Daily Archives: November 7, 2016

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Dunkin’ Donuts appreciates its loyal guests during its first-ever Perks Week

Dunkin’ Donuts appreciates its loyal guests during its first-ever Perks Week
Dunkin’ Donuts appreciates its loyal guests during its first-ever Perks Week

 

  • Perks Week will include special daily deals for all DD Perks® Rewards program members, along with a sweepstakes with chances to win trips, travel vouchers and free coffee
  • Dunkin’ Donuts will add $5 to the account balance of the first 55K people who enroll as new members in DD Perks during Perks Week using special bonus code PERKSWEEK

CANTON, MA, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — More than five million people have become members of Dunkin’ Donuts’ DD Perks® Rewards program, earning points towards free beverages with each purchase of Dunkin’ coffee, espressos, sandwiches and more. Now, Dunkin’ Donuts has brewed up a big way to say thank you to these loyal guests, and today (November 4, 2016) is announcing plans for its first-ever Perks Week, launching November 14. Exclusively for DD Perks members, Perks Week will feature five days of distinct daily offers, such as a free beverage when using On-the-Go mobile Ordering.

Perks Week will begin on Monday, November 14 and continue to Friday, November 18.Each day DD Perks members will be served a special daily deal. All daily deal offers are open to both existing DD Perks members and anyone who enrolls in the program during the week. Daily deals include:

  • Mobile Monday: Triple points on all purchases made via On-the-Go mobile Ordering
  • Times Two Tuesday: Buy or reload $10 to any DD card using Visa Checkout on the Dunkin’ Mobile® app, and receive an additional $5
  • WTFast Wednesday: Earn a free beverage (200 points) when using On-the-Go mobile Ordering. Limit one bonus point offer per DD Perks Member
  • Top Speed Thursday: A special offer for hot or iced coffee when purchased via On-the-Go Ordering. Limit one per DD Perks member
  • Fun Filled Friday: Visit your favorite Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant and make a purchase using your Perks enrolled DD Card and earn 100 Bonus Points (limit one bonus point offer per DD Perks member)

In addition to Perks Week offers, DD Perks members who make a purchase during Perks Week with their enrolled DD Card will be entered into that day’s drawing for exciting prizes from Dunkin’ Donuts, with a new chance to win each day. Daily prizes include a trip to Hawaii in honor of the brand’s first store opening, trips to Hershey Park and the NHL Winter Classic, and vouchers for travel on JetBlue. No Purchase Necessary. 21+. US Residents. For details on how to enter without purchase, and for official rules, please visit www.DDPerksSweeps.com.

As an added incentive for new members, the first 55,000 people who join DD Perks during this period using promo code PERKSWEEK will receive $5, loaded directly onto their enrolled DD Card.

“Our goal with DD Perks is to provide great value and rewards to our extremely loyal and passionate fans in ways that exceed their expectations. Perks Week represents one of our most robust and exciting opportunities to show appreciation to the millions of guests who make Dunkin’ Donuts an important part of their daily lives,” said Sherrill Kaplan, Vice President of Digital Marketing and Innovation for Dunkin’ Donuts U.S.

Dunkin’ Donuts guests also have the exclusive opportunity to order ahead and speed past the line in store through On-the-Go Ordering. With On-the-Go Ordering, DD Perks members can place a mobile order up to 24 hours in advance, select their desired location, and then simply confirm via the new Dunkin’ Donuts Mobile App when they are ready to pick up their order inside the restaurant, or at the drive-thru. The order is automatically paid for using their Dunkin’ Donuts Card within the App. In the restaurant, DD Perks Members have no need to wait, as they can speed past the line in store and go straight to pick up their items at a designated area. They also have the ability to save their recent orders as a favorite to speed up their next Dunkin’ run. To enroll in DD Perks and for complete details about the program, visit www.DDPerks.com.

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

About Dunkin’ Donuts

Founded in 1950, Dunkin’ Donuts is America’s favorite all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin’ Donuts is a market leader in the hot regular/decaf/flavored coffee, iced coffee, donut, bagel and muffin categories. Dunkin’ Donuts has earned a No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand Keys for 10 years running. The company has more than 12,000 restaurants in 45 countries worldwide. Based in Canton, Mass., Dunkin’ Donuts is part of the Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN) family of companies. For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Dunkin’ Brands Media Relations
Email: press@dunkinbrands.com

Source: Dunkin’ Donuts

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Accenture’s Holiday Shopping Survey: Canadian consumers to consider retailer’s reputation before opening up their wallets

  • Optimism, spending on the rise; consumers increasingly value digital experiences
  • Black Friday growing in popularity; now more popular in Canada than in US

TORONTO, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Canadian consumers will be guided by their conscience when making purchasing decisions this holiday shopping season and will consider a retailer’s reputation for working conditions, buying policies, community involvement and ethics before opening up their wallets, according to Accenture’s annual Accenture Canada Holiday Shopping Survey.

The survey—now in its fifth year—found that a large majority (77 percent) of Canadian shoppers said a retailer’s reputation is important when making their purchasing decisions, with more than one-quarter (27 percent) saying they consider reputation to be extremely important.

“Building both trust and respect are the major themes this holiday shopping season,” said Kelly Askew, managing director of Accenture’s Retail Strategy practice in Canada. “Retailers need to be efficient, innovative and responsible in how they do business in order to gain consumers’ trust. Brands must also respect their customers’ time and help them make purchases more easily if they don’t want customers to leave and shop elsewhere.”

The survey also examined frustrations stopping consumers from shopping at physical stores or online. The main frustration preventing Canadian consumers from purchasing goods in-store more often is long lines, cited by 51 percent of respondents. On average, Canadian shoppers are willing to wait six minutes in a queue before giving up, and two-thirds (65 percent) of Canadians abandon their purchase after 10 minutes. Additionally, 41 percent of shoppers said they would leave a store if there are long check-out lines to buy online instead. Not being able to handle the product, as well as shipping issues, are the top frustrations that prevent consumers from buying more goods online, cited by 55 percent and 44 percent of respondents respectively.

According to the survey, Canadian consumers plan to do a majority of their holiday shopping in a physical store rather than online. Increasingly, they value digital interaction with retailers, and online shopping is increasing in popularity.  The number of respondents who said they plan to do the majority of their holiday shopping online increased 15 percent this year, to 38 percent, versus 33 percent last year.  In addition, the number of Canadians who prefer in-store shopping fell 15 percent since last year, from 62 percent to 53 percent this year.

The results of the survey showed consumers increasingly use the two channels together in order to find the best deals. The percentage of consumers using their smartphones in-store to compare prices rose 20 percent, to 41 percent, from 34 percent a year ago, while mobile use was popular for those seeking loyalty points (61 percent) and real-time promotion prices (52 percent).  Approximately three-quarters (74 percent) of shoppers said they plan to partake in ‘showrooming’—i.e., visiting a store in person to review a product before purchasing it online—and approximately the same amount (76 percent) said they plan on ‘webrooming’—i.e., shopping for a product online before buying it in a brick-and-mortar retail store.

“Canadian consumers will use their smartphones as a digital companion to in-store shopping this holiday shopping season and expect retailers to offer a seamless experience that bridges both channels,” said Robin Sahota, managing director of Accenture’s Retail practice in Canada. “Applications that collect loyalty points and offer promotions are particularly popular because they let consumers save while eliminating the need to carry loyalty cards or coupons.”

Among the additional trends identified by the survey:
 
Increasing Optimism about Personal Finances, Consumers Likely to Spend More but Appear Loyal to Local Brands

  • Thirty-nine percent of Canadian shoppers plan to spend more on their holiday shopping than last year – a five-percentage-point increase.
  • Canadians expect to spend $873, on average, on holiday shopping this year, an increase of 17 percent over the $744 they expected to spend in 2015.
  • One-third (31 percent) of respondents said they feel optimistic about their financial situation coming into the holiday season, versus 26 percent who said the same last year.
  • Nearly half (45 percent) of Canadian consumers said they plan to purchase from local brands, more than those who said they plan to purchase from American or international brands (37 percent and 19 percent, respectively).
  • Purchasing from Canadian brands is more important to older consumers: Canadians over 60 were six times as likely as those 18-24 years old to say they will do a majority of their shopping with local brands (54 percent versus nine percent).

Black Friday and Boxing Day Shopping Plans

  • More than two-thirds (70 percent) of shoppers surveyed said they will likely shop on Black Friday this year, compared with 60 percent in 2015. In fact, more Canadian survey respondents said they will shop on the traditionally American shopping day than did U.S. respondents (70 percent versus 65 percent).
  • More than two-thirds (70 percent) said they plan to shop on Boxing Day, versus 64 percent who said the same last year.
  • One-third (32 percent) of shoppers said they believe the best deals will be available on Boxing Day and/or week (32 percent), versus 28 percent who said that they believe the best deals will be available on Black Friday.
  • More than one-third (37 percent) of consumers plan to shop in-store on Black Friday or Boxing Day so they can buy personal items at a cheaper price, and more than one-quarter (28 percent) of consumers said they won’t start their holiday shopping until December.

Methodology
The Accenture Canada Holiday Shopping Survey offers insights into consumer buying patterns during the holiday period, providing an indication of retail performance expectations both on the high street and online at a key time for the sector. This year’s survey was conducted online Sept. 12-23 using a representative sample of 1,500 consumers across Toronto, Montreal and Calgary.

About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions – underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network – Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With approximately 384,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

Contact:
 
Theresa Ebden
Accenture
+ 1 416 358 6741
theresa.ebden@accenture.com

Source: Accenture

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USDA FSIS: OSI Industries, LLC recalls chicken products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials

WASHINGTON, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — OSI Industries, LLC, a Fort Atkinson, Wis. establishment, is recalling approximately 21,403 pounds of chicken products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today (Nov. 6, 2016).

The ready-to-eat chicken products were produced on Aug. 5, 2016. The following products are subject to recall:

  • 35-oz./2 lbs 3 oz frozen plastic packages containing “ON-COR CHICKEN PATTIES MICROWAVEABLE” with Best by Date 8/5/2017

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-5615” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin.

The problem was discovered when the firm received notification of three consumer complaints mentioning firm blue plastic in their product. The product was contaminated around the time a trim repair was made on belt material.

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

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

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Dave Wetherton, Assistant VP of Retail Sales, at (844) 674-8100. Members of the media with questions about the recall can contact David Saltz, Media Coordinator, at (312) 203-2114.

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

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

Contact:
Congressional and Public Affairs
Allie Ryan
(202) 720-9113
Press@fsis.usda.gov

Source: USDA

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Flavor Trade, LLC. recalls beef jerky products without the benefit of federal inspection

WASHINGTON, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Flavor Trade, LLC., a Kansas City, Mo. establishment, is recalling approximately 113 pounds of beef jerky products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection and used the USDA mark of inspection without authorization, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today (Nov. 3, 2016).

The beef jerky items were produced on Sept. 27, Sept. 28, Oct. 25 and Oct. 26, 2016. The following products are subject to recall: 

  • 3-oz. sealed packages containing “Craft Beer Jerky: Created with Wheat” which may or may not include package code 614261.
  • 3-oz. sealed packages containing “Craft Beer Jerky: Created with Porter” which may or may not include package code 619290.

The products subject to recall may or may not incorrectly bear a USDA mark of inspection which would include establishment number “EST. 48135”. These items were shipped to retail locations in Missouri.

The problem was discovered by FSIS inspection personnel after a consumer provided a package of the product.

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

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

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

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Shannon Kimball, Owner, at (816) 531-2288. Media with questions about the recall can contact David Eckert, Sales Manager, at (816) 668-7493.

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

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

Contact:
Congressional and Public Affairs
Allie Ryan
(202) 720-9113
Press@fsis.usda.gov

Source: USDA

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Currys PC World’s brand new campaign offers viewers advice on how to get it right this Christmas

  • £5 million advertising campaign offers viewers the expertise and advice they need to get it right this Christmas
  • Dramatizing the insight that it can be hard to get the right gifts to make your Christmas perfect, the ads present Currys PC World as the solution to this problem – with the right gadgets and the expertise to help you drop a crucial hint
  • Integrated marketing campaign with creative agency AMV BBDO, media agency Blue 449, PR agency M&C Saatchi PR and social media agency 1000 heads

LONDON, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Currys PC World today (03 Nov 2016) unveils their brand new Christmas campaign, Get It Right.

Featuring a variety of interactions between British families, the ads aim to demonstrate that Currys PC World understands it’s difficult to get the best gifts to make your Christmas perfect, and sometimes you need to drop an unsubtle hint to your family to get it right.

In each of the ads, viewers are given a glimpse into different settings where families are participating in recognisable Christmas scenarios, such as putting up the Christmas lights, attending the much-anticipated school nativity, knitting Christmas jumpers or decorating the Christmas tree.

As each of these moments unfold, our protagonists seize the opportunity to drop their loved ones a not-so-subtle hint about their dream gift this Christmas, leaving their loved ones in disbelief as to how far they’re willing to go to share this crucial message.

While the ads are full of humour and light-hearted moments, they also demonstrate that the retailer has the right prices, right products and right services to help customers get it right this Christmas.

The ads aim to position Currys PC World as the solution to this problem, by offering the expertise and advice you need to choose the right gadgets for any home entertainment, home preparation, and gifting, all at the right prices.

The campaign will feature 30” hero TV executions alongside a suite of C5 sponsorship idents breaking over 5 days, starting on air from Thursday 3rd November, and is supported by promotional activity throughout November and December

The installments all focus on a variety of products available from the retailer, including an LG OLED 4k Curved TV, Bose QC35 Wireless Noise-cancelling Headphones, Bose SoundTouch 10 Speaker, Bose SoundTouch 300 Bluetooth Soundbar, Xbox, and Samsung Galaxy Tablet.

Rolling out across TV, video on demand, social and online (YouTube) in the UK, the ads will appear during some high-profile television slots on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th November including Gogglebox and X Factor, as well as commercial broadcasters including ITV, C4, C5 and Sky Multichannel.

The ad campaign is one element of a fully-integrated nationwide campaign, set to incorporate all areas of the business right down through to stores.

Georgina Bramall, Head of Brand and Advertising, Dixons Carphone: “The idea of helping customers ‘get it right’ this Christmas really plays to our strengths as our aim has always been to ensure we have the right products at the best prices. Celebrating the role our expert colleagues play in helping our customers choose the perfect gift from our wide range of food prep, entertainment and gifting lines was also a key consideration when building our plans. This campaign thought is so intrinsic to our business already, that it was easy to fully integrate it across all of our customer touch-points in a holistic and authentic way.”

James Rouse, Director, Outsider: “The idea of dropping unsubtle hints to get the gifts you want this Christmas is simply a great campaign thought. It sets up characters and humour brilliantly, as I think has come across in the final films. My vision was simply to evolve the lovely characters of protagonists, building on their almost childish selfishness. They’re all loveable in their own way, an aspect that was brought out brilliantly by the actors who played them. I’m extremely happy with the result. Everyone came together to make a really nice set of films for Currys PC World.”

Campaign credits:

Project: Unsubtle Hints
Client name & job title: Georgina Bramall, Head of Brand and Advertising
James Cheetham, Head of Advertising
Creative Agency: AMV BBDO
Creative Director: Alex Grieve and Adrian Rossi
Copywriter: Richard McGrann
Art Director: Andy Clough
Agency Planner: David Edwards/Tom Claridge
Agency Account Man: Chris Taggart/Mark Graeme/Amy Tippen/Flo Prevezer
Agency Producer: Sophie Honour
Media Agency: Blue 449
Media Planner: Lindsay Turner/Lizzie Andrew/Tom Coles
Production Company: Outsider
Director: James Rouse
Production Co. Producer: Benji Howell
Post-production Company: Framestore
Sound Design Chris Turner, Jungle Studios

About Dixons Carphone

Dixons Carphone plc is Europe’s leading specialist electrical and telecommunications retailer and services company, employing over 42,000 people in eleven countries.

Focused on helping customers navigate the connected world, Dixons Carphone offers a comprehensive range of electrical and mobile products, connectivity and expert after-sales services from the Geek Squad and Knowhow.

Dixons Carphone’s primary brands include Carphone Warehouse and Currys PC World in the UK & Ireland, Elkjøp, Elkjøp Phonehouse, Elgiganten, Elgiganten Phonehouse, Gigantti and Lefdal in the Nordic countries, Kotsovolos in Greece, Dixons Travel in a number of UK & Ireland airports and Phone House in Spain. Our key service brands include Knowhow in the UK, Ireland and the Nordics, and Geek Squad in the UK, Ireland and Spain.

Business-to-business (B2B) services are provided through Connected World Services, PC World Business and Carphone Warehouse Business. Connected World Services aims to leverage the Group’s existing expertise, operating processes and technology to provide a range of services to businesses.

Dixons Carphone was voted ‘Retailer of the Year’ at the Retail Week Awards 2016.

For more information, please contact the Currys PC World press office:

M&C Saatchi PR
curryspcworld@mcsaatchi.com
0207 544 3600

Source: Dixons Carphone

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Lindex together with its customers raised a total of 1.2 million euro for the fight against breast cancer

Lindex together with its customers raised a total of 1,2 million euro for the fight against breast cancer
Lindex together with its customers raised a total of 1,2 million euro for the fight against breast cancer

 

Together with its customers, Lindex has raised a total of 1,2 million euro in all operating countries.

Sweden, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Lindex has through a range of activities boosted the fight against breast cancer, primarily through sales of its specially-designed Pink Collection, with 10 % of the sales price being donated. A pink leather bracelet and annual sales of the Pink Ribbon also contributed hugely to this year’s fundraising.

I am very proud of how we, together with our customers, have contributed to the fight against breast cancer with fantastic commitment. Many of our employees and customers are women and because this is a disease that primarily affects women, it is a particularly important issue for us, says Ingvar Larsson, CEO at Lindex.

The fight against breast cancer is an important part of Lindex’s social commitment and the fashion company has been a proud main partner of the Pink Ribbon campaign since 2003. Over the years this commitment has contributed to funding of cancer research and increased awareness of the disease.

For more information, please contact:

Miriam Tjernström
Press Relations Manager, Lindex
Phone: 46 (0)31 739 50 60
E-mail: press@lindex.com

Source: Lindex

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Ross Stores to announce its 3Q 2016 earnings results on November 17, 2016

Dublin, California, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq:  ROST) will announce its third quarter 2016 earnings results on Thursday, November 17, 2016. A press release will be sent out at approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern time.

The Company will also provide additional details concerning its third quarter 2016 results and business outlook on a conference call to be held on Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 4:15 p.m. Eastern time.  Participants may listen to a real-time audio webcast of the conference call by visiting the Investors section of the Company’s website located at www.rossstores.com.

A recorded version of the call will also be available at the website address, as well as via a telephone recording at 404-537-3406, Passcode #8704502, through 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on November 25, 2016.

Contact:

Julie Chapman
925-965-4535
juliea.chapman@ros.com

Source: Ross Stores, Inc./globenewswire

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Southeastern Grocers launch their Veterans Day Wall of Honor community donation program

  • Southeastern Grocers, together with the Southeastern Grocers Foundation, launches community donation program from Nov. 2-15 throughout BI-LO, Fresco y Más, Harveys and Winn-Dixie stores.
  • Southeastern Grocers continues partnership with Hope For The Warriors, a nationwide organization dedicated to serving veterans.
  • Southeastern Grocers operates approximately 750 grocery stores in communities with some of the highest military veteran populations in the Southeast.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Leading up to Veterans Day, Southeastern Grocers, the parent company of BI-LO, Fresco y Más, Harveys and Winn-Dixie stores, today (Nov. 2, 2016) announced the launch of their Veterans Day Wall of Honor community donation program in all stores, together with the Southeastern Grocers Foundation. Now through November 15, customers and associates can show their support for veterans of the armed forces by making a donation at checkout to benefit Hope For The Warriors, an organization that provides service members, veterans and military families that are focused on transition, health and wellness, peer engagement and connections to community resources.

When customers make a donation at any BI-LO, Fresco y Más, Harveys or Winn-Dixie store, they will be provided a Dedication Card with the opportunity to write a special message to their own military hero. These personal dedications will build a Wall of Honor at each store as a visual tribute to those who served, continue to serve and have sacrificed for the nation.

Ian McLeod, President and CEO of Southeastern Grocers said, “This Veterans Day, we continue to show our military and their families the appreciation we have for the sacrifices they have made for the nation. Together with our associates and customers, we honor those that have served by raising funds and awareness for Hope For The Warriors and share our admiration for our service men and women with thousands of inspirational dedication cards throughout our stores.

The Southeast has some of the highest military veterans populations in our country, so we join our associates, customers and communities in saying “thank you,” to those service members who have fought for the nation’s freedom.”

“Hope For The Warriors is extremely grateful to Southeastern Grocers and its customers for their support this Veteran’s Day, honoring the service of our veterans,” said Robin Kelleher, co-founder and president of Hope For The Warriors. “Through this campaign, they are helping us reach thousands of patriotic Americans who truly understand the sacrifices of our veterans, service members, military families and families of the fallen. As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, the continued support of Southeastern Grocers, its partners, vendors and customers has made a momentous impact allowing us to serve thousands in need through our nationwide programs.”

Customers can show their support on social media if they like, follow and share BI-LO, Fresco y Mas, Harveys, Winn-Dixie and Hope For The Warriors Facebook posts and Twitter feeds with #AllforHonor; or honor a veteran by posting a dedication on www.facebook.com/allforhonor.

About Hope For The Warriors

Founded in 2006, Hope For The Warriors is a national nonprofit dedicated to restoring a sense of self, family and hope for post 9/11 veterans, service members and military families. Since its inception, Hope For The Warriors has served approximately 10,000 through a variety of support programs focused on transition, health and wellness, peer engagement and connections to community resources. The nonprofit’s first program, A Warrior’s Wish, has granted 151 wishes to fulfill a desire for a better quality of life or support a quest for gratifying endeavors. In addition, Run For The Warriors has captured the hearts of more than 22,000 since 2010. For more information, visit http://www.hopeforthewarriors.org, Facebook or Twitter.

About Southeastern Grocers Foundation

The Southeastern Grocers Foundation is the charitable arm of Southeastern Grocers, parent company of BI-LO, Fresco y Mas, Harveys, and Winn-Dixie supermarkets. The Southeastern Grocers Foundation aligns our giving with three charity pillars, providing support to the causes that are important to the communities we serve. We support our nation’s service men, women and their families; fight hunger in our communities; and provide relief to those affected by a natural disaster.

About Southeastern Grocers

Southeastern Grocers, LLC, parent company and home of BI-LO, Fresco Y Mas, Harveys and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is the second-largest supermarket in the Southeast based on store count. The company employs nearly 60,000 associates who serve customers in approximately 750 grocery stores, 140 liquor stores and 500 in-store pharmacies throughout the seven southeastern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina. BI-LO, Fresco Y Mas, Harveys and WinnDixie are well-known and well-respected regional brands with deep heritages, strong neighborhood ties, proud histories of giving back, talented and loyal associates, and strong commitments to providing the best possible quality and value to customers. For more information, visit www.bi-lo.com, www.frescoymas.com, www.harveyssupermarkets.com and www.winndixie.com.

For SEG interviews, or images contact:

Kaley Shaffer
Manager
Consumer Communications
904-612-9441 (cell)
media@segrocers.com

Source: Southeastern Grocers

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Office Depot’s popular app Elf Yourself® releases three new dances including Hip Hop Shop and Secret Santa

BOCA RATON, Fla., 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Office Depot, Inc. (NASDAQ: ODP), a leading global provider of office products, services, and solutions, through its Office Depot and OfficeMax brands, announced three new dances for Elf Yourself®, a mobile application that allows users to create videos of themselves and others dancing as elves in various settings.

To date, the holiday app has been downloaded more than 92 million times (2012-2015), and with three new dances this year, including “Chrismukkah,” Hip Hop Shop and Secret Santa, more users than ever are expected to kick off the 2016 holiday season with Elf Yourself®.

2016 marks only the fifth time in 111 years that Hanukkah coincides with Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Families have increasingly combined both holidays to celebrate what’s been named “Chrismukkah.” In a recent Office Depot survey, out of those who plan to celebrate “Chrismukkah,” 20 percent said 2016 will be their first year doing so. Families and individuals will be able to truly celebrate “Chrismukkah” on one day with this rare alignment.

“As more and more people blend holiday traditions, particularly for ‘Chrismukkah,’ Office Depot wants to offer them an entertaining way to create new traditions and get into the spirit of the season,” said Diane Nick, senior vice president of marketing for Office Depot, Inc. “Elf Yourself® marks the beginning of the holiday seasons for many, and we are excited to share these fun, interactive dances with them.”

Such a unique date and celebration inspired the creation of a new “Chrismukkah” dance, which features aspects of the traditional Christmas and Hanukkah Elf Yourself® dances that users love, but with a new twist that is sure to spark the holiday spirit. The dance starts by presenting Christmas and Hanukkah dances separately and then blends the two into an exciting performance. The “Chrismukkah” dance will help users celebrate the differences in holiday traditions and mark this historical convergence with festivity.

The app will also feature a recently released Hip Hop Shop song and dance, in which the elves help Santa shop to the beat for trendy gifts from sneakers to hats to tablets.

The third dance released for 2016 invites users to celebrate the holiday season at work with Secret Santa gift giving. In this unique routine, the elves parade around their “office” – better known as Santa’s workshop – merrily distributing gifts to their “co-workers” – or fellow elves. Their generosity and glee is sure to enchant and inspire everyone to get into the holiday spirit.

Originally an online platform, the Elf Yourself® has created nearly 1.3 billion elves with more than 519 million users in over 200 countries, that’s enough elves for nearly four times the United States population! The updated app is available to download today at elfyourself.com or through your mobile app store. To create videos with Elf Yourself®, users can simply upload up to five photos, from either their camera roll, Facebook or taken on the app, select a dance theme, and the app will generate a custom Elf Yourself® video that they can share with friends and family via email and social media platforms, as well as embed into websites and blogs.

Survey Methodology/Sample Qualifications

Interviews are conducted via the Internet among a nationally representative sample of personal shoppers. The Quarter 3 wave of interviewing was conducted from July 15, 2016 to September 30, 2016 among a total of 1,609 personal shoppers. Interviewing will be conducted on a monthly basis in order to track shifts that occur over time.

About Office Depot, Inc.

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

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

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

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

Contact:
Julianne Embry
561-438-1451
julianne.embry@officedepot.com

Sarah England
561-438-1448
sarah.england@officedepot.com

Source: Office Depot, Inc.

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SpartanNash to acquire certain assets of Caito Foods Service and Blue Ribbon Transport

Transaction Expands SpartanNash’s Produce Capabilities with Robust Produce Distribution Business, High-Growth Fresh Cut Fruits and Vegetables and Prepared Food Product Offerings Deal Includes $32 million CFS Fresh Kitchen Expected to be Operational First Quarter 2017 Transaction Expected to be Accretive to Full Year 2017 Earnings

Byron Center, MI, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — SpartanNash (Nasdaq: SPTN) and Caito Foods Service announced today (Nov 4, 2016) they have entered into a definitive agreement under which SpartanNash will acquire certain assets of Caito Foods Service (“Caito”) and Blue Ribbon Transport (“BRT”). Under the terms of the agreement, SpartanNash will acquire Caito’s produce distribution business, fresh cut fruits and vegetables business, the company’s newly constructed Fresh Kitchen facility which is designed to process and package fresh-prepared foods, and the logistics business of BRT.

The acquisition will strengthen SpartanNash’s product offerings to its existing customer base by expanding into the fast-growing freshly prepared centerplate and side dish categories.

Founded in Indianapolis in 1965, Caito Foods Service is a leading supplier of fresh fruit and vegetables to grocery retailers and food service distributors across 22 states in the Southeast, Midwest and Eastern United States. Caito and BRT, which generate combined annual revenues in excess of $600 million, currently service customers from facilities in Indiana, Ohio and Florida. Caito also has a central fresh cut fruit and vegetable facility in Indianapolis and is completing construction on its new 118,000 square foot Fresh Kitchen facility, also in Indianapolis. The $32 million Fresh Kitchen will process, cook and package fresh protein-based foods and complete meals; it is expected to be fully operational in the first quarter of 2017. The company offers temperature-controlled distribution and logistics services throughout North America through its affiliate Blue Ribbon Transport.

“We are excited about this opportunity to expand our presence in serving some of the fastest-growing categories in grocery, including fresh produce, value-added fruits and vegetables and protein-based prepared food,” said Dennis Edison, SpartanNash’s CEO and Chairman of the Board. “Caito Foods Service is a premier distributor with best-in-class food processing facilities, including its new Fresh Kitchen. In addition, Caito’s service area is complementary to our current distribution footprint, and we look forward to serving customers in new areas in addition to enhancing our offerings to existing customers. In short, this acquisition further strengthens our platform and enhances our ability to help our customers serve their consumers, benefiting our associates and the communities we serve, as well as delivering value for shareholders.”

Caito and BRT will become part of SpartanNash’s food distribution segment following the close of the transaction. Caito’s senior leadership team, including Caito President Robert Kirch and Blue Ribbon Transport President David Frizzell, will join SpartanNash upon completion of the transaction. Mr. Kirch will report to Dave Staples, SpartanNash President and Chief Operating Officer; Mr. Frizzell will report to Derek Jones, SpartanNash Executive Vice President, President of Wholesale and Distribution Operations. Both will continue in their roles and oversee the acquired operations which will remain based in Indianapolis.

Kirch noted, “With our long history and family tradition of processing and distributing fresh, convenient, healthy foods, we are excited and proud to join an organization that shares our passion and commitment to serve customers with the freshest foods. We are looking forward to joining the SpartanNash family to expand and enhance our combined ability to deliver high quality fresh products efficiently to a greater number of customers across the country.”

Transaction Details

Under the terms of the transaction, SpartanNash will purchase certain assets of Caito Foods Service and Blue Ribbon Transport for approximately $217.5 million in cash, in addition to reimbursing Caito for certain transaction costs and providing two earn-out opportunities that have the potential to pay the sellers an additional $12.4 million collectively if the business achieves certain performance targets. The transaction is expected to be accretive to full year 2017 earnings. The purchase price will be funded with proceeds from SpartanNash’s asset-based lending facility.

SpartanNash expects to close the acquisition by early January 2017, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.

Advisors

Deutsche Bank acted as financial advisor and Morgan Lewis acted as legal counsel to SpartanNash.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on estimates and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include the information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations. Forward-looking statements also include those preceded or followed by the words “expects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “looks forward to” or similar expressions. The following important factors, along with those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), could affect future results and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements: adverse conditions in the U.S. economy; the effects of competition in the markets in which we operate; material changes in the food industry; disruption of key suppliers’ provisioning of products or services; changes in the regulatory environment in which we operate, adverse conditions in the credit markets affecting the cost, including interest rates, and/or availability of further financing; material adverse changes in labor matters; changes in accounting assumptions that regulatory agencies, including the SEC, may require or that result from changes in the accounting rules or their application, which could result in an impact on earnings; and the inability to implement our business strategies. The transaction described above is subject to numerous closing conditions, many of which are not within the control of SpartanNash. There is no guarantee that the transaction will close, and if it does close, there is no guarantee that the expected benefits from the transaction will materialize. This section is intended to provide meaningful cautionary statements for purposes of the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This should not be construed as a complete list of all of the facts and conditions that could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity. SpartanNash undertakes no obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements to reflect developments that occur or information obtained after the date of this communication.

About SpartanNash

SpartanNash (Nasdaq: SPTN) is a Fortune 400 company whose core businesses include distributing grocery products to independent grocery retailers, national accounts, its corporate owned retail stores, and U.S. military commissaries. SpartanNash serves customer locations in 47 states and the District of Columbia, Europe, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Bahrain and Egypt. SpartanNash currently operates 159 supermarkets, primarily under the banners of Family Fare Supermarkets, Family Fresh Market, D&W Fresh Market and SunMart. Through its MDV military division, SpartanNash is the leading distributor of grocery products to military commissaries in the United States.

About Caito Foods Service

Caito Foods Service is a leading supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh-prepared foods, and fresh floral products to grocery retailers and foodservice distributors in 22 states from its distribution centers in Indiana, Ohio and Florida. Through its Blue Ribbon Transport operations, Caito offers internal distribution and logistics services for its customers and for other companies throughout the United States. Caito Foods was founded in 1965 by Philip J. Caito, IV, and his brother, Joseph A. Caito. Together, the brothers developed a dedicated team of managers and leaders and built a company culture centered on family values, success for their associates, and world-class service for their customers.

SPARTANNASH CONTACT:
Financial Inquiries:
Chris Meyers
616-878-8023
EVP, Chief Financial Officer

Media Inquiries:
Meredith Gremel
616-878-2830
Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Communications

CAITO and BRT CONTACT:
Matthew Caito
317-897-2009 x1285
Executive Vice-President and Chief Administrative Officer

Source: SpartanNash

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Hudson’s Bay Company upgrades its Scarborough Distribution Center with the largest Perfect Pick case shuttle system ever built

  • State-of the-art technology catapults HBC to the forefront of e-commerce distribution
  • New system operational in advance of important holiday shopping season

TORONTO, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Hudson’s Bay Company (TSX:HBC) today (November 4, 2016) unveiled a new state-of-the-art robotic fulfillment system, which propels HBC’s Scarborough Distribution Center to the forefront of e-commerce distribution technology. The highly innovative distribution center is the first of its kind in Canada and showcases some of the most advanced automated distribution technology in the retail sector. This distribution center will contribute to a seamless experience for customers and further support Hudson’s Bay’s all-channel retail capabilities.

The system is the largest Perfect Pick case shuttle system ever built and is 12 to 15 times faster than a traditional manual process. It features 16 200-foot long aisles, utilizes the entire vertical height of the building, can hold more than one million units of inventory and can process roughly 4,200 customer orders per hour. Two custom-built document handling robots automate insertion of packing lists, while 15,000 feet of conveyor and a fleet of approximately 300 autonomous robotic delivery vehicles—iBOTs—move inventory for storing and shipping. The best-in-class technology will enable the company to deliver orders three times faster than distribution centers using the next best robotic technology. The investment to upgrade the entire distribution facility was in excess of $60 million.

“Our customers will benefit from the country’s fastest order shipping system,” said Jerry Storch, HBC’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are proud to be the first to bring this industry-leading technology to Canada, in time for the busy holiday season. This investment in our Scarborough Distribution Center creates an e-commerce technology hub and allows us to expand our e-commerce business, which is a key component to our all-channel strategy.”

The 752,000 square foot Scarborough Distribution Center supports e-commerce for HBC’s Hudson’s Bay department store. More than 300 full-time associates are employed at the center.

ABOUT HUDSON’S BAY COMPANY

Hudson’s Bay Company is one of the fastest-growing department store retailers in the world, based on its successful formula of driving the performance of high quality stores and their all-channel offerings, unlocking the value of real estate holdings and growing through acquisitions. Founded in 1670, HBC is the oldest company in North America. HBC’s portfolio today includes ten banners, in formats ranging from luxury to better department stores to off price fashion shopping destinations, with more than 470 stores and 66,000 employees around the world.

In North America, HBC’s leading banners include Hudson’s Bay, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Gilt, and Saks OFF 5TH, along with Find @ Lord & Taylor and Home Outfitters. In Europe, its banners include GALERIA Kaufhof, the largest department store group in Germany, Belgium’s only department store group Galeria INNO, as well as Sportarena.

HBC has significant investments in real estate joint ventures. It has partnered with Simon Property Group Inc. in the HBS Global Properties Joint Venture, which owns properties in the United States and Germany. In Canada, it has partnered with RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust in the RioCan-HBC Joint Venture.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Hudson’s Bay Company
Tiffany Bourré
905-595-7184
Director, Corporate Communications
Tiffany.bourre@hbc.com

Source: Hudson’s Bay Company

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Source Capital Group, Inc. to act as dealer-manager for Overstock’s previously announced rights offering

SALT LAKE CITY, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Overstock.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSTK) announced it has contracted with Source Capital Group, Inc. to act as dealer-manager for Overstock’s previously announced rights offering.

The rights offering will allow Overstock shareholders to purchase shares of its preferred stock, including shares to be issued using the t0 (pronounced “tee-zero”) blockchain technology. The blockchain shares will trade exclusively on a registered alternative trading system using the t0 blockchain technology. Overstock is doing the rights offering primarily to enable its majority-owned subsidiary, t0.com, Inc., to demonstrate the operation of its t0 issuance and trading platform. The rights offering will allow all Overstock stockholders the opportunity to participate.

t0 is named for its ability to use blockchain technology to reduce securities trade settlement times from trade date plus three days – termed T+3 – to same-day settlement, or T+0.

“Source Capital Group is an entrepreneurial registered broker dealer that allocates time and effort toward understanding truly innovative companies,” said Source Capital’s CEO and President David Harris. “We strive to be a best of breed banker for emerging growth companies with strong identifiable cutting edge niches.

“Ever since leaving Harris Upham, which my grandfather founded, I have focused my time, and our firm’s energy on innovating and adapting to an ever-changing landscape,” Harris continued. “When Harris Upham was founded, trade and settlement was T+5, eventually changing to T+3. It only makes sense that T+0 would be the next evolutionary step. We’re excited to be a part of it.”

Overstock intends to offer up to 1 million shares of its preferred stock, and will give shareholders the opportunity to subscribe for shares of its Blockchain Voting Series A Preferred. Stockholders will also have an opportunity to subscribe for an alternative series of its preferred stock which will be economically identical to the Blockchain Voting Series A Preferred but will trade in the over-the-counter market.

Each share of the preferred stock will have voting and dividend rights and rights upon liquidation substantially similar to those of one share of common stock.  Each share of the preferred stock will also have a preferential right to a 1 percent cumulative annual cash dividend. The prospectus supplement, when filed, will contain additional important information about these and other matters.

“Source Capital Group brings not only acumen, but vision to this transaction,” said Overstock CEO Patrick M. Byrne. “The immediacy with which Source grasped the value of what we’re doing, from not only a business but from a historical point of view, made it clear that we’d found the right partner to take us through this offering.”

The expected calendar for the offering is:

Thursday, November 10, 2016 Record Date
Monday, November 14, 2016 Announcement of Maximum Price
Tuesday, November 15, 2016 Subscription Period Begins
Tuesday, December 6, 2016 Subscription Period Expires at 5:00 PM ET and Final Price is Determined

The rights offering will be made pursuant to Overstock’s effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 333-203607) on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and a prospectus supplement to be filed with the SEC prior to the commencement of the rights offering. The information herein is not complete and is subject to change. This press release is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities. The offering can be made only by a final prospectus, including a prospectus supplement. Investors should consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The base prospectus included in the registration statement contains this and additional information about Overstock, and the prospectus supplement will contain this and additional information about the rights offering, and rights holders should read both carefully before exercising their rights and investing.

Requests for copies of the base prospectus and the prospectus supplement when available, and questions from stockholders relating to the rights offering may be directed to the information agent for the rights offering, as follows:

Information Agent:
Georgeson LLC
1290 Avenue of the Americas
9th Floor
New York, NY 10104
(866) 432-2791
Overstock@Georgeson.com

Source Capital Group invites any broker dealers interested in participating in the rights offering to contact Source’s syndicate department at OSTK@sourcegrp.com.

About Overstock.com
Overstock.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSTK) is an online retailer based in Salt Lake City, Utah that sells a broad range of products at low prices, including furniture, rugs, bedding, electronics, clothing, and jewelry. Additional stores within Overstock include Worldstock.com, dedicated to selling artisan-crafted products to help developing nations around the world and Main Street Revolution, supporting small-scale entrepreneurs in the U.S. by providing them with a national customer base. Other community-focused initiatives include Farmers Market and pet adoptions.  Forbes ranked Overstock in its list of the Top 100 Most Trustworthy Companies in 2014. Overstock sells internationally under the name O.co and regularly posts information about the company and other related matters under Investor Relations on its website.

O, Overstock.com, O.com, O.co, Club O, Main Street Revolution, Worldstock and OVillage are registered trademarks of Overstock.com, Inc.  O.biz and Space Shift are also trademarks of Overstock.com, Inc.  Other service marks, trademarks and trade names which may be referred to herein are the property of their respective owners.

About Source Capital Group, Inc.
Source Capital Group, Inc. was founded in 1992 as a boutique investment banking firm specializing in small to medium-sized transactions, and continues to focus its investment banking activities in those segments of the market. Source Capital has grown to include businesses in general securities, emerging market securities, distressed and high yield debt securities, investment management, mortgages and business lending. Source Capital’s mission is to provide excellent service and independent, unbiased and tailor-made advice. Source Capital is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC and in 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation.

Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical fact. These forward-looking statements are inherently difficult to predict. Actual results, including all matters relating to the rights offering and all matters relating to our future financial results, could differ materially for a variety of reasons. Information about factors that could potentially affect our financial results is included in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, which was filed with the SEC on August 4, 2016. These and our other subsequent filings with the SEC identify important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections, estimates and other forward-looking statements.

Overstock.com, Inc. has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement, the applicable prospectus supplement for any securities offered pursuant to the registration statement, and other documents that Overstock.com, Inc. has filed or files in the future with the SEC for more complete information about Overstock.com, Inc. and the offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, Overstock.com, Inc. will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling 1-801-947-5409.

Media Contact:
Kirstie Burden
Overstock.com, Inc.
(801) 947-3564
pr@overstock.com

Investor Contact:
Mark Harden
Overstock.com, Inc.
(801) 947-5409
ir@overstock.com

Source: Overstock.com, Inc./globenewswire

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Signet Jewelers Limited to announce 3Q FY 2017 financial results on Tuesday, November 22, 2016

HAMILTON, Bermuda, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Signet Jewelers Limited (NYSE:SIG), intends to announce its results for the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2016 at approximately 7:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, November 22, 2016.

On that date there will be a conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET and a simultaneous audio webcast and slide presentation available at www.signetjewelers.com. The slides will be available to be downloaded from the website ahead of the conference call.

The call details are:

Dial-in: +1 647 788 4901
Confirmation Code: 99499993

Investors Contact:
James Grant
VP Investor Relations
1-330-668-5412

Media Contact:
David Bouffard
VP Corporate Affairs
1-330-668-5369

Source: Signet Jewelers Limited

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Kmart Pharmacy partners with eHealth to help seniors determine the best Medicare insurance plan for them

Comparing drug coverage under Medicare insurance plans is now easier than ever for Kmart Pharmacy patients

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Kmart Pharmacy announced today (Nov 3, 2016) a new partnership with eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH), the nation’s leading online marketplace for Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, to help eligible seniors determine the best Medicare insurance plan for them.

The partnership provides Kmart Pharmacy patients and members access to eHealth’s Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Comparison Tool. The tool is specifically designed to help patients find the Medicare drug plan with the highest estimated-savings based on their needs. Patients can simply enter their zip code and drug regimen to compare available plans and enroll in the Medicare insurance plan that provides them with estimated best coverage for their prescription drugs. “Kmart Pharmacy is excited to offer this free eHealth tool benefit to our senior members and caregivers alike,” said Phil Keough, president, Kmart Pharmacy. “Navigating Medicare can be confusing, and the added pressure of a looming open enrollment deadline can be overwhelming – which is why it is important we provide our patients with resources like eHealth.

Our experienced pharmacists are available to help patients better understand their options, provide detailed plan information and help answer questions they may have.”Medicare’s annual enrollment period is happening now through Dec. 7, 2016. During the enrollment period, Kmart Pharmacy encourages patients to review their prescription coverage by utilizing eHealth’s Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Comparison Tool. Prescription drug coverage under Medicare insurance plans may change each year and patients’ individual prescription needs may also change, so comparing plans could potentially save patients hundreds of dollars per month. For patients evaluating available prescription drug plans, it is important for them to consider each plan’s annual deductible, premium and co-payments, as well as which plans cover the prescriptions.

Kmart Pharmacy is preferred in many Medicare prescription drug plans – however, it does not endorse any specific Medicare insurance company and accepts most major Medicare prescription drug plans. It participates in several regional and national preferred pharmacy networks that offer additional savings for beneficiaries, including low co-pays on generic medications. Your local Kmart pharmacist can tell you in which plans your Kmart Pharmacy participates in as a preferred provider.

Please visit KmartPharmacy.com/ for more information and additional resources. To learn more about Medicare Part D or to enroll, visit medicare.gov.

About Kmart
Kmart is making shopping fun again. The retailer, a subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is bringing back the iconic Bluelight Specials, hosting Freebie Saturdays and in-store family events for its Shop Your Way members and customers. Kmart offers customers thrilling deals and amazing finds on quality products and exclusive brands including Jaclyn Smith, Joe Boxer, Route 66 and Smart Sense.

About eHealth
eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH) owns eHealth.com, the nation’s first and largest private online health insurance exchange where individuals, families and small businesses can compare health insurance products from leading insurers side by side and purchase and enroll in coverage online. eHealth offers thousands of individual, family and small business health plans underwritten by many of the nation’s leading health insurance companies. eHealth (through its subsidiaries) is licensed to sell health insurance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. eHealth also offers educational resources and powerful online and pharmacy-based tools to help Medicare beneficiaries navigate Medicare health insurance options, choose the right plan and enroll in select plans online through Medicare.com (www.Medicare.com), eHealthMedicare.com (www.eHealthMedicare.com) and PlanPrescriber.com (www.PlanPrescriber.com).

MEDIA CONTACTS:  

Tricia Perrotti
Kmart
212-775-2536
Tricia.Perrotti@searshc.com

Hallie Herrmann
Zeno Group for Kmart
312-527-2SHC (2742)
Hallie.Herrmann@zenogroup.com

SOURCE: Kmart

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DreamLand and Belgian kids to surprise St. Nicholas with the biggest drawing of him ever

Halle, Belgium, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Toy specialist DreamLand wants to get all of Belgium colouring to surprise St. Nicholas with the biggest drawing of him ever. In November, kids can select a drawing on dreamland.be/welkom and colour it in digitally. DreamLand will combine all of the drawings submitted to create a mosaic of nearly 50 m². This gigantic drawing will be given to St. Nicholas on 27 November during one of the VTMKZOOM St. Nicholas Weekends in Plopsaland De Panne.

A drawing that is 8 m wide and 6 m high
The biggest St. Nicholas drawing ever will be no less than 8 metres wide and 6 metres high, totalling 48 square metres. In November, every kid has the chance to contribute by colouring a drawing on dreamland.be/welkom. Geert Gillis, Division Manager Sales DreamLand: “DreamLand’s motto is ‘Everything is better when you’re playing’. This project is a playful way for us and hundreds of kids to give St. Nicholas a warm welcome.” Kids can colour a picture on the website through 6 December, so even after the biggest drawing ever has been presented at the end of November.

Register for the event
DreamLand will officially present the gigantic drawing to St. Nicholas on Sunday, 27 November, in Plopsaland De Panne during one of the VTMKZOOM St. Nicholas Weekends. Would you like to be there? Then please send an email before 22 November to barbara.depril@dreamland.be to register. You will receive an email with all the practical information, such as the start time and where you need to check in.

A warm welcome for St. Nicholas at home too
To give the kids who helped colour the biggest St. Nicholas picture ever even more colouring fun, DreamLand will also give them an actual drawing of nearly 1 metre wide. They can colour this drawing to their heart’s content, and then hang it on the mantelpiece or in the window, to welcome St. Nicholas and his helper, Zwarte Piet, with open arms at home too. This drawing (A1-format) is the compilation of the nine drawings on the website and can be picked up at the DreamLand shop of your choosing. You could win tickets to the big reveal in Plopsaland De Panne or other great prizes if you colour this in and post a photo of it on the DreamLand Facebook page no later than 20 November.

About DreamLand

DreamLand, a subsidiary of the Colruyt Group since 1994, provides durable choices that make kids happy. DreamLand has once again been selected as the best chain of shops in the Toy category this year. DreamLand currently has 44 shops, 32 of which are in Flanders, with another 10 in Wallonia and 2 in France, which together employ over 800 people. DreamLand’s motto? “Everything is better when you’re playing.” Both our employees and our shops are shining examples of this motto because there is so much to enjoy there every week. In addition to this, the toy specialist guarantees the lowest prices for its customers.

DreamLand, Edingensesteenweg 196, 1500 Halle.
DreamLand customer service: 02 363 56 56, Mon through Sun from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
or dreamland@dreamland.be.

For more info, please contact:
Silje Decock
Colruyt Group Press Relations Officer
Mobile: +32 (0)473 92 45 10
Email: silja.decock@colruytgroup.com

###

DreamLand and Belgian kids to surprise St. Nicholas with the biggest drawing of him ever
DreamLand and Belgian kids to surprise St. Nicholas with the biggest drawing of him ever

 

Source: Colruyt Group

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Coop eröffnet erste öffentliche Wasserstofftankstelle der Schweiz

BASEL, SWITZERLAND, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Heute Freitag, 4. November hat die Basler Detailhändlerin in Hunzenschwil (AG) die erste öffentliche Wasserstofftankstelle der Schweiz eröffnet. Gleichzeitig hat sie den weltweit ersten mit Wasserstoff betriebenen Lastwagen mit Anhänger, welcher die Anforderungen für die Coop-Logistik erfüllen kann, und zwölf Wasserstoff-Personenwagen in die eigene Wagenflotte aufgenommen. Der für den Antrieb notwendige Wasserstoff wird am wenige Kilometer entfernten Laufwasserkraftwerk der IBAarau in Aarau CO2- und schadstofffrei durch die H2 Energy AG produziert und an die Coop Mineraloel AG geliefert. Coop macht damit einen wegweisenden Schritt hin zu einer nachhaltigen Mobilität.

In Hunzenschwil hat die Coop Mineraloel AG heute die erste öffentliche Wasserstofftankstelle der Schweiz eröffnet, weitere Wasserstofftankstellen in anderen Schweizer Regionen sind bereits in Planung. «Wir möchten für die Zukunft gerüstet sein, denn die Nachfrage nach fossilen Treibstoffen sinkt, Mobilität wird es aber immer geben. Mit unserer eigenen Wasserstofftankstelle und den Wasserstofffahrzeugen von Coop haben wir beste Voraussetzungen, um mit diesem neuen Treibstoff Erfahrungen zu sammeln», äussert sich Roger Oser, Vorsitzender der Geschäftsleitung der Coop Mineraloel AG.

Antrieb für nachhaltige Antriebsform
«Wir wollen die Initialzündung geben und dazu beitragen, dass eine zukunftsweisende Technologie den Durchbruch schafft», verkündete Joos Sutter, Vorsitzender der Geschäftsleitung von Coop, in Hunzenschwil. «Indem wir eine Wasserstofftankstelle eröffnen und gleichzeitig einen ersten Wasserstoff-Lastwagen und zwölf Wasserstoff-Personenwagen in die eigene Wagenflotte aufnehmen, sorgen wir für Angebot und Nachfrage», so Joos Sutter weiter. Die zwölf Personenwagen werden Mitarbeitenden der nahegelegenen Verteilzentrale Schafisheim als Firmenwagen zur Verfügung gestellt. Der Lastwagen wird ebenfalls in Schafisheim eingesetzt, und zwar zur Belieferung der Verkaufsstellen der Region Nordwestschweiz-Zentralschweiz-Zürich.

Wasserstofffahrzeug: 100 % Leistung – 0 % Abgase
In der Handhabung unterscheidet sich ein Wasserstofffahrzeug nur unwesentlich von einem mit fossilen Brennstoffen betriebenen Fahrzeug: Betankungszeit, Reichweite mit einer Tankfüllung sowie Betriebskosten pro gefahrenem Kilometer sind praktisch identisch. Der grosse Unterschied besteht darin, dass ein Wasserstofffahrzeug keine Schadstoffe ausstösst.

Wasserstoff aus Schweizer Wasserkraftwerk
Den Wasserstoff, welcher zum Antrieb des Wasserstoff-Lastwagens und der Wasserstoff-Personenwagen benötigt wird, lässt Coop am Laufwasserkraftwerk IBAarau in Aarau durch H2 Energy AG mittels Elektrolyse herstellen. Das heisst, dass Wasser mit Energie aus dem Laufwasserkraftwerk in seine Bestandteile Wasserstoff (H2) und Sauerstoff (O2) aufgespaltet wird: Die Elektrolyse am Laufwasserkraftwerk in Aarau findet vor allem dann statt, wenn die Nachfrage nach Strom im Netz gering ist. Bei der Produktion des Wasserstoffs werden weder CO2 noch andere Schadstoffe ausgestossen. Und auch beim Fahren mit dem Wasserstoff-Auto und –LKW strömt einzig Wasserdampf aus dem Auspuff. Deshalb läuft der Wasserstoff bei Coop unter der Nachhaltigkeitseigenmarke Oecoplan.

Taten statt Worte Nr. 326
Unter dem Motto Taten statt Worte fasst Coop ihre Taten für mehr Nachhaltigkeit zusammen. Seit über 25 Jahren engagiert sich die Detailhändlerin mit Partnern tatkräftig für nachhaltigen Konsum, Umweltschutz und Soziales. Über 320 Taten umfasst die Plattform www.taten-statt-worte.ch und es kommen laufend neue dazu. Um die Zukunft zu verbessern, engagiert sich Coop im Hier und Jetzt für Mensch, Tier und Natur. Die Eröffnung der ersten öffentlichen Wasserstofftankstelle der Schweiz ist unsere Tat 326 (www.taten-statt-worte.ch/326).

Weitere Informationen sowie Bilder finden Sie auch unter  www.coop.ch/wasserstoff.

Kontaktpersonen:

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

Ramón Gander
Mediensprecher
Tel. +41 61 336 71 67

Andrea Bergmann
Mediensprecherin
Tel. +41 61 336 67 37

Source: Coop

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Lulu Group International inaugurates its food processing and logistics bases in USA

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Lyndhurst, New Jersey: Lulu Group International, the Abu Dhabi headquartered retail and hospitality group further expanded their operations by inaugurating their food processing and logistics bases in USA. Y International, a wholly owned subsidiary of the group launched its operation in Lyndhurst, New Jersey this morning (11/05/2016).

The world –class export center will purchase, process, re-label and export food, non-food, chilled and frozen products made in the U.S. In the first phase there are 75 employees which is expected to eventually grow to 200 to 250 employees within I year.

The facility was formally inaugurated jointly by Mayor Robert B. Giangeruso, Mayor Michael J. McPartland and VINAI THUMMALAPALLY, the Executive Director of SELECT USA in the presence of Yusuffali MA- Chairman, Saifee Rupawala, CEO, Ashraf Ali MA – Executive Director and Mohd. Althaf – Director of LULU Group. Attendees at the ribbon cutting, including local and foreign officials as well as members of the Indian-American business community from around the country, were thrilled by the impact the company can have throughout the state.

In his remarks Yusuffali MA thanked the officials of SELECT USA, CHOOSE NEW JERSEY and State & county officials for their great support in helping LULU launch their maiden venture in USA.

Speaking to media during the ceremony Choose New Jersey CEO and President Michele Brown said “In addition to bringing new jobs to our state, Y International’s export center will give New Jersey and U.S. manufacturers the opportunity to reach new markets in the Middle East and beyond.”

The US$ 6.6 billion turnover Lulu Group, operates hypermarkets, supermarkets and shopping malls, in addition to wholesale distribution, food processing and hospitality with operations in 37 countries, including the GCC, India and Far East. The company has a 32 percent market share in the Middle East.

Brown said New Jersey is a perfect fit “Our state is so diverse we have populations from so many different countries,” she said. “We felt they would feel both welcome and at home. The business they will be conducting out of this site is meeting American companies to buy goods and products to then export to their own consumer base,” she said. “We have literally thousands of companies in food in New Jersey.”

New Jersey, Brown said, is also home to companies in the apparel and consumer goods industries, which could serve the needs of the company’s Hypermarkets.

“Our group has been importing U.S. products for a long time to cater to more than 700,000 shoppers who come to our 131 hypermarkets daily,” Yusufali added highlighting the longstanding relationships between Lulu and farmers and manufacturers in the country, with a special emphasis on California. “There has been growing demand for U.S. products throughout our retail chain stores, across the GCC, India and Far East” he concluded.

As per the latest report by Deloitte International, LULU is ranked among the Top 10 fastest-growing retailers in the world.

An official from the Kingdom of Bahrain embassy in Washington D.C., Mohamed Bahzad, said Ali’s company, aside from being successful, also is known for its corporate social responsibility. Bahzad said that a strong relationship with the U.S. is a core strategy for Bahrain, where Lulu is opening its 10th market, and anticipates a market will open soon in the U.S.

Contact:

Tel: +971 2 4182000
Fax: +971 2 6421716
headoffice@ae.lulumea.com marketing@ae.lulumea.com

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Lulu Group International inaugurates its food processing and logistics bases in USA
Lulu Group International inaugurates its food processing and logistics bases in USA

 

Source: LuLu Group International

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LuLu Group International announces plan to develop malls in Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah and Dubai

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — LuLu Group International has announced its biggest ever investment in the UAE with a 2 billion Dh plan to develop three malls in Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah and Dubai in the next two years. The mall development and management division of LuLu Group, Line Investments & Property aims to build and operate the three malls within the next three years.

The Mall of Umm Al Quwain is to be a single level strip mall of 20,000 square meters with a seven screen cinema due at the end of 2017 while the project in Sharjah, the Avenues Mall will cover 43,000 sq meters with premium restaurants and entertainment avenues is scheduled to be launched in 2019 while the Avenues Mall at Dubai’s Silicon Oasis is expected to extend over 82,500 sq. meters and has been designed as a premium retail and leisure destination which will be launched at the end of 2018. The Silicon Oasis Mall will compete with the new Cityland Mall which was announced last week and is located 5 kms away. Marcello Larizza, the general manager at Line Investments and Property explained that this would be the biggest investment by LuLu Group in the UAE but it was simultaneously building three malls in India and another three in Saudi Arabia.

Contact:

Tel: +971 2 4182000
Fax: +971 2 6421716
headoffice@ae.lulumea.com marketing@ae.lulumea.com

###

LuLu Group International announces plan to develop malls in Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah and Dubai
LuLu Group International announces plan to develop malls in Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah and Dubai

 

Source: LuLu Group International

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SSP America: Republic and LoLo American Kitchen & Craft Bar opens at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport

LONDON, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — SSP America, a division of SSP Group, a leading operator of food and beverage brands in travel locations worldwide, announced today (3-Nov-2016) the opening of Republic and LoLo American Kitchen & Craft Bar at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Republic is a modern day gastropub where visitors and locals of all passenger demographics will find a comfortable seat. The celebrated establishment—it’s original 7 Corners location was named among the “Top Beer Bars in America 2013-2016” by Draft Magazine— delivers exactly what natives are so proud of in the region’s land of plenty: locally crafted beer and flavorful food grown by regional farmers.

In an exciting partnership to premiere only at Republic’s Terminal 1 location, the widely acclaimed McNally Smith College of Music—which has helped students build contemporary careers in music for over 30 years—will showcase the talents of its students, alumni and faculty with live music performances during peak travel times (3:30–7:00 pm on Thursdays and Fridays, and 1:30–5 pm on Sundays). Reflecting the diversity of music styles taught at the College, performances will span a variety of genres, ranging from traditional jazz to classical guitar to hip-hop.

Matthew O’Reilly, owner of Republic commented, “We’re thrilled to have our brand represented at MSP Airport. We’ve worked hard to be a leader in local and craft beer. Our hope is to carry that message to MSP travelers so they can experience what we’re up to. The McNally/Smith connection is a perfect fit. We’re very much in to local music and the arts, so we could not have asked for a better partner aligned with our values.”

“We’re excited to partner with Republic to bring the first-ever live music venue to MSP, and we’re honored to share the richness and diversity of our community’s musical talent with the million-plus travelers who pass through the airport every year,” says McNally Smith President Harry Chalmiers.

LoLo means “Locally Owned Locally Operated” and it’s owners, Brad Nordeen and Joe Ehlenz, have created a bar scene in their hometown of Stillwater that focuses on craft cocktails and craft beer. The open kitchen will allow diners to see and interact with the chefs to experience the creation of memorable food. LoLo at MSP will be a space where people feel appreciated—where passengers can have a well-shaken cocktail or a beautifully constructed small plate featuring prized, seasonal ingredients.

Joe Ehlenz, managing partner of LoLo explained, “Our goal is to deliver an authentic experience to the MSP traveler. We want to keep the same ideals that we’ve kept street side—scratch bar to kitchen using local distillers and food products. It’s been a winning combination for us, and we believe with SSP America as our operating partner, it will be a winning combination at the Airport.”

Brian Ryks, Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Airports Commission commended SSP by saying: “SSP has been a long-time partner of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and has demonstrated time and again its commitment to upholding MSP’s mission ‘to provide your best airport experience.’ Republic and LoLo showcase some of the best restaurants our state has to offer. I want to thank SSP for its support of some outstanding local entrepreneurs and its elevation of MSP’s restaurant offerings in terms of both design and culinary innovation.”

Michael Svagdis, president and CEO of SSP America, commented, “Republic and LoLo are incredible examples of the Twin Cities thriving food scene, renowned Midwestern hospitality, and diverse culture that celebrates the region’s bountiful farmland. By layering in performances that showcase the rich music traditions of the region, the McNally Smith College of Music will ensure MSP passengers enjoy an environment that delivers a complete Midwest experience. The SSP America team is thrilled to bring these three extraordinary culinary and cultural institutions to MSP.”

If you are a journalist and have a press enquiry, please call:
Templemere Public Relations
+44 (0) 1306 735574
press.office@ssp-intl.com

Source: SSP Group plc

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Taco Bell announces plans to open 9,000 new locations by the end of 2022; will create 100,000 new jobs

Launches “Start with Us, Stay with Us” Platform to Attract New Talent

Irvine, Calif., 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — With new restaurants comes new jobs. Taco Bell recently announced its plans to grow as a system to 9,000 locations in the U.S. by the end of 2022, opening the door of opportunity for 100,000 new jobs. Add that to the company’s current 40,000 employees across its company-owned stores and 170,000 people employed by franchise restaurants, and you could say Taco Bell has come a long way since Glen Bell single-handedly opened his first taco stand in 1962.

“Our planned growth over the next six years is going to help us reach $15 billion in global system sales by 2022,” said Brian Niccol, Chief Executive Officer at Taco Bell. “With that comes the need to attract and retain top talent so that we’re continuing to deliver the best customer experience possible.”

Earlier this month, Taco Bell officially launched “Start with Us, Stay with Us,” a platform and mentality to set Taco Bell apart as a category of one, and one that encourages employees to leverage the career-building and education programs Taco Bell offers no matter how long you’ve been with, or plan to stay with, the company.

“We understand that Taco Bell is a first job for a lot of people,” said Frank Tucker, Chief People Officer at Taco Bell. “Whether they want to start with us for a year or stay with us for life, we feel it’s our responsibility to make sure we’re offering benefits and programs that create innovators and leaders for our communities inside and out of our restaurants.”

Also launched earlier this month, Taco Bell has partnered with Roadtrip Nation to capture the stories and career paths of current employees and alumni of Taco Bell.

Employees, current and prospective, can see real steps of how to get to their goal position, whether that’s managing an entire Taco Bell restaurant, working in the award-winning marketing department at headquarters, or taking skills to another industry altogether.

“As a business that’s fueled by the energy and passion of people serving people, our team members are our front line and biggest brand ambassadors,” said Tucker. “It’s often a job that kickstarts someone’s career and future success, so we’re excited to team up with Roadtrip Nation to inspire and show our team members how these invaluable skills can get them to their highest aspirations in life.”

Taco Bell was founded on innovation and passion with Glen Bell bringing tacos to the masses in a world of hot dog and hamburger stands. Employees want a company they can live and grow with; they crave a unique culture that fosters creativity and encourages pursuit of passion, and they look for opportunities to take risks, develop skills and learn in ways that fit their lifestyle.

Education
Taco Bell offers significant education programs to allow company restaurant employees the opportunity to graduate from high school, obtain their GED and even advance their education with Excelsior College.

• Graduate for Mas – The Taco Bell Foundation and Get Schooled partnered to develop a program where youth that make the promise to graduate receive access to resources, mentorship support, prizes, and cool rewards like educational scholarships.
o To date, nearly 600,000 youth have made the promise.
• GED Certification Program – Taco Bell has teamed up with GED Testing Services to give restaurant team members that are no longer in and have not graduated from high school the opportunity to prep and test for a GED at a discounted price.
o 57 team members have graduated with their GED from this program, with more than 200 currently participating.
• Taco Bell Excelsior Program – In partnership with Excelsior College, an accredited nonprofit institution, Taco Bell offers flexible online degree options at a discounted price for its team members and their immediate family, including:
o A 40% tuition discount for a fully accredited Associate’s, Bachelor’s or graduate degree programs.
o Up to 44 college credits towards their degree by completing restaurant on-the-job training.
o $1,000 scholarships awarded to Taco Bell Students (2 for every 25 students enrolled).
o Ability to transfer up to 96 percent of credits needed to complete a Bachelor’s degree with the program.

Additionally, funding for education up to $5,250 per employee/year is available for Corporate (and participating Franchise) Shift Leads and above, including employees at Taco Bell’s corporate headquarters.

All of these programs are available for franchisees to offer as well, and many of them choose to do so for their employees.

Currently, 194 team members are enrolled in classes through the Excelsior Program, and three have graduated with more set to graduate this coming spring.

Live Mas Scholarship
The Live Más Scholarship is aimed at empowering the nation’s next generation of dreamers, innovators and creators – those whose passions may not fit into the conventional “academic” or “athletic” scholarship programs. This year, the Taco Bell Foundation launched the Live Más Scholarship and awarded $275,000 in scholarship funding to 50 restaurant employees.

Leadership
Known as a leader in the fast food industry for its training programs, Taco Bell offers unparalleled leadership development experiences to provide the necessary tools and techniques to help restaurant leadership become their personal and professional best. Not a one-size-fits-all model, training programs are designed and catered to help employees at all levels learn how to best grow in that role, as well as key take-aways for any career. In the last year alone, Taco Bell has promoted more than 2,000 company store employees into management roles.

About Taco Bell Foundation
Taco Bell Foundation, Inc. is a not for profit 501(c) (3) public benefit corporation with the founded focus of investing in the potential of America’s youth through education and helping them realize their dreams. Since 1992, the Foundation has reached more than 5 million young people across 600 youth-serving organizations and about 1,700 high schools in the U.S. through partnerships and programs like GraduateforMas.com, and has awarded more than $75 million in scholarships and grants focused on education and career readiness. In 2016, Taco Bell and the Taco Bell Foundation launched the Live Más Scholarship, a program aimed at empowering the nation’s next generation of dreamers, innovators and creators – those whose passions don’t fall into the conventional “academic” or “athletic” qualifying categories of traditional scholarship programs. For more information visit tacobellfoundation.org.

ABOUT TACO BELL® CORPORATION

Taco Bell Corp., a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., (NYSE: YUM), is the nation’s leading Mexican-inspired quick service restaurant. Taco Bell serves made to order and customizable tacos, burritos, and specialties such as the exclusive Doritos® Locos Tacos, gourmet-inspired Cantina Power® Menu, lower calorie Fresco options and is the first QSR restaurant to offer American Vegetarian Association (AVA)-certified menu items. Taco Bell Breakfast offers portable, classic items such as the A.M. Crunchwrap, Biscuit Taco and signature breakfast burritos. The company encourages customers to “Live Más,” both through its food and in ways such as its Feed The Beat® music program and its nonprofit organization, the Taco Bell® Foundation™. Taco Bell and its more than 350 franchise organizations have nearly 6,000 restaurants across the United States that proudly serve more than 40 million customers every week.

Like: Facebook.com/tacobell
Follow: @TacoBell (Twitter) and tacobell (Instagram)
Subscribe: YouTube.com/tacobell

MEDIA RELATIONS:

949-863-3915
e-mail at media@tacobell.com

Source: Taco Bell Corp.

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Carrefour opened its first “Carrefour Bio” store in Lyon

Boulogne-Billancourt, FRANCE, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — France’s leading organic food supermarket retailer, Carrefour has just opened its first “Carrefour Bio” store in Lyon, shoring up its leadership position on this fast-growing market. This new sales outlet will meet the growing needs of consumers who care about what they eat, providing them with a complete range of organic, healthy products designed to contribute to their well-being – and at affordable prices.

A 100% organic offering
With a sales area of 220 m², this first completely organic food store opened to the public on Wednesday 26 October and is located at 163 bis de l’avenue de Saxe, in Lyon’s town centre. Customers can choose from more than 4500 food items, as well as gluten-free, vegetarian and healthy products – everything they need for a balanced diet at affordable prices. It also has a wide selection of high-quality fresh produce, such as France-grown Carrefour Bio fruit and vegetables, as well as Carrefour Bio fresh meat products – obtained from livestock exclusively reared in France.

A friendly team for organic enthusiasts
Mr Roche – the store’s manager – heads up a team of six recently-hired employees.
Five of them are on permanent contracts, and one has been employed as part of a work/study programme.  Together, their mission is to listen to what the people of Lyon want and to provide them with a friendly, local service so they can buy high-quality products on a day-to-day basis.

Carrefour: forerunner in the world of organic retail and France’s leading vendor of organic products
For more than 20 years, Carrefour has been promoting the production and marketing of organic products across all of its stores, striving whenever possible to use short supply chains and entering into partnerships with French SMEs. Carrefour was one of the first stores to make organic produce widely available to customers through its Bio brand – the range now features more than 1800 own-brand products (more than 800 food products, nearly 900 organic cotton clothing items in the non-food category and around fifty or so cosmetics products). Today, Carrefour is France’s leading retailer of general organic items. Its customers can choose from among more than 6000 products in its hypermarkets, supermarkets and convenience stores, as well as on its e-commerce websites (drive and ooshop).
Address: 163 bis Avenue Maréchal de Saxe, 69003 Lyon
Opening times:8 AM – 9 PM, Monday to Saturday, 9 AM – 1 PM on Sundays

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@

Source: Carrefour Group

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Carrefour to open 160 new Express stores in Spain before 2016 closes

Spain, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Carrefour Spain will close 2016 with 160 new Express stores, creating employment for 1,100 people in this country. Over 3,000 people currently work in Express stores in Spain.

The areas in which Express stores have been created are: Andalusia, Catalonia, Valencia, Extremadura, Rioja, Navarra, Madrid and the Basque Country. Almost 20% of these supermarkets serve communities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants.

Spain’s Express stores have an average surface area of between 100 and 500m2, providing customers with a local outlet that offers some 5,000 items at the most competitive prices.

New format openings: gourmet experience
Carrefour Spain’s Express format has also developed a “gourmet” supermarket model. These stores offer a range of over 5,500 products, including 600 “gourmet” references, which is 75% more than the chain’s conventional supermarkets offer. Gourmet Express stores are designed to meet the needs of cosmopolitan urban customers.

They include a wine cellar with over 250 different wines from Spain’s main wine-growing regions, as well as organic products, a selection of organic meat and international dishes. They also offer specialist meat and high quality cold cut products, as well as over 50 varieties of artisan bread and pastries, all produced daily on site. The first stores of this type opened in Madrid.

Carrefour Express: successful formula for entrepreneurs 90% of the Express stores in Spain operate on a franchise basis, a good opportunity for entrepreneurs. Carrefour Spain offers the option of operating under the brand name, providing franchisees with daily management support, including the provision of commercial know-how, logistics support and help in securing funding.

85% of the Carrefour Express franchises are family-run businesses, 40% are run by women and 25% are managed by young entrepreneurs under the age of 25.

70 stores opened in Cepsa service stations
Over 70 of the stores expected to open this year will be in Cepsa service stations.

The purpose of these stores is to provide users with an alternative shopping outlet without having to leave the service station, this alliance offers consumers optional extra benefits in terms of fuel and at Carrefour Spain stores.

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@

Source: Carrefour Group

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Amazon Studios’ original kids holiday programming to premiere on November 25 on Prime Video

Brand-new specials include If You Give a Mouse a Christmas Cookie, The Snowy Day, and An American Girl Story—Maryellen 1955: Extraordinary Christmas and feature notable talent, including Laurence Fishburne, Regina King, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Angela Bassett, Boyz II Men, Lisa Loeb, and Bethany Cosentino

SEATTLE, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Amazon Studios today (Nov. 4, 2016) announced its original kids holiday programming is scheduled to premiere on Friday, November 25 on Prime Video in the US and UK. Brand-new Amazon Original Specials include If You Give a Mouse a Christmas Cookie, Ezra Jack Keats’ The Snowy Day, and An American Girl Story—Maryellen 1955: Extraordinary Christmas as well as existing holiday episodes from Creative Galaxy and Tumble Leaf.

“We are so excited to bring our customers our first-ever holiday line-up of specials this season, with If You Give a Mouse a Christmas Cookie and The Snowy Day based on beloved children’s books that highlight strong bonds between friends and families. It’s what the holidays are all about,” said Tara Sorensen, Head of Kids Programming at Amazon Studios. “The American Girl Maryellen special is an inspiring feel-good story that will surely become a holiday family favorite for our customers.”

If You Give a Mouse a Christmas Cookie

If You Give a Mouse a Christmas Cookie is an animated holiday special based on the classic If You Give a Mouse a Cookie book series written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond. In this special, it’s holiday time and in Mouse’s house that means Christmas cookies (including a special one for Santa, of course), caroling with friends…and one nearly-destroyed holiday pageant. Can Mouse and his animal friends save the show, without getting utterly distracted along the way? It’s a wild ride as Mouse and his friends work together to solve a problem in a fun and creative way. The special is written and produced by Ken Scarborough (Doug, Curious George, Martha Speaks, Arthur, and Saturday Night Live); stars Mason Mahay (voice of Oliver), Roger Craig Smith (Avengers Assemble and Wreck-It Ralph), Jessica DiCiccio (Over the Hedge), Jeff Bennett (Futurama), and Lara Jill Miller (The Loud House, Henry Hugglemonster, and Doc McStuffins). The special also features an original song “Christmas Cookie Song” by Lisa Loeb, available exclusively on Amazon Music to download and stream November 25. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie was part of Amazon’s 2015 fall pilot season rated 4.7 stars by customers with 82% 5-star reviews; season one will premiere on Amazon Prime Video next year.

Ezra Jack Keats’ The Snowy Day

The Snowy Day is an animated holiday special based on the award-winning book by Ezra Jack Keats. The book is well-known as one of the first picture books to feature an African-American protagonist, has won many awards, including the Caldecott medal—one of the highest honors in children’s literature, and was included in the Library of Congress’ list of “Books that Shaped America.” The special follows Peter, a young boy in a red snowsuit, as his mother sends him on an adventure to Nana’s house to retrieve their traditional Christmas mac and cheese dinner. Enjoying the snowy day along the way, Peter encounters friends from the neighborhood, including storekeepers and bakers to the older boys he admires—and a group of a capella singers voiced by Boyz II Men. After arriving at Nana’s and retrieving the mac and cheese—and his most coveted gift, a brand-new red sled—Nana helps Peter team up with the older boys for an epic snowball fight, resulting in the destruction of the special holiday dinner and his sled. When the neighborhood comes together to celebrate new traditions with Peter and his family, Peter realizes that the true meaning of the holiday is who you spend it with. Narrated by Laurence Fishburne (Black-ish, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and The Matrix) and featuring voice talent by Regina King (American Crime and The Leftovers), Jamie-Lynn Sigler (The Sopranos), and Angela Bassett (American Horror Story and BoJack Horseman), The Snowy Day features an original song “Snowy Day” by Boyz II Men, available exclusively on Amazon Music to download and stream November 25. Executive produced by Laurence Fishburne and Helen Sugland (Akeelah and the Bee) as well as Ann Austen, Irene Sherman, and Deborah Pope (Ezra Jack Keats Foundation).

An American Girl Story—Maryellen 1955: Extraordinary Christmas

An American Girl Story—Maryellen 1955: Extraordinary Christmas is the second collaboration between American Girl and Amazon and is based on American Girl’s previously launched Be Forever character Maryellen Larkin. The special is set during Christmas in 1955 in Daytona Beach, Florida, where middle child Maryellen (Alyvia Alyn Lind) longs to stand out amidst the hustle and bustle of her big, busy family. A boisterous and artistic girl, Maryellen’s adventurous spirit is sometimes at odds with the era she’s living in: when conformity was valued above individuality. When Benji (Samuel Faraci), a family friend afflicted with polio comes to stay with them and visit Daytona Beach’s hospital for care, Maryellen is inspired to help the polio patients have the best Christmas ever. But her first attempts fall flat, followed by a fight with her best friend Davy (Maxwell Acee Donovan). With guidance and advice from Maryellen’s wise and sympathetic mother (Mary McCormack), Maryellen learns the key to helping others is through listening. Through her gift of drawing, Maryellen helps give the children an extraordinary Christmas they’ll never forget. Executive produced by Jane Startz (Ella Enchanted). An American Girl Story—Maryellen 1955: Extraordinary Christmas features an original song “Christmas and Everyday” by Best Coast, available exclusively on Amazon Music to download and stream November 25.

These specials are part of Prime Video’s growing line-up of award-winning and critically acclaimed Originals for kids and families—to see more originals available exclusively for Prime members visit www.amazon.com/originals.

About Amazon Video

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

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

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

About Amazon

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

Media Hotline:

206-266-7180
www.amazon.com/pr

Source: Amazon.com, Inc.

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Argos launches new advertising campaign featuring speeding yetis delivering Christmas goods

Milton Keynes, UK, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Argos has turned to speed, adrenaline and excitement for its 2016 Christmas advertising campaign, following last year’s extreme snowboarding ‘Just Can’t Wait for Christmas’ spot. This evening, the retailer will unveil another high-octane spectacular – featuring five eight-foot tall, neon yetis, hurtling through the streets of a snowy town on ice-skates to deliver Christmas goods at extraordinary speed.

Created by CHI&Partners and directed by Henry Scholfield through Caviar, the ‘Christmas Yetis’ advert is a whirlwind of excitement, energy and colour, reflecting the market-leading speed of Argos’ same day Fast Track Delivery and Fast Track Collection services. Set against an exclusive adaptation by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra of “What’s This?”, the spot creates a palpable sense of festive excitement and anticipation.

Stephen Vowles, marketing director at Argos, said: “What we love about this fun, fast-paced campaign is that it beautifully captures the spirit of excitement and anticipation surrounding Christmas. Fun loving and friendly, these larger-than-life, speeding yetis colourfully bring to life the role that Argos hopes to play in the Christmases of families nationwide this Christmas – and the skill, speed and precision that make us market leaders, with our super-speedy, same day Fast Track Delivery and Fast Track Collection services.”

The advert was shot in camera on a purpose-built skating track in the picturesque centre of Warsaw, and stars five semi-professional ice skaters – with more than a century’s experience collectively – as the yetis. Based on the folklore that yetis move twice as fast as the average human, the Argos yetis leap and carve round corners like lightning on their skates – collecting, playing with and delivering Argos’ top products as they go, from Beats headphones, Virtual Reality headsets and Dyson vacuum cleaners to Fitbit, GoPro and Furby products.

A team of award-winning special effects experts from Animated Extras built the hyper-realistic yetis (each costing £30,000 to create) over a period of three months at the world-famous Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England. The team included experts who have previously worked to develop state-of-the-art costumes, props, animatronics and prosthetics for Hollywood movies and British TV shows, including James Bond, Avengers, Cinderella, Jupiter Ascending, Into the Woods and Cloud Atlas.

Inside the yetis are Peter Hallam (in orange), twice British Figure Skating Champion and holder of five international Gold medals as well as two silver medals at the Senior British Figure Skating Championships. The remaining blue, pink, green and purple yetis are played by George Southall (in blue), who is recognised as one of the best amateur freestyle skaters in the UK; professional Adrian Jack (in pink), a principal in Disney on Ice; and professional ice hockey players Brad Slade (in green) and Kevin McGlynn (in purple).

The campaign will break on TV today, and will be supported by print, video-on-demand, paid digital, social content and appearances of the Yetis in public in a bid to fast track the anticipation and excitement of Christmas for Britons with an in-store social competition.

Jim Bolton, deputy executive creative director at CHI&Partners, said: “This campaign brings out the excited Christmas-Eve kid in all of us who just can’t get to sleep, they’re so eager for the big day to arrive. We hope our loveable yetis bring excitement to thousands of British households this Christmas – reminding us of the joyous, fun-filled experience the festive season should be.”

The campaign follows Argos’ 2015 spot ‘Just Can’t Wait for Christmas’, in which skiing and snowboarding champions showcased their speed and skill on a mountainside in Chile’s Valle Nevado.

Notes to editors

Argos now offers same day delivery and faster in-store collection with Fast Track.

You can now buy online and get your order delivered the same day for £3.95, 7 days a week, with Fast Track Delivery. You can also buy online and collect from our dedicated Fast Track counters in-store.

About Sainsbury’s Argos

Sainsbury’s Argos is a leading UK digital retailer and sells more than 60,000 products under the Argos and Habitat brands. It sells through www.argos.co.uk, www.habitat.co.uk, its growing mobile channels, its 845 stores and over the telephone. Argos Digital Stores and Mini Habitats can also be found in Sainsbury’s supermarkets.

Argos is the UK’s largest high street retailer online and the second most visited website, with nearly a billion website visits a year. More than half of the company’s sales originate online and around 120 million customer transactions take place in its stores each year. Argos offers customers market leading delivery and collection services, including Check & Reserve, Fast Track Delivery and Fast Track Collection which make customers’ lives easier, every day.

Sainsbury’s Argos is part of J Sainsbury plc, a leading retailer of food, clothing and general merchandise and owner of Sainsbury’s Bank. Sainsbury’s commitment to helping customers live well for less has been at the heart of what the company does since 1869. J Sainsbury plc employs 195,000 colleagues across the UK and Ireland whose strong culture and values are integral to driving its success – now and in the future. Our vision is to be the most trusted retailer where people love to work and shop.

CHI&Partners is a UK-based advertising agency. Founded in 2001, the agency is listed in the Sunday Times’ Top Track 250 and International Track 200 as the UK’s fastest-growing privately-owned ad agency both within the UK and internationally, and was this year named the UK’s most awarded independent creative agency at Cannes Lions.

CHI&Partners has offices spanning New York, Canada and Asia as well as Europe – working with large domestic and international clients including Argos, British Gas, Carphone Warehouse, Diageo, GSK, Lexus, News UK, Royal Bank of Scotland, Samsung, TalkTalk and Travelodge. CHI&Partners is a partner in The&Partnership.

The&Partnership is an independent agency holding company where the majority owners are the founders and partners of the individual businesses, sharing one bottom line. A cross-discipline communications group built for today’s complex industry landscape, The&Partnership comprises ten businesses spanning four continents, with 1,500 staff. The group houses agencies specialising in advertising, design, CRM, media planning and buying, data analytics, PR, content and social – with digital at the core of all its businesses.

The&Partnership is backed by WPP, the world’s largest communications agency network, which is both a partner and a significant minority shareholder.

‘Christmas Yetis’ – Credits

Brand: Argos

Agency: CHI&Partners

ECD: Micky Tudor

Creative Director: Jim Bolton

Creatives: Ben Da Costa, Duncan Brooks, Sarah Levitt

Planners: Rebecca Munds & Josh Roth

Producer: Adam Henderson

Business Director: Gary Simmons

Account Director: Stephanie Leonard

Account Manager: Nathan Brocklesby

Production Company: Caviar

Director: Henry Scholfield

Producer: Giles Skillicorn

Photographer / Director of Photography: Jallo Faber

Costume: Animated Extras

Editor: James Rose, Cut & Run

Post-Production: Electric Theatre Collective

Producer: Sian Jenkins

VFX Supervisors: Yourick Van Impe

ECD: Micky Tudor, Jonathan Burley

Post Supervisor on Shoot: Angus Wilson

Audio: Sam Robson, 750mph

Music Company: Wake The Town

Voiceover: Miquita Oliver

Media Agency: Mindshare

Social Media Agency: AllTogetherNow

PR Agency: W Communications

For more information please contact the team at W Communications:

Tel: 0207 436 8113
Email: argos@wcommunications.co.uk

Alternatively, please contact the Argos Press Office on 0845 120 4365 or email: media.relations@argos.co.uk

Follow us on Twitter at @argos_PR.

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Argos launches new advertising campaign featuring speeding yetis delivering Christmas goods
Argos launches new advertising campaign featuring speeding yetis delivering Christmas goods

 

Source: Argos

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Sainsbury’s invests on its colleagues on disability awareness training

Sainsbury’s invests on its colleagues on disability awareness training
Sainsbury’s invests on its colleagues on disability awareness training

 

London, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — To give its deaf customers a better experience in store, Sainsbury’s has created a short film for its colleagues on how to communicate with deaf customers, particularly those who use British Sign Language (BSL).

  • Retailer creates award-winning film to teach all colleagues basic sign language
  • Film now being made public to enable more people to learn
  • Sainsbury’s has invested over 50,000 hours in the past year on disability awareness training

The innovative film was created as part of Sainsbury’s non-visible disabilities awareness week, after colleagues expressed a lack of confidence at communicating with customers who are deaf sign language users.

Sainsbury’s held workshops with its colleagues who are deaf sign language users to develop the film. The workshops helped provide insights on colleagues’ own experiences of shopping and which signs would be most useful to teach the retailer’s 161,000 colleagues who would watch the video.

In a first for UK food retailers, Sainsbury’s is making the internal film public to help more people feel comfortable communicating with the one in six people in the UK who have some form of hearing impairment or deafness.

Tim Fallowfield, Company Secretary and Corporate Services Director and Board Champion for Disability and Carers at Sainsbury’s said: “Our vision is to be the most inclusive retailer where people love to work and shop. We are committed to investing in disability awareness training and this film is just one way that we are providing additional help to our customers with disabilities.”

Sainsbury’s has received endorsement for the film from the Royal Association for Deaf People. Dr. Jan Sheldon, Chief Executive at the charity, said: “Communication between Deaf and hearing people can be difficult for both parties, but it can be made easier through awareness and education. The Royal Association for Deaf People support mainstream services to become more accessible to Deaf people. We’re delighted to see how committed Sainsbury’s are to providing accessible services to Deaf people.”

Tracey Kennard, a colleague at Sainsbury’s Dartford store who was in the film said: “As a child growing up with a deaf parent, I know how difficult it can be for a deaf and hearing person to communicate directly. Since watching the film, I have noticed a real change in my colleagues. They have gone from being nervous and handing over to me when a deaf customer needs assistance, to having the confidence to have a go – and once they’ve started, they often find they can help the customer without my involvement. All it takes is a simple signed ‘Hello’ for a deaf customer to feel valued, and a colleague to feel more comfortable in continuing the conversation using gestures or written words to make sure we’re delivering great service for our customers.

The film, titled ‘”Life Doesn’t Come With Subtitles”: Tips for Communicating with Deaf Customers’ recently won gold at the EVCOM Clarion Awards, the leading awards for recognising best practice in communicating the importance of CSR, diversity and other issues through live and visual communications.

Over the past year, Sainsbury’s has invested over 50,000 hours on in training store colleagues how to help customers with visible disabilities and non-visible disabilities. In 2015, Sainsbury’s became the first food retailer in the UK to bring SignVideo to its customer service centres – revolutionising the way our deaf customers can communicate with our call centres.

Press Enquiries:
press_office@sainsburys.co.uk
020 7695 7295.

Source: Sainsbury

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American Ireland Fund Corporate Social Responsibility Award presented to Walgreens Boots Alliance

DEERFIELD, Ill., 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — The American Ireland Fund honored Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA) yesterday at its 32nd Annual Chicago Dinner for its commitment to and investment in the entire island of Ireland, both north and south. Walgreens Boots Alliance is only the fifth company with significant operations in the Chicago land area to receive the American Ireland Fund Corporate Social Responsibility Award in the dinner’s 32-year history.

Walgreens Boots Alliance was cited for the jobs and services it provides at over 170 stores in Ireland. Walgreens Boots Alliance Senior Vice President, Chief Property and Procurement Officer Patrick Dunne accepted the award on behalf of the company.

“I’m honored to accept this award on behalf of all my dedicated colleagues, and we recognize the challenge of this award to continue our strong corporate citizenship,” said Dunne, who is originally from Strabane, County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. “We are committed to being a standout global company through initiatives focused on the communities we serve, the environment, the marketplace and our workplace.”

Founded in 1976, The Worldwide Ireland Funds currently operate in 12 countries and have raised over $500 million for over 3,000 outstanding organizations across Ireland and around the globe.

“The American Ireland Fund is delighted to recognize Walgreens Boots Alliance for its corporate presence and investment in the island of Ireland. This ongoing commitment strengthens the communities it serves and we are honored to celebrate the ties between Chicago and Ireland that Walgreens Boots Alliance represents,” said Devon Bruce, chair of the 2016 Annual Chicago Dinner.

The Funds are one of the largest private funding sources for innovative work across the island of Ireland and are dedicated to supporting programs of peace and reconciliation, arts and culture, education and community development. The American Ireland Fund holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator in recognition of efficiency, sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.

Notes to Editors:

Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) is the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise.

The company was created through the combination of Walgreens and Alliance Boots in December 2014, bringing together two leading companies with iconic brands, complementary geographic footprints, shared values and a heritage of trusted health care services through pharmaceutical wholesaling and community pharmacy care, dating back more than 100 years.

Walgreens Boots Alliance is the largest retail pharmacy, health and daily living destination across the USA and Europe. Walgreens Boots Alliance and the companies in which it has equity method investments together have a presence in more than 25* countries and employ more than 400,000* people. The company is a global leader in pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing retail and, together with the companies in which it has equity method investments, has over 13,200* stores in 11* countries as well as one of the largest global pharmaceutical wholesale and distribution networks, with over 390* distribution centers delivering to more than 230,000** pharmacies, doctors, health centers and hospitals each year in more than 20* countries. In addition, Walgreens Boots Alliance is one of the world’s largest purchasers of prescription drugs and many other health and wellbeing products.

The company’s portfolio of retail and business brands includes Walgreens, Duane Reade, Boots and Alliance Healthcare, as well as increasingly global health and beauty product brands such as No7, Botanics, Liz Earle and Soap & Glory.

In October 2016 Walgreens Boots Alliance received the United Nations Foundation Global Leadership Award for its commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

More company information is available at www.walgreensbootsalliance.com.

* As of 31 August 2016, using publicly available information for AmerisourceBergen.
** For 12 months ending 31 August 2016, using publicly available information for AmerisourceBergen.

Media Relations Contact:
USA
Michael Polzin
+1 847 315 2935

International
Laura Vergani
+44 (0)207 980 8585

Investor Relations Contact:
Gerald Gradwell and Ashish Kohli
+1 847 315 2922

Source: Walgreens Boots Alliance

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El 61% de la población adulta española sufre ya sobrepeso u obesidad

El 61% de la población adulta española sufre ya sobrepeso u obesidad
El 61% de la población adulta española sufre ya sobrepeso u obesidad

 

  • La promoción de la actividad física, junto a una alimentación equilibrada son las claves para revertir la situación
  • Los expertos insisten en la necesidad de una mejor vigilancia sistemática, la implementación de estrategias preventivas de carácter general a toda la población y acciones asistenciales específicas para las personas afectadas
  • Bajo el título Alimentación Equilibrada. ¿Dónde estamos y hacia dónde vamos? Qué nos depara la nutrición a futuro expertos en el ámbito de la nutrición han analizado los retos a los que se enfrenta la sociedad en este ámbito

ELORRIO,España, 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — La Fundación EROSKI celebra a lo largo de esta mañana en San Sebastián la sexta edición de los encuentros de su Escuela de Alimentación, bajo el título Alimentación Equilibrada. ¿Dónde estamos y hacia dónde vamos? Qué nos depara la nutrición a futuro. El acto inaugural ha contado con la presencia e intervención de la directora de Salud Pública y Adicciones del Gobierno Vasco, Miren Dorronsoro, la concejala delegada de Acción Social del Ayuntamiento de San Sebastián, Aitziber San Román, y el presidente de EROSKI, Agustín Markaide.

El presidente de EROSKI, Agustin Markaide, ha agradecido la presencia e interés de los profesionales de la salud y la nutrición participantes en el encuentro. “En Eroski queremos contribuir a una alimentación más saludable y más responsable de dos maneras, la primera poniendo al alcance del consumidor mejores productos, para que sea más fácil componer una dieta más equilibrada y la segunda, aportando información y formación al consumidor para que tenga mayor criterio a la hora de diseñar su dieta, todo ello forma parte de un compromiso intrínseco a nuestra misión cooperativa. La celebración de jornadas como la de hoy nos permite obtener valiosas aportaciones para afinar diagnósticos y marcar prioridades a la hora de diseñar acciones comerciales y formativas dirigidas a los consumidores”.

El encuentro tiene como objetivo el abordaje, análisis y debate sobre los próximos retos a los que se enfrenta nuestra sociedad en el ámbito de la nutrición. La presidenta de la Sociedad Española de Nutrición Comunitaria (SENC), Carmen Pérez-Rodrigo, ha protagonizado la primera de las conferencias. La Dra. Pérez Rodrigo ha señalado “la necesidad de mantener e incentivar los programas comunitarios de promoción de la actividad física y estilos de vida saludables para revertir la preocupante situación en relación con la obesidad”. Para describir dicha situación la Dra. Rodrigo se ha basado en los datos ofrecidos por el Estudio sobre Hábitos Alimentarios y Estado Nutricional de la Población Española promovido por la Fundación EROSKI, en colaboración con la SENC y SPRIM, y de cuya coordinación técnica ha sido responsable.

El estudio ENPE ha puesto de manifiesto que la prevalencia de sobrepeso estimada en la población adulta española (25-64 años) es del 39% y el de obesidad del 22% y aumenta con la edad, datos reflejados en un artículo publicado en Revista Española de Cardiología. Según ha detallado la Dra. Pérez-Rodrigo “se aprecia una mayor prevalencia de la obesidad en zonas como Asturias, Galicia y Andalucía, al tiempo que son menores en País Vasco, Cataluña y Baleares”. Si bien presenta una distribución desigual entre las distintas comunidades autónomas, la prevalencia de obesidad en España es alta. Por ello, durante el Encuentro se ha insistido en la necesidad de una mejor vigilancia sistemática, especialmente en los grupos de población con mayor riesgo, la implementación de estrategias preventivas de carácter general dirigidas a toda la población y acciones asistenciales específicas para las personas afectadas.

Si se suman las proporciones de prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad, el 61% de la población adulta española, entre los 25 y 64 años, está afectada, el 70% de los varones y el 53% de las mujeres. Aumentando significativamente con la edad tanto las tasas de sobrepeso y de obesidad en ambos sexos, siendo mayor en los hombres para todos los grupos de edad.

El estudio ENPE ofrece un estudio epidemiológico poblacional sobre la base de una muestra representativa de 6.800 personas con edades comprendidas entre los 3 y los 90 años, a partir de un trabajo de campo basado en mediciones y entrevistas individuales.

La necesidad de medidas para volver a la dieta mediterránea, especialmente dirigidas a adultos jóvenes y población pediátrica, ha centrado la intervención del catedrático de Nutrición y Bromatología del Departamento de Bioquímica y Biotecnología de la Universidad Rovira i Virgili de Reus, Jordi Salas-Salvadó, quien ha puesto en valor la acumulación de evidencias a lo largo de los últimos años sobre los posibles mecanismos que explicarían la protección de la salud que proporcionan los alimentos que componen la dieta mediterránea. En concreto, ha indicado que el estudio PREDIMED, del que el Dr. Salas-Salvadó es uno de los principales promotores, “es el primero que con un gran nivel de evidencia científica ha demostrado que la dieta mediterránea suplementada con aceite de oliva virgen o frutos secos reduce en un 30% el riesgo de eventos cardiovasculares o muertes por enfermedad cardiovascular en comparación a una dieta baja en grasa”.

El especialista en Endocrinología y Nutrición del Hospital de Basurto, Fernando Goñi, ha dado a conocer en su intervención su experiencia clínica sobre hábitos saludables en la sociedad vasca. El Dr. Goñi ha partido de los datos aportados por el estudio ENPE, impulsado por la Fundación EROSKI, sobre los hábitos alimentarios de la población vasca. “El modelo predominante en el País Vasco sigue un perfil concordante con la dieta mediterránea, con un mayor consumo de pescado y vino tinto que otras zonas geográficas”, ha señalado. El contrapunto negativo es que “en los últimos años se ha detectado un aumento considerable del consumo de productos de bollería, embutidos y refrescos y más del 80% de la población joven realiza ingestas de grasa por encima de las recomendaciones establecidas”, en palabras del especialista. El Dr. Goñi ha concluido su intervención manifestando la necesidad de “implicar a los organismos públicos y privados para que adopten estrategias globales para luchar contra la obesidad, considerada como la pandemia del siglo XXI”.

El encuentro se cierra con una mesa redonda en la que participan el director de la Fundación EROSKI, Alejandro Martínez Berriochoa, además de la catedrática del Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Ciencias de la Alimentación, Toxicología y Medicina Legal de la Universidad de Valencia, Dolores Corella, el doctor en Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos de la Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU, Bittor Rodríguez, y el director general de AZTI, Rogelio Pozo.

La Dra. Corella, pionera en España en la integración de datos genómicos en la investigación epidemiológica tradicional, desgranará las posibilidades de personalización de la dieta a través de la nutrigenómica, con especial atención a sus interacciones en el ámbito de las enfermedades cardiovasculares y de la obesidad.

El Dr. Bittor Rodríguez, por su parte, dará a conocer los avances en el programa de fomento del consumo de fruta y hortaliza entre escolares que desarrolla el Observatorio Nutricional de Vitoria-Gasteiz, a cuyo comité de asesoramiento científico pertenece. El observatorio nació en 2010, fruto de una alianza entre el Ayuntamiento de Vitoria-Gasteiz y la Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU, tras detectarse que únicamente dos de cada diez escolares consumía en cantidad adecuada fruta y uno de cada diez hortalizas.

EL director general de AZTI, Rogelio del Pozo, analizará la relación entre alimentación y emociones a partir de los resultados de las investigaciones en sensorialidad de los alimentos relacionada con la alimentación, que ponen de manifiesto la importancia de la cultura gastronómica a la hora de moldear nuestros sentidos y de favorecer la adaptación al entorno. Las investigaciones también evidencian que el 90% de las decisiones de aceptación y rechazo de alimentos se producen por la intervención de la vista y el olfato.

Tras el cierre de la jornada, que correrá a cargo de la diputada del Departamento de Políticas Sociales de la Diputación Foral de Gipuzkoa, Maite Peña, la directora de I+D+i del Basque Culinary Center, Elena Urdaneta, y el director de la Fundación EROSKI, Alejandro Martínez Berriochoa, los asistentes podrán degustar un pincho elaborado por el chef investigador del centro de I+D del Basque Culinary Center, Iñigo Cojo, con el empleo de técnicas culinarias innovadoras y saludables.

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

Source: Eroski

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Lowe’s launches new way for customers visualize a completed home improvement project

MOORESVILLE, N.C., 2016-Nov-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Lowe’s is giving home improvement customers an entirely new way to see their homes through Lowe’s Vision, one of the first applications using Tango, a Google technology that enables computer vision software on your phone for augmented reality experiences. Using the app and the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro, the first Tango-enabled smartphone, customers can visualize virtual home furnishings, fixtures and accents in their real living rooms, kitchens and bathrooms.

“Lowe’s Vision and Tango bring our customers one step closer toward eliminating the challenge of visualizing a completed home improvement project,” said Kyle Nel, executive director of Lowe’s Innovation Labs, the company’s disruptive innovation hub.  “Tango transforms the smartphone into a digital power tool that helps customers measure and style spaces in their home with confidence.”

By leveraging Tango technology, a set of sensors and computer vision software from Google that senses and maps surroundings, Lowe’s Vision creates a 3D depth sense allowing customers to measure spaces and visualize how products like appliances and home décor will look and fit together in a room.

Lowe’s Vision features at launch include:

Power Measure: Quickly and intuitively capture room dimensions and other interior space and surface measurements with the world’s most powerful digital tape measure.

3D Designer: Select any item from Lowe’s virtual library and place it in the home in real-time to style and preview indoor spaces.

Save, snap & share: After designing the perfect space, save the project and  share photos with friends or a professional contractor.

Shopping lists and reviews: Create a shareable shopping list and save to a myLowe’s account. Find additional product information like reviews, related items and promotions.

The Lenovo Phab 2 Pro is available on Lowes.com/lowesvision and in select Lowe’s stores by early December. Lowe’s Vision is available for free download in the Google Play Store.

ABOUT LOWE’S
Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving more than 17 million customers a week in the United States, Canada and Mexico. With fiscal year 2015 sales of $59.1 billion, Lowe’s and its related businesses operate or service more than 2,355 home improvement and hardware stores and employ over 285,000 employees. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

Media Inquiries:

704-758-2917
PublicRelations@Lowes.c

SOURCE: Lowe’s Companies, Inc.