Monthly Archives: January 2017

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Abercrombie & Fitch Co. announces the appointment of Will A. Smith as Chief Marketing Officer

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. announces the appointment of Will A. Smith as Chief Marketing Officer

 

New Albany, Ohio, 2017-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) today (January 30, 2017) announced that Will A. Smith has joined the Company as Chief Marketing Officer.  In that role, he will be responsible for all brand, creative and digital marketing across the Company, reporting to President and Chief Merchandising Officer Fran Horowitz.

For the past nine years Mr. Smith has served in senior marketing roles at Caleres Inc., formerly known Brown Shoe Company.  He was elevated to the position of Chief Marketing Officer for Famous Footwear/Brown Group Retail in 2013.

“We are delighted to welcome Will to our team,” said Fran Horowitz, President and Chief Merchandising Officer of Abercrombie & Fitch Co.  “He is a true marketing talent who has led successful, transformative brand campaigns spanning go-to-market advertising, digital marketing, mobile and customer loyalty programs.  He will be a tremendous asset as we continue to focus on strengthening our connection with our customers and enhancing the power and clarity of our brand identities.”

Mr. Smith joined Famous Footwear/Brown Group Retail in 2008.  During his tenure, the company achieved rapid ecommerce traffic gains, evolved and contemporized all customer contact strategies and tactics, revitalized a customer loyalty program that now delivers nearly three-quarters of the organization’s total annual revenue, improved and elevated the in-store experience, and launched a best-in-class mobile app for Famous Footwear that now has over 1.3 million users.  Furthermore, he played a critical role in the parent company’s corporate rebranding initiative that resulted in its name change to Caleres – a modernized identity and improved customer sentiment for the 137 year-old company.

Prior to joining the Famous Footwear/Brown Group Retail, Mr. Smith worked for iconic companies such as Kraft, Atlantic Records, and Liz Claiborne, in various brand and marketing roles.  These roles included, among others, Group Vice President of Marketing for Liz Claiborne Retail and Footstar Athletic, VP and General Manager of Blackground Records/Virgin Records N.A., and Vice President of Marketing for Urban Music at Atlantic Recording Corporation.

He received his Masters of Business Administration from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Cornell University.

Mr. Smith serves on the National Board of Trustees of the March of Dimes Foundation and on the Executive Committee of the Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois Better Business Bureau.

About Abercrombie & Fitch Co.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) is a leading, global specialty retailer of apparel and accessories for Men, Women and Kids through three renowned brands.  The iconic Abercrombie & Fitch brand embodies American casual luxury.  With an updated attitude that reflects the character, charisma and confidence of today’s 20+ consumer, Abercrombie & Fitch remains true to its 125-year heritage of creating expertly crafted products with an effortless, American style.  The Hollister brand epitomizes the liberating and carefree spirit of the endless California summer for the teen market.  abercrombie kids creates smart, playful apparel for children ages 3-14, celebrating the wide-eyed wonder of childhood. The brands share a commitment to offering products of enduring quality and exceptional comfort that allow consumers around the world to express their own individuality and style.

The Company operates over 900 stores under these brands across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as well as the e-commerce sites www.abercrombie.com and www.hollisterco.com.

Investor Contact:
Brian Logan
Abercrombie & Fitch
(614) 283-6877
Investor_Relations@abercrombie.com

Media Contact:
Michael Scheiner
Abercrombie & Fitch
(614) 283-6192
Public_Relations@abercrombie.com

Source: Abercrombie & Fitch Co.

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KIRKENS BYMISJON OG NORGESGRUPPEN SKAL SAMARBEIDE I TRE NYE ÅR

KIRKENS BYMISJON OG NORGESGRUPPEN SKAL SAMARBEIDE I TRE NYE ÅR

 

En ny avtale mellom Kirkens Bymisjon og NorgesGruppen gir mulighet til å skape en forskjell for utsatte mennesker i gatemiljøene, og blant flyktninger og innvandrere.

Norway, 2017-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — Kirkens Bymisjon og NorgesGruppen har samarbeidet i mange år om å gi flere mennesker gode måltider, som åpner opp for samtale og fellesskap. Samarbeidet har også handlet om å redusere matsvinn og hjelp til fattige tilreisende.

– Dette er en viktig avtale for oss, og en veldig god «match».  Her kan vi nå nye mål sammen i et viktig samfunnsarbeid, sier Adelheid Firing Hvambsal, generalsekretær i Kirkens Bymisjon.

– Vi er stolte av samarbeidet med Kirkens Bymisjon. Vi arbeider med mange av de samme verdiene, sier konsernsjef i NorgesGruppen, Runar Hollevik.

Den nye avtalen gjelder for tre år. Samarbeidet er særlig knyttet til virksomheter på rusfeltet, arbeidstiltak med matdistribusjon og inkluderingsarbeid blant flyktninger og innvandrere.

En bedre hverdag

– Samarbeidet med Kirkens Bymisjon bidrar til at vi kommer videre i vår visjon om å gi mennesker en bedre hverdag.  I praksis handler det bl.a. om innsatsen for å redusere matsvinn ved at Kirkens Bymisjon tar imot matvarer fra våre butikker.  Det kan også være å utveksle erfaringer med å inkludere utsatte mennesker i arbeidslivet.  Med våre 28.000 ansatte har vi god anledning til inkluderingsarbeid i nærmiljøer, sier Hollevik.

Viktig for måltidsfellesskap

– For Kirkens Bymisjon er det spesielt meningsfylt å ha en samarbeidspartner  i matbransjen. Vi legger stor vekt på måltidsfellesskapet i vårt arbeid.  Med midlene fra denne avtalen blir slike muligheter styrket. Måltidsfellesskapene er arenaer for mange personlige møter som til sammen avdekker vesentlige samfunnsutfordringer.  Med NorgesGruppens verdiprofil kan vi samarbeide godt også om samfunnsarbeid med miljøprofil og helse-  og inkluderingstiltak, sier Hvambsal.

Contact:

Telefon: (+47) 24 11 31 00

Source: NorgesGruppen ASA

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Food Marketing Institute announces nine new members of its board of directors

Scottsdale, Ariz., 2017-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — Food Marketing Institute (FMI) today (January 30, 2017) introduced nine new members to its board of directors during its annual meeting at the FMI Midwinter Executive Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz. FMI Board Chairman, President and CEO of Bristol Farms Kevin Davis announced the appointments:

New Directors (3-year term)
• Michele Buck, The Hershey Company
• Albert Carey, PepsiCo, Inc.
• Tim Figge, Hussmann Corp.
• Laura Karet, Giant Eagle, Inc.
• Kees Kruythoff, Unilever
• David Mitchell, Mitchell Grocery Corporation
• Lori Mitchell-Keller, SAP

New Chairman’s Appointees (1-year term)
• David Bullard, Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Company, Inc.
• Eric Claus, Save-A-Lot, Ltd.
• Michael Sleeper, Imperial Distributors, Inc.

The goal of the FMI Board is to promote and carry out the objectives and purposes of FMI; to represent the total and varied membership of FMI; to establish major policies for FMI; to demonstrate a model of an active, participative and sharing membership; to appoint the president; and to provide industry leadership.

A full member listing of FMI’s board can be found here: www.fmi.org/BoardOfDirectors

Food Marketing Institute proudly advocates on behalf of the food retail industry. FMI’s U.S. members operate nearly 40,000 retail food stores and 25,000 pharmacies, representing a combined annual sales volume of almost $770 billion. Through programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations, FMI offers resources and provides valuable benefits to more than 1,225 food retail and wholesale member companies in the United States and around the world. FMI membership covers the spectrum of diverse venues where food is sold, including single owner grocery stores, large multi-store supermarket chains and mixed retail stores. For more information, visit www.fmi.org and for information regarding the FMI foundation, visit www.fmifoundation.org.

Contact:

Tel: 202-452-8444
Fax: 202-429-4519

Source: FMI

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Baskin-Robbins announces seasonal lineup of customizable treats for Valentine’s Day

Baskin-Robbins announces seasonal lineup of customizable treats for Valentine’s Day

 

Baskin-Robbins Guests Will Fall Head Over Heels for Heart-Shaped Ice Cream Cakes and New Love Potion #31® Desserts

CANTON, Mass., 2017-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — Baskin-Robbins locations nationwide will get even sweeter this February with a seasonal lineup of customizable treats for Valentine’s Day, including  the new Ganache Conversation Heart Cake, “Be Mine” Heart Cake, Chocolate Hazelnut Flavor of the Month, Love Potion #31® Polar Pizza™ Ice Cream Treat and Love Potion #31® Cookie.

Baskin-Robbins’ heart-shaped ice cream cakes are the perfect way to celebrate the holiday with that special someone. The new Ganache Conversation Heart Cake features the simple sophistication of a fully ganache enrobed ice cream cake, and the “Be Mine” Heart Cake features a red and white heart design and a red rose made out of icing. Each cake includes a personalized message, can be customized with any ice cream and cake flavor combination, and is available at participating Baskin-Robbins shops nationwide for pre-order in-store or online through the brand’s online ordering website.

Baskin-Robbins is also providing guests with new ways to fall in love with its most romantic ice cream flavor, Love Potion #31®, which was first introduced in 1995 and features white chocolate-flavored and raspberry ice creams, a raspberry ribbon, chocolate chips and raspberry-filled chocolate-flavored hearts. The Love Potion #31® Polar Pizza is made with a Double Fudge Brownie Crust, topped with Love Potion #31® ice cream, OREO® cookie pieces, marshmallow topping, fudge and heart quins. The Love Potion #31®Cookie is a delicious chocolate cookie with white chocolate flavored and raspberry flavored chips, inspired by the signature ice cream flavor. Guests can also pair it with Love Potion #31® ice cream for a delectable Warm Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich.

“Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate the ones we love, and our new Ganache Conversation Heart Cake and ‘Be Mine’ Heart Cake are sweet ways for our guests to show their loved ones how special they are,” said Jeff Miller, Executive Chef and Vice President of Product Innovation for Dunkin’ Brands. “We’re also excited to give our guests new ways to enjoy our classic Love Potion #31 flavor – as a Polar Pizza treat and as a Warm Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich.”

Baskin-Robbins will also feature Chocolate Hazelnut as the February Flavor of the Month, in stores on Wednesday, February 1. Featuring chocolate ice cream swirled with hazelnuts with chocolate-flavored coating and a hazelnut cookie fudge ribbon, Chocolate Hazelnut can be enjoyed by the scoop in a cup or cone, a milkshake, and in a Warm Brownie Sundae or Warm Cookie Sundae to warm up during the cooler February weather.

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

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

About Baskin-Robbins

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

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

Source: Baskin-Robbins

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Dunkin’ Donuts celebrates Valentine’s Day with heart-shaped donuts and two new coffee flavors

Dunkin’ Donuts celebrates Valentine’s Day with heart-shaped donuts and two new coffee flavors

 

Fudge Croissant Donut returns for an additional donut delight

CANTON, MA, 2017-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — With the season for sweethearts upon us, Dunkin’ Donuts is welcoming Valentine’s Day with a perfect pairing of sweet coffee flavors, along with the return of heart-shaped donuts, available in delicious new and returning varieties. For starters, Dunkin’ Donuts guests can enjoy the marriage of their favorite coffee with the flavors of fresh bakery treats, with new Fudge Brownie Swirl and Vanilla Cupcake Swirl flavored coffee. Both are available in Dunkin’ Donuts’ hot or iced coffees, lattes and macchiatos.

Dunkin’ Donuts is showing a lot of heart for its donut fans this season as well, bringing back its beloved heart-shaped donuts in two new Valentine’s Day varieties. The new Chocolate-Covered Raspberry Heart Donut is a heart-shaped donut with raspberry filling, frosted with chocolate icing and drizzled with strawberry-flavored icing. The new Brownie Batter Crumble Heart Donut is a heart-shaped donut with brownie batter flavored buttercreme filling, frosted with chocolate icing and sprinkled with brownie crumble.

For an additional donut delight for that special someone, this season Dunkin’ Donuts is bringing back the Fudge Croissant Donut. A favorite for chocolate lovers, it combines the brand’s famous glazed croissant donut with decadent fudge filling, topped with chocolate and white icing drizzle. All of Dunkin’ Donuts’ coffee and donut menu items for Valentine’s Day season are available beginning today for a limited time at participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants nationwide.

“Valentine’s Day is an important and popular holiday for our brand, as our guests look forward to the return of heart-shaped donuts paired with rich, indulgent beverages to celebrate this sweet season,” said Jeff Miller, Dunkin’ Brands’ Executive Chef and Vice President of Product Innovation. “This year we are excited to introduce a Valentine’s Day menu featuring several warm and comforting flavor choices. Our newest offerings will help keep guests energized with our coffee all throughout February, while enjoying donut treats that are perfect for sharing with loved ones.”

To learn more about Dunkin’ Donuts, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com, or subscribe to the Dunkin’ Donuts blog to receive notifications at https://news.dunkindonuts.com/blog.

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 11 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:
Lindsay Cronin
Phone: 781-737-5200
Email: lindsay.cronin@dunkinbrands.com

Source: Dunkin’ Donuts

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Debenhams will make you go la la for yellow this Spring/Summer 2017

Debenhams will make you go la la for yellow this Spring/Summer 2017

 

London, 2017-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — As the award winning blockbuster La La Land hits cinemas, it seems yellow is definitely the key colour for this spring.

Get ready to dance and twirl away in sweeping maxi dresses and flowing skirts. From swimwear to sunglasses, channel the good-vibes while jazzing up your wardrobe with floral’s and stripes. The Designers at Debenhams are ready to make you go la la for yellow this SS17.

Contact:

Elsa.Heron@debenhams.com

Source: Debenhams

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Office Depot, Inc. announces the appointment of Gerry P. Smith as new CEO

BOCA RATON, Fla., 2017-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — Office Depot, Inc. (NASDAQ:ODP), a leading global provider of office supplies and services, today ( January 30, 2017) announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Gerry P. Smith as Chief Executive Officer of the company, effective February 27, 2017. Gerry Smith will succeed current CEO Roland Smith, who previously announced his intention to retire from the company.

An experienced executive, Gerry Smith currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Lenovo Group, a $45 billion leading global technology company. During his time at Lenovo, he was instrumental in defining and leading the company’s ambitious growth objectives and operational efficiencies, which drove increases in market share and profitability.

“On behalf of the Board, I’m pleased that we recruited a leader with Gerry’s broad skill set to lead Office Depot at this important time in the company’s history,” said Warren Bryant, Lead Director of the Board of Directors and Chair of the CEO Search Committee. “Gerry possesses significant operating expertise, having successfully led business units across Lenovo’s entire product portfolio, including an industry recognized supply chain organization. His long-standing relationships with some of Office Depot’s largest suppliers will enable him to quickly transition into the role. Additionally, we are impressed with Gerry’s demonstrated ability to lead large, complex organizations.”

“I am delighted to accept the position of Chief Executive Officer at Office Depot,” said Gerry Smith. “Roland and his team have implemented a compelling three-year strategy and clearly put the company on a positive trajectory. I look forward to continuing the company’s momentum and identifying additional opportunities to provide customers with an exceptional experience, drive innovation and growth in products and services, while delivering value to the company’s shareholders.”

“Roland has been an outstanding CEO and, on behalf of the entire Board, I’d like to express our sincere appreciation for his leadership,” continued Bryant. “He has consistently delivered positive results, led the successful integration of Office Depot and OfficeMax to achieve synergies and efficiencies significantly exceeding original expectations, and he created and implemented a new three-year strategic plan. As a result of his contributions, the company is well positioned for continued future success.”

“As I communicated last fall, stepping away from Office Depot has not been an easy decision,” said Roland Smith. “I’m extremely proud of what our management team and associates have accomplished. During the past three years, we have delivered a significant improvement in profitability, made substantial progress on all the components of our strategic plan and now have an incoming CEO with an outstanding track record of producing results. With that solid foundation, now is the right time for me to focus on realizing some of my personal ambitions. I want to thank the entire Office Depot team for their incredible hard work, dedication and support during my tenure.”

In connection with this transition, the Board sought to diversify the overall corporate governance structure with the selection of an independent non-executive Board Chairman to lead the Board of Directors. Current Board member Joseph S. Vassalluzzo will become Chairman effective February 27, 2017. Vassalluzzo joined the Office Depot Board in August 2013 and currently serves as Chair of the Finance and Integration Committee. He also serves as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board for Federal Realty Investment Trust and previously served as Lead Director for Lifetime Fitness. Earlier, he was employed by Staples, Inc., most recently as Vice Chairman.

In conjunction with his appointment as CEO, Gerry Smith will also join the Office Depot Board as a director.

The company plans to release its fourth quarter financial results on March 1, 2017.

About Gerry P. Smith

Prior to joining Office Depot, Inc., Gerry Smith served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Lenovo Group. Gerry joined Lenovo in 2006 and was instrumental in the company’s growth to become the largest personal computer (PC) company. He was also a leader in building the company’s global brand recognition and expansion during the past decade. In his role as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, he was responsible for all operations across Lenovo’s $45 billion global product portfolio.

Previously as Chief Operating Officer of the Personal Computing Group and Enterprise Business Group, he led Lenovo to the top position in world-wide PC sales and as President of the Americas, he led Lenovo’s America’s Group to record market share and profits. He also served as Senior Vice President of Lenovo’s Global Supply Chain, where his leadership was recognized by leading research firm, Gartner, in ranking Lenovo’s supply chain among the best in the world.

Prior to Lenovo, Gerry had a number of executive positions at Dell, as the company became a global leader in PCs. In his last role, he built the Dell Singapore Design Center and led Dell to the leading market position in flat panels as Vice President and General Manager of Displays.

He is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University.

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.

As of our most recent filed annual report for fiscal year ended 2015, the Company had annual sales of approximately $14 billion, employed approximately 49,000 associates, and served 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 and Grand & Toy. 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.”

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

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

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

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

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

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

Source: Office Depot, Inc.

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SPAR UK introduces four new own brand cooking sauces

United Kingdom, 2017-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — As part of SPAR’s commitment to delivering products which meet the changing needs of their customers, SPAR UK has unveiled a new range of own brand cooking sauces. They form a key part of SPAR’s campaign to offer shoppers delicious evening meals for every night of the week.

The four new sauces in the own label range are Bolognese, Tomato & Herb, Tikka Masala and Korma and they will be available from all stores this month. SPAR is keen to provide customers with all the components for a complete own brand meal which offers value for money, a great taste and can be ready to serve in 30 minutes.

SPAR’s own brand range continues to innovate with changes in the market and this has been recognised across the industry over the last 12 months.

Joanne Cramer, SPAR UK Senior Brand Manager said: “The new range of own brand sauces is yet another step we are taking to offer our shoppers a deliciously simple and cost effective solution to evening meals. It is imperative that we continue to listen to what our customers want and adapt accordingly to these needs. Great taste, value for money and convenience are key drivers for shoppers and our aim is to satisfy them as best we can.”

Contact:

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

Source: Spar International

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hhgregg announces Super Sale offering on TVs, home audio, furniture and appliances just in time for the Big Game

Fans can throw the ultimate viewing party with up to 40 percent off TVs

INDIANAPOLIS, 2017-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — hhgregg (NYSE:HGG), a leading appliances, electronics and furniture retailer, announced its Super Sale offering the best deals on TVs, home audio, furniture and appliances to help fans throw the ultimate viewing party for the Big Game. Now through February 4, 2017, shoppers can receive up to 40 percent off televisions, up to 25 percent off major appliances and up to 15 percent off all motion seating and recliners. To make new room for new models, all Closeout Items in-store are now available for 50 percent off the lowest ticketed price.

“Now is a great time to buy a new TV,” said Chris Sutton, SVP of Marketing at hhgregg. “Not only are we offering phenomenal deals in-store and online, but the quality and clarity of today’s OLED and 4K TVs will enhance viewing experiences for families and sports fans alike.”

hhgregg is offering fans the hottest deal on 60″ 1080p LED Smart HDTVs, now only $497. Or for an incredible view of the game, customers can now get the 55″ 4K Ultra HD Smart OLED TVs for 50 percent off, plus receive an instant $200 in-store gift card. Other top TV and home audio deals include:

  • Free LG 2.1 Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer with the purchase of a LG 55″ or 65″ 4K Ultra HD Smart TV
  • Haier 65″ 4K Ultra HDTV for $549.99 (save $450)
  • Haier 75″ 4K Ultra HDTV for $1299.99 (save $1200)
  • Free Klipsch 10″ Subwoofer with purchase of a pair of Klipsch Floorstanding Speakers

To watch the game in ultimate comfort, fans can save an additional 15 percent off all motion seating and recliners, plus take an additional 20 percent off all TV stands and accent cabinets. The modern Langdon Power Recliner can be combined into home theater seating groups and each recliner features one outlet and two USB charging ports hidden in arm storage. Two cup holders and a swivel tray that can attach to either arm will hold fans’ snacks and beverages. Other top furniture deals include:

  • Cheyenne 6-Piece Reclining Sectional for $1699.97 (save $1300 total)
  • Harrison Reclining Collection for $2039.97 (save $1160 total)
  • Arden Power Recliner for $424.99 (save $175 total)
  • Curved Wood Stand for Flat-Panel TVs (Model: CW349) for $239.99 (save $210 total)

Additionally, shoppers can save up to 25 percent off major appliances, plus save up to $600 on select Whirlpool appliances. With a 32 cubic foot Whirlpool Stainless Steel French Door Refrigerator, fans have the ultimate capacity to store all of their favorite game day food and beverages. Other top appliance deals include:

  • Maytag Stainless Steel Side-by-Side Refrigerator with water in-door for $949.99 (save $450)
  • GE Café™ Stainless Steel French Door Refrigerator with Keurig K-Cup® Brewing System for $2969.99 (save $330)
  • Whirlpool Stainless Steel Gas Range for $449.99 (save $250)
  • Maytag Stainless Steel Dishwasher for $499.99 (save $150)

Now through February 4, 2017, shoppers can receive up to 24 months special financing on qualifying home theater and appliance purchases of $797or more, and up to 48 months special financing on qualifying furniture and bedding purchases of $1997 or more, by using their hhgregg credit card. Free delivery is available on appliance purchases $397 and up, furniture purchases $1497 and up, and on TVs 51″ or larger.

To find a store or shop online before the Big Game, visit hhgregg.com, and follow hhgregg on Twitter (@hhgregg) or Facebook (facebook.com/hhgregg).

ABOUT hhgregg

Founded in 1955, Indianapolis-based hhgregg is a multi-regional retailer with 220 brick-and-mortar stores in 19 states. hhgregg’s product assortment includes market-leading brands in home appliances, consumer electronics and technology, along with high-quality furniture products for the home. The retailer’s locations and online presence (hhgregg.com) give consumers nationwide access to global and local lifestyle and home products. Find hhgregg on Facebook at facebook.com/hhgregg and on Twitter at @hhgregg.

Contact:
Chantal Kowalski
317-561-7022
Chantal.Kowalski@hhgregg.com

Source: hhgregg

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Colruyt trials meal box meant for families with kids

Halle, Belgium, 2017-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — Colruyt wants to market its own meal box, and starts testing it today (30 January 2017) with its co-workers. Colruyt’s meal box is meant for families with kids. The recipes will be accessible, easy to prepare and quick. During the test phase, the meal box will only be available in the pick-up points of Colruyt Group’s shopping service Collect&Go. A deliberate choice because it allows customers to combine the meal box with their normal shopping.

All know-how available
The meal box Colruyt is currently testing did not just happen. “We want a real solution for families with children, who want to serve a delicious, nutritious meal despite lack of time”, says Chris Van Wettere, general manager of Colruyt. “The main advantage of a meal box for our customers is that they receive all the ingredients in the proper portions and the recipe, so there shouldn’t be any leftovers.”

Colruyt will use the know-how available in the house, namely the culinary expertise of the ‘Lekker Koken’ (good cooking) team and the pick-up network of Collect&Go. The ‘Lekker Koken’ team is also the initiator of the successful Colruyt week menus, the folder recipes, the ‘Lekker Koken’ website and some thirty cookery books.

Order and pick up at Collect&Go
During this test phase, co-workers can order their meal box on the Collect&Go website. “We deliberately choose to use our own pick-up network and not to deliver at home”, says Chris Van Wettere. “The advantage is the one-stop shopping. Customers can order and pick up their box together with their other shopping such as water, fruit and toilet paper.” Moreover, Colruyt will not work with a subscription formula.

Co-workers as test group
Before marketing the meal box, it will be thoroughly tested. “About 200 co-workers are currently testing all aspects of the meal box, from ordering it over picking it up at Collect&Go to preparing the dishes and the portion size”, says Chris Van Wettere. “It is very important to us to launch a well-considered concept. We start with our own co-workers to develop and perfect our meal box. Their feedback will certainly be used.” When the test phase will be over, Colruyt will take the necessary time to evaluate and possibly adapt its meal box.

Contact:

Silja Decock
Colruyt Group Press Officer
Tel: 02/363.55.45
0473/92.45.10
silja.decock@colruytgroup.com

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Colruyt trials meal box meant for families with kids

 

Source: Colruyt Group

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Starbucks launches voice ordering capabilities within Starbucks mobile iOS app and Amazon Alexa platform

Starbucks launches voice ordering capabilities within Starbucks mobile iOS app and Amazon Alexa platform

 

Seattle, 2017-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today (January 30), Starbucks is taking the next step toward evolving the digital customer experience by launching voice ordering capabilities within the Starbucks mobile iOS app and the popular Amazon Alexa platform. These features are an extension of Starbucks Mobile Order & Pay, which allows customers to order and pay for their items before arriving at their store, further extending the barista and customer interaction within the company’s digital ecosystem.

Select customers can now order coffee “on command” using My Starbucks® barista as part of an initial feature rollout integrated seamlessly into the Starbucks mobile app for iOS. At the same time, the company is launching a Starbucks Reorder Skill on the popular Amazon Alexa platform. Both features allow customers to order from Starbucks simply by using their voice.

“The Starbucks experience is built on the personal connection between our barista and customer, so everything we do in our digital ecosystem must reflect that sensibility,” said Gerri Martin-Flickinger, chief technology officer for Starbucks. “Our team is focused on making sure that Starbucks voice ordering within our app is truly personal and equally important was finding the right partner in Amazon to test and learn from this new capability. These initial releases are easy to use providing a direct benefit to customers within their daily routine and we are confident that this is the right next step in creating convenient moments to complement our more immersive formats. We expect to learn a lot from these experiences and to evolve them over time.”

Previously announced at Starbucks Investor Day, My Starbucks® barista, is powered by groundbreaking Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the Starbucks® Mobile App. The integration of the feature within the mobile app allows customers to order and pay for their food and beverage items simply by using their voice. The messaging interface allows customers to speak or text just as if they were talking to a barista in-store, including modifying their beverage to meet their personal preference. This beta test of My Starbucks® barista will be available to one thousand customers nationwide with plans for a continued phased rollout through summer 2017/ An Android version will follow later this year.

The Starbucks Reorder Skill for Amazon’s Alexa platform leverages Starbucks Mobile Order & Pay technology, allowing customers to order their “usual” Starbucks food and beverage items as they move throughout their day. Customers simply need to say “Alexa, order my Starbucks,” giving them the ability to order their usual items from their store wherever they have an Alexa device.

Starbucks offers the largest and most robust mobile ecosystem of any retailer in the world with 13 million Starbucks Rewards™ members in the United States alone and more than 27 percent of transactions occurring via mobile device. Starbucks Mobile Order & Pay currently accounts for more than 7 percent of transactions in U.S. company-operated stores.

Media contact:

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

Source: Starbucks

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Amazon Studios announces fourth season of Mozart in the Jungle and final season of Red Oaks to premiere later this year on Prime Video

Both series are expected to premiere later this year on Prime Video in the US and UK, and additional territories in the future

SEATTLE, 2017-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — Amazon Studios today (Jan. 30, 2017) announced it has green lit a fourth season of the Golden Globe award-winning series Mozart in the Jungle, and a final, third season of the hit comedy series Red Oaks. Both are scheduled to premiere later this year on Prime Video in the US and UK, and additional territories in the future.

“Amazon Studios has been built by the risky, creative genius of shows like Mozart in the Jungle and Red Oaks,” said Joe Lewis, Head of Comedy and Drama, Amazon Studios. “We are excited to see how the amazing creators, casts and crews top themselves next season.”

Roman Coppola commented on behalf of the executive producers of Mozart in the Jungle: “We’re all delighted to be back for a fourth season and to share the further tales of our orchestra and all the artists who comprise it. For the fans who have been so enthusiastic about our show, we’re so happy to have an audience that wants to see stories about the arts, music, and all these characters we’ve invented.”

Red Oaks creators Joe Gangemi and Greg Jacobs commented: “We’ve always hoped to send these characters off to their futures with a third and final season, so we’re thrilled that Amazon has given us the opportunity to do so.”

Based on the critically acclaimed memoir Mozart in the Jungle: Sex, Drugs & Classical Music by Blair Tindall, Mozart in the Jungle draws back the curtain at the New York Symphony, where artistic dedication and creativity collide with mind games, politicking and survival instincts. Starring Gael García Bernal (Neruda), and Lola Kirke (American Made), Mozart in the Jungle will begin production later this year and will continue the story of the talented musicians who perform and live with passion under the baton of its spirited conductor, best known simply as Rodrigo. Along with Bernal and Kirke, Mozart in the Jungle also stars Saffron Burrows (Night of the Lotus), Malcolm McDowell (American Satan), Bernadette Peters (Smash), and Hannah Dunne (Caring). The series is executive produced by Roman Coppola (Moonrise Kingdom), Jason Schwartzman (The Darjeeling Limited), Paul Weitz (About a Boy), and Will Graham (Alpha House).

Set in the 1980s, Red Oaks explores the comic misadventures of the misfit staffers and clueless members of a country club in suburban New Jersey. Starring Craig Roberts (Submarine: The Fundamentals of Caregiving), and Paul Reiser (Mad About You), Red Oaks will begin production later this year on its third and final season, concluding the stories of aspiring young filmmaker David Meyers and the colorful characters he’s met on his journey to adulthood. Starring alongside Roberts and Reiser is a talented ensemble cast including Richard Kind (Inside Out), Jennifer Grey (Dirty Dancing), Alexandra Socha (Cut Shoot Kill), Oliver Cooper (Office Christmas Party), Ennis Esmer (Blindspot), Gina Gershon (Staten Island Summer) and Alexandra Turschen (Boy Meets Girl). The series was created by Gregory Jacobs (Magic Mike XXL) and Joe Gangemi (Stonehearst Asylum), and is executive produced by Jacobs and Gangemi with Steven Soderbergh (The Knick) and David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express).

The fourth season of Mozart in the Jungle, and the final, third season of Red Oaks will be available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video for members to watch via the Prime Video app for popular smart TVs, Fire TV, Fire Tablets and Android and iOS phones and tablets. Past seasons of both series are available to watch on PrimeVideo.com for Prime Video members in more than 200 countries and territories.

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. Prime Video is also now available to customers in more than 200 countries and territories around the globe at www.primevideo.com.
  • Amazon Channels: Over 100 channel subscriptions that Prime members can add to their membership, including HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ, Cinemax, PBS KIDS, Acorn TV and more, plus Anime Strike – the first curated on-demand subscription by Amazon Channels. To view the full list of channels available, visit www.amazon.com/channels
  • 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 fast free shipping options across all categories available on Amazon, more than two million songs and thousands of playlists and stations with Prime Music, secure photo storage with Prime Photos, unlimited reading with Prime Reading, unlimited access to a digital audiobook catalogue with Audible Channels for Prime, a rotating selection of free digital games and in-game loot with Twitch Prime, early access to select Lightning Deals, exclusive access and discounts to select items, 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
Amazon-pr@amazon.com
www.amazon.com/pr

Source: Amazon.com, Inc.

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Garrett Brands to acquire Frango® from Macy’s, Inc.

Brands Legacy Aligns with Purchaser’s Growth Strategy

CINCINNATI & CHICAGO, 2017-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE:M), one of the nation’s premier retailers, and Garrett Brands, owner of Garrett Popcorn Shops, today (Jan. 30, 2017) announced that they have entered an agreement by which Garrett Brands will acquire Frango®, a distinguished, premium chocolate brand, from Macy’s, Inc.

As the owner of Frango, Garrett Brands will develop, create, sell and distribute Frango products consistent with the brand’s legacy as a superior chocolate and confectionary brand. Macy’s, Inc. will continue to sell Frango products in the Frango Café at Macy’s State Street store in Chicago, at more than 350 additional Macy’s store locations in the United States, and online at macys.com. The Chicago and Seattle markets hold the greatest brand history, dating back to 1918, but over the years, the Frango business and awareness has grown to many other states through Macy’s, Inc. distribution and stewardship.

“Frango is a perfect fit for our company’s portfolio, aligning well with our strategy to preserve and grow iconic brands that have historic franchise value with a unique and storied past,” said Lance Chody, owner and CEO of Garrett Brands. “This is an exciting opportunity to expand the reach and offerings of the delicious Frango confections consumers know and love to more people in more places, just as we have done with our other brands.”

Maneesha Khandelwal, senior vice president of Garrett Brands, added, “We are committed to preserving Frango’s highest standards of taste and quality, and its heritage in Chicago and Seattle as key pillars of building on the brand’s identity.”

“We are happy to have found such a natural partner in Garrett Brands and are confident they will be great stewards of the Frango brand,” said Tim Baxter, chief merchandising officer at Macy’s, Inc. “We will continue to offer Macy’s customers the Frango products they love online and at Macy’s stores in Chicago, Seattle and across the country. And, given Garrett Brands’ history of thoughtfully growing brands, we are confident that this partnership will introduce new customers to premium Frango chocolates.”

About Macy’s, Inc.

Macy’s, Inc., with corporate offices in Cincinnati and New York, is one of the nation’s premier retailers, with fiscal 2015 sales of $27.079 billion. The company operates more than 700 department stores under the nameplates Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, and approximately 125 specialty stores that include Bloomingdale’s Outlet, Bluemercury and Macy’s Backstage, in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico, as well as the macys.com, bloomingdales.com and bluemercury.com websites. Bloomingdale’s in Dubai is operated by Al Tayer Group LLC under a license agreement.

About Garrett Brands LLC

Garrett Brands LLC is privately held and operated by Lance Chody and his family. The company owns Garrett Popcorn Shops® and has corporate offices in Chicago and Hong Kong. Garrett Popcorn Shops® offer handcrafted, artisanal popcorn in nine countries and on the garrettpopcorn.com website. Since 1949, the company has established itself with Sweet and Savory confectionary flavors, including the combination of its CaramelCrisp® and CheeseCorn recipes famously born in Chicago and known as Garrett Mix®. The company’s other flavors include chocolate offerings and country-specific recipes.

About Frango

Frango® is a premium chocolate brand with an iconic history rooted in Chicago and Seattle, dating back to 1918. Frango’s delicious chocolate collections – including its core flavor products, original Chicago recipes and Frederick & Nelson recipes – have served as thoughtful gifts for decades, bringing joy to consumers around their most special occasions. Originally developed by Seattle’s Frederick & Nelson department store, Frango was introduced to the Chicago market when Marshall Field’s acquired Frederick & Nelson. Since taking ownership of Frango through its merger with Marshall Field’s, Macy’s has preserved Frango’s beloved tradition in Chicago and Seattle, and has expanded the Frango legacy through broad online distribution on macys.com.

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

Media Contact:
Blair Fasbender / Melissa Epstein
212-333-3810

Investors Contact:
Matt Stautberg
513-579-7780

Garrett Brands Media:
Michelle Molise
313-549-3137
MMolise@MolisePR.com

Source: Macy’s, Inc.

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Sephora announces open application for two Sephora Accelerate categories

Sephora announces open application for two Sephora Accelerate categories

 

Paris, 2017-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — A year after its launch, beauty retailer Sephora has announced the expansion of Sephora Stands, the company’s social impact strategy in the United States. Sephora Accelerate, the core program addressing the needs of women entrepreneurs, now invites open applications in both the new sustainability category and the technology category.

Sephora Accelerate is part of Sephora’s social impact strategy in the United States, called Sephora Stands. Inaugurated in 2016, Sephora Stands concretely expresses the company’s values through three core programs: Sephora Accelerate for women entrepreneurs, Classes for Confidence to support local communities, and Sephora Stands Together for Sephora employees.

Sephora Stands surpassed its key objectives in its inaugural year, providing over 300 hours of mentorship through Sephora Accelerate, conducting over 200 Classes for Confidence and inspiring over 4,000 Sephora employees to connect with their local communities.

Building on this success, Sephora has announced an open application process for two Sephora Accelerate categories, the new sustainability category and technology. A call for candidates was launched in January in the United States via a dedicated platform; the women entrepreneurs selected for the program will be announced shortly. By 2020, Sephora Accelerate aims to support more than 50 women-led beauty businesses because even in the beauty industry, female founders are underrepresented.

The Sephora Stands Classes for Confidence program is also expanding in March with the launch of the Brave Beauty in the Face of Cancer class. In the spirit of the other classes designed to help inspire confidence in women facing major life transitions, this new class shares techniques that address the visible effects of cancer treatment. By 2020, Classes for Confidence has a larger goal of inspiring confidence in 100,000 people and providing job opportunities where possible.

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

Source: LVMH

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Luxottica Group to acquire one of the largest optical franchisors in Brazil Óticas Carol

Milan , 2017-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — Luxottica Group S.p.A, a leader in the design, manufacture, distribution and sale of fashion, luxury and sports eyewear, signed an agreement with the current shareholders of Óticas Carol under which Luxottica will acquire 100% of Óticas Carol, one of the largest optical franchisors in Brazil with approximately 950 locations.

Established in 1997, Óticas Carol sells a broad range of prescription frames and sunglasses, with annual system sales of approximately Euro 200 million. Óticas Carol has achieved significant growth in recent years, strengthening its management team and growing its retail footprint from approximately 500 stores in 2013 to 950 in 2016, largely through established partnerships with franchisees.

“Brazil is a great country, one we have believed in and operated in for 25 years,” said Leonardo Del Vecchio, Executive Chairman of Luxottica Group. “With this transaction, we take one step further in completing our vertically integrated business model, which has shown many benefits for all our consumers”.

According to Ronaldo Pereira, CEO of Óticas Carol: “The transaction brings Carol to a whole new level. Our franchisees will belong to a global eyewear company, which brings them a greater sense of security to continue to grow and invest in our brand. Now we have all the necessary tools to move forward with our expansion plans”.

The transaction, which is valued at Euro 110 million, remains subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the first half of 2017.

Upon completion, the transaction will mark Luxottica’s entry into the optical retail business in Brazil, a region with excellent growth potential in eyewear. Luxottica currently operates a network of Sunglass Hut stores in Brazil and has a solid presence through its wholesale business and a manufacturing plant in Campinas.

3i Group plc, Neuberger Berman and Siguler Guff & Company, LP are the major selling shareholders involved in the transaction.

Contact:

Alessandra Senici
Group Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Director
Tel: +39 02 8633 4870

Source: Luxottica Group

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CVS Health Corporation to hold 4Q 2016 conference call on Thursday, February 9, 2017

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2017-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) will be holding a conference call on Thursday, February 9, 2017, at 8:30 a.m. (ET) with analysts and investors to discuss its fourth quarter financial results.

An audio webcast of the conference call will be broadcast simultaneously through the Investor Relations portion of the CVS Health website for all interested parties. To access the webcast, visit http://investors.cvshealth.com. This webcast will be archived and available on the website for a one-year period following the conference call.

About CVS Health

CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,600 retail pharmacies, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with more than 80 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, and expanding specialty pharmacy services, the Company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Contact:

Carolyn Castel
carolyn.castel@cvshealth.com

SOURCE: CVS Health Corporation

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Krispy Kreme Doughnuts introduces line of heart-shaped doughnuts just in time for Valentine’s Day

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts introduces line of heart-shaped doughnuts just in time for Valentine’s Day

 

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., 2017-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — Krispy Kreme Doughnuts today ( January 30, 2017) announced a line of heart-shaped doughnuts just in time for Valentine’s Day. The Red Happy Heart Doughnut, Pink Happy Heart Doughnut, and the Sprinkled Heart Doughnut are available at participating shops in the US and Canada now through Feb. 14.

“We are always searching for little ways to help our guests spread joy in their own lives,” said Jackie Woodward, Chief Marketing Officer at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. “Our Valentine’s Day doughnuts are made with love, and are the perfect treat to share with family and friends this Valentine’s Day.”

The Red Happy Heart Doughnut and Pink Happy Heart Doughnut are both heart-shaped and Kreme™-filled. The Red Happy Heart Doughnut is finished off with red icing, a hand-decorated chocolate smile, and candy eyes. The Pink Happy Heart Doughnut features strawberry flavored icing, a cheeky chocolate smile and candy hearts and eyes.

The Sprinkled Heart Doughnut is dipped in white icing before being topped off with festive Valentine’s Day sprinkles.

How are you sharing love this Valentine’s Day? Share your greatest Happy Heart moments using #KrispyKreme.

About Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc., is a global retailer of premium-quality sweet treats, including its signature Original Glazed® doughnut. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C., the Company has offered the highest-quality doughnuts and great-tasting coffee since it was founded in 1937. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is proud of its Fundraising program, which for decades has helped non-profit organizations raise millions of dollars in needed funds. Krispy Kreme products can be found in approximately 12,000 grocery, convenience and mass merchant stores in the U.S. The Company has more than 1,200 retail shops in 30 countries. Connect with Krispy Kreme Doughnuts at www.KrispyKreme.com, or on one of its many social media channels, including www.Facebook.com/KrispyKreme, and www.Twitter.com/KrispyKreme.

Contact:

Sarah Roof
336-726-8878
Corporate Communications Coordinator
sroof@krispykreme.com

Source: Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc.

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Walgreens Boots Alliance and Rite Aid announce amendment and extension of their definitive merger agreement

Deerfield, Ill. and Camp Hill, Pa., 2017-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA) and Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) today (30 January 2017) announced that they have entered into an amendment and extension of their previously announced definitive merger agreement under which Walgreens Boots Alliance will acquire all outstanding shares of Rite Aid, a U.S. retail pharmacy chain.

Under the terms of the amendment, the parties have agreed to reduce the price for each share of Rite Aid common stock to be paid by Walgreens Boots Alliance. The revised price will be a maximum of $7.00 per share and a minimum of $6.50 per share. In addition, Walgreens Boots Alliance will be required to divest up to 1,200 Rite Aid stores and certain additional related assets if required to obtain regulatory approval. The exact price per share will be determined based on the number of required store divestitures, with the price set at $7.00 per share if 1,000 stores or fewer are required for divestiture and at $6.50 per share if 1,200 stores are required for divestiture. If the required divestitures fall between 1,000 and 1,200 stores, then there will be a pro-rata adjustment of the price per share. Walgreens Boots Alliance agreement to divest up to 1,200 Rite Aid stores represents an increase of up to 200 stores over the 1,000 stores that Walgreens Boots Alliance had agreed to divest under the terms of the original agreement.

Additionally, Walgreens Boots Alliance and Rite Aid agreed to extend the end date under the previously announced agreement from 27 January 2017 to 31 July 2017 in order to allow the parties additional time to obtain regulatory approval.

The transaction is subject to approval by the holders of Rite Aid’s common stock, the expiration or termination of applicable waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and other customary closing conditions.

Notes to Editors:

About Walgreens Boots Alliance

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.

About Rite Aid

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

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this release that are not historical statements, which include, without limitation, those regarding the pending merger agreement between Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Rite Aid Corporation and the transactions contemplated thereby and their possible timing and effects, are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expect,” “pending,” “potential”, “likely,” “preliminary,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “can,” “will,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “continue,” “synergy,” “on track,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “may,” “possible,” “assume,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, known or unknown, which could cause actual results to vary materially from those indicated or anticipated. These include, but are not limited to, the outcome of legal and regulatory matters, including with respect to the outcome of discussions with the Federal Trade Commission and otherwise in connection with the pending acquisition of Rite Aid by Walgreens Boots Alliance; the number of stores divested in connection with such pending acquisition and the terms, timing and consummation of such transactions; the risk of unexpected costs, liabilities or delays, changes in management’s assumptions, risks associated with acquisitions, including risks relating to the failure to obtain necessary Rite Aid stockholder approvals or otherwise relating to the ability to satisfy the closing conditions and consummate the pending acquisition of Rite Aid by Walgreens Boots Alliance and related matters on a timely basis or at all; the risks associated with the integration of complex businesses; and the other risks and uncertainties described in the reports that Walgreens Boots Alliance and Rite Aid have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). A further list and description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Item 1A (Risk Factors) in Walgreens Boots Alliance’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending 31 August 2016 as well as Rite Aid’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending 27 February 2016 and its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Walgreens Boots Alliance and Rite Aid expressly disclaim any current intention to update publicly any forward-looking statement after the distribution of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed transaction, Rite Aid will file with the SEC and mail or otherwise provide to its stockholders a proxy statement regarding the proposed transaction. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, RITE AID’S STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED MERGER OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND THE PARTIES TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement and other documents that Rite Aid files with the SEC (when available) from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and Rite Aid’s website at www.riteaid.com.

Participants in Solicitation
Rite Aid and its directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed, under SEC rules, to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Rite Aid’s stockholders with respect to the proposed acquisition. Information regarding the interests of such individuals in the proposed acquisition of Rite Aid by Walgreens Boots Alliance will be included in the proxy statement relating to such acquisition when it is filed with the SEC. You may obtain information about Rite Aid’s executive officers and directors in Rite Aid’s definitive proxy statement for its 2016 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on May 13, 2016. These documents may be obtained free of charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and Rite Aid’s website at www.riteaid.com.

Contact:

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

Media:
Ashley Flower
717-975-5718

Source: Rite Aid

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Harris Teeter celebrates the opening of its Waterford Commercial Fuel Center with special promotion

Harris Teeter celebrates the opening of its Waterford Commercial Fuel Center with special promotion

 

Company to Celebrate Grand Opening with Fuel Specials

Matthews, NC, 2017-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — Harris Teeter is proud to welcome customers to its Waterford Commercial Fuel Center on Friday, February 3, 2017 as the company celebrates its grand opening with a special fuel promotion.

The Fuel Center, which is located in close proximity to the Waterford Commercial Harris Teeter, will offer customers $0.03 off per gallon every day with the use of a VIC card; however, in celebration of the grand opening, the Center will feature a special $0.20 off per gallon discount February 3-5, 2017.

At each of its Fuel Centers, Harris Teeter strives to offer customers an excellent experience through high-quality products and great customer service.

Store Address Waterford Commercial Center
2012 Olde Regent Way
Leland, NC 28451
Grand Opening Date Friday, February 3, 2017
Store Hours staffed daily from 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.; fuel available for purchase by debit/credit card 24 hours
Square Footage 240
Fuel Dispensers Seven

Source: Harris Teeter

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Hollister relaunches Gilly Hicks its intimates brand

New Albany, Ohio, 2017-Jan-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — Hollister Co. announced today (January 27, 2017) that it has relaunched its intimates brand, Gilly Hicks, in all Hollister stores across the United States and online at HollisterCo.com.

Gilly Hicks, “the brand to start and end your day with,” carries bras, bralettes, undies, swimwear, loungewear, and sleep.

“We recognized an opportunity to redefine the Gilly Hicks brand and we know our Hollister customer will enjoy another destination for fun and cozy bras, undies and sleepwear,” said Kristin Scott, Brand President of Hollister Co. “We’ve designed our Gilly product to be effortless and comfortable to align with our customer’s on-the-go, busy lifestyle.”

Beginning today, Gilly product can be purchased in all US stores and globally online. In select US stores*, Hollister will open shop-in-shops that will provide the customer a unique Gilly Hicks brand experience.  To celebrate the relaunch, starting this weekend and continuing for the next two weekends, fans can stop by the Hollister SoHo store in New York to enjoy fresh pressed coffee, cookies, special promotions, and a chance to try the new collection.

Additionally, and in time for Valentine’s Day, on Saturday, February 4, 2017, the brand will be hosting “Galentine’s Day” parties in all US Hollister locations. Customers can shop the latest collection, featuring lace bralettes and special Valentine’s Day inspired prints, and receive exclusive discounts, including a free gift with a $50 purchase, while supplies last.  For more details, visit www.hollisterco.com.

* Annapolis Mall, Maryland
Castleton Square, Indiana
The Shops at Montebello, California
Vintage Faire Mall, California
Woodland Hills Mall, Oklahoma

About Hollister Co.
The quintessential retail brand of the global teen consumer, Hollister Co. celebrates the liberating spirit of the endless summer inside everyone.  Inspired by California’s laidback attitude, Hollister’s clothes are designed to be lived in and made your own, for wherever life takes you. A division of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF), Hollister provides an engaging, welcoming, and unique shopping experience through its global e-commerce websites and its 559 retail locations.

Media Contact:
Michael Scheiner
Abercrombie & Fitch
(614) 283-6192
Public_Relations@abercrombie.com

Investor Contact:
Brian Logan
Abercrombie & Fitch
(614) 283-6877
Investor_Relations@abercrombie.com

Source: Abercrombie & Fitch

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FMI announces The 2016 Gold Plate Award winners

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ., 2017-Jan-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Foundation is proud to recognize the members of the food retail industry who are encouraging shoppers to share more family meals together around the table. In September 2016, 56 food retailers, 15 suppliers, and 37 allied organizations helped the FMI Foundation amplify National Family Meals Month™ to consumers by implementing innovative in-store and media campaigns. The 2016 Gold Plate Award recognizes the best of National Family Meals Month programs.

“2016 was the second year for National Family Meals Month, and the FMI Foundation acknowledges the extraordinary efforts by the retail food industry to help consumers make family mealtime easier,” said Sue Borra, RD, chief health and wellness officer for FMI and executive director of the FMI Foundation. “According to a Nielsen analysis of National Family Meals Month, 85% of shoppers who saw the campaign, reported healthier behaviors as a result, so these programs can make a difference in the well-being of the customers we serve.”

The 2016 Gold Plate Award winners are:

Gold Plate Award Category:  Retailer 1 – 99 stores

Skogen’s Festival Foods

Program: Festival Family Meals

Festival Foods offered samplings from its Dine at Home Deli items to help consumers gain awareness of National Family Meals Month and offer meal solution on busy nights. The company also ran paid ads highlighting the #FestivalFamilyMeals Twitter chat, National Family Meals Month and the in-store Festival Foods Oven Mitt Giveaway. The campaign garnered 4,332 clicks to the website and 688,886 ad impressions. Facebook advertising received 4,511 clicks to the website and 438,023 ad impressions.

Gold Plate Award Category:  Retailer 100 – 199 stores

K-VA-T Food Stores

Program: Make Family Meals Happen with Meal Solutions from Food City.

K-VA-T Food Stores’ Food City’s promotion of National Family Meals Month included initiatives in-store, online, on social media, in television and print were geared toward both customers and associates. In-store activities included digital signage, recipe booklets for customers at all 134 stores, and an insert in the weekly ad both in-store and by mail to promote the benefits of family meals.

Gold Plate Award Category:  Retailer 200+ stores

Hy-Vee, Inc.

Program: #HyVeeFamilyMeals

Hy-Vee celebrated National Family Meals Month by accommodating families’ busy schedules. The company created numerous educational materials and offered in-store family cooking classes with its 228 dietitians, easy pickup and delivery meal options and the opportunity for children to eat free (with the purchase of an adult entrée) every day in September at the more than 90 Hy-Vee Market Grille restaurants across their eight-state region. For every family who posted a photo of themselves eating a meal together on social media and used the hashtag #HyVeeFamilyMeals and for every person who shared or retweeted Hy-Vee’s social media posts about National Family Meals Month, Hy-Vee donated $1 to Meals from the Heartland (a nonprofit dedicated to feeding the hungry), up to $100,000.

Gold Plate Award Category:  Wholesaler

Merchants Distributors Inc.

Program: Taco Night—Family Meals Program

For National Family Meals Month in September, the MDI team established the “Taco Night” meal solution event for families across over 300 retailers and multiple states along the East Coast. The goal was to create an occasion and reason for families to come together, put down their mobile devices, and enjoy, not only a great meal, but each other again. The “Taco Night” meal solution initiative was promoted with print ads, digital coupons, social media, digital web banners, and in-store displays across multiple store chains.

Gold Plate Award Category:  Supplier

Campbell’s 

Program:  Fruits, Veggies, and Family Matter

Campbell’s combined two September campaigns, National Family Meals Month and Fruits & Veggies—More Matters month to emphasize the importance of family meals and encourage consumption of fruit and veggies.  The campaign provided creative ideas to make vegetables the center stage of the meal, to add fruits to desserts and to try ethnic-inspired dishes.  Families were encouraged to use social media to share photos of their family having dinner and of their veggie –centric meals and inspire others to do the same.

Gold Plate Award Category:  Allied Group

Rosie Applications

Program: National Family Meals Month Powered by Rosie. 

Rosie’s goal was to create more family meals across America by encouraging families to share meals more often by providing the necessary resources to make the process simple. Rosie recruited 11 independent grocer partners to participate and utilizing omnichannel marketing and digital marketing tactics. In total, the campaign earned over 200,000 online impressions, engaged nearly 300 unique website visitors, and received 15 submissions for the Rosie Family Meals Photo Contest. Rosie gave away $500 to families to use toward creating family meals together. Overall revenue from online grocery sales increased 12 percent from August to September among the 11 retailers who partnered with Rosie on this campaign.

In addition, these companies were awarded honorable mentions for their 2016 National Family Meals Month™ campaigns:

Follow the 2016 Gold Plate Award Winners’ stories on social media with #FMIGoldPlate.

Food Marketing Institute proudly advocates on behalf of the food retail industry. FMI’s U.S. members operate nearly 40,000 retail food stores and 25,000 pharmacies, representing a combined annual sales volume of almost $770 billion. Through programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations, FMI offers resources and provides valuable benefits to more than 1,225 food retail and wholesale member companies in the United States and around the world. FMI membership covers the spectrum of diverse venues where food is sold, including single owner grocery stores, large multi-store supermarket chains and mixed retail stores. For more information, visit www.fmi.org and for information regarding the FMI foundation, visit www.fmifoundation.org.

Contact:

Tel: 202-452-8444
Fax: 202-429-4519

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FMI announces The 2016 Gold Plate Award winners

 

Source: FMI

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FMI honors The Hershey Company veterans with FMI William H. Albers Award

FMI honors The Hershey Company veterans with FMI William H. Albers Award

J.P. Bilbrey and Tom Joyce Recognized for their Contributions to Trading Partner Relations 

 

Scottsdale, Ariz., 2017-Jan-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — Food Marketing Institute (FMI) tonight (January 28, 2017) honored The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY)  by giving two of its industry veterans an award celebrating excellence in trading partner relations and consumer and community service, the FMI William H. Albers Award.

The Hershey Company executives, J.P. Bilbrey, president, CEO and chairman of the board, and Tom Joyce, retired vice president, global customer and industry affairs, received the Albers award at FMI’s Midwinter Executive Conference. Representing one of the company’s leading customers, Kroger Executive Vice President, Retail Operations, Fred Morganthall paid tribute to their collaboration approach to business, saying in a testimonial: “Gentlemen, as individuals you have each made significant contributions to our industry; but together, you formed a standard-setting team for retailer-supplier relations.”

The Hershey Company is a global confectionery leader. Based in Hershey, Pa., it has revenues of more than $7.1 billion. Hershey offers confectionery products under more than 80 brand names. The company and its executives are strategic advisors to the global food, beverage and retail trade associations.

FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin said, “In food retail circles, the name The Hershey Company has become synonymous with trusted partner; the dependable quality of its products being matched by the reliable caliber of its leadership and its steadfast nurture of the retailer relationship.” She continued, “Each in his own unique way and collectively, J.P. and Tom have made sure the Hershey commitment to community support and trading partner excellence isn’t something just described with words but instead is a tangible reality experienced each day.”

Bilbrey serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Hershey Company (HSY) as well as a member of the Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) Board of Directors and the Kansas State University Business School Advisory Council.  Bilbrey recently served his tenure as chairman of the Grocery Manufacturers Association Executive Board. Joyce, a 40-year veteran of the company, served as vice president of customer & industry affairs since October 2004. In addition to his tenure at The Hershey Company, Joyce played an integral role at FMI, offering his strategic insights on the FMI Industry Collaboration Council, FMI convention planning committees and the FMI Wholesaler Supplier Advisory Council.

Food Marketing Institute proudly advocates on behalf of the food retail industry. FMI’s U.S. members operate nearly 40,000 retail food stores and 25,000 pharmacies, representing a combined annual sales volume of almost $770 billion. Through programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations, FMI offers resources and provides valuable benefits to more than 1,225 food retail and wholesale member companies in the United States and around the world. FMI membership covers the spectrum of diverse venues where food is sold, including single owner grocery stores, large multi-store supermarket chains and mixed retail stores. For more information, visit www.fmi.org and for information regarding the FMI foundation, visit www.fmifoundation.org.

Contact:

Tel: 202-452-8444
Fax: 202-429-4519

Source: FMI

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FMI recognizes Wakefern CEO Joe Colalillo for his entrepreneurial leadership in design and imaginative merchandising

FMI recognizes Wakefern CEO Joe Colalillo for his entrepreneurial leadership in design and imaginative merchandising

 

Scottsdale, Ariz., 2017-Jan-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — Food Marketing Institute (FMI) tonight (January 28, 2017) honored Joe Colalillo, president of ShopRite of Hunterdon County, Inc. and chairman and CEO of Wakefern Food Corp., with FMI’s Wegman Award for exercising entrepreneurial leadership in the design of retail strategies and imaginative merchandising.

FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin commented on Colalillo’s honor saying, “Joe is a champion of new ideas – he has consistently embraced new industry initiatives that empower businesses to better serve the consumer. For instance, Joe was a leading proponent of the food safety training program, SafeMark™, ensuring all of his employees were trained and certified.” Sarasin continued, “Joe is a straight talking, honest broker of goods and services and he inspires our industry to maintain its relevance by his keen commitment to doing what is right for the customer.”

Colalillo is generous with both his time and counsel, serving on multiple boards and board-level committees, including the FMI Board of Directors and the Food Safety Committee. He has been recognized in the past for launching consumer-facing technologies, initiating seafood sustainability programs, cultivating associate engagement and implementing health and wellness solutions in ShopRite stores. Colalillo is also a member of one of FMI’s non-competitive share groups that exchanges new ideas to better their businesses, the industry and the communities which they serve.

A fellow share group member, Chief Executive Officer of Dorothy Lane Market, Inc., and the 2013 winner of the FMI Wegman Award, Norman Mayne, said, “I can’t think of anyone more deserving than Joe to receive an award that is named in the honor of an industry icon, Robert Wegman.”

Colalillo has maintained his family-owned business, founded in the late 1940s by his father, Joseph A. Colalillo. The Colalillo family owns and operates three ShopRite stores located in Flemington, Greenwich, and Clinton, New Jersey, and together, these stores employ more than 1,100 associates. In addition to his work with FMI, he offers his time to the New Jersey Food Council’s Board of Directors and received its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.

Colalillo holds a Bachelor’s degree from Villanova University. Colalillo and his wife Jeannie have two children.

Food Marketing Institute proudly advocates on behalf of the food retail industry. FMI’s U.S. members operate nearly 40,000 retail food stores and 25,000 pharmacies, representing a combined annual sales volume of almost $770 billion. Through programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations, FMI offers resources and provides valuable benefits to more than 1,225 food retail and wholesale member companies in the United States and around the world. FMI membership covers the spectrum of diverse venues where food is sold, including single owner grocery stores, large multi-store supermarket chains and mixed retail stores. For more information, visit www.fmi.org and for information regarding the FMI foundation, visit www.fmifoundation.org.

Contact:

Tel: 202-452-8444
Fax: 202-429-4519

Source: FMI

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FMI honors former Publix CEO Ed Crenshaw with the Rabb Award

FMI honors former Publix CEO Ed Crenshaw with the Rabb Award

 

Scottsdale, Ariz., 2017-Jan-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — Food Marketing Institute (FMI) tonight (January 28, 2017) recognized former Publix Super Markets Inc., CEO and current chairman of the board of directors Ed Crenshaw with FMI’s highest honor, the Rabb Award.

FMI acknowledged Crenshaw for excellence in serving the consumer, the community and the industry at a celebratory event at the Midwinter Executive Conference. The awards ceremony was further marked by a testimonial from Publix CEO Todd Jones, who recognized Crenshaw’s 42-year career saying, “It’s a reflection of our company culture and the legacy that you have built.  You’ve weathered recessions and fluctuating market trends; you’ve taught us how to be humble; you’ve been a mentor in our careers, a supporter of our communities, and built solid business relationships; and perhaps most importantly, you’ve given us your time and invaluable counsel.”

Crenshaw’s storied career began as a stock clerk for the company, and throughout his corporate journey, he held management, buying and store operations positions until he earned the titles of executive vice president of retail in 1994, president in 1996 and eventually took the helm as CEO in 2008. Crenshaw’s reputation for exceptional leadership is well regarded in the business and trade communities.

“Publix is consistently recognized as one of the top companies to work for 19 consecutive years, and it’s Ed’s remarkable leadership that has nurtured Publix’s reputation for two decades,” FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin remarked. “We honor Ed tonight because he has truly been integral to the strategic development of FMI policies and positions – from the development of industry resources, its health care agenda, labeling issues and its political action committee  –  all while keeping the needs of the consumer in a clear line of sight.”

Crenshaw has served with the Kidney Foundation of Central Florida, the Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center, the Polk Museum of Art, the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, the Polk County School Board Business Commission, and Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center.  He is chair of the Board of Overseers for the Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise at Florida Southern College, and is a member of Florida’s Council of 100. He has served on the board of GS1-US and is a member of FMI’s board of directors.

A native Texan, Crenshaw graduated from Baylor University in Waco. He and his wife Denise have two children.

Food Marketing Institute proudly advocates on behalf of the food retail industry. FMI’s U.S. members operate nearly 40,000 retail food stores and 25,000 pharmacies, representing a combined annual sales volume of almost $770 billion. Through programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations, FMI offers resources and provides valuable benefits to more than 1,225 food retail and wholesale member companies in the United States and around the world. FMI membership covers the spectrum of diverse venues where food is sold, including single owner grocery stores, large multi-store supermarket chains and mixed retail stores. For more information, visit www.fmi.org and for information regarding the FMI foundation, visit www.fmifoundation.org.

Contact:

Tel: 202-452-8444
Fax: 202-429-4519

Source: FMI

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REI Adventures rolls out 19 Women’s Adventures collection; expands its cycling offerings and Signature Camping itineraries

SALT LAKE CITY, 2017-Jan-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — Active travel leader REI Adventures is launching a collection of 19 Women’s Adventures in Africa, Europe, Latin America, New Zealand and North America. In addition, REI Adventures is expanding its cycling offerings into fully supported mountain bike trips and growing its Signature Camping itineraries in Africa and Latin America.

“Adventure travel can be inspiring and life-transforming. As we enter our 30th year, we are excited to roll out incredible itineraries for women to experience some of the world’s best places, have a special sense of discovery and inspiration, and learn with women and from women around the world,” says Cynthia Dunbar, general manager of REI Adventures. “Since 2010, women traveling with us has grown by 60 percent, and we continue to see this figure rise steadily annually. Last year alone, 58 percent of all our guests were women.”

REI’s Women’s Adventures are extraordinary journeys designed especially for women who want to experience a destination—not just see it. Guests travel with female guides and a ready-made group of girlfriends. These lively trips blend outdoor activities with local spots, cuisines and communities a traveler wouldn’t find on her own, and include little surprises along the way.

Examples of REI’s new Women’s Adventures include:

  • Baja California Women’s Adventure: Escape to a beachy oasis for an eight-day vacation where women kayak, snorkel, stand-up paddle board, surf and do yoga. In addition, guests meet local artists at galleries, enjoy gourmet meals along the way and have an opportunity to volunteer at a local nonprofit where women build their own greenhouses.
  • Greek Islands Women’s Adventure: Perfect for foodies and history-lovers, spend nine days island hopping Tinos, Naxos and Santorini. Guests hike through whitewashed villages and ancient trails of lush vineyards, terraced hillsides and olive groves. They unwind with beachside yoga, wine tastings, swimming in the Aegean Sea and learning how to prepare a traditional Mediterranean meal.
  • New Zealand Women’s Hiking – Southern Alps: Over 10-days, hike the wilderness through larger-than-life landscapes of South Island’s peaks, plains and golden hills. Take a break from the trail by paddle boarding Lake Wanaka and enjoy a farm-to-table lunch at a woman-owned dairy. Evenings are authentically Kiwi with stays at the iconic Rex Simpson Hut and historic Ben Lomond lodge.
  • South Africa Ultimate Women’s Adventure and Safari: From Cape Town to Johannesburg, the 11-day odyssey explores the country’s rich heritage by hiking, cycling, sea kayaking and a safari at the famous Sabi Sands Reserve. As one of the most beautiful wine-growing regions in the world, the group will wander the backroads and stop at estates to taste the celebrated vintages.
  • Yosemite Women’s Backpacking – Half Dome:  A four-day adventure to the summit of Yosemite’s most iconic peak. Guests hone their backpacking and wilderness skills during daily hikes, and evenings are filled with hearty gourmet dinner prepared by the guides and camaraderie around the campfire.

In addition to the women’s collection, REI Adventures is introducing two fully supported mountain bike itineraries and expanding its exclusive Signature Camping offerings on Mount Kilimanjaro and along the Inca Trail.

Mountain biking for intermediate and advanced riders
REI Adventures has long offered fully supported bike touring to explore the world from the saddle. The company is expanding beyond road cycling by launching mountain biking itineraries for those who want to experience the thrill of single track on a high performance full-suspension bike.

REI’s Grand Canyon & Bryce Mountain Biking is a four-day journey from Bryce Canyon to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon that features the most iconic landscapes of the American Southwest. The trip packs multiple must-see, must-do items into a long weekend all while still giving guests time to breathe and soak in the landscape.

Throughout the National Park Centennial celebration, REI had a multi-million dollar, multi-year partnership with the National Park Foundation. Over the past two years, REI Adventures donated 10 percent of the retail price for each national park trip sold to the National Park Foundation, resulting in $740,000 in additional funding.

Or, recharge over four days on REI’s Whistler Mountain Biking in British Columbia, a world-class destination known for its mountain ranges, glacial lakes and sleeping volcanoes. Days are spent on quad-torching rides through mountains and valleys, with evenings in the village and soaking in the hot tub at a private chalet. A Whistler Women’s Adventure is also available.

Signature Camping – REI at its finest
Drawing on the co-op’s camping leadership, REI Adventures expanded its Signature Camping itineraries with two new international destinations – Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and the Inca Trail in Peru. REI Adventures is the only active travel company to offer such deluxe accommodations and amenities along the trails of these iconic journeys.

Mount Kilimanjaro Climb – Lemosho Route is an 11-day experience up one of the seven summits of the world and the highest peak in Africa. Known as one of the most scenic routes on the mountain, guests hike across six ecological zones as they acclimatize, take in the scenery and learn about the region from local guides. REI’s unique approach to Kilimanjaro’s Southern Circuit includes new exclusive camp locations featuring REI Signature Camps that keep guests comfy and energized as they summit.

In Peru, REI Adventures’ Machu Picchu – Inca Trail Trek is a nine-day fully-supported journey through lush valleys filled with wild orchids and rainbow-colored mosses to the breathtaking “Lost City of the Incas.” Trek up to seven miles each day with only a day pack, while a Signature Camp awaits your arrival each evening with spacious tents, amazing meals and more.

About REI Adventures
Award-winning REI Adventures has been a global leader in worldwide guided active adventure trips since 1987. As the travel business for national specialty outdoor retailer REI, the company offers unique itineraries focused on sustainable, human-powered outdoor adventure, including hiking, biking, kayaking, climbing and more. Guests experience iconic destinations as guides take them off the “beaten path,” and provide opportunities to explore a destination, get to know the local people, their culture, the flora and fauna and discover things they would not be able to duplicate on their own or with another travel company. REI members receive a special discount price on most trips. For more information, full itineraries and trip reviews provided by guests, visit http://www.rei.com/adventures.

Contact:
REI Public Affairs
(253) 395-5958
prrequests@rei.com

Source: REI

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The Gymboree Corporation: Mark Breitbard to assume role of Chairman of the Board of Directors; will step down as CEO

SAN FRANCISCO, 2017-Jan-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Gymboree Corporation (“Gymboree” or the “Company”), today (January 26, 2017) announced that Mark Breitbard will assume the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors effective February 1, 2017, and will be stepping down as Chief Executive Officer, once a successor has been appointed.

“I have given serious thought to the evolving needs of The Gymboree Corporation as an organization, and I believe this is the right time for the Board of Directors to identify a new CEO to lead the Company forward as we continue to focus on the strategic plans for our brands,” said Breitbard.

The Board of Directors will initiate a search to identify a successor Chief Executive Officer to lead the Company going forward.

“The board is grateful to Mark for his passion, leadership and significant contributions to Gymboree during his tenure, especially for building a very talented management team that will help lead the future of the Company,” said Lew Klessel, a member of the Board of Directors.  “We are also excited that Mark will remain with the Company as Chairman and continue to serve as CEO to ensure a smooth transition.”

About The Gymboree Corporation

The Gymboree Corporation’s specialty retail brands offer unique, high-quality products delivered with personalized customer service. As of October 29, 2016, the Company operated a total of 1,300 retail stores: 591 Gymboree® stores (541 in the United States, 49 in Canada and 1 in Puerto Rico), 174 Gymboree Outlet stores (173 in the United States and 1 in Puerto Rico), 150 Janie and Jack® shops (149 in the United States and 1 in Puerto Rico), and 385 Crazy 8® stores in the United States. The Company also operates online stores at www.gymboree.com, www.janieandjack.com and www.crazy8.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements set forth above that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements include statements as to: Mr. Breitbard’s plans to step down as Chief Executive Officer, the future plans and strategic direction of the Company and other statements identified by words such as “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “plans,” “will,” and similar expressions. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such factors as: our ability to attract a new Chief Executive Officer and the timing of any such hire, the ability of the Company to execute its strategic plans, particularly in light of the Company’s weaker than anticipated results of operations and other risk factors relating to our industry and business as detailed from time to time in Gymboree’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including Item 1A under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Transition Report on Form 10-K for the transition period from January 31, 2016 to July 30, 2016, filed with the SEC on October 28, 2016. The Company cautions investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Source: Gymboree Corporation

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Motor Fuel Group announces the appointment of Paul Deary as head of food services

Motor Fuel Group announces the appointment of Paul Deary as head of food services

 

Hertfordshire, England, 2017-Jan-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — Top 50 Indies forecourt operator, Motor Fuel Group (MFG) is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Deary as its new head of food services.

Paul joins MFG from Applegreen plc where he was UK head of food operations, responsible for every new branded food development site opening with Subway, Greggs and Costa, alongside managing all aspects of their existing branded and non-branded food operations.

Before this, Paul spent five years as group operations manager for James Graven & Sons who at the time operated four service stations and two Budgens supermarkets.

Richard Baker, MFG’s retail director said: “This is a key appointment for MFG as we strive to build a first class ‘food to go’ offer for our customers.”

Contact:
Phone: +44 (0) 1727 898890
Fax: +44 (0) 1727 852318
Email: info@motorfuelgroup.com

Source: Motor Fuel Group

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Walmart Canada to stop providing free plastic bags with the aim to ultimately eliminate plastic film from land-fill

  • Goal is to eliminate plastic film from municipal land-fill
  • New five-cent fee to be implemented to discourage single-use bags
  • Reusable bags to be offered at a discount

Mississauga, ON., 2017-Jan-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — Walmart Canada today ( January 25, 2016) announced that beginning Feb. 9, 2016, it will stop providing free plastic bags to customers in an effort to promote the use of reusable bags and ultimately eliminate plastic film from land-fill.

The initiative is the latest waste-elimination priority in Walmart’s ongoing commitment to achieve zero waste.  Walmart Canada’s 12 waste programs — including cardboard, organics, metal and others —has resulted in the diversion of  72% of Walmart Canada’s waste from municipal land-fill sites.

Customers will be encouraged to use reusable bags, which will be sold at a discounted rate of 25 cents. Walmart will continue to offer plastic bags at a fee of five cents per bag to those customers who request them.

“We recognize we are asking our customers to change their shopping practices, but we strongly believe that removing plastic film from our waste stream is imperative to reaching our goal of zero waste and will encourage our customers to broaden their already existing waste-reduction efforts,” said Lee Tappenden, chief operations officer at Walmart Canada. “We know from our experience in other international markets that an incentive in the form of a fee to encourage customers to adopt reusable bags reduces single-use plastic bags by more than 50%. Similar programs here in Canada have reported comparable successes.”

In addition to offering reusable bags and implementing a plastic bag fee, Walmart will be improving its in-store recycling and collection programs. The company is working with suppliers to find new ways of removing plastic from its packaging processes. Partial proceeds from the five cent fee will be used to support plastic film recycling initiatives.

The distribution of plastic bags has been identified as a key environmental concern and has been called out by municipalities as a large contributor to land-fill waste. In addition, at the 2016 World Economic Forum it was estimated that plastic will outweigh fish in the world’s oceans by 2050 if efforts to reduce the use of plastic are not put in place.

“Recent internal research has identified that our customers feel we use too many plastic bags and that the reduction and elimination of plastic bags are the responsibility of both consumers and retailers,” said Tappenden. “While we recognize our ultimate goal of eliminating plastic film from our operations altogether won’t happen overnight, we believe our customers are open to supporting this goal by switching to reusable bags.”

The elimination of free, single-use plastic bags will roll out progressively across Walmart stores in Canada over the following months, beginning on Feb. 9 in British Columbia.

About Walmart Canada

Walmart Canada operates a growing chain of 397 stores nationwide serving more than 1.2 million customers each day. Walmart Canada’s flagship online store, walmart.ca is visited by 450,000 customers daily. With more than 95,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada’s largest employers and is ranked one of the country’s top 10 most influential brands. Walmart Canada’s extensive philanthropy program is focused on supporting Canadian families in need, and since 1994 Walmart has raised and donated more than $230 million to Canadian charities. Additional information can be found at walmartcanada.ca, facebook.com/walmartcanada and at twitter.com/walmartcanada.

Contact:

Alex Roberton
Senior Director, Corporate Affairs
Walmart Canada
alex.roberton@walmart.com
514 210 7514

Source: Walmart Canada

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Kesko now on 100% renewable electricity

Helsinki, 2017-Jan-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — Since the beginning of 2017, all electricity purchased by Kesko in Finland is renewable. In 2017, the amount of electricity purchased by Kesko will be approximately 540 GWh. This electricity will be used in K-stores and the K-Group’s other properties.

Especially food stores and food warehouses consume a lot of electricity to maintain the cold chain of foodstuffs. In addition, electricity is used in the lighting of those premises and cooling in the summer. The K-Group accounts for approximately 1% of all electricity consumed in Finland.

“The global energy production is transferring to renewable energy sources. When we purchase renewable electricity, we promote the production of renewable energy and support the objectives of the K-Group’s climate work,” says Construction and Maintenance Director Jukka Anttila of Kesko’s grocery trade.

In its responsibility programme, Kesko has committed to mitigate climate change and promote the production of renewable energy. The transfer to renewable electricity also supports the K-Group’s commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement’s targets and the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 ‘Affordable and clean energy’ and Goal 13 ‘Climate action’.

Kesko purchases renewable electricity that has The Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) from the Nordic countries. In 2017, electricity purchases will especially focus on Finnish bioenergy. Bioenergy is based on, for example, by-products from the forest industry and wood based fuels.

K-Group also increases own renewable energy production

Starting from 2016, the K-Group has significantly increased its production and use of solar power. In June 2016, Finland’s biggest property specific solar power plant was completed on the rooftop of K-Citymarket Tammisto, Helsinki. By summer 2017, the K-Group will have four more even bigger solar power plants than that in Tammisto and there will be as many as 16 solar power plants operating on the rooftops of the K-Group’s stores. The new investments will make the K-Group Finland’s biggest producer and user of solar power.

Kesko’s Annual Report, environmental section: http://annualreport2015.kesko.fi/gri-report/performance-indicators/environmental-impacts/

Kesko is a Finnish listed trading sector company. Kesko operates in the grocery trade, the building and technical trade and the car trade. Its divisions and chains act in close cooperation with retailer entrepreneurs and other partners. In 2015, Kesko’s net sales totalled €8.7 billion and it employed nearly 20,000 people. Kesko operates in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Belarus and Poland. Kesko shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. The company’s domicile and main premises are in Helsinki. www.kesko.fi

Further information:

Jukka Anttila
Construction and Maintenance Director
Kesko’s grocery trade
tel. +358 50 61978
jukka.k.anttila@kesko.fi

Matti Kalervo
Vice President
Corporate Responsibility
Kesko Corporation
tel. +358 50 306 4081
matti.kalervo@kesko.fi

Source: Kesko

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NSE Products, Inc. recalls ageLOC TR90 Protein Boost that contains undeclared milk in the formula

PROVO, Utah, 2017-Jan-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — NSE Products, Inc. is recalling all ageLOC TR90 Protein Boost because it contains milk in the formula, which is not declared on the label. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product. For consumers who are not allergic to milk there is no safety issue with this product.

Protein Boost has been sold in the United States and Canada through independent distributors to end consumers. The recalled product was sold in plastic canisters and can be identified by batch numbers AZ30751, AZ32051, AZ00661, AZ27161 and AZ34161. Product expiration dates are between Nov. 2017 and Dec. 2018.

No illnesses have been reported to date. Some instances of swollen lips, throat irritation, hives and other symptoms that may be indicative of an allergic reaction have been reported.

Protein Boost was designed as a vegetarian product and has “lactose free” and “does not contain milk” claims on the label. The recall was initiated after Nu Skin discovered that the flavoring used in the product contains buttermilk, which constitutes approximately 0.1 percent of the overall product formulation.

Consumers with a milk allergy who have purchased this product should cease consumption and contact Nu Skin to receive instruction on how to return the product. All consumers who purchased the product are eligible for a full refund of the purchase price.

Consumers with questions may contact Nu Skin at 1-888-238-9465, 8 am to 5 pm MST, Monday to Friday.

ABOUT NSE PRODUCTS, INC.
NSE Products, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.

Consumers Contact:

Rod Anderson
randerson@nuskin.com
(801) 345-2188

Source: FDA