Daily Archives: November 21, 2016

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Sabra Dipping Co. recalls certain hummus products due to concerns over Listeria monocytogenes

Colonial Heights, VA, 2016-Nov-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sabra Dipping Co., LLC is voluntarily recalling certain hummus products made prior to November 8, 2016 due to concerns over Listeria monocytogenes, which was identified at the manufacturing facility but not in tested finished product. The recall includes the products listed below; these were distributed to retail outlets, including food service accounts and supermarkets, in the U.S. and Canada.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.  Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.  The company is issuing this recall out of an abundance of caution.

Consumers with any product with a “Best Before” date up through January 23, 2017 are urged to discard it. Consumers can find code and “Best Before” date on the lid of each package.

UPC SKU Item
040822014700 300051 Sabra Hummus Caramelized Onion 10OZ
040822000017 300066 Sabra Hummus Classic 7OZ
040822011143 300067 Sabra Hummus Classic 10OZ
040822017497 300070 Sabra Hummus Classic 17OZ
040822014687 300074 Sabra Hummus Classic 30OZ
040822431156 300076 Sabra Hummus Classic 5LB – 6ct
040822011112 300079 Sabra Hummus Classic 2OZ – 48ct: 3 x (16 x 2oz)
040822011952 300080 Sabra Hummus Classic with pretzels 4.56OZ
040822011235 300094 Sabra Hummus Garlic 7OZ
040822011242 300095 Sabra Hummus Garlic 10OZ
040822017510 300097 Sabra Hummus Garlic 17OZ
040822012256 300099 Sabra Hummus Garlic 32OZ
040822301121 300100 Sabra Hummus Garlic 30OZ
040822011990 300104 Sabra Hummus Garlic with pretzels 4.56OZ
040822011921 300106 Sabra Hummus Jalapeno 10OZ
040822011341 300117 Sabra Hummus Olive 10OZ
040822011747 300132 Sabra Hummus Pine Nut 10OZ
040822127530 300134 Sabra Hummus Pine Nut 7OZ
040822990011 300136 Sabra Hummus Pine Nut 17OZ
040822012157 300139 Sabra Hummus Pine Nut 32OZ
040822012430 300142 Sabra Hummus Red Pepper 7OZ
040822011549 300143 Sabra Hummus Red Pepper 10OZ
040822017503 300146 Sabra Hummus Red Pepper 17OZ
040822328647 300148 Sabra Hummus Red Pepper 32OZ
040822301114 300150 Sabra Hummus Red Pepper 30OZ
040822434553 300151 Sabra Hummus Red Pepper 5LB – 6ct
040822011969 300153 Sabra Hummus Red Pepper with pretzels 4.56OZ
040822011433 300158 Sabra Hummus Supremely Spicy 7OZ
040822011440 300159 Sabra Hummus Supremely Spicy 10OZ
040822017558 300161 Sabra Hummus Supremely Spicy 17OZ
040822027540 300164 Sabra Hummus Spinach & Artichoke 10OZ
040822014731 300166 Sabra Hummus Sun Dried Tomato 10OZ
040822027700 300266 Sabra Hummus Spinach & Artichoke 32OZ
040822027588 300298 Sabra Hummus Spinach & Artichoke 17OZ
040822990011 300501 Sabra Hummus Pine Nut 17OZ – 6ct
040822017503 300502 Sabra Hummus Red Pepper 17OZ – 6ct
040822020114 300593 Sabra Hummus Basil-Pesto 10OZ
040822330466 300736 Sabra Hummus Tuscan Herb Garden 32OZ
040822342049 301216 Sabra Hummus Classic 32OZ
040822342131 301271 Sabra Hummus Classic with pretzels 4.56OZ – 8ct
040822342209 301283 Sabra Hummus Garlic 23.5OZ
040822017497 301290 Sabra Hummus Classic 17OZ
040822342506 301430 Sabra Hummus Bold & Spicy with tortilla chips 4.56OZ
040822017510 301480 Sabra Hummus Garlic 17OZ – 6ct
040822342728 301481 Sabra Hummus Classic 2OZ – 6 x 2oz (12 x 6pks)
040822011648 301483 Sabra Hummus Lemon 10OZ
040822342735 301484 Sabra Hummus Red Pepper 2OZ – 6 x 2oz (12 x 6pks)
040822330381 301485 Sabra Hummus Tuscan Herb Garden 17OZ
040822010078 301511 Sabra Hummus Classic 2OZ  – 16 x 2oz – 12 ct
040822010047 301512 Sabra Hummus Classic 2OZ – 12 x 2oz – 12 ct
040822342988 301566 Sabra Hummus SF Rosemary/Sea Salt 10OZ
040822343145 301585 Sabra Spreads Spicy Chili 8.5OZ – 8ct
040822343138 301586 Sabra Spreads Garlic Herb 8.5OZ – 8ct
040822343121 301587 Sabra Spreads Honey Mustard 8.5OZ – 8ct
040822343114 301588 Sabra Spreads Salt & Pepper 8.5OZ – 8ct
040822343671 301640 Sabra Hummus Taco 10OZ
040822344043 301705 Sabra Hummus 3 Pepper Chili 10OZ

No other Sabra products are affected. In particular, Sabra products not included in the recall are: Sabra Organic Hummus, Sabra Salsa, Sabra Guacamole and Sabra Greek Yogurt Dips.

Consumers can contact Sabra Consumer Relations at 1-866-265-6761 for additional information from 9:00 am to 8:00 PM eastern time. For product reimbursement, consumers can contact www.sabrahummusrecall.com. Full list of impacted product is below. The company has subsequently taken steps to correct this matter.

The recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Consumers Contact:

Sabra Consumer Relations
1-866-265-6761

Media Contact:

Ilya Welfeld
news@sabra.com
804-431-3167

Source: USFDA

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H-E-B issues precautionary recall on its Baby Food 2 pack 4 oz. cups

San Antonio, TX, 2016-Nov-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — H-E-B announced today (November 18, 2016) that it has issued a precautionary recall of its entire H-E-B Baby Food 2 pack 4 oz. cups product line only. As of this afternoon, the H-E-B Baby Food 2 pack 4 oz. cups were removed from shelves out of an abundance of caution due to a customer report of a small piece of rubber found inside a single container of one variety of the product.

There have been no reports of injury or illness associated with this isolated incident, however the company is taking the issue very seriously and taking all necessary precautions.

“Though we have only received one report of a foreign material in H-E-B Baby Food 2 pack 4 oz. cups, as a company, we are committed to absolute and complete food safety.  As a result of that commitment, coupled with the fact that we are dealing with a children’s product, we have made the decision to pull all of our H-E-B Baby Food 2 pack 4 oz. cups from our shelves,” said Winell Herron, H-E-B Group Vice President of Public Affairs, Diversity and Environmental Affairs.

H-E-B has launched a full investigation into the incident and is working closely with its H-E-B Baby Food manufacturer to ensure all safety measures are being taken when manufacturing the product. The FDA has been made aware of the recall.

H-E-B is encouraging customers who have any H-E-B Baby Food 2 pack 4 oz. cups in their pantries to return it to their nearest H-E-B store for a full refund.

The precautionary recall affects all lots of only H-E-B Baby Food 2 pack 4 oz. cups, including:

PRODUCT NAME: UPC:
HEB BABY BANANA PASSION FRUIT 4122081488
HEB BABY BANANA PINEAPPLE MNGO 4122084761
HEB BABY GREEN BEANS 4122005670
HEB BABY BANANA APPLE 4122000208
HEB BABY GREEN BEANS CORN 4122005671
HEB BABY BANANA 4122083207
HEB BABY SQSH SWT CORN TOMATO 4122066357
HEB BABY PEAR CARROT BLUEBERRY 4122005673
HEB BABY PEAS CARROTS 4122005685
HEB BABY VEG CHKPEA MIX 4122005668
HEB BABY BANANA CARROT MANGO 4122025540
HEB BABY APL CRRT PMPKN ZCCHNI 4122054253
HEB BABY SWT POT PMPKN ZCCHNI 4122066026
HEB BABY PEAS 4122005684
HEB BABY APPLE 4122081487
HEB BABY PEAR PINEAPPLE ZCCHNI 4122018455
HEB BABY PEAR PEAS ZUCCHINI 4122079172
HEB BABY SWEET POTATO 4122005686

Customers with any questions or concerns can contact H-E-B Customer Service at 1-855-432-4438 on Friday, Nov. 18 until 11 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 19 and Sunday, Nov. 20 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. thereafter. All times are Central Standard Time.

About H-E-B

H-E-B, with sales of more than $23 billion, operates more than 380 stores in Texas and Mexico. Known for its innovation and community service, H-E-B celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2015. Recognized for its fresh food, quality products, convenient services, and a commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability, H-E-B strives to provide the best customer experience at everyday low prices. Based in San Antonio, H-E-B employs more than 96,000 Partners in Texas and Mexico and serves millions of customers in more than 300 communities. For more information, visit heb.com.

Consumers Contact:

H-E-B Customer Service
1-855-432-4438

Media Contact:

Julie Bedingfield
210-867-6825

Source: USFDA

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Lowe’s announces completion of previously announced acquisition of RONA inc.’s Preferred Shares

MOORESVILLE, N.C. and BOUCHERVILLE, Quebec, 2016-Nov-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) (“Lowe’s” or the “Company”) today (Nov. 18, 2016) announced it has completed its previously announced acquisition of RONA inc.’s (“RONA”) Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset Series 6 Class A Preferred Shares and Cumulative Floating Rate Series 7 Class A Preferred Shares (collectively, the “Preferred Shares”). Pursuant to the statutory plan of arrangement (the “Arrangement”) under Chapter XVI – Division II of the Business Corporations Act (Québec), holders of RONA’s Preferred Shares (collectively, the “Preferred Shareholders”) will receive cash proceeds of C$24, without interest, per Preferred Share.

Registered Preferred Shareholders must submit the share certificates representing their Preferred Shares and complete, execute and submit the Letter of Transmittal sent to them with the other materials for the special meeting of RONA shareholders held on Nov. 15, 2016 in order to receive the consideration to which they are entitled.  Preferred Shareholders who have not yet submitted their share certificates and Letters of Transmittal are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.  Any questions regarding payment of the consideration, including any request for another copy of the Letter of Transmittal, should be directed to Computershare Investor Services Inc. via telephone at 1-800-564-6253 (toll free in North America) or via email at corporateactions@computershare.com.

RONA has applied to delist its Preferred Shares from the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) and expects such delisting to be completed in a few trading days. RONA has also applied to cease to be a reporting issuer in each of the Provinces of Canada under applicable Canadian securities laws.

About Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

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.

About RONA inc.

Acquired by Lowe’s Companies, Inc. on May 20, 2016, RONA inc. is a major Canadian retailer and distributor of hardware, building materials and home renovation products. RONA operates a network of close to 500 corporate and independent affiliate dealer stores in a number of complementary formats. RONA serves its network of stores and several independent dealers operating under other banners, including Ace, for which RONA owns the licensing rights and is the exclusive distributor in Canada. With more than 17,000 employees in corporate stores and more than 5,000 employees in the stores of its independent affiliate dealers, the Corporation generated annual consolidated sales of $4.2 billion for fiscal year 2015. For more information, visit rona.ca.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities legislation and regulation, including those regarding the transaction.  Statements including words such as “may”, “will”, “could”, “should”, “would”, “plan”, “potential”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate” or “expect” and other words, terms and phrases of similar meaning are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, expectations, projections, goals, forecasts, assumptions, risks and uncertainties.  Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the expected timing of the de-listing of the Preferred Shares and RONA’s application to cease to be a reporting issuer under applicable Canadian securities laws.  Although we believe that the expectations, opinions, projections, and comments reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. A wide variety of potential risks, uncertainties, and other factors could materially affect our ability to achieve the results either expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. For more information about risks and uncertainties that Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is exposed to, you should read the “Risk Factors” and “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” included in its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the description of material changes therein or updated version thereof, if any, included in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or subsequent filings with the SEC.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements.  All such forward-looking statements are based upon data available as of the date of this release or other specified date and speak only as of such date. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf about any of the matters covered in this release are qualified by these cautionary statements and in the “Risk Factors” included in Lowe’s Companies, Inc.’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K to the SEC and the description of material changes, if any, therein included in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or subsequent filings with the SEC. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, change in circumstances, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Media Inquiries:
704-758-2917
PublicRelations@Lowes.com

SOURCE: Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

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Lowe’s launches SmartSpot powered by b8ta in stores for customers to explore connected devices to better manage their homes

MOORESVILLE, N.C., 2016-Nov-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) customers in select markets can now shop a unique store-within-a-store concept to explore connected devices to better manage their homes. The “SmartSpot powered by b8ta” retail experience, an innovative collaboration with software-powered retailer b8ta, demystifies and simplifies the purchasing process for customers.

SmartSpot helps eliminate anxiety for customers choosing smart home products in an overwhelmingly crowded market. The stylized experience offers a streamlined approach to retail where customers can explore a curated collection of innovative products. In addition, consumers gain in-depth product knowledge through digital displays and on-site experts trained on smart home products.

“Customers depend on Lowe’s to guide and enable them when making important decisions about their home,” said Ruth Crowley, vice president of Customer Experience Design at Lowe’s. “We know through research that customers feel overwhelmed when choosing the right smart home devices, and often evaluate products for more than two months before making a purchase. Our partnership with b8ta allows us to give customers confidence in making well informed decisions by narrowing the product assortment and providing education to help them take that first step.”

SmartSpot offers whole-home solutions, moving customers beyond products to projects. The experience includes a wide range of smart home products, from security to energy maintenance and convenience, all organized in a central location. SmartSpot features several Lowe’s Iris products and more than 40 of the newest tech products on the market from vendors like Amazon, Lutron, Nest and Ring.

“b8ta is excited to provide manufacturers the ability to easily on-board their products into Lowe’s stores with our software platform, offering unprecedented access to product performance and customer insights,” said Phillip Raub, co-founder and CMO of b8ta. “By making retail more accessible to manufacturers, customers at Lowe’s will be able to engage with a wider and more relevant assortment of smart home products than ever before.”

SmartSpot features b8ta’s proprietary retail technology which provides deep insights for vendors and retailers, helping them to continuously improve the shopping experience. Vendors have the ability to adjust their in-store displays remotely and capture valuable information about customer interactions with featured products and content, all in real-time. These innovations are transforming traditional retail models by putting more control in the hands of shoppers, vendors and retailers.

SmartSpot is an evolution of Lowe’s ongoing efforts to deliver customer driven solutions in the smart home category – beginning in 2012 with the exclusive launch of the Nest thermostat at Lowe’s, followed by the launch of Iris by Lowe’s, the company’s smart home management platform.

“SmartSpot powered by b8ta” is available at Lowe’s Livermore, Burbank and Aliso Viejo store locations. Customers everywhere can shop Lowe’s enhanced smart home online experience, featuring a curated selection of products and more inspiring, solution-oriented content.

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.

ABOUT b8ta
b8ta, a software-powered retailer designed to make physical retail accessible for all, was founded in 2015 by Nest alums Vibhu Norby (CEO), William Mintun (COO), and Phillip Raub (CMO). b8ta helps people discover, try, and learn about new tech products while empowering makers with a simple retail-as-a-service model that puts them in control. b8ta has locations in Palo Alto, Santa Monica, and Seattle. The company is headquartered in San Francisco.

Media Inquiries:
704-758-2917
PublicRelations@Lowes.com

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Lowe’s launches SmartSpot powered by b8ta in stores for customers to explore connected devices to better manage their homes
Lowe’s launches SmartSpot powered by b8ta in stores for customers to explore connected devices to better manage their homes

 

SOURCE: Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

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IKEA launches ‘Let’s Play for Change’ campaign to support children’s right to play and develop

Conshohocken, PA, 2016-Nov-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — The IKEA ‘Let’s Play for Change’ campaign, which runs November 20th – December 24th, is a new IKEA good cause campaign to support children’s development and learning, through participation in sports and play. During this campaign, for every children’s soft toy, book and or small play furniture item sold, the IKEA Foundation will make a donation of $1.10* (€1 EUR) to support children’s right to play and develop in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. The IKEA Foundation’s partners in this campaign are Handicap International Federation, Room to Read, Save the Children, Special Olympics, UNICEF and War Child. The programs supported by the campaign focus on children affected by disabilities, the Syrian conflict, unsafe migration, and poverty.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Children states that every child should have the right to play. Sadly not every child enjoys this right. Millions of children are on the move, making them vulnerable to discrimination, violence, abuse and exploitation, according to a play insights document released by IKEA Foundation today. The insights also revealed that children with disabilities are often the most likely to be excluded from play and learning activities.

“Many children around the world lack safe spaces to play. War and disasters are forcing more children than ever before to flee their homes and make difficult and dangerous journeys. Many more miss out on the chance to play because of poverty and prejudice. Children suffer the most in a crisis situation, and we are committed to upholding and raising awareness of their rights,” commented Per Heggenes, CEO of IKEA Foundation.

“We believe every child has the right to a safe environment where their development through play is part of their everyday lives. Play sparks creativity and helps us learn and develop. The new IKEA ‘Let’s Play for Change’ campaign was established to support opportunities for children’s play, especially those in the most vulnerable communities. In partnership with the IKEA Foundation, Let’s Play for Change has the potential to change the lives of thousands of children around the world,” commented Lars Petersson, IKEA US President.

Let’s Play for Change builds on the success of previous IKEA good cause campaigns, which have raised $142.6 million (€118.8 million)**, since 2003. This is the biggest IKEA good cause campaign yet – with more products and more partners than ever before.
*Based on the current market value of One Euro = $1.10 US dollar
**Based on average of One Euro = $1.12 approximately (during the course of the 13 year campaign)

Words from the IKEA Foundation’s partners:

Handicap International Federation—in Pakistan, Thailand and Bangladesh
Provides Early Childhood Development opportunities to children with disabilities and other vulnerable children in displacement settings.

Cheryl Shin-Hua Yeam, Handicap International regional technical coordinator said:
“Children in refugee camps come from difficult backgrounds, having fled war and violence, facing poverty and poor health conditions. Play is an important tool for them to work through these issues and to be a child. Therefore we want to create inclusive communal spaces where vulnerable children feel safe and can develop through play.”

Room to Read—in Bangladesh and Indonesia
Transforms the lives of children through a high quality of education that includes teacher training, provision of learning materials and developing children in both literacy and reading.

“Room to Read will bring the joy of reading and a love of learning to tens of thousands of children in government schools in Bangladesh and Indonesia”, said Erin Ganju, CEO and co-founder of Room to Read. “Our innovative, data-driven, and cost-effective Literacy Program will effect systemic change in hundreds of communities through the establishment of libraries, training of teachers, and the capacity development of local authors and illustrators to publish locally-relevant and engaging children’s books.”

Save the Children—in Bangladesh and Ethiopia
Prevents unsafe migration of children by promoting protection, education and play for children on the move.

Carolyn Miles, President & CEO of Save the Children US, stated, “Save the Children is giving children on the move a chance of a better future. The IKEA Foundation, with support from IKEA employees and customers worldwide, helps us give children the opportunity to play, receive an education and be protected from harm. Children on the move are highly vulnerable and our program intends to deliver lasting improvements to their lives.”

Special Olympics—in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Thailand
Promotes, through sports and play, inclusion and development of children with intellectual disabilities.

Mary Davis, Chief Executive Officer, Special Olympics said. “It is shocking and disheartening to note that the majority of children with intellectual disabilities have little to no access to valuable services and educational opportunities, which often entrenches them and their families in a cycle of poverty and social isolation, which ultimately, hinders their human development. The Special Olympics Young Athletes program, a sports-play program designed to promote motor, social and cognitive development and inclusion for children with intellectual disabilities, offers children the opportunity to learn inclusive play in a safe environment. Thanks to our partners at the IKEA Foundation, we are able to grow our Young Athletes program and reach more children, impact more families and further break down the perceptions that exist for children with intellectual disabilities.”

UNICEF—in China, India, Indonesia and Kenya
Provides safe spaces, education and health support for children aged 0-8 to ensure early childhood development in some of the poorest communities.

“When the brains and bodies of young children are protected, nurtured and stimulated they have the best possible chance of developing fully, learning effectively, and contributing to their economies and societies when they reach adulthood. Thanks to the Let’s Play for Change campaign, we can reach even more children in China, India, Indonesia and Kenya with nurturing care programmes and help young children grow up in the enriching environments they need for optimal development.” said UNICEF Chief of Early Childhood Development Pia Rebello Britto.

War Child—in Jordan and Lebanon
Provides a safe environment to play, learn and develop for children in Jordan and Lebanon who have been affected by the Syrian conflict.

Dr. Samantha Nutt, Founder, War Child USA, added “Play is important to children everywhere but for children overcoming the brutality of war it is vital. Creating a safe space to play is the first step in allowing them to reclaim their childhood and begin to rebuild their future after the years of violence and trauma. It is wonderful that the IKEA Foundation has chosen to support these children.”

For a film about the Great Cause ‘Let’s Play for Change’ campaign, click here: https://www.ikeafoundation.org/campaigns/lets-play-for-change/

For playing HOPP, a mobile game which allows the gamer to create spaces to play in the virtual world, and move forward and avoid obstacles that get in the way of play, for free, download at ikea.com/HOPP.

About IKEA
Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of good design and function at low prices. The IKEA Group operates 340 IKEA stores in 28 countries, including 42 in the U.S. IKEA incorporates sustainability into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information see IKEA-USA.com, @IKEAUSANews, @IKEAUSA or IKEAUSA on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.

About IKEA Foundation
The IKEA Foundation (Stichting IKEA Foundation) is the philanthropic arm of INGKA Foundation, the owner of the IKEA Group of companies. We aim to improve opportunities for children and youth in some of the world’s poorest communities by funding holistic, long-term programmes that can create substantial, lasting change. The IKEA Foundation works with strong strategic partners applying innovative approaches to achieve large-scale results in four fundamental areas of a child’s life: a place to call home; a healthy start in life; a quality education; and a sustainable family income, while helping these communities fight and cope with climate change.
Learn more at www.ikeafoundation.org and www.facebook.com/IKEAfoundation.

Contact:
IKEA US: Mona Astra, Mona.Liss@IKEA.com, 610.834.0180, ext. 5852
Handicap International Federation: Mica Bevington, mbeviington@handicap-international.us, 240.922.2550
Room to Read: Jacqueline Pezzillo, Jaqueline.pezzillo@roomtoread.org, 1.415.839.4401
Save the Children: Sambi Shrestha, sshrestha@savechildren.org, 475.999.3031
Special Olympics: Christy Weir, cweir@specialolympics.org, 202.824.0307
UNICEF: Ann Reinking, areinking@unicefusa.org, 212.922.2623
War Child: James Topham, james@warchild.ca, 416.971.7474

Source: IKEA

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Sainsbury’s celebrates the role food plays in bringing people together at its second Christmas ad

Sainsbury’s celebrates the role food plays in bringing people together at its second Christmas ad
Sainsbury’s celebrates the role food plays in bringing people together at its second Christmas ad

 

London, 2016-Nov-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sainsbury’s brings more entertainment to UK families this week with the launch of a second Christmas ad, which focuses on celebrating the role food plays in bringing people together at this time of year. Featuring the same animated characters that appear in the Sainsbury’s Christmas ad, “The Greatest Gift”, which launched on Monday this week, the food ad will be shown for the first time during the first break of Channel 4’s Gogglebox on Friday 18th November at 9.15 pm.

The ad uses a mixture of stop frame animation and live action to showcase the retailer’s delicious festive food showstoppers. In a groundbreaking twist, three of the Gogglebox households will appear in full animation during the second ad break, reflecting the world of Dave and his family introduced to the nation earlier this week.

Iconic Gogglebox characters Jenny & Lee, Giles & Mary and Stephen & Chris were filmed watching both the Sainsbury’s Christmas and Christmas food ads and their reactions were captured in the usual Gogglebox style.  Following this, for the first time ever, they were transformed into stop-frame animation to become part of the Sainsbury’s Christmas world – in puppet form.

Poppy Shute, Campaign Manager at Sainsbury’s said “In recent years we’ve become famous for our Christmas brand campaigns that focus on the message that Christmas is for sharing. Working with Gogglebox has been really exciting, not only because we’re doing something brand new but also because we have the opportunity to entertain families like never before. This partnership puts our Christmas food offering at the heart of the entertainment, in a setting that we know Sainsbury’s customers enjoy. This is particularly relevant as we head into the festive season as families are looking to spend more time together.”

The break was produced in full partnership with Gogglebox creators Studio Lambert, who filmed and edited the ad’s live action sequences, alongside Passion who produced and created the stop-motion – the same technology was used within both Sainsbury’s ads.

Tania Alexander, creator and Executive Producer of Gogglebox said “We are fiercely protective of both the Gogglebox brand and the Gogglebox cast and only consider brands with an obvious fit – Sainsbury’s really fitted the bill and we were delighted to be able to work with Sainsbury’s and Channel 4 on the project. The cast involved thoroughly enjoyed the filming and making of the ad and from my point of view it’s instantly recognisable as a Gogglebox moment but with something uniquely special on top.”

Sainsbury’s 2016 Christmas campaign will help raise vital funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. All the money raised will go towards providing vital accommodation for families of children at the hospital, to help them be together when they need to be.  All profits from the sale of the specially created Gingerbread ‘Dave’ (£1) and The Greatest Gift film animation kit (£5) will be donated to the charity. From 21st November, customers will also have the option to make a 20p donation at the till, or more if specifically requested, with all the proceeds going straight to the charity.

You can watch the full Sainsbury’s Christmas ad here: https://youtu.be/bq5SGSCZe4E and the behind the scenes video here: https://youtu.be/WByNPn1peb4

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

Source: Sainsbury

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Finland: S Group plans to close Marks & Spencer stores in Hämeenlinna and Lappeenranta

Finland: S Group plans to close Marks & Spencer stores in Hämeenlinna and Lappeenranta
Finland: S Group plans to close Marks & Spencer stores in Hämeenlinna and Lappeenranta

 

Finland, 2016-Nov-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — S Group is planning to streamline its franchise operations of the Marks & Spencer chain in Finland. The plans may lead to the closing of the Marks & Spencer stores in Hämeenlinna and Lappeenranta and the reduction of space at other stores in Finland.

S Group opened the first franchise Finnish store of the British Marks & Spencer chain two years ago in Helsinki, and currently there are six Marks & Spencer stores in Finland in total. S Group’s Marks & Spencer stores operate on a franchising agreement in Finland, and S Group’s regional co-operatives are mainly responsible for the operations.

“Our objective is that S Group’s department store and speciality store business is competitive, attractive to customers and profitable. Customers have been satisfied with the selections of Marks & Spencer, as well as the price-quality ratio of the products, but we need to make our operating model more efficient to also reach our financial objectives,” says Arttu Laine, executive vice president, SOK.

“The clothing market has been slow in Finland for a long time, and as a result our franchise business with Marks & Spencer has not developed quite according to our targets, and we need measures to increase synergy, among other things, at S Group to improve the profitability of the chain”, Laine continues.

James Harvey, Head of International Franchise at Marks & Spencer, said: “We are committed to our franchise business in Finland and continuing to offer our customers quality, stylish clothing. The proposals our franchise partner S Group has set out today will enable them to focus on improving customers’ shopping experience and driving profitability at our Finnish stores.”

S Group’s objective is, among other things, to make the use of space at Marks & Spencer stores more efficient. The plans may lead to the closing of the Marks & Spencer stores in Hämeenlinna and Lappeenranta during 2017.

Because of the plans to improve the profitability of the Marks & Spencer chain, statutory labour negotiations concerning all staff members will be started at SOK’s Marks & Spencer chain management and the Marks & Spencer stores of the Hämeenmaa Cooperative Society in Hämeenlinna, the Southern Karelia Cooperative Society in Lappeenranta, the Keskimaa Cooperative Society in Jyväskylä and the Cooperative Society Varuboden-Osla Handelslag in Porvoo.

At the most, the plans may lead to the termination of the employment of approximately 15 people at S Group’s Marks & Spencer chain management and Marks & Spencer stores. Every effort will be made to minimize the impact on staff and, for instance, employees of the cooperatives in which labour negotiations take place will be offered jobs at other outlets of each cooperative where possible.

The statutory labour negotiations do not concern the staff of S Group’s Marks & Spencer stores in Helsinki and Tampere or other S Group outlets. The objective is that the plans related to streamlining the Marks & Spencer chain are fully completed by the spring 2017.

Marks & Spencer

S Group

  • S Group is a renowned Finnish cooperative group of companies operating in the retail sector. Its key business areas are supermarket trade, department stores and speciality stores, hardware trade, service station store and fuel sales, as well as the travel industry and hospitality business.
  • S Group consists of SOK Corporation, 20 independent regional cooperatives and eight local cooperatives.
  • S Group has collaborated with Marks & Spencer since 2014, and it currently has six M&S stores in Finland.

Contact:

Arttu Laine
Executive Vice President
SOK
tel. +358 10 76 81011

Marks & Spencer
Corporate PR
corporate.press@marks-and-spencer.com
tel. +44 20 8718 1919

Source: S Group

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Carrefour to host second international edition of “Major Climate Challenge for Suppliers on 24 and 25 November 2016

Boulogne-Billancourt, FRANCE, 2016-Nov-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — A week to go until the “Major Climate Challenge for Suppliers”: Tackling food wastage is on the programme of the second international edition

On 24 and 25 November 2016, Carrefour will host an event for the winning projects of its “Major Supplier Challenge for tackling food waste” from the Group’s integrated countries.

This international competition is an opportunity for all of the Group’s suppliers and partners to get involved in a collective initiative to tackle food waste.
The winners have been selected in their respective countries by panels made up of experts, journalists and representatives of NGOs. No fewer than 3300 companies have been approached. The most innovative anti-wastage solutions have been taken into account – some are surprising, and all are impressive:

Over the next few days, we’re going to take you on a journey through all the countries in which Carrefour operates as we take a look at each of our 2016 winners

Maybe you’ve heard of camemberts which are ugly but taste good – produced close to where we are in Normandy by the Fromagerie Gillot and sold under the Tous AntiGaspi brand – a tremendous commercial success, with more than 100,000 units sold in the first 12 months after their launch. But what you might not know is that with Carrefour and its suppliers:
The University of Bologna is breaking new ground with broken Italian mushrooms, turning orange peel into essential oils in Brazil transforming avocado and mango stones in Spain into compost, converting rice grains into aperitif biscuits in Argentina, etc.

For the first edition held in 2015, the “Major supplier challenge for tackling climate change” rewarded the projects which made the greatest contribution to tackling climate change. The companies that have developed concrete initiatives designed to tackle climate change, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting the planet’s biodiversity and developing eco-responsible products were all showcased.

Our commitment: reduce our food waste by 50% between now and 2025 compared with 2016.

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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DIE MIGROS-FACHMÄRKTE KALCHBÜHL FEIERN GEBURTSTAG

Migros Genossenschaft Ostschweiz Name Nico Canori Abteilung Migros Genossenschaft Ostschweiz, Kommunikation / Kulturprozent / Sponsoring Industriestrasse 47 9201 Gossau TEL 071 493 24 54 FAX 071 493 27 89 E-MAIL nico.canori@gmos.ch
DIE MIGROS-FACHMÄRKTE KALCHBÜHL FEIERN GEBURTSTAG

 

Gossau, Switzerland, 2016-Nov-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — Vom 24. bis 26. November feiern die Migros-Fachmärkte Chur Kalchbühl ihren 25. Geburtstag. Kundinnen und Kunden profitieren von zahlreichen attraktiven Angeboten.

Vom 24. bis 26. November herrscht im Zentrum Kalchbühl Feststimmung. Micasa, SportXX und Do it + Garden Migros begehen ihren Geburtstag mit zahlreichen Aktivitäten für die Kundschaft. Seit 25 Jahren bieten die Fachmärkte auf 3500 Quadratmetern Produkte zum Wohnen, Werken und Sport für drinnen und draussen. Über 130‘000 Kundinnen und Kunden durften die 26 Mitarbeitenden des Zentrums Kalchbühl, davon sechs Lernende, im vergangenen Jahr begrüssen. „Unsere Kundschaft schätzt, dass das Kalchbühl mit dem nahegelegenen Autobahnanschluss gut erreichbar ist und zudem ausreichend Parkplätze bietet. Ein Besuch bei uns ist auch für Kinder ein Erlebnis: Häuschen, Rutschen und Schaukeln können im Gartencenter ausprobiert werden, genau wie diverse Spielsachen in der Kinderabteilung bei Micasa“, hebt Leiter Christian Ryser die Vorzüge der Fachmärkte im Westen Churs hervor. Der 52-Jährige führt diese seit Anfang Jahr. Bei der Migros Ostschweiz ist er schon seit 35 Jahren in verschiedenen Funktionen tätig. Mit den Produkten, die im Kalchbühl angeboten werden, kann er sich auch privat identifizieren. So gehören Gartenarbeit und Fitnesstraining zu den Hobbys des Vaters zweier Kinder.

Regional verankertes Leitungsteam
Seit einem halben Jahr ist Tiziana Rothenbühler Fachleiterin im Micasa Kalchbühl. Trotz ihres jungen Alters, kennt die 25-Jährige die Migros bestens. Schon ihre Lehre absolvierte sie beim orangen M – genauer gesagt im Micasa Kalchbühl. Nach verschiedenen Stationen zwischen St.Gallen und Chur kehrte sie 2014 ins Kalchbühl zurück.
Für den SportXX und den Do it + Garden Migros im Kalchbühl ist Adrian Bernet verantwortlich. Mit ihm ist im Westen Churs ein weiterer Fachleiter an Bord, der dort schon seine Lehre absolvierte. Seit mittlerweile 23 Jahren ist er für die Migros Ostschweiz tätig, 21 davon im Kalchbühl. Der 40-jährige Detailhandelsspezialist ist auch privat gerne sportlich unterwegs. Besonders das Mountainbiking hat es ihm angetan.

Die Kundschaft profitiert
Von Freitag bis Samstag, 24. bis 26. November, wird das Jubiläum im Kalchbühl gefeiert. Die Kundinnen und Kunden dürfen sich auf folgende Aktionen und Aktivitäten der Migros-Fachmärkte freuen:

    • Fünffache Cumulus-Punkte bei Micasa, SportXX und Do it + Garden Migros
    • 10% auf das gesamte Weihnachtssortiment bei Do it + Garden Migros
    • 20% auf Beleuchtung, 10% auf alle Stühle und Tische bei Micasa
    • Ski-Aktionen von Völkl und Rossignol bei SportXX

Contact:
Migros Genossenschaft Ostschweiz
Nico Canori
Migros Genossenschaft Ostschweiz, Kommunikation / Kulturprozent / Sponsoring
Industriestrasse 47
9201 Gossau
TEL: 071 493 24 54
FAX: 071 493 27 89
E-MAIL: nico.canori@gmos.ch

Source: Migros

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MIGROS RUFT LED-BAUSTRAHLER “LIGHTKING” ZURÜCK

MIGROS RUFT LED-BAUSTRAHLER "LIGHTKING" ZURÜCK
MIGROS RUFT LED-BAUSTRAHLER “LIGHTKING” ZURÜCK

 

Zurich, Switzerland, 2016-Nov-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — Die Stecker der vom Rückruf betroffenen LED-Baustrahler “LightKING” entsprechen nicht den Schweizer Normen. Die Stecker können nur mit erhöhtem Druck in die Steckdose eingesteckt werden. Dadurch besteht die Gefahr, dass die Steckdose beschädigt wird. Die Kundinnen und Kunden der Migros können die betroffenen Baustrahler in jeder Do it + Garden-Filiale gegen ein einwandfreies Produkt eintauschen.

Der Migros-Lieferant Comfort Products AG ruft ihre LightKING LED-Baustrahler aus Sicherheitsgründen zurück. Es handelt sich um Standlampen, die Heimwerker beispielsweise beim Malen einsetzen. Der Fachmarkt Do it + Garden Migros führte die betroffenen Produkte seit Sommer 2015 in seinem Sortiment.

Betroffene Artikel
LED Standstrahler 30 Watt
Artikelnummer 6121.177, Preis 69.90 CHF, Modell LightKING SS 30/2100 LED. LOT-Nr.: 2015/07/10061, 2015/0910070, 2016/03/10028

LED Standstrahler 50 Watt

Artikelnummer 6121.178, Preis 89.90 CHF, Modell LightKING SS 50/3500 LED. LOT-Nr.: 2015/07/10061, 2015/0910070, 2016/03/10028

Sämtliche Informationen zum Produkt finden die Kundinnen und Kunden auf dem Typenschild auf der Rückseite des Strahlers.

Grund für den Rückruf
Die LED-Baustrahler sind mit nicht konformen Steckern ausgerüstet. Die Stecker können nur mit Druck in die Steckdose eingesteckt werden. Dadurch besteht die Gefahr, dass die Steckdose beschädigt wird.

Austausch in den Do it +Garden-Filialen
Die Migros bittet die Kundinnen und Kunden, die LED-Baustrahler nicht mehr zu benutzen. Sie können das betroffene Produkt in die nächste Do it + Garden Filiale zurückzubringen. Dort erhalten sie einen einwandfreien LED-Baustrahler mit konformem  Stecker (Norm SEV1011).

Wichtiger Hinweis
Die Kundinnen und Kunden werden gebeten,  aus Sicherheitsgründen keine Veränderungen oder Manipulationen am Stecker vorzunehmen.

Contact:
Migros-Genossenschafts-Bund
Martina Bosshard
Migros-Genossenschafts-Bund
Mediensprecherin Migros
TEL: 044 277 20 67
E-MAIL: martina.bosshard@mgb.ch

Source: Migros

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Coop ruft “Délicorn Quorn Schnitzel Mozzarella & Pesto” zurück

BASEL, SWITZERLAND, 2016-Nov-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — Die Lieferantin des Artikels “Quorn Mozzarella & Pesto Schnitzel“ ruft diesen zurück. Es befinden sich möglicherweise Glassplitter im Produkt. Der Artikel ist auch bei anderen Händlern im Verkauf. Bei Coop ist das “Délicorn Quorn Schnitzel Mozzarella & Pesto” 240g sowie der Duo-Aktionsartikel betroffen. Coop bittet ihre Kundinnen und Kunden, die Schnitzel mit den Verbrauchsdaten 04.11.2016 bis 30.11.2016 nicht zu konsumieren. Der Artikel ist bereits für den Verkauf gesperrt.

Art der Gefahr: Der betroffene Artikel kann Glassplitter enthalten und bei Verzehr kann eine Gesundheitsgefährdung nicht ganz ausgeschlossen werden.

Betroffener Artikel: Coop “Délicorn Quorn Schnitzel Mozzarella & Pesto” 240g, Preis CHF 6.50, (Artikel Nr. 5.790.345) sowie der Duo-Aktionsartikel (Artikel 5.862.998), Preis CHF 7.80, mit Verbrauchsdaten 04.11.2016 bis 30.11.2016.

Betroffene Verkaufsstellen: Coop-Supermärkte, Coop-City-Warenhäuser mit Lebensmittelabteilung, Coop@home und Coop Pronto.

Massnahmen zur Vermeidung: Coop bittet ihre Kundinnen und Kunden, die Schnitzel mit den Verbrauchsdaten 04.11.2016 bis 30.11.2016 nicht zu konsumieren.

Der Artikel ist bereits für den Verkauf gesperrt – der Preis wird zurückerstattet
Bereits gekaufte Coop “Délicorn Quorn Schnitzel Mozzarella & Pesto” mit den Verbrauchsdaten von 04.11.2016 bis 30.11.2016können in jede Coop-Verkaufsstelle zurückgebracht werden. Der Verkaufspreis wird zurückerstattet.

Für weitere Auskünfte können sich die Kundinnen und Kunden an den Coop Konsumentendienst wenden unter der Telefonnummer 0848 888 444.

Die zuständigen Behörden wurden informiert.

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

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Coop ruft “Délicorn Quorn Schnitzel Mozzarella & Pesto” zurück

 

Source: Coop

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Kroger’s K.B. Specialty Foods announces new anaerobic wastewater treatment system at its facility in Greensburg, Indiana

GREENSBURG, Ind., 2016-Nov-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Kroger Co.’s (NYSE: KR) K.B. Specialty Foods this week broke ground on a new anaerobic wastewater treatment system at its facility in Greensburg, Indiana.

The modification will turn food production byproducts into energy and will also lead to improved air quality in the area.

“This is one more step toward meeting our goal of becoming a zero waste company by 2020,” said Suzanne Lindsay –Walker, Kroger’s director of sustainability.

K.B. Specialty Foods employs 270 and produces deli salads, cake icing, and refrigerated side dish products that are popular all over the country.

The current wastewater treatment system in the facility is open to the air. The new system will feature a dome that will capture biogas from food byproducts at the plant. The collected biogas will then be harnessed to generate electricity.

ADI Systems, the project builder, says the new facility relies on a process called anaerobic digestion.  Microorganisms will transform the byproducts of food production into the biogas.  ADI Systems says that process provides “a source of renewable energy that can be used to displace fossil fuels.”  The electricity created will be sent to the plant’s electrical grid.

K.B. Specialty Foods expects the new system to be operational next summer.

Every day, the Kroger Family of Companies makes a difference in the lives of eight and a half million customers and 431,000 associates who shop or serve in 2,781 retail food stores under a variety of local banner names in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Kroger and its subsidiaries operate an expanding ClickList offering – a personalized, order online, pick up at the store service – in addition to 2,240 pharmacies, 785 convenience stores, 323 fine jewelry stores, 1,423 supermarket fuel centers and 38 food production plants in the United States. Kroger is recognized as one of America’s most generous companies for its support of more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners, breast cancer research and awareness, the military and their families, and more than 145,000 community organizations including schools. A leader in supplier diversity, Kroger is a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable.

SOURCE: The Kroger Co.

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LPGA awarded ShopRite with the distinguished Commissioner’s Award

ShopRite Receives Prestigious Commissioner’s Award from the LPGA

 

Naples, FL, 2016-Nov-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — The LPGA awarded ShopRite with the distinguished Commissioner’s Award during the tour’s season-ending Rolex Awards banquet on Thursday night in Naples, Fla. In 2016, ShopRite celebrated its 25th year as a supporter of the LPGA and the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer. During that tenure, ShopRite has donated more than $30 million through its association with the LPGA, more than any other sponsor in the history of the tour.

The Commissioner’s Award was introduced in 1991 by the LPGA. It annually honors a person or organization that has contributed uniquely to the LPGA and its members, furthered the cause of women’s golf, and possesses character and standards of the highest order.

“We’re proud to recognize ShopRite for lifting the LPGA to new heights for 25 years and counting,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. “They are our longest partner in tournament business and one of our greatest charitable supporters. We’re honored to be associated with a company that has worked so tirelessly as an advocate of its community and women’s golf.”

ShopRite became title sponsor of the Atlantic City Classic in 1992, seeking to strengthen its ties to the New Jersey community as it broadened its footprint throughout the mid-Atlantic region. ShopRite is now the LPGA’s longest-tenured sponsor, and the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer is the second longest running tournament on the LPGA.

“ShopRite is honored to receive the Commissioner’s Award and proud to be part of a long tradition of promoting women’s golf,” said Jeff Reagan, senior vice president of marketing for Wakefern Food Corp., the marketing and distribution arm of ShopRite.  “As title sponsor of the 2017 ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer, we once again get to be part of a world class golfing event that also benefits local schools, hospitals and other organizations that help those in need. We look forward to seeing some of the best female golfers in the world hit the links again this spring at Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club.”

ShopRite is the fifteenth recipient of the Commissioner’s Award, joining PING founders Karsten and Louise Solheim, longtime tournament host and actor Jamie Farr, and the original 13 LPGA founding members.

About ShopRite 
ShopRite is the registered trademark of Wakefern Food Corp., a retailer-owned cooperative based in Keasbey, NJ, and the largest supermarket cooperative in the United States.  With more than 260 ShopRite supermarkets located throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland, ShopRite serves more than six million customers each week. A long-time supporter of key community efforts, ShopRite is dedicated to fighting hunger in the communities it serves. Through its ShopRite Partners In Caring program, ShopRite has donated $40 million to 2,000 worthy charities and food banks since the program began in 1999. As a title sponsor of the LPGA’s ShopRite Classic, ShopRite has raised more than $30 million for local organizations, hospitals and community groups.  For more information, please visit www.ShopRite.com.

About the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer
The ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer is one of the largest and most prestigious events on the LPGA tour. It is held annually in Atlantic City and features the world’s best female golfers competing over three rounds for a $1.5 million purse. The event, owned and operated by Eiger Marketing Group, is held on the Bay Course at the prestigious Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club. To date, ShopRite has donated more than $30 million to local charities through its LPGA relationship.

Contact:
Karen O’Shea
Phone: 732-906-5932
Communications Specialist

Karen Meleta
Phone: 732-906-5356
Vice President
Consumer and Corporate Communications

Source: Shoprite

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NGA calls on Visa to quickly remove any operating rule that violates federal law

Arlington, VA, 2016-Nov-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — The National Grocers Association (NGA) applauded the Federal Reserve for taking steps to protect competition in the debit card marketplace and called on Visa to quickly remove any operating rule that violates federal law.

Earlier this month, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors clarified that no payment card network can directly or indirectly force retailers to deploy a technology or enforce a rule that inhibits merchant routing choice, and that any technical specifications, that inhibits merchant routing choice is out of compliance with federal law.  The Federal Reserve’s action comes after merchant organizations, including NGA, and other parities raised concerns over Visa’s actions that were deployed as part of EMV migration upgrades.

In 2010, debit reform legislation was passed that increased competition in the debit routing market by requiring that at least two unaffiliated debit routing network be available to merchants for all purchases made using debit.  These reforms interjected competition back into a marketplace that was quickly becoming devoid of competition and debit routing choice.

In a letter sent yesterday to Visa, signed by leading merchant trade association CEOs, merchants called on Visa to detail their plans to comply with federal law and ensure that those merchants who have already migrated to EMV will not require re-certification nor any liability shift should they have to re-certify.  The letter also called on Visa to suspend its liability shift, which has placed an undue burden onto independent supermarket operators.

“On behalf of America’s independent supermarket operators, NGA appreciates the Federal Reserve’s action clarifying that federal law prohibits Visa and other card networks from impeding a merchant’s choice when it comes to which network to use when routing debit transactions,” said Peter J. Larkin, NGA president and CEO.  “NGA is committed to continuing our efforts to bring about true reform of the anti-competitive market that currently exists between Visa, MasterCard and their issuing banks.”

Contact:

Tel: (703) 516-0700
Fax: (703) 516-0115

Source: NGA

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Argos launches Black Friday deals

Milton Keynes, UK, 2016-Nov-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — Thousands of deals will launch across toys, technology, TVs, video games, health and beauty and more.

Offers include up to half price on kitchen electricals, 25% off homewares when you spend £30 or more, up to half price off 1,000’s of toys, 25% off any indoor furniture item over £150 and up to a third off electrical personal care (all selected lines only).

Argos promises customers that these offers will not go lower on Black Friday at Argos or we will refund the difference.

A SELECTION OF DEALS LAUNCHING FRIDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2016

Product number :Product :Was: Now Price :Saving

544/1482 HP 15in Intel Pentium 4GB 1TB Red – Bag, Mouse & McAfee £349.99 £269.99 £80

529/7791 Samsung Full HD LED TV 49 Inch £559.99 £449.00 £110

418/1468 Bush Spira B110 Inch 32GB Tablet – Silver £149.99 £79.99 £70

471/8673 Dyson V6 Flexi Cordless Vacuum Cleaner £319.99 £189.99 £130

578/6226 Bush 49 Inch FHD DLED Smart TV £289.99 £269.99 £20

548/2018 LG FH6 LoudR Boombox – Black £349.99 £249.99 £100

483/3747 Philips BTB2370 High Power BT DAB Hi Fi £179.99 £99.99 £80

506/5246 Sony MDR-AS400EX Headphones £39.99 £19.99 £20

506/5923 Sim Free LG G4 Mobile Phone – Grey £299.95 £249.95 £50

542/9277 HP 15.6” Intel Pentium Notebook 4GB/1TB – Black £349.99 £269.99 £80

555/3129 Sony Cybershot HX80 20MP 30X Zoom Camera – Black £299.99 £249.99 £50

569/6196 Garmin 58LM 5 Inch Sat Nav Lifetime Maps Full Europe £159.99 £89.99 £70

527/7223 Chad Valley Baby Activity Saucer £99.99 £44.99 £55

578/1599 Disney Princess Royal Kingdom Kitchen And Cafe £99.99 £49.99 £50

538/7429 Nerf Modulus Recon Battlescout £69.99 £34.99 £35

548/8476 Nuband I Touch Activity and Sleep Tracker – Black £49.99 £24.99 £25

517/8920 Karcher K2 Home and Brush Pressure Washer – 1400W £149.99 £74.99 £75

554/6789 Vax Steam Clean Multi Steam Mop & Handheld £79.99 £34.99 £45

904/0731 Tassimo by Bosch T55 Charmy BRITA Filter Multi Drinks Machine – Black £129.99 £59.99 £70

576/9810 Nutri Ninja BL480 with Auto IQ – Grey £119.99 £69.99 £50

549/9874 Bush BDOBF Double Fan Oven – White £249.99 £189.99 £60

121/1159 Samsung WF80F5E0W2W 8KG 1200 Spin Washing Machine – White £399.99 £329.99 £70

481/7031 Panasonic ES-LT2N Three Blade Wet and Dry Electric Shaver £129.99 £74.99 £55

411/2815 Heart of House Franklin Christmas Tree – 6ft £99.99 £65.99 £34

Interim prices may have applied to some lines. Check argos.co.uk/blackfriday for full details.

All deals are available to check and reserve on www.argos.co.uk/blackfriday with instant collection in over 800 stores nationwide, as well as almost 30 stores in Sainsbury’s supermarkets and another 30 digital collection points in Sainsbury’s stores.

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 in as little as 60 seconds.

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.

For more information, please contact the Argos Press Office on 0845 120 4365 or email: media.relations@argos.co.uk. Follow us on Twitter at @argos_PR.

Source: Argos

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Amazon Web Services announces five new solar farms across the Commonwealth of Virginia

  • Amazon Web Services kicks off five new solar projects across the Commonwealth of Virginia for a grand total of six solar farms in the state and 10 renewable energy projects globally
  • By supporting 260MW of solar generation capacity in Virginia, Amazon becomes the largest corporate backer of solar projects east of the Mississippi River

SEATTLE, 2016-Nov-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com company (NASDAQ:AMZN), today (Nov. 17, 2016) announced five new solar farms across the Commonwealth of Virginia that will bring a total of 180 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity onto the grid before the end of 2017. Amazon Solar Farm US East 2, Amazon Solar Farm US East 3, Amazon Solar Farm US East 4, and Amazon Solar Farm US East 5 are four individual facilities, each with a capacity of 20MW, located in New Kent, Buckingham, Sussex, and Powhatan counties respectively. Amazon Solar Farm US East 6 is a 100MW facility in Southampton County, Virginia. These five new solar farms join the company’s existing project, Amazon Solar Farm US East, an 80MW facility in Accomack County, Virginia which is already in production. Amazon worked with developers Virginia Solar LLC and Community Energy Solar on the projects, and will further collaborate with an affiliate of Richmond, Va.-based Dominion Resources, Inc. (NYSE:D) to own and operate the solar farms long term. Combined, the six solar farms are expected to generate more than 580,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of energy annually, making Amazon in its support of the AWS Cloud the largest corporate backer of solar projects east of the Mississippi River. For more information, go to https://aws.amazon.com/sustainability.

To date, AWS has enabled 10 renewable energy projects in the United States that will deliver a grand total of 2.6 million MWh of energy annually onto the electric grid powering AWS data centers located in the AWS US East (Ohio) and AWS US East (N. Virginia) Regions – enough to power almost 240,000 homes. The projects that are currently producing energy include the 150MW Amazon Wind Farm Fowler Ridge in Indiana and the 80MW Amazon Solar Farm US East in Virginia. The 208MW Amazon Wind Farm US East in North Carolina is on track to begin generating electricity by the end of 2016. In addition to Amazon Solar Farms US East 2 – 6, other projects that will be in production prior to the end of 2017 include the 100MW Amazon Wind Farm US Central and the 189MW Amazon Wind Farm US Central 2 in Ohio.

AWS continues to make progress toward its long-term goal of powering the AWS Cloud with 100 percent renewable energy. Last month, AWS announced it expects to exceed its 2016 goal of 40 percent renewable energy by the end of this year and set a new, near-term goal to be powered by 50 percent renewable energy by the end of 2017. AWS is pursuing a number of initiatives to achieve these goals including enabling renewable energy projects, ongoing innovation in its facilities and equipment to increase energy efficiency, and advocating at the federal and state levels for policies aimed at creating a favorable renewable energy environment, such as the bipartisan HB 1305 in Virginia that incentivizes investment in utility-scale solar energy projects.

“We continue to ramp our sustainability efforts in areas where availability of renewable energy sources is low or proposed projects are stalled, and where the energy contribution goes onto the same electric grid that powers AWS data centers,” said Peter DeSantis, Vice President, Infrastructure, AWS. “By enabling 10 utility scale renewable projects in the US to date, we are well positioned to meet our latest goal of 50 percent renewable energy powering the AWS global infrastructure by the end of 2017. That said, we are nowhere near done. We will continue to make progress toward our 100 percent goal and have many exciting initiatives planned.”

“Solar energy is a central part of the comprehensive renewable energy approach Virginia needs to keep costs low for businesses, families, and taxpayers as we build a new Virginia economy,” said Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe. “I applaud Dominion and Amazon for collaborating in a way that will benefit our economy, our energy mix and our environment. We will continue to support collaborations and innovative approaches to bring low-cost, renewable energy to all corners of the Commonwealth.”

“The expansion of Dominion’s alliance with Amazon is great for Dominion, AWS, and the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Thomas F. Farrell II, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Dominion. “It helps meet AWS’s renewable needs, it expands Virginia’s clean electric generation fleet, and it creates economic development opportunities in largely rural communities.”

Beyond the sustainability initiatives focused on powering the AWS global infrastructure, Amazon is pursuing several other clean energy and energy efficiency activities across the company. Examples of other projects include Amazon Wind Farm Texas – a 253MW wind farm in Scurry County, Texas – green rooftops, and the District Energy Project that uses recycled energy for heating Amazon offices in Seattle. For more information on Amazon’s sustainability initiatives, visit www.amazon.com/sustainability.

About Amazon Web Services

For 10 years, Amazon Web Services has been the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. AWS offers over 70 fully featured services for compute, storage, databases, analytics, mobile, Internet of Things (IoT) and enterprise applications from 38 Availability Zones (AZs) across 14 geographic regions in the U.S., Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and India. AWS services are trusted by more than a million active customers around the world – including the fastest growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies – to power their infrastructure, make them more agile, and lower costs. To learn more about AWS, visit http://aws.amazon.com.

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.

About Virginia Solar

Virginia Solar is a Richmond, Virginia based developer of utility scale solar projects in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia Solar’s principals have extensive track records in developing and installing thousands of MWs of renewable energy projects throughout the US. This includes the Scott Solar 17MW solar project located in Powhatan Virginia, currently under construction and expected to go online this year. For more information, visit http://www.vasolarllc.com/.

About Community Energy

Since its inception in 1999, Community Energy has developed more than 1,500 megawatts of solar and wind power. With long experience in utility energy marketing, the Company leads the markets in new financing structures, development expertise, and delivery of projects in new markets under new policies, all within its mission to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy at scale. Headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania and offices in Boulder, Colorado, Community Energy has a strong presence in both eastern and western renewable energy markets. For more information about Community Energy, please visit www.communityenergysolar.com.

About Dominion

Dominion is one of the nation’s largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 26,000 megawatts of generation, 14,400 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline, and 6,500 miles of electric transmission lines. Dominion operates one of the nation’s largest natural gas storage systems with 1 trillion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves more than 6 million utility and retail energy customers. For more information about Dominion, visit the company’s website at www.dom.com.

Media Hotline:

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

Source: Amazon Web Services, Inc.

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Kmart.com kicks off cyber week starting Sunday, Nov. 27 thru Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016

All deals are featured on the Kmart mobile app, letting shoppers check everything off their list at the touch of a button

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., 2016-Nov-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — Kmart announced today (Nov 18, 2016) it will kick off Cyber Week with ridiculously awesome savings on everything from jewelry, toys, gadgets, apparel and more. Deals will be on Kmart.com starting Sunday, Nov. 27 thru Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016.

SHOP THE CYBER WEEK GIFT GUIDE:
Kmart’s Cyber Week deals will help you find whatever you need without breaking the bank. Plus, Shop Your Way members receive 20% back in points (up to $20) on purchases made during Cyber Week of $50 or more***.

Cozy Up

  • 40% off family outerwear, reg. $14.99-99.99
  • $9.99& under sleepwear gifts for the whole family, reg. $14.99-21.99
  • $6 men’s, women’s or kids’ basic fleece crew or pants, reg. $8.99-11.99
  • Fashion boots on sale for $9.99-29.99, reg. $16.99-39.99
  • $12.99 any size Essential Home® 3-pc. Comforter set, reg. $24.99

Immersive Entertainment

  • $479.99 Samsung 58″ class smart LED 1080p HDTV, reg. $649.99*****
  • $14.99 Hot Wheels Super Score Speedway Track Set, reg. $29.99
  • 20% off LEGO Super Hero’s construction sets, reg. $10.99-30.99
  • $24.99 Reverb Bluetooth digital speaker bar, reg. $39.99
  • $29.99 Dash camera with 2.5″ LCD screen, reg. $49.99
  • $44.99 Whistler Z-11R radar detector, reg. $69.99

Dazzling Jewels

  • Up to 75% off all diamond jewelry, reg. $79.99-5,999.99
  • $19.99 1/10 ct. tw. diamond stud earrings in sterling silver, reg. $99.99
  • 25% off branded watches, reg. $15.99-109.99

Sport So Good

  • 20% off team sports merchandise, reg.$1.99-79.99+
  • BOGO $1 family athletics, reg. $12.99-44.99
  • All scooters on sale, reg. $34.99-169.99
  • $15 Board games on sale, reg. $19.99-26.99
  • $149.99 Spalding 44″ eco-composite portable, reg. $179.99
  • $19.99 Spalding highlight basketball, reg. $26.99
  • All Character Bikes on sale, reg. $89.99

Festive Atmosphere

  • $2.99 holiday mats, reg. $6.99
  • 60% off “Trim-A-Home” 7.5′ Mountain Spruce Tree, reg. $249.99
  • 50% off GE icicle and net lights, reg. $15.99-24.99
  • 20% off 4-4.5″ poinsettias and assorted Christmas greens, reg. $2.99-44.99****
  • $3.99″Trim-A-Home” 30-ct shatterproof ornament tubs, reg. $9.99
  • 30% off Holiday storage, reg. $3.49-29.99
  • $1.99 Holiday solar mini crackle, reg. $3.99

Nail It

  • All Craftsman® mechanics tool sets on sale, reg. $99.99-129.99
  • Starting at $29.99 work boots, reg. $34.99-69.99

IN AN ELFIN’ RUSH? SHOP KMART.COM OR THE KMART MOBILE APP
Kmart makes holiday shopping easier than ever by offering smarter and more convenient ways to shop online and on-the-go through the Kmart mobile app. Shoppers can take advantage of numerous integrated retail offerings, including:

  • Free Shipping: It’s ridiculously easy to get shipping free with an online purchase – just spend $49 or more through the holiday season to get your items shipped free*. Visit Kmart.com/FreeShipping to learn more.
  • Free Store Pickup & Pay in Store: Millions of items also ship free to Kmart stores across the country. When you shop Kmart, choose from convenient online offerings like Free Store Pickup(buy online, pickup for free In-Vehicle Pickup option); Pay-In-Store (reserve online, pay in store); Free Anyone, Anywhere (have a friend pickup purchases at any Kmart store); and Free Two-Day Shipping (Shop Your Way Max members get two-day free shipping on qualifying online orders).
  • Layaway and Go™: Kmart’s layaway can be done with the touch of a button with ‘Layaway and Go™’ on the Kmart mobile app. For more information, please visit Kmart.com/Layaway. Shoppers can still take advantage of No Money Down Layaway through Nov. 26. Plus, with a $50 or more purchase toward layaway, shoppers get an instant $10 discount**. After Nov. 26, shoppers just need to put $10 down to take advantage of layaway – it is never too late to layaway at Kmart!

For more information, download the Kmart app or visit Kmart.com.

*Applies to mailable products sold by Sears and Kmart on qualifying orders of $49 or more. Excludes Marketplace and delivery of large, heavy items and appliances. Additional exclusions apply. Please see offer details on qualifying product pages.
**Receive $10 off your layaway with a $50 or more down layaway commitment.
***Shop Your Way members can earn 20% back in points on orders of $50 or more from Nov. 27-29, 2016 ($20 points cap). Points must be redeemed Nov. 30-Dec. 13, 2016.
****Selection may vary by store. Excludes cut Christmas trees and artificial trees.
*****Offer only valid thru 11/28/16.
+Teams and products vary by locale.

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.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Tricia Perrotti
Kmart
551-226-0488
Tricia.Perrotti@searshc.com

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

SOURCE: Kmart

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TAG Heuer and Zenith unveil new watchmaking school, LVMH Ecole d’Horlogerie

TAG Heuer and Zenith unveil new watchmaking school, LVMH Ecole d’Horlogerie
TAG Heuer and Zenith unveil new watchmaking school, LVMH Ecole d’Horlogerie

 

Paris, 2016-Nov-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — Maisons TAG Heuer and Zenith are joining forces to establish the LVMH Ecole d’Horlogerie watchmaking school. Delivering an original apprenticeship-based training program in partnership with the LVMH Institut des Métiers d’Excellence, it will welcome 12 apprentice watchmakers this year.

The Institut des Métiers d’Excellence (IME), founded by the LVMH group in 2014, offers work/study programs in partnership with vocational schools that are leaders in their respective disciplines. It thus emphasizes the key role played by master artisans and tutors in valorizing and perpetuating métiers centered on craftsmanship, design and retail.

After the ceremony marking the new IME school year on October 18th, during which the LVMH Ecole d’Horlogerie presented its first students, TAG Heuer and Zenith are today unveiling the new school.

At the initiative of Jean-Claude Biver, President of the Watch Division of the LVMH group, and Chantal Gaemperle, Group Executive Vice President Human Resources and Synergies, and member of the Executive Committee, the LVMH École d’Horlogerie pioneers an original training concept. Based in the workshops of the TAG Heuer Manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the 12 future watchmakers will benefit from an apprenticeship with the two manufactures, which have very distinct cultures, products and DNA. They will also have access to other watchmaking Houses and the Group’s array of métiers via masterclasses organized by the Institut des Métiers d’Excellence.

The watchmaking heritage and craft tradition of Zenith are allied with the innovative, avant-garde spirit of TAG Heuer to comprise a truly unprecedented educational program.

Contact:

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

Source: LVMH

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LVMH hosts event for students to discover the Group and its Houses around the theme of luxury and innovation

LVMH hosts event for students to discover the Group and its Houses around the theme of luxury and innovation
LVMH hosts event for students to discover the Group and its Houses around the theme of luxury and innovation

 

Paris, 2016-Nov-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — On November 22nd, the LVMH group is launching “Inside LVMH”, an unprecedented event and digital operation enabling 220 students from top French and European higher education institutions to discover the Group and its Houses around the theme of luxury and innovation.

“How do you see innovation in the luxury sector?” This was the question students from prestigious partner institutions across France and Europe (in the fields of engineering, business and design) had to answer by means of an unusual arrangement – roving video booths set up in their schools. Throughout the day, which will include career paths, workshops and meetings with management teams and employees, students will discover the LVMH ecosystem and its five sectors of activity, grasp the key issues involved, and envision the future. The LVMH group is resolutely forward-looking: qualities of creativity and innovation are imperative not only for its 130,000 employees, but also for the young talents who join up.

For this very special day, 16 Houses will open their doors and offer made-to-measure programs of activities, whose theme is the future of tradition and the capacity for continuing innovation. Christian Dior Couture will lead the students to explore the stages in the making of its men’s collections. Sephora will examine the challenges of client experience 2.0, while Chaumet will focus on the positioning of a new jewelry range.

The November 22nd event will be organized around three high points: the discovery of all the Houses in small groups, followed by a work session at LVMH headquarters, presided by Chantal Gaemperle, Group Executive Vice President Human Resources and Synergies, and member of the Executive Committee. The day will conclude with a masterclass at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, then a tour of the exhibition Icons of Modern Art. The Shchukin Collection, itself a symbol of excellence and visionary spirit.

Stay connected at lvmh.com and follow #INSIDELVMH on our social networks.

Contact:

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

Source: LVMH

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