2004, while looking for a secure job that could offer him good prospects, Luke started to work as a temporary checkout operator at his local Sainsbury’s store in Harlow, during the busy Christmas period. In the New Year, Luke was offered a permanent role as a checkout operator and later promoted to the position of Team Leader.

Luke then asked to join Sainsbury’s management scheme and became a manager at a new flagship store in Hertfordshire. During his time there, he managed the introduction of new Scan and Go technology designed to help customers shop more quickly. After developing his interest in technology, Luke joined Sainsbury’s IT Department in London helping other stores introduce Scan and Go.

In 2014, Sainsbury’s created a new Digital and Technology Division. The new, 1000 strong team creates and manages its websites and Apps, and supports its online businesses, as well as providing more traditional IT support. Luke applied to become a Product Owner – one of the hundreds of new jobs created by the new Division. Today, he is a qualified Product Owner and leads a team of 12 developers, designers and testers who together created, and now manage, the Sainsbury’s Groceries App.

Notes to editors:
– Interviews available on request. The BRC can facilitate interviews with retail employees in new roles.

for media enquiries:
zoe maddison
communications assistant, BRC
tel: +44 (0)20 7854 8924

Source: BRC

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UK’s leading retailers achieved the target to source 100 per cent certified sustainable palm oil by 2015

London, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — The UK’s leading retailers[1] have achieved an ambitious target to source 100 per cent certified sustainable palm oil[2] by 2015.

The target was part of the BRC-led environmental initiative ‘A Better Retailing Climate'[3], through which major retailers have set themselves a number of voluntary goals to improve the environmental sustainability of their business operations. The UK retail industry has amongst the highest voluntary coverage of RSPO[4] certified sustainable palm oil of any country or sector, for own brand products sold through the food, household and personal care categories. Given the very large and complex nature of UK retailers’ product ranges and supply chains, this is a significant achievement and reflects the prominence the industry places on sourcing products sustainably from around the world.

In keeping with their commitments to ensure transparency in their supply chains, BRC members have openly reported on their usage of sustainable palm oil at a collective level for inclusion into the annual UK national statement on palm oil.

BRC Director of Food and Sustainability Andrew Opie said: “As an industry, we are very proud of the leadership we have shown in working towards 100 per cent sustainable sourcing of our palm oil. We know this is important to our customers and we will continue to work towards ever greater sustainable practices right across our business operations and our supply chains and we would encourage other parts of the supply chain to follow retailers’ positive lead”.

Notes to editors:

[1] The retailers referred to are BRC members who are members of the RSPO (see note 4 below) and have signed up to A Better Retailing Climate. Of the certified sustainable palm oil used by retailers, 89 per cent was physically certified while just over 10 per cent was through the Book and Claim system, which enables retailers to financially contribute to sustainable palm oil production by purchasing certificates equivalent to the volumes of oil used. Going forward, the industry will work towards increasing the physical use of sustainable palm oil where it is available

[2] Palm oil is used as an ingredient in a wide range of consumer products from food and animal feed to detergents and cosmetics. Cultivated in tropical areas, demand is leading to the rapid expansion of palm oil plantations and, in some areas, is associated with the conversion of high conservation value rainforests or carbon-rich peatlands.

[3] Launched in 2008, ‘A Better Retailing Climate’ (ABRC) is a voluntary initiative created by a group of leading retailers (representing half of the UK retail market) which sets out collective environmental impact targets, all of which were not only met but exceeded by 2013. A new set of targets were agreed in 2014, with targets to 2020. ABRC is increasingly extending to include sourcing products more responsibly and helping suppliers adopt better practices. A Better Retail Climate

[4] read more about rspo certified palm oil: www.rspo.org/certification

for media enquiries:
zoe maddison
communications assistant, BRC
tel: +44 (0)20 7854 8924

Source: BRC

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BRC’s annual Payments Survey: cash usage declined to 47.15% of all retail transactions in 2015 from 52.09% in 2014

London, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Cash was used for less than half of all retail transactions across the UK in 2015 according to the BRC’s annual Payments Survey, published today (September 20, 2016). The report looks at the methods of payment UK shoppers are using when buying goods in store and online, how this differs from previous years and the average cost to the retailer for handling each method of payment.

The use of cash has fallen almost five percentage points down to 47.15 percent of all retail transactions in 2015 from 52.09 percent the previous year. This is the largest percentage point drop for five years and means that almost 20 percent fewer transactions are made with cash than in 2011.

Commenting on today’s figures, BRC Director of Business and Regulation, Tom Ironside, said:”Though the use of cash has been in decline for some time now, this year it has seen a significant dip. Crucially, retailers are seeing cash used in under half of all transactions for the first time, marking a real watershed in the payments landscape. However, cash remains an important payment method for many customers and will be with us for years to come.

“It seems that more and more of us are turning to our debit cards to make payments especially as new contactless technology is proving incredibly popular for those lower value transactions that used to be the mainstay for cash. This change has been made possible by retailers investing heavily in new payments technology making it easier and quicker for customers to securely complete transactions in store. Card issuers are also driving this change in customer behaviour with around 55 percent of cards currently in use now featuring contactless technology.”

The BRC also found the cost of handling debit and credit card transactions for those retailers participating in the survey has reduced by around £159 million. These savings were due to early changes made available to some retailers by debit and credit card schemes in advance of the implementation of the new Interchange Fee Regulation. The full impact of the changes under the regulation should be experienced by all retailers from 2016.

Tom Ironside concluded: “The BRC has been campaigning for over ten years to better regulate the cost of handling debit and credit card payments. We are, therefore, delighted that all retailers will shortly feel the benefits of the Interchange Fee Regulation. It is a shame that some smaller retailers weren’t able to benefit from changes made in advance of the regulation coming into force, further evidence perhaps of the necessity for better regulation in this area.”

Notes to editors:

BRC Director of Business and Regulation, Tom Ironside, will be available for interview on the morning of 20 September.

For media enquiries & bids:
Zoe Maddison
Communications Assistant, BRC
Tel: +44 (0)20 7854 8924
Zoe.maddison@brc.org.uk

Source: BRC

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RILA comments on Council’s decision to end consideration of scheduling legislation

Arlington , VA, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) issued the following statement in response to action taken today by the Washington, D.C. Council to end the consideration of legislation that would have been harmful to retail employees working in the nation’s capital. The Council tabled the measure on a vote of 9-4, ending consideration of the matter for foreseeable future.

“Retailers welcome the Council’s decision to withdraw this harmful proposal from consideration,” said Joe Rinzel, senior vice president for government affairs. “Restrictive scheduling would have hurt economic development in the city, and made it more difficult for students and seniors to obtain part-time or seasonal work with local retailers.”

The proposal, the Hours and Scheduling Stability Act of 2015, stalled in June after a divisive 3-2 vote in subcommittee.

“Retailers have anchored economic development across the city, with newly constructed stores attracting adjacent restaurants, small business and creating thousands of new jobs for local residents. District policymakers clearly recognize that restrictive scheduling legislation would have put this progress in jeopardy.”

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

Contact:

Brian Dodge
Executive Vice President, Communications and Strategic Initiatives
Phone: 703-600-2017
Email: brian.dodge@rila.org

Source: RILA

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Whole Foods Market to open store at Allentown, PA on Sept. 28

ROCKVILLE, Md., 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Whole Foods Market Allentown will open its doors for shoppers at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28. The community is invited to join company leaders and store team members at 8:45 a.m. for Whole Foods Market’s traditional “bread breaking” ceremony.  Opening day shoppers will be greeted with door-buster deals and an array of in-store product demonstrations and samples.

“Whole Foods Market is bringing an exciting new grocery shopping experience to the residents of Lehigh Valley,” said Kevin Paoletti, store team leader.  “We’re providing more natural and organic options to this community, and every item we offer meets our exacting quality standards, including our salad and hot bars as well as our in-store pub. Combined with our innovative dishes and talented culinary team, we think Whole Foods Market will be the best choice for dining out when you’re shopping at Hamilton Crossing.”

Everything sold in the roughly 44,000-square-foot store is made without any artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, sweeteners or hydrogenated fats. The store sources from local suppliers, including Red Earth Farms in Kempton, Pennsylvania.  The in-store pub, The Foundry, will feature a hyper-local menu including hand-tossed pizzas and seasonal salads made with ingredients from this local farm.

Giving back to the community is one of Whole Foods Market’s core values and the Allentown store opening will support three local organizations:

  • The Rodale Institute, a non-profit committed to groundbreaking research and education on organic agriculture, will receive a check on opening day.
  • Gear Up Academy, a program of the Lehigh Valley Health Network and Valley Preferred Cycling Center, promotes healthy lifestyles through inner city youth cycling, and will be the beneficiary of 5 percent of store sales on Oct. 5.
  • The Caring Place, an inner-city youth development center for children at risk, will be the store’s first “Nickels for Nonprofits” recipient. Whole Foods Market will donate a nickel each time a customer uses a reusable bag (instead of paper) to shop. Whole Foods Market is also proud to be employing a young person from The Caring Place’s Youth Development Program.

Join the more than 100 new locally-hired team members who are eager to share what makes Whole Foods Market such a special place, including:

  • Produce: Approximately 180 produce items with 50-70 locally sourced options at opening.
  • Grocery: More than 200 bulk items, four varieties of grind-your-own nut butters and approximately 2,500 organic grocery items, along with foods to accommodate special diets throughout the store.
  • Meat: A variety of meat and poultry items from animals raised without added hormones or antibiotics, and raised on farms that are assessed for animal welfare. Local standouts include Martins Fresh Made Sausages in a variety of flavors, locally raised Pennbrook Acres pork, Jandl turkeys, and Bell & Evans line of fresh and frozen chicken.
  • Seafood: All wild-caught seafood is certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council, or is rated green or yellow by the Monterey Bay Aquarium and The Safina Center; all farmed seafood is third-party audited to Whole Foods Markets industry-leading standards; free services include filleting fish, cleaning and deveining shrimp and steaming any seafood purchases.
  • Bakery: A full scratch bakery with several varieties of bread mixed, shaped by hand and baked in our hearth ovens daily.
  • Whole Body:  Every item is reviewed for environmental and human health impact and where there are missing or weak regulations on product claims, Whole Foods Market has established its own body care quality standards.
  • Household Products: Whole Foods Market sells only eco-friendly cleaning ingredients with full ingredient disclosure labeling.
  • In-Store Dining: Hot and cold prepared foods bars, soup, sandwiches, sushi and the in-store pub – The Foundry – which features 15 local beers and one local cider on tap as well as wine by the glass.
  • Décor: A massive exposed structural I-beam pays homage to Allentown’s steel producing roots. The pub is named for Bethlehem Steel’s Iron Foundry and the bike painted high above the store in the back gives a nod to Trexlertown’s bike culture.

The store is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 750 N. Krocks Road.

Contact:

Annie Cull
301.998.6872
MAPR@wholefoods.com

Source: Whole Foods Market

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Whole Foods Market seeks unique products from local growers and producers to feature in its new South Hills Pittsburgh store

ROCKVILLE, Md., 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Whole Foods Market is looking for unique products from local growers and producers to feature in its new South Hills store. Interested suppliers can submit information online at www.wholefoodsmarket.com/malocal. The submission deadline is Wednesday, October 12.

Whole Foods Market defines local products as grown or produced within 100 miles of a store, or within the same state as a store. The South Hills location is seeking a variety of products, from grocery and specialty items to produce, meat and seafood, to body care and lifestyle goods. Across the U.S., Whole Foods Market stores source from more than 6,500 local suppliers.

“Whole Foods Market is proud to partner with local producers to offer our customers exciting and innovative artisan products,” said Ben Rose, executive coordinator of purchasing for Whole Foods Market’s mid-Atlantic region. “All of our local producers adhere to the same quality standards that we apply throughout the store, which ensures these products are free from artificial colors, flavors, hydrogenated fats and preservatives.”

Interested local suppliers should carefully review Whole Foods Market’s quality standards. The South Hills store is scheduled to open in early 2017.

Contact:

Annie Cull
301.998.6872
MAPR@wholefoods.com

Source: Whole Foods Market

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Whole Foods Market seeks local food items and artisan products for its relocating Lexington store

ROCKVILLE, Md., 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Whole Foods Market is looking for unique products from local growers and producers to feature in its relocating Lexington store. Interested suppliers can submit information online at www.wholefoodsmarket.com/malocal. The submission deadline is Wednesday, October 12.

Whole Foods Market defines local products as grown or produced within 100 miles of a store, or within the same state as a store. The South Hills location is seeking a variety of products, from grocery and specialty items to produce, meat and seafood, to body care and lifestyle goods. Across the U.S., Whole Foods Market stores source from more than 6,500 local suppliers.

“Whole Foods Market is proud to partner with local producers to offer our customers exciting and innovative artisan products,” said Ben Rose, executive coordinator of purchasing for Whole Foods Market’s mid-Atlantic region. “All of our local producers adhere to the same Quality Standards that we apply throughout the store, which ensures these products are free from artificial colors, flavors, hydrogenated fats and preservatives.”

Interested local suppliers should carefully review Whole Foods Market’s quality standards. The relocated Lexington store is scheduled to open in Spring of 2017.

Contact:

Annie Cull
301.998.6872
MAPR@wholefoods.com

Source: Whole Foods Market

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Whole Foods Market signed resolution with EPA to resolve issues related to common consumer products

Austin, Texas, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Whole Foods Market signed an administrative resolution with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 to resolve record keeping and cataloging issues related to common consumer products that may become waste at stores located in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and New Mexico.  No specific environmental impact has been alleged.

The products in question, which are classified as hazardous waste when they can no longer be used for their intended purpose, include items like nail polish remover, certain products containing alcohol (i.e. hand sanitizer), liquor and certain vitamins.  This often occurs when a product is opened and returned by a customer and can no longer be returned to the stores’ shelves.

Whole Foods Market has implemented a comprehensive compliance program that is designed to assist our Team Members to properly manage the limited number of products that may be regulated by EPA when they can no longer be used for their intended purpose. The company has extended the implementation of the program to all of its U.S. stores and facilities and, in partnership with the EPA, has committed to training and sharing best practices with businesses in Region 6 to support efforts to improve environmental compliance efforts across industries.

Whole Foods Market’s environmental compliance measures include:

  • Updated environmental compliance standards and operating procedures for stores and facilities
  • Enhanced training programs for Team Members
  • Investments in enhanced IT systems to identify products that become hazardous waste in real time, so they may be tracked, managed and catalogued properly
  • Retention of additional internal and external environmental compliance experts for program and compliance

The enhanced environmental management program that Whole Foods Market worked with EPA to develop goes beyond the compliance requirements that apply under the law.  EPA recognized these extensive efforts in the administrative resolution.

Whole Foods Market takes environmental stewardship extremely seriously.  By working in partnership with the EPA, we were able to resolve the issues in the five states, enhance our existing environmental management program and extend the rollout of those improved best practices across the company.

Types of Products (Important note: This list in not exhaustive):

  • Flammables: Hand sanitizer gels and sprays, perfumes and colognes, nail polish, nail polish remover, liquor (48 proof or above), etc.
  • Federal Toxics: Vitamins and vitamin supplements (containing chromium, selenium and/or colloidal silver)
  • Oxidizers: Laundry bleach, hair color products with hydrogen peroxide, etc.
  • Corrosive Acidic: Certain toilet bowl cleaners, calcium and/or lime removers, products containing acetic, hydrochloric or phosphoric acid, etc.
  • Corrosive Basic: Certain drain cleaners, oven cleaners, warewashing detergents, etc.
  • Universal Waste: Electronics, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, and some state regulated items, such as paint in Texas

Contact Information:

Robin Kelly
Robin.Kelly@wholefoods.com
201.567.2090 x411

Source: Whole Foods Market

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Whole Kids Foundation and United Health Foundation award $200,000 to schools and nonprofit organizations to improve children’s nutrition

Whole Kids Foundation and United Health Foundation award $200,000 to schools and nonprofit organizations to improve children’s nutrition
Whole Kids Foundation and United Health Foundation award $200,000 to schools and nonprofit organizations to improve children’s nutrition

 

AUSTIN, Texas, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Whole Kids Foundation and United Health Foundation are awarding a total of $200,000 to nine schools and nonprofit organizations through the Healthy Kids Innovation Grant Program, which was created to fund the next generation of ideas to improve children’s nutrition.

Recipients were chosen for creating programs aimed at increasing access to healthy, nutritious food and nutrition education in their communities. Each will receive up to $25,000 to put their creative project ideas in motion. Projects range from community gardens and student entrepreneurship initiatives to online video-based training programs.

As part of United Health Foundation’s Better Health in Local Communities initiative, Whole Kids Foundation and United Health Foundation share a common mission to improve people’s health and quality of life. According to America’s Health Rankings, children are three times more likely to have their health needs unmet if they are living in low-income or impoverished areas – these programs expand access to healthy foods that can improve the health of those who need it most.

“The Healthy Kids Innovation Grant recipients are pioneering what’s next in children’s nutrition,” said Nona Evans, president and executive director of Whole Kids Foundation. “We are grateful for United Health Foundation’s partnership to fund these programs that will collectively serve thousands of students.”

“These grants will help facilitate innovative solutions that we hope will shape future standards for children’s health and nutrition and improving people’s health and well-being,” said Chris Stidman, president of United Health Foundation.

The nine grant recipients are:

A Garden for Every School, Keep Iowa Beautiful – Des Moines, Iowa

A $25,000 grant will support “A Garden for Every School,” a free, online, video-based training program for school garden planning through Keep Iowa Beautiful, a nonprofit that brings cultural and economic vitality to communities through improvement and enhancement projects. Ten short, easy-to-share videos on Teachers-Going-Green.com provide step-by-step training on how to plan and create a garden, from assembling a team to asset-mapping. A downloadable school garden-planning guide is also available. The videos and planning guides can be revisited and updated annually as an ongoing resource for school gardens.

Vegetable Desert Farmer’s Market, Charles Barrett Elementary – Los Angeles

With relatively few grocery options in South Los Angeles, access to fresh fruits and vegetables is limited. This $25,000 grant will support a nutrition education and entrepreneurship program at Charles Barrett Elementary School in partnership with Girls Inc., which develops research-based programs that encourage girls to take risks and master challenges. Female students will have the opportunity to manage a garden, learn about the nutritional value of vegetables, and create a sustainable business through class time and an after-school garden club. Students will tend the garden and create a farmers market program. Through mentorship and education, this program addresses the need for fresh vegetables in the community, helps foster student entrepreneurship, and expands healthy eating and financial literacy for girls.

Kids and Community at the Bethel Farm, Willamette Farm and Food Coalition – Eugene, Ore.

Willamette Farm and Food Coalition (WFFC) works to increase low-income individuals’ access to locally grown foods. The $25,000 grant will enable WFFC to lead farm-to-school activities for students at the Bethel Production and Education Farm, which is funded and managed by the Bethel School District. This will also help the district’s nutrition services staff in sourcing food from the farm, engage residents of the surrounding low-income community in gardening opportunities, and help establish a low-cost community support agriculture (CSA) program and farm stand.

Teacher Training in Mindfulness-Based Integrative Nutrition and Body Wellness, Jefferson County Public Schools – Louisville, Ky.

Research indicates that teachers are more at risk than other adults to neglect self-care. Seeking to disrupt this trend, Jefferson County Public Schools will receive a $25,000 grant to fund professional development opportunities for its teachers to create self-care plans. The two-day educator retreat will include seminars that address topics such as mindfulness, self-care and nutrition. The teachers will then create curriculum to share with students and form a monthly professional learning community to maintain momentum in mindful health and wellness.

Leadership Legacy Institute 2017, The Oriental Institute – Chicago

The Oriental Institute will use its $25,000 grant to help fund a program for teachers that use the archaeological exploration of food, health and nutrition in ancient civilizations to help students understand human diets and the importance of food diversity for health. The Oriental Institute is dedicated to providing learning opportunities about the cultures of the ancient Near East to children. This new program will help teachers connect children with the lives of ancient peoples and help them make healthy, educated food decisions. Thirty fifth- through eighth-grade teachers from the Chicago area will train to use this curriculum to teach nutrition and gardening through the lens of ancient archeology.

Farm at School, Encinitas Union School District – Carlsbad, Calif.

Connecting a district-wide garden education program to the district lunch program, Encinitas Union School District (EUSD) will use its $25,000 grant to support the “Farm at School” program. By providing all students with a full-day field trip to the district’s 10-acre Farm Lab, an organic garden for nutritional education, students will acquire grade-level-appropriate lessons that support a food-literate culture. Experiential learning will incorporate design, research, engineering, art, math and science to support nutrition that connects school garden education to the cafeterias at each school in the district. The Farm at School program will aid students in making the connection between EUSD-grown food and school lunch choices with a student-led branding campaign and videos to promote the Farm Lab food. An app for parents and students will share menus and notifications about EUSD-grown produce.

Slow Food USA – Denver

School garden programs continue to proliferate across the country, providing students with hands-on experience in growing, harvesting, cooking and eating healthy fresh produce; however, due to food safety concerns, lack of kitchen facilities or staff training, few school districts allow school garden produce to be served in cafeterias. This $25,000 grant will support the development of a Garden-to-Cafeteria Toolkit for Slow Food USA’s chapter sites across the U.S. to support the protocol development and training necessary to have a successful program. The second phase of the project will involve in-person workshops at five school districts, and remote support for five to ten school districts to overcome any hurdles to successful implementation. This program is a tremendous opportunity for students to see the connection between fresh produce grown in the school garden and healthy food that is served in the cafeteria.

Green Garden Bakery, Urban Strategies, Inc. – Minneapolis

Urban Strategies is a not-for-profit organization working to build safe and thriving communities in urban core neighborhoods. This $20,000 grant will support the expansion of the organization’s Green Garden Bakery program, a youth-run environmental veggie dessert business that engages underserved kids in a weekly after-school program. Students learn about gardening, cooking and nutrition, and will grow, harvest and develop recipes for their produce while simultaneously developing the brand and business. The program’s expansion will incorporate more youth and reach more people throughout Minneapolis.

School Garden Data Collection App, Captain Planet Foundation – Atlanta

Captain Planet Foundation is an environmental education nonprofit that operates Project Learning Garden to share a comprehensive school garden program with educators that includes the tools necessary to integrate gardens in school culture. With the ultimate goal of helping children develop an early palate for fresh fruits and vegetables, an $8,000 grant will fund the development of an app to collect school garden data, including pounds harvested, tasting events, lessons given, photos, quotes and workdays, along with a web-based interface to enable streamlined reporting by multiple groups.

Contact:

Darrah Gist
darrah.gist@wholefoods.com
678.638.5888

Lauren Bernath
lauren.bernath@wholefoods.com
678.638.5805

Source: Whole Foods Market

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West Elm and Whole Foods Market launches exclusive Holiday kitchen and tabletop collection to benefit Whole Planet Foundation

NEW YORK and AUSTIN, TX, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — West Elm and Whole Foods Market introduce today (September 20, 2016)  an exclusive holiday collection to benefit Whole Planet Foundation, a nonprofit organization that alleviates poverty around the globe.  In partnership with Guatemalan textile group The New Denim Project, the 12-piece, limited-time collection of kitchen and tabletop items are crafted from premium, upcycled denim. One dollar from every piece purchased from this West Elm and Whole Foods Market holiday collection will be donated to Whole Planet Foundation. The collection is available now online at westelm.com/wholefoodsmarket and will be available in both West Elm and Whole Foods Market stores beginning in October.

“We are continuously seeking new ways to offer our customers choice in products and services that are both well designed and make an impact,” said Jennifer Gootman, West Elm Director of Social Consciousness and Innovation. “Together with Whole Foods Market and The New Denim Project, this collection aims to give back to the makers and artisans, to communities in need, and to the environment.”

Each piece in the collection is 100 percent cotton and constructed of upcycled denim, a process that utilizes waste from pre-consumer denim. The waste is ground back into fiber, mixed with new cotton, spun into yarn and is woven into fabrics. The process is chemical- and dye-free and more than 20,000 liters of water are conserved per kilogram of upcycled material. Most items in the 12-piece collection are priced below $40 and include coasters, napkins, placemats, table runners, oven mitts, kitchen towels and aprons.

“Our partnership with West Elm is a perfect example of how small purchases can go a long way toward improving our world through sustainable production practices,” said Jeanne Tamayo, Global Lifestyle Buyer at Whole Foods Market. “These pieces are beautifully designed and will look great in any kitchen.”

To further support the collaboration, West Elm and Whole Foods Market encourage customers to visit westelm.com/wholefoodsmarket where they can access exclusive entertaining ideas and recipes. Beginning on October 1, West Elm will donate $1 to Whole Planet Foundation for each customer who creates one of the unique recipes, photographs it and shares it on social media using #WestElmxWFM, for an additional $2,000 donation to Whole Planet Foundation. Additionally, on Saturday, October 8, West Elm invites customers to visit their neighborhood West Elm store in the U.S. for a special day featuring holiday entertaining tips from West Elm’s professional in-home stylists, free treats and exclusive recipes provided by Whole Foods Market. To RSVP for the in-store event, customers should visit westelm.com/stores and select their local store.

Contact:

Darrah Gist
darrah.gist@wholefoods.com
678.638.5888

Lauren Bernath
lauren.bernath@wholefoods.com
678.638.5805

Source: Whole Foods Market

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JCPenney launches premium collection of cookware, cutlery and small kitchen electrics from Cooks Signature

PLANO, Texas, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — JCPenney [NYSE: JCP] is turning up the heat in the kitchen with an elevated assortment of cookware, cutlery and small kitchen electrics from Cooks Signature, which offers everyday home chefs premium, high-quality kitchen products at a great value. The collection launches with durable cookware sets and frying pans available now in 600 stores and at jcp.com, with a broader assortment of products available in stores this October.

“JCPenney has built a reputation for designing, developing and sourcing some of the best private brands in the industry and Cooks Signature is no exception,” said John Tighe, chief merchant for JCPenney. “Home is an important growth category and the addition of Cooks Signature to our JCPenney Home™ portfolio enables us to appeal to a wide customer base seeking quality design and construction at an attainable price.”

The collection offers 11-piece and 14-piece cookware sets that are built with a hard-anodized aluminum body that distributes heat evenly, making it twice as strong as stainless steel. Each piece is also triple coated with Matrix® nonstick coating offering superior food release and easy cleaning. The 11-piece cookware set, available on sale for $179.99, includes two professional grade frying pans, one sauté pan, two saucepans, tempered glass lids, a stock pot and steamer insert. For $199.99 on sale, the 14-piece set is ideal for larger families and features an added pasta insert, fry pan and saucepan with lid. Shoppers can complete their culinary endeavors with a nonstick grill pan, a two-piece durable nonstick frying pan set, a four-quart ergonomic sauté pan and a five-quart soup pot. All Cooks Signature cookware is dishwasher safe and designed to withstand the rigorous demands of the everyday kitchen.

In time for family feasts and holiday entertaining, Cooks Signature will serve up an assortment of small kitchen electrics in stores on October 18, featuring an eight-quart programmable slow cooker, stainless steel toaster, 14-cup programmable coffee maker, six-slice convection oven and a 15-piece high-performance knife set with storage block and built-in knife sharpener. Cooks Signature complements the Cooks line of affordable kitchen basics that includes cutlery, utensils, cookware, bakeware and small kitchen electrics.

Cooks has earned the respect of JCPenney shoppers since its inception in 2005. Over the past decade, 135 products have earned the prestigious Good Housekeeping Seal by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, which evaluates safety requirements and quality standards before granting their approval. Additionally, over 60 Cooks products currently boast an average customer rating of four to five stars on jcp.com.

Cooks Signature is featured in the Home Fall/Winter Style Book 2016, which is available to view at jcp.com.

For product images, please visit: http://www.jcpnewsroom.com/news-releases/2016/0920_introduces_high_quality_cookware_and_kitchen_electrics.html

About JCPenney:
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE:JCP), one of the nation’s largest apparel and home furnishings retailers, is on a mission to ensure every customer’s shopping experience is worth her time, money and effort. Whether shopping jcp.com or visiting one of over 1,000 store locations across the United States and Puerto Rico, she will discover a broad assortment of products from a leading portfolio of private, exclusive and national brands. Supporting this value proposition is the warrior spirit of over 100,000 JCPenney associates worldwide, who are focused on the Company’s three strategic priorities of strengthening private brands, becoming a world-class omnichannel retailer and increasing revenue per customer. For additional information, please visit jcp.com.

Media Relations:
(972) 431-3400
jcpnews@jcp.com
follow us at @jcpnews

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JCPenney launches premium collection of cookware, cutlery and small kitchen electrics from Cooks Signature
JCPenney launches premium collection of cookware, cutlery and small kitchen electrics from Cooks Signature

 

Source: JCPenney

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Ahold USA divisions achieved the one billion bag reduction goal this summer

Ahold USA divisions achieved the one billion bag reduction goal this summer
Ahold USA divisions achieved the one billion bag reduction goal this summer

 

Zaandam, the Netherlands, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — In 2011, the Ahold USA divisions set a very ambitious goal – to eliminate a total of one billion paper and plastic grocery bags from landfills. And now we’re proud to report that they achieved the one billion bag reduction goal this summer, eliminating enough bags to circle the earth seven times. Now that’s a lot of bags!

Ahold USA and division associates have worked very hard to accomplish this goal through:

  • Better bagging techniques and increased items per bag
  • Placing items with handles directly in shopping carts (e.g., milk, pet food, detergent)
  • Promoting the use of reusable bags with customers

To celebrate this achievement, Ahold USA’s Sustainable Retailing Team is giving each Support Office associate a new reusable bag, to keep the momentum going and continue to eliminate bags from landfills. On September 17, the division stores also gave out 100 free reusable bags to their first 100 customers to keep supporting their positive contributions to this goal. By achieving the one billion bags goal, the Ahold USA divisions also helped us meet another target of our sustainable retailing strategy.

Conract:

Email: media.relations@aholddelhaize.com
Phone: +31 88 659 9111

Source: AholdDelhaize

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Market 32 opens new store in Oxford, Connecticut

OXFORD, CT, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ —  The Golub Corporation cut the ribbon on its first “ground up” Market 32 in the State of Connecticut today in Oxford, giving local residents the opportunity to experience the chain’s contemporary new supermarket concept. Located at 300 Oxford Rd., the new Market 32 is the anchor of the long anticipated Quarry Walk.

Golub Corporation Executive Chairman Neil Golub, Vice Chairman Jerry Golub, President & CEO Scott Grimmett, Store Manager Guido Martini and other company officials were joined by State Representative David Labriola, State Senator Rob Kane, Town Economic Development Commission Director Andrew McGeever, Economic Development Chair Ed Carver, Planning & Zoning Commission Chair Arnie Jensen, First Selectman George Temple and other elected officials and civic leaders along with Tom Haynes and the team from Haynes Development and hundreds of local residents for an official ribbon cutting ceremony. The flag was raised by members of the American Legion Post #174.

A catered ‘preview party’ held the night before drew several hundred people to the store and raised thousands of dollars for the Oxford High School Booster Club, Oxford Pop Warner Football and Cheer, and the Seymour Oxford Food Bank Inc. All proceeds collected at the door were matched by Market 32 and Haynes Development.

“Market 32 is a contemporary food-focused concept store that wholly reflects what our customers have told us they want in a modern and convenient shopping experience,” said Scott Grimmett, Price Chopper President & CEO.

This is the 10th Market 32 to open since the company announced its plans to develop the new brand across the majority of its 135 stores over the next decade. To date, eight of the company’s Price Chopper stores have been converted to Market 32 (including the Torrington, CT. store), while two have been built from the ground-up – in Sutton, MA (opened in October 2015) and Oxford, CT. Several conversions are currently underway across the chain’s six state footprint, while another new store, is being built from the ground up in Ft. Edward, NY, and is expected to open before the end of the year.

The look and feel of Market 32 is distinctively more modern than Price Chopper, though many of the differences are subtle. Marked by open space, a décor filled with soft earth tones and product focused displays, murals and lighting, the brand emphasizes convenient, ready-to-eat foods, fresh, handcrafted, and locally grown, produced and manufactured products, and intuitive product/department adjacencies (e.g. greeting cards next to the floral department).

“Our Oxford Market 32 is a grocery store for this and future generations. While maintaining our focus on quality and value, we’ve added a host of wonderful signature items throughout the store, plus modern conveniences like customized prepared foods, a patisserie/café equipped with wi-fi, a drive-thru pharmacy, , a Chef’s Table offering food demonstrations and sampling, and a new higher standard of service,” said Grimmett.

The more than 54,000 square foot store employs 200 full and part-time teammates. Some of the features of the new Oxford Market 32 include:

• A Full Service Pharmacy, with a separate entrance as well as a convenient drive-through, is a complete health and wellness destination for the community. Pharmacists can answer health and medication related questions in private patient consultation rooms and administer flu and other preventative shots. Most insurance plans are accepted and Market 32 makes it easy to transfer prescriptions. Market 32’s award-winning Diabetes AdvantEdge program offers p. 3 customers free diabetes medications and supplies while the RxAdvantEdge Plan offers discounts on medications. And an onsite blood pressure kiosk is available to customers, as are personal SmartCards, to help those who are interested in tracking their results and sharing them with a Health Care Provider.

• A Center Store (Grocery and General Merchandise) department featuring: the rollout of PICS – Market 32’s exclusive line of high quality, value-priced products; a customizable ‘pick 24’ on single serve Price Chopper brand coffee pods; an expanded Craft Beer section with a large variety of local CT favorites; expanded variety in popular categories like pasta, sauce, spices, oils and grains; locally sourced products (both dry packaged and dairy); natural and organic offerings integrated into their relative categories; an expansive gluten-free section; a kitchen shop, containing upscale Cuisinart appliances, Rachel Ray cooking accessories, Core bamboo gadgets and T-Fal cookware and accessories.

• A full service, Fresh Meat Department offers an extensive variety of high quality Certified Angus Beef steaks and roasts, including specialty restaurant cuts such as the Tomahawk Rib Steak and Bone-In Filet. Case ready variety includes an exclusive on Chiappetti 100% Grass Fed/Grass Finished Antibiotic Free beef and all natural and hormone free lamb and veal. Convenient, value added meats include panko-encrusted cutlets, stuffed chops with all natural no water/no salt added, and the free seasoning and/or marinating of USDA Grade A Chicken and Pork products by our in-store expert butchers.

• A wide ranging, colorful and Fresh Produce Department with mountains of heirloom tomatoes, fresh bunches of herbs and a wide variety of mushrooms and peppers. Market 32 is dedicated to finding local providers for produce (as possible, given growing seasons) and is committed to an expanded assortment of organic produce. Additionally, customers will find an assortment of prepared, ready-to-cook and grab-n-go fruit and vegetables.

• The Fresh and Healthy Seafood Department offers the most extensive assortment of salmon variety available in a retail supermarket, including wild caught, farm raised, delectable Scottish, cedar planked, marinated portions, stuffed pinwheels, and even a pulled BBQ offering – all in all, more than three dozen varieties of salmon from which to choose. The extensive fin fish selection includes sea bass, halibut portions, tilapia, haddock, and numerous varieties of shellfish including lobster, clams, shrimp and crab. Fresh seafood selections fried or steamed to order, with classic sides such as cole slaw and French fries, top a menu of full prepared meals, while selections dredged in free seasoning rubs, or those which have been breaded or stuffed offer simple, ready to cook solutions.

• A Fresh Deli Department featuring quality sliced meats and cheeses that help to create healthy meal solutions, such as those from McKenzie Natural Artisan Deli, whose turkeys and hams are sourced from local family farms, contain no antibiotics, no growth hormones and no nitrates.

• An expanded Specialty Cheese Department featuring Market 32’s signature Cheese Shop with more than 300 varieties of unique cheeses including several savory and sweet Brie Tortes made fresh, in-store. Our knowledgeable cheese mongers are there to help you sample and select the right cheese every time, whether for entertaining or snacking.

• Convenient, Delicious and Healthy Prepared Foods throughout the store so shoppers can bring home full meals or supplement meals without sacrificing freshness or value. Offerings include a full-service Starbucks; a made to order salad station where shoppers can customize their salad; p. 4 classic NYC-style deli sandwiches; fresh-baked Corner to Corner and Tavoletta pizzas; a variety of hot and cold soups; an in-store smoker that slow cooks ribs, brisket, chicken and pulled pork with Market 32’s signature rub; sushi and Aburi (toasted sushi) made fresh in-store; Grab & Go and heat & eat meals; and, a unique Chef’s Case which offers entrees and sides, giving shoppers the opportunity to customize their meal combinations.

• A colorful and aromatic Floral Department to brighten any room or occasion greets Market 32 shoppers as they enter the store. As the largest florist in the Northeast, Market 32 has a wide array of assorted fresh flowers and plants. With custom design services, Market 32 floral experts can help customers design the perfect flowers for all of life’s occasions.

• A warm and inviting Bakery Department provides delicious store-made breads and desserts, including three varieties of freshly baked focaccia breads, signature Vienna Breads and decadent individual deserts such as fruit tarts and cupcakes as well as dessert and special occasion cakes.

Throughout Market 32, customers will notice a commitment to supporting local manufacturers and growers, sourcing authentic imports and expanding varieties of gluten-free, organic, and natural products. Unique destination displays explode with a wide variety of popular categories such as pasta & sauce, rice & grains, oils & vinegars and spices, adding ideas and excitement to the shopping experience.

“This Market 32 reflects the newest and best ideas that we’ve gotten from our customers. We’re very proud of this store and pleased to be a part of this community,” said Grimmett.

About The Golub Corporation:

Based in Schenectady, NY, the Golub Corporation owns and operates 135 Price Chopper and Market 32 grocery stores in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The American owned, family-managed company prides itself on longstanding traditions of innovative food merchandising, leadership in community service, and cooperative employee relations. Golub’s 20,000 teammates collectively own more than 47% of the company’s privately held stock, making it one of the nation’s largest privately held corporations that is predominantly employee owned. For additional information, visit www.market32.com

Contact:
Jonathan M. Pierce,APR
Pierce Communications
518-221-1186 (cell)
jon@albanypr.com

Mona Golub
The Golub Corporation/Market 32
518-379-1480

Source: MARKET-32

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The Cooking School @ Market Bistro announces September classes

Latham, N.Y., 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Cooking School @ Market Bistro will offer a variety of classes that range from basic cooking to more advanced recipes and skill levels, including; ethnic foods, quick meals, appetizers, baking and pastry classes. The registration fee for classes range from $50 to $55 per person.

Wednesday, September 14; 6 to 9 pm
Hands On & Dine: Cooking the Harvest
Let’s put the cornucopia of freshly harvested fruits and vegetables to good use with these sweet and savory seasonal recipes. Recipes include: pork chops with caramelized apples and shallots, cider-braised red cabbage, butternut squash gratin, and pear and cranberry streusel. (Registration: $55 per student (wine served))

Saturday, September 17; 6 to 9 pm
Hands On & Dine: Quintessence Revisited: Mexican Night
Mexican dishes made at home are easy when recreating the Quintessence Mexican Night menu. Recipes include: black bean soup, fried tortilla chips with salsa fresca and guacamole, chicken fajitas, and banana chocolate chip chimichanga. (Registration: $55 per student (wine or beer served))

Wednesday, September 21; 6 to 9 pm
Hands on & Dine: Baking Basics
Learn three basic baking techniques to make simple, impressive homemade desserts. Recipes include: chocolate shortcake with mixed berries, pâte à choux, and salted caramel apple pie. (Registration: $55 per student (wine served))

Thursday, September 22; 6 to 9 pm
Hands On & Dine: Fall Pasta
What’s more perfect on the first day of fall than a hearty plate of pasta, with fall produce supplying some of the best inspiration for seasonal pasta dishes? Recipes include: butternut squash ravioli with brown butter sage sauce, fettuccine bolognaise, and apple cider donuts. (Registration: $55 per student (wine served))

Tuesday, September 27; 6 to 9 pm
Hands On & Dine: Less Than 30 Minute Meals
There are some nights when you just need to get in and out of the kitchen in a hurry. These delicious dishes are ready in less than 30 minutes. Recipes include: miniature shepherd’s pie, garden vegetable frittata, and chicken and spinach stuffed shells. (Registration: $55 per student (wine served))

Wednesday, September 28, 2016; 6 to 9 pm
Hands On & Dine: Knife Skills
Learning how to cut properly can make the difference between kitchen duty being seen as a chore instead of a joy. Recipes include: sweet potato corn chowder, grilled chicken tostada with salsa, guacamole, and chipotle crema, and puff pastry fruit tarts. (Registration: $55 per student (wine served))

Pre-registration for all classes is required. Register online at https://www.marketbistro.com/CookingSchool/Class/UpcomingClass or by visiting The Cooking School @ Market Bistro.

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

About The Golub Corporation: Based in Schenectady, NY, the Golub Corporation owns and operates 135 Price Chopper and Market 32 grocery stores in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The American owned, family-managed company prides itself on longstanding traditions of innovative food merchandising, leadership in community service, and cooperative employee relations. Golub’s 22,000 teammates collectively own more than 47% of the company’s privately held stock, making it one of the nation’s largest privately held corporations that is predominantly employee-owned. For additional information, visit www.pricechopper.com

Contact:
Maureen Murphy
518.379.1215
maureenmurphy@pricechopper.com

Source:  The Cooking School

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Fizzics® portable draft beer system now available at Best Buy

Fizzics® portable draft beer system now available at Best Buy
Fizzics® portable draft beer system now available at Best Buy

 

Minneapolis, MN, 2016-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — So, these two guys walk into a bar. [Correction: Brewery.] One guy’s an engineer. The other guy’s a tech geek. They’re both “beer guys.” And, while sipping pints of their favorite brews, they get a great idea: Make beer taste better at home, using sound waves.

This is no joke. This is how draft-quality beer – thanks to a product sold at Best Buy and to be pitched this week on the TV show “Shark Tank”– is making its way into homes across the country. It’s the Fizzics® portable draft beer system, and it’s the only product of its kind on the market.

“This is the greatest time to be a beer person,” Fizzics CEO and Co-founder Philip Petracca said of the booming craft beer industry and the “renaissance” of sorts for beer in general. “People are really in love with the ability to use Fizzics to share and elevate the at-home beer drinking experience. They love bringing friends and family over and introducing them to our system. It’s kind of the holy grail – getting people this engaged and excited with your product.”

I had the pleasure of talking with Phil this week to learn more about why he thinks this device is a must-have for beer drinkers. Phil’s a hands-on CEO who worked with co-founder David McDonald to take their brewery-borne idea and make it reality, including choosing to sell it at Best Buy.

They see Best Buy as a destination for new innovation and technology, including Fizzics, which Phil said makes it easy for people to taste bottled, canned or growler beer “as its brewers intended it to taste.” That means beer dispensed with the Fizzics system has an enhanced aroma, flavor and taste of draft beer. It’s done in an organic way with no added chemicals or additives – and without the hassle of a CO2 tank, keg or proprietary cartridges.

I needed to learn more about how this is possible.

How Fizzics works
We started by getting technical, with the science behind Fizzics, called “sonication.”

To operate, open the can or bottle of beer and place it inside the canister. Insert the draft tube into the vessel, and close and seal the system. Hold the glass at a 45-degree angle, and pull the tap the handle forward. A digital micro-control kicks in to dynamically adjust the pressure to manage the rate of flow to enhance the carbonation in the body of the beer. Pushing the handle back creates the Fizzics Micro-Foam™ head (the foam at the top of the glass). That’s when the sonication kicks in to agitate the existing CO2 in the beer, to create a creamy, full-bodied and aromatic head that beer aficionados crave.

Phil said the brain has a particular nerve that can pick up on the “mouth feel” of a beer and detect a difference in bubble size, which alters the density and texture of the beer. He added that beer dispensed with the Fizzics Micro-Foam™ technology is preferable because it provides a more aromatic and flavorful head than one would get from opening a can or bottle, or even pouring it into a glass.

Using and maintaining the machine is smooth, too. In a couple of minutes, you can go from opening the box; to inserting a can, bottle or growler of your favorite beer; to filling your glass. Four AA batteries are used to operate Fizzics and will fill a minimum of 200 12-ounce pours. Cleanup is also easy: Fizzics recommends that users simply run a glass of warm water through the system, then wipe out any condensation within the chamber.

Phil said he and his team initially thought Fizzics would appeal to the craft beer drinkers. “But what we found though, is everybody values draft quality pour over the flavor and taste of what comes from a can or a bottle,” he said. Even some root beers, Phil mentioned, can offer enhanced aroma, flavor and texture when dispensed with Fizzics.

Check out Fizzics for yourself in stores and at BestBuy.com. And be sure to watch Phil and David on the season premiere of “Shark Tank” on Friday, Sept. 23, at 9 p.m. EST/8 p.m. Central.

Media Inquiries:
612.231.5146
press@bestbuy.com

Source: Best Buy

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