Daily Archives: March 17, 2017

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Build and Host Most Alexa Skills For Free Using Amazon Web Services

  • New program offers AWS promotional credits for developers to put toward their Alexa skill
  • Tens of thousands of developers already building skills for Alexa

SEATTLE, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) today (Mar. 15, 2017) announced a new program that will make it free for tens of thousands of Alexa developers to build and host most Alexa skills using Amazon Web Services (AWS). Many Alexa skill developers currently take advantage of the AWS Free Tier, which offers one million AWS Lambda requests and up to 750 hours of Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) compute time per month at no charge. However, if developers exceed the AWS Free Tier limits, they may incur AWS usage charges each month.

Now, developers with a published Alexa skill can apply to receive a $100 AWS promotional credit and can also receive an additional $100 per month in AWS promotional credits if they incur AWS usage charges for their skill – making it free for developers to build and host most Alexa skills.

“There is already a large community of incredibly engaged developers building skills for Alexa,” said Steve Rabuchin, Vice President, AmazonAlexa. “Today, we’re excited to announce a new program that will free up developers to create more robust and unique skills that can take advantage of AWS services. We can’t wait to see what developers create for Alexa.”

Hurricane Center, an Alexa skill that provides the latest storm information based on data from governmental agencies, uses AWS Lambda. “The customer response to Hurricane Center has been incredibly positive, and Alexa has offered us an entirely new way to deliver the latest in weather and storm information,” said Terren Peterson, Hurricane Center’s developer and an experienced technology executive. “Now, if my skill sees extensive use during hurricane season, I can be assured that those scalable costs will be covered with this new program. It puts my mind at ease and allows me to help more individuals be prepared for storms.”

Ryan Kroonenburg is a UK-based Solutions Architect and the founder of A Cloud Guru, a training community on AWS, which just introduced courses on creating Alexa skills. “Developers already know that building for Alexa is free using AWS Free Tier with AWS Lambda, but what they can’t plan for is how successful their skill will be,” said Ryan Kroonenburg. “This program not only allows developers to create robust skills that use AWS services like Amazon DynamoDB without worrying about costs, but also ensures that popular skills that hit more than 1 million calls per month are cost effective to maintain. It’s a big benefit for the Alexa skill developer community.”

Darian Johnson, a technology consultant and Alexa skill developer, uses AWS Lambda and Amazon DynamoDB for his Alexa skill, Virtual Librarian, which provides reading recommendations based on bestseller lists, award nominations, and user reviews. The skill won Most Useful API Mashup in a recent Hackster.io contest. “AWS services, like Amazon DynamoDB, have allowed me to create more robust skill experiences,” said Darian Johnson. “Now that I’m able to freely create and scale skills, and have the peace of mind that I’m covered if my skill takes off, I’m motivated to see what next big skill I can create.”

Developers can visit developer.amazon.com/alexa to apply for this program and learn more about building and hosting skills using the Alexa Skills Kit and AWS.

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 tablet devices, Amazon 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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Prime Now Offers Delivery of Wine and Beer To Its Members

Starting today, Prime members in Cincinnati and Columbus can add beer and wine to their Prime Now order for delivery in one hour or less

SEATTLE, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Amazon Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced today (Mar. 15, 2017) its Prime Now one and two-hour delivery service adds wine and beer to its product offerings available for superfast delivery in Cincinnati and Columbus. The company adds hundreds of alcohol-related products to its inventory from popular name brands such as Chateau Ste. Michelle, Bud Light and Veuve Clicquot as well as local favorites like Great Lakes Brewing Company, Rhinegeist and MadTree Brewing.

“We are excited to continue expanding our product offerings and we know customers will love getting wine and beer delivered right to their door in one hour or less,” said Stephenie Landry, vice president of Prime Now worldwide. “Whether you run out of wine at your dinner party or need more chilled champagne for mimosas at a family brunch, Prime Now can save customers time with superfast delivery so they can skip a trip to the store.”

Starting today, customers in Prime Now eligible neighborhoods can use the one and two-hour delivery service to order wine and beer along with tens of thousands of other daily essentials. Customers can enter their ZIP code in the Prime Now app or on primenow.com to see if the service is available or can request to be notified when the service becomes available in their area.

Through Prime Now, Prime members can get free two-hour delivery and one-hour delivery is $7.99. Prime members can download the Prime Now app, available on iOS and Android devices, or visit www.primenow.com to place orders and track the status of their delivery in real time. Learn more about Amazon Prime Now at www.primenow.com.

About Amazon

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

Media Hotline:

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

Source: Amazon Inc.

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Amazon Prime Video To Globally Launch American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story on April 7

  • Episode one will be available free of charge on Playboy.com on April 7 through April 13, and for all Amazon customers beginning April 7
  • Produced by the Emmy Award-winning Stephen David Entertainment and Alta Loma Entertainment, the Amazon Original Series draws from unprecedented access to Hefner’s archive of thousands of hours of footage and his Guinness World Record-holding collection of over 2,900 scrapbooks

SEATTLE, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Amazon Original Series American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story will premiere on Amazon Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories on Friday, April 7. The series tells the story of Playboy magazine’s charismatic founder, Hugh Hefner, who set out to disrupt the status quo and created one of the most recognizable brands in history. The docuseries combines archival footage, pulling from thousands of hours from Hefner’s personal archives; interviews with notable figures including Jesse Jackson, Gene Simmons and Bill Maher; and cinematic reenactments.

Episode one of American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story will be available free of charge on Playboy.com at playboy.com/americanplayboy on April 7 through April 13. The episode will also be made available for all Amazon customers on amazon.com/americanplayboy starting April 7.

Produced by the Emmy Award-winning Stephen David Entertainment and Alta Loma Entertainment, American Playboy begins in post-war America and takes us through the launch of Playboy magazine in 1953 and the next six decades of Hefner’s life and career. As he built his empire, Hefner became both a social justice advocate and a target of the conservative movement while becoming an outspoken defender of civil rights, freedom of speech, gay rights and, of course, sexual freedom. The series is the result of unprecedented access to thousands of hours of never-before-seen footage from both Hefner’s and the Playboy archives and Hefner’s personal scrapbooks, which number more than 2,900 and constitute a Guinness World Record. The 90-year-old Hefner has been deeply involved in the development and production of American Playboy, imbuing the series with rich first-person accounts and never-before-told stories.

Prime members will be able to stream all 10 episodes of the docuseries via the Amazon Prime Video app for TVs, connected devices including Fire TV, mobile devices and online at amazon.com/americanplayboy. Members can also download the series to mobile devices for offline viewing at no additional cost to their membership. American Playboy will be a global release and available on Amazon Prime Video for members to watch via the Prime Video app or online at PrimeVideo.com in more than 200 countries and territories.

“At a time when civil rights are more in the news than ever, Prime members will be delighted to learn more about the Playboy brand and its contributions in that area,” said Conrad Riggs, Head of Unscripted, Amazon Originals. “This series will offer the unprecedented, behind-the-scenes story of Hefner’s life and his fight to protect and advance essential American rights, including free speech.”

American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story is produced by the Emmy award-winning Stephen David Entertainment, a Banijay Group company, and Playboy Enterprises’ production company Alta Loma Entertainment, and executive produced by Stephen David (The Men Who Built America, The World Wars, The Making of the Mob, The American West), Peter Jaysen (You Me Her, Fired Up, Dateline NBC) and longtime Playboy executive Dick Rosenzweig (The House Bunny, The Playboy Club) with co-executive producers Shirley Escott (Shadow of Doubt, The Making of the Mob: New York) and Tim Kelly (NASCAR: The Rise of American Speed, American Genius).

Customers who are not already Prime members can sign up for a free trial at www.amazon.com/prime. For a list of all Amazon Video compatible devices, visit www.amazon.com/howtostream.

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.

About Stephen David Entertainment

Stephen David Entertainment (SDE) – a Banijay Group Company – is an Emmy® Award-winning, New York-based production company. SDE counts The Men Who Built America, The World Wars and The Making of the Mob: New York among its popular, hybrid documentary series. In the six years since its inception, SDE has developed numerous docudrama mini-series and select scripted projects, utilizing high-end production techniques and cutting-edge VFX. In 2014 and 2015, SDE was named to Realscreen’s Global 100 list of top production companies. SDE’s upcoming productions include American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story and Frontiersmen.

About Alta Loma Entertainment

Alta Loma Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Playboy Enterprises, Inc., a media and lifestyle company that markets the brand through a wide range of media properties and licensing initiatives. The company developed the successful series You Me Her, which has been picked up for three seasons by DirecTV’s Audience channel. Other credits include E!’s The Girls Next Door, NBC’s The Playboy Club, Columbia Picture’s The House Bunny, and the documentaries Why Be Good: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema and Gangland: Bullets Over Hollywood. Playboy is one of the most recognized and popular consumer brands in the world. The company publishes Playboy magazine in the United States and licenses foreign editions of Playboy around the world; operates Playboy.com, a leading men’s lifestyle and entertainment site; and creates content for distribution via feature films, television networks, websites, mobile platforms and radio. Through licensing agreements, the Playboy brand appears on a wide range of consumer products in more than 180 countries, as well as retail stores and entertainment venues. For more information about Playboy Enterprises, please visit www.PlayboyEnterprises.com.

Media Hotline:

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

Source: Amazon.com, Inc.

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Shopify Announces Strong Financial Results for 2016

  • Fourth-Quarter Revenue Grows 86% Year on Year
  • Fourth-Quarter Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) Grows 94% Year on Year
  • Shopify reports in U.S. dollars and in accordance with U.S. GAAP

Ottawa, Canada, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Shopify Inc. (NYSE:SHOP)(TSX:SHOP), the leading cloud-based, multi-channel commerce platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses, today (Feb 15, 2017) announced strong financial results for the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2016.

“Our work at Shopify is to help entrepreneurs thrive in a space that’s changing all the time, and we did our job especially well this past holiday season,” stated Tobi Lütke, founder and CEO of Shopify. “That eight of our ten top sellers over the Black Friday Cyber Monday weekend were merchants that had upgraded from lower-priced plans reminds us that today’s startups become tomorrow’s superstars, at a velocity that appears to be increasing all the time. As the engine powering the growth of these merchants, Shopify has an opportunity that stretches years into the future.”

“That we grew revenue by 90% and GMV by 99% for the full year 2016 speaks to the enormous opportunity in retail right now and our strategic position within it,” commented Russ Jones, Shopify’s CFO. “Throughout 2017 we will continue to build out our ability to seize this opportunity by expanding not only our existing features, such as channels, payments, shipping and capital, but also our facilities and infrastructure.  These investments are timely, as we expect the number of merchants on Shopify to continue expanding rapidly and their collective sales volumes to continue to grow at a rate several times that of overall retail.”

Fourth-Quarter Financial Highlights

  • Total revenue in the fourth quarter was $130.4 million, an 86% increase from the comparable quarter in 2015. Within this, Subscription Solutions revenue grew 63% to $56.4 million.  This increase was driven by the continued rapid growth in Monthly Recurring Revenue1 (“MRR”). The number of merchants on the Shopify platform surpassed 375,000 in the fourth quarter, as a record number of merchants joined the platform in the period.  Merchant Solutions revenue grew 108% to $74.0 million, driven primarily by the growth of Gross Merchandise Volume2(“GMV”).
  • MRR as of December 31, 2016 was $18.5 million, up 63% compared with $11.3 million as of December 31, 2015.
  • GMV for the fourth quarter was $5.5 billion, an increase of 94% over the fourth quarter of 2015.  Gross Payments Volume (“GPV”), which is the amount of GMV processed through Shopify Payments, grew to $2.2 billion, which accounted for 39% of GMV processed in the quarter, versus $1.0 billion, or 37%, for the fourth quarter of 2015.
  • Gross profit dollars grew 87% to $68.1 million as compared with the $36.5 million recorded for the fourth quarter of 2015.
  • Operating loss for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $9.3 million, or 7% of revenue, versus $6.5 million, or 9% of revenue, for the comparable period a year ago.
  • Adjusted operating loss3 for the fourth quarter of 2016 was 1% of revenue, or $0.8 million; adjusted operating loss for the fourth quarter of 2015 was 2% of revenue, or $1.3 million.
  • Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $8.9 million, or $0.10 per share, compared with $6.3 million, or $0.08 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2015.
  • Adjusted net loss3 for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $0.4 million, or $0.00 per share, compared with an adjusted net loss of $1.1 million, or $0.01 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2015.
  • At December 31, 2016, Shopify had $392.4 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, compared with $190.2 million on December 31, 2015.

Fourth-Quarter Business Highlights

  • GMV during the holiday shopping weekend spanning Black Friday through Cyber Monday more than doubled over the comparable period last year as the level of activity on the Shopify platform reached a peak of nearly 3 million requests per minute.
  • Multi-channel continued to prove to be an effective strategy to support merchants, as percentage growth of GMV over social channels far outpaced that of our more traditional retail channels, such as point of sale and the online store.
  • Mobile traffic to merchants’ stores continued to grow, reaching 69% of traffic and 55% of orders at the end of 2016, versus 61% and 46%, respectively, at the end of 2015.
  • Shopify’s Sell on Amazon integration was made generally available to merchants in December. Designed to seamlessly connect Shopify store owners to the millions of customers searching for products to buy on Amazon, merchants can now conveniently manage their product catalog for their ecommerce website, retail store, Amazon store, and other sales channels all in one place.
  • Since the start of the year, Shopify launched its inaugural Build a Bigger Business competition. The new competition, which augments Shopify’s Build a Business competition, aims to equip established small and medium-sized businesses and trend-setting entrepreneurs with the tools and mentorship needed to achieve their ultimate growth objectives. Winners in each category will take a once-in-a-lifetime entrepreneurial getaway at the Namale Resort and Spa in Fiji with Tony Robbins and other business mentors.

Full-Year Financial Highlights

  • Total revenue for the full year grew 90% to $389.3 million, compared with $205.2 million in 2015. Within this, Subscription Solutions revenue grew 68% to $188.6 million and Merchant Solutions revenue grew 115% to $200.7 million.
  • GMV for 2016 was $15.4 billion, an increase of 99% over 2015.  GPV grew to $5.9 billion in 2016, or 39% of GMV, versus $2.7 billion, or 35% of GMV, for 2015.
  • Gross profit dollars grew 85% over 2015 to $209.5 million, versus $113.3 million for 2015.
  • Operating loss for 2016 was $37.2 million, or 10% of revenue, versus $17.8 million, or 9% of revenue, for 2015.
  • Adjusted operating loss3 for 2016 was 3% of revenue, or $12.1 million; adjusted operating loss for 2015 was 3% of revenue, or $6.7 million.
  • Net loss was $35.4 million, or $0.42 per share, compared with $18.8 million, or $0.30 per share, for 2015.
  • Adjusted net loss3 for 2016 was $10.3 million, or $0.12 per share, compared with an adjusted net loss of $7.7 million, or $0.13 per share, for 2015.

2016 Business Highlights

  • Shopify expanded considerably in 2016, adding new merchants, channels, partners, and functionality. Over the past twelve months:
  • More than 133,000 net new merchants began selling on Shopify, which ended the year with approximately 377,500 merchants on the platform.
  • Merchants on average became more successful on Shopify, as GMV per merchant grew by 25% over last year.
  • MRR per merchant expanded over 2015, primarily due to strong growth in the number of merchants joining at higher subscription levels.
  • Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) expanded 15% to $1,243, versus $1,077 for 2015, driven by higher GMV per merchant, increased penetration of Shopify Payments, higher MRR per merchant, and the introduction of new merchant services.
  • The number of partners referring at least one new merchant to Shopify in 2016 grew to more than 11,000, compared with more than 8,500 in 2015.
  • Shopify integrated a number of new sales channels for merchants in 2016, including Facebook Messenger and Amazon. Shopify also launched a software development kit for third parties looking to make their sites natively available to Shopify merchants. The addition of Houzz, Wanelo, eBates and others has driven the number of channels over which a merchant can sell to more than a dozen.
  • Shopify Capital successfully launched, providing merchants with more than $30 million in aggregate in cash advances to help fuel their businesses by providing working capital for growth, such as securing inventory, hiring employees or marketing activities.
  • Shopify launched Apple Pay for the web, and by year end, more than 150,000 of Shopify’s merchants had elected to offer Apple Pay as a means for checkout.  These merchants saw conversion rates approximately double by shoppers who have enabled Apple Pay.
  • Canada Post joined the US Postal Service as a partner on Shopify Shipping, bringing integrated shipping and tracking to more merchants in North America.
  • Shopify completed three acquisitions with the aim of expanding its breadth and depth of capabilities for merchants. All are founder-led teams where a focus on merchants, entrepreneurial cultures and product development talent make them strong additions to Shopify.
  • The percentage of Shopify merchants using Shopify Payments grew every quarter throughout 2016, with 85% of merchants at year end using Shopify Payments in geographies where it is available compared with 76% in the fourth quarter of 2015. This equates to 68% of our global merchant base compared with 62% in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Financial Outlook

The financial outlook that follows constitutes forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws and is based on a number of assumptions and subject to a number of risks. Actual results could vary materially as a result of numerous factors, including certain risk factors, many of which are beyond Shopify’s control. Please see “Forward-looking Statements” below.

In addition to the other assumptions and factors described in this press release, Shopify’s outlook assumes the continuation of growth trends in our industry, our ability to manage our growth effectively and the absence of material changes in our industry or the global economy. The following statements supersede all prior statements made by Shopify. All numbers provided in this section are approximate.

For the full year 2017, Shopify currently expects:

  • Revenues in the range of $580 million to $600 million
  • GAAP operating loss in the range of $73 million to $77 million
  • Adjusted operating loss3 in the range of $18 million to $22 million, which excludes stock-based compensation expenses and related payroll taxes of $55 million

For the first quarter of 2017, Shopify currently expects:

  • Revenues in the range of $120 million to $122 million
  • GAAP operating loss in the range of $20 million to $22 million
  • Adjusted operating loss3 in the range of $9 million to $11 million, which excludes stock-based compensation expenses and related payroll taxes of $11 million

Quarterly Conference Call

Shopify’s management team will hold a conference call to discuss its fourth-quarter and full-year results today, February 15, 2017, at 8:30 a.m. ET. The conference call will be webcast on the investor relations section of Shopify’s website at https://investors.shopify.com/events/Events-Presentations/default.aspx.  An archived replay of the webcast will be available following the conclusion of the call.

Shopify’s Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes, Management’s Discussion and Analysis, and Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2016  are available on Shopify’s website at www.shopify.com, and will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.  Shareholders may, upon request, receive a hard copy of the complete audited financial statements free of charge.

About Shopify

Shopify is the leading cloud-based, multi-channel commerce platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses. Merchants can use the software to design, set up, and manage their stores across multiple sales channels, including web, mobile, social media, marketplaces and physical retail locations. The platform also provides merchants with a powerful back-office and a single view of their business. The Shopify platform was engineered for reliability and scale, making enterprise-level technology available to businesses of all sizes. Shopify currently powers hundreds of thousands of businesses in approximately 175 countries and is trusted by brands such as Tesla, Nestle, GE, Red Bull, Kylie Cosmetics, and many more.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement its consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), Shopify uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to provide additional information in order to assist investors in understanding its financial and operating performance.

Adjusted operating loss, non-GAAP operating expenses, adjusted net loss and adjusted net loss per share are non-GAAP financial measures that exclude the effect of share-based compensation expenses and related payroll taxes as well as sales and use tax.

Management uses non-GAAP financial measures internally for financial and operational decision-making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. Shopify believes that these non-GAAP measures provide useful information about operating results, enhance the overall understanding of past financial performance and future prospects, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making.  Non-GAAP financial measures are not recognized measures for financial statement presentation under U.S. GAAP and do not have standardized meanings, and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other public companies. Such non-GAAP financial measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, the corresponding measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. See the financial tables below for a reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding Shopify’s financial outlook and future financial performance. Words such as “expects”, “anticipates” and “intends” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on Shopify’s current projections and expectations about future events and financial trends that management believes might affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs, and on certain assumptions and analysis made by Shopify in light of the experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors management believes are appropriate. These projections, expectations, assumptions and analyses are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, events and achievements to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Although Shopify believes that the assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect, and readers cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, including certain risk factors, many of which are beyond Shopify’s control, including but not limited to: (i) merchant acquisition and retention; (ii) managing our growth; (iii) our history of losses; (iv) our limited operating history; (v) our ability to innovate; (vi) a disruption of service or security breach; (vii) payments processed through Shopify Payments; (viii) our reliance on a single supplier to provide the technology we offer through Shopify Payments; (ix) a breach involving personally identifiable information; (x) serious software errors or defects; (xi) exchange rate fluctuations; (xii) achieving or maintaining data transmission capacity; and (xiii) other one-time events and other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in Shopify’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the securities commissions or similar securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces or territories of Canada. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent Shopify’s expectations as of the date of this news release, or as of the date they are otherwise stated to be made, and subsequent events may cause these expectations to change. Shopify undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

To view our detailed results with financial tables download this PDF or visit our investors site.

Source: Shopify

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Starbucks Launches New Digital Platform to Hong Kong and India

Starbucks Launches New Digital Platform to Hong Kong and India

 

Seattle, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Starbucks offers the largest and most robust mobile ecosystem of any retailer in the world, with more than 12 million Starbucks Rewards™ members, eight million mobile paying customers with one out of three now using Mobile Order & Pay, and more than $6 billion loaded onto prepaid Starbucks Cards in North America during the past year alone.

Starbucks has now extended its digital platform to the company’s China and Asia Pacific region with the recent launch of the Mobile Order and Pay program in Hong Kong and today (March 15) offering the mobile app system to customers in India.

A first in India

Tata Starbucks Private Limited introduced the Starbucks® India mobile app across the country giving customers a fast and convenient way to pay for in-store purchases and earn Stars through the loyalty program using their mobile device. The move makes Tata Starbucks the first major retailer in India to offer customers a mobile payment option linked to a loyalty program and further expands Starbucks robust global digital ecosystem.

Available for download on iPhone® and Android™ devices, the Starbucks® India app offers customers the convenience of paying for their favorite Starbucks® beverages with their mobile device by scanning a bar code linked to their registered Starbucks Card. Customers also can register multiple Starbucks Cards onto their account within the Starbucks mobile app.

In addition to mobile payment, the app allows customers to register for the My Starbucks Rewards® program, track their rewards, manage their accounts, and gain access to new product information and promotions, all within one convenient app.

“We are proud to introduce the Starbucks India mobile app to customers in India which will help us meet their needs while serving them seamlessly on our already highly successful My Starbucks Rewards™ program that benefits our loyal customers,” said Mr. Sumitro Ghosh, ceo, Tata Starbucks Private Limited. “This digital innovation underscores our continued commitment to drive innovation and provide an exceptional and convenient customer experience in our stores across the country.”

Meeting the needs of customers in Hong Kong

Starbucks Hong Kong launched Mobile Order & Pay, a new feature of the popular Starbucks Hong Kong mobile app, at participating stores on March 11. Starbucks is the first retailer in Hong Kong to launch mobile ordering feature using its mobile payment technology combined with a deep loyalty program.

The Mobile Order & Pay feature allows customers to choose a store from a map view, browse, select and customize beverage and food items, including the option to modify size, number of espresso shots and dairy selections, view the estimated pick up times, and pre-pay for the order – all within the Starbucks mobile app. Every order is freshly prepared and ready for pick-up in the beverage handoff area. Members can easily collect Stars and earn rewards with Starbucks Rewards™ loyalty program.

“Hong Kong is one of the busiest cities in the world and our customers have a very high expectation of convenience,” said Norbert Tan, executive director, Starbucks Hong Kong and Macau. “Starbucks is committed to exploring digital innovations which deliver meaningful value and convenience that enhance the Starbucks Experience.”

The Mobile Order & Pay feature will be accessible through an update to the Starbucks Hong Kong mobile app. For customers who do not yet have the Starbucks Hong Kong Mobile app, they can download it from the App Store or Google Play. For current customers with the Starbucks Hong Kong app, when the new version is available, the app will prompt an update.

MEDIA CONTACT:

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

SOURCE: Starbucks Corporation

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Starbucks Introduces New Way To Get Coffee On The Go

Starbucks Introduces New Way To Get Coffee On The Go

 

Seattle, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Starbucks customers have new ways to get their coffee on the go this spring with Starbucks ready-to-drink beverages, including the new Cocoa & Honey with Cream Starbucks® Cold Brew and a Cubano Starbucks® Doubleshot Espresso inspired by Cuban coffee. Beverages are available where groceries are sold.

Cold Brew

The same smooth flavor of Starbucks® Cold Brew Blend slow-steeped in Starbucks® stores is also one of Starbucks most popular ready-to-drink beverages. This season, customers can try the new Cocoa & Honey with Cream Starbucks® Cold Brew, joining black, unsweetened Starbucks Cold Brew launched in 2016. Cocoa & Honey with Cream Starbucks® Cold Brew is rolling out to grocery stores this week starting with the West Coast, Northeast, Southeast and Great Lakes regions. Unsweetened Starbucks Cold Brew is also available in grocery and select Starbucks stores nationwide this summer.

Frappuccino Bottled Coffee Drink

Starbucks has now added Dulce de Leche Frappuccino® bottled coffee drink to its lineup, with a smooth blend of sweet caramelized milk and coffee.

Doubleshot

Starbucks is offering three new Doubleshot varieties for customers, including the new Cubano Starbucks Doubleshot® Espresso inspired by Cuban-style coffee, Espresso and Salted Caramel Cream and Caramel Starbucks Doubleshot® Coffee & Protein are also new additions to the Doubleshot family.

Iced Coffee

Starbucks® Iced Coffee multi-serve beverages are the perfect way to enjoy iced coffee at home. Customers can now bring home convenient multi-serve bottles of Starbucks Iced coffee in new Blonde Roast, for those who prefer a light and mellow flavor, and new Dark Roast for a bold and robust coffee experience. These join Starbucks Iced Coffee Medium Roast, which are delicious black and unsweetened or customized with a splash of milk, a favorite sweetener, or a little ice. Avalable now in a 48-fluid-ounce bottle in the chilled section at grocery stores nationwide.

North America Coffee Partnership

More than twenty years ago, Starbucks and PepsiCo started the North America Coffee Partnership and launched Starbucks® Bottled Frappuccino® chilled coffee drink. What started out as a nascent category has grown to be more than 40 ready-to-drink Starbucks beverages and more than $2 billion in retail business.

MEDIA CONTACT:

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

SOURCE: Starbucks Corporation

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Carrefour Spain Creates 5300 Jobs in 2017

Spain, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Carrefour Spain expects to create stable employment for over 5,300 people during 2017. Its commitment to employment for young people will continue form part of its identity again this year, as well as digital skills  to support the strategy of the company’s strategy in its transformation towards multi-channel commerce.

Of these stable jobs, 3,400 are a result of the integration of teams and staff from stores acquired from Eroski, which will gradually become part of its retail business.

Carrefour’s objective is for 85% of its workforce to have a permanent contract. At the close of the year, Carrefour Spain had 49,000 employees in Spain.

Record spending on training: €15 million / year
This year, Carrefour Spain expects to spend record amounts on training with an investment of over €15 million / year providing one million hours of training. The aim is to continue its commitment to training in digital skills to support the company’s strategy throughout its digital and multi-channel transformation.

The added value of international training.
The development of employment among young people forms part of the Carrefour philosophy, which is why, for a number of years, the company has devoted considerable resources to different projects such as the Commercial Development Plan, the Trade School, the Professionalization Project and the Carrefour programme with the university providing work for young people. At the same time, Carrefour Spain is developing University Campus with Cordoba University (UCO) to train its managers. The company also has agreements with various national and international business schools to train its management and directors, with courses in United States and Asia, as well as an Internal Digital University for training all of its employees in new technologies.

PRESS CONTACT:

Switchboard: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 00
For journalists: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 17
By e-mail: presse_groupe@carrefour.com

Source: Carrefour Group

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REI co-op invested a record $9.3 million in nonprofits in 2016 and opened the country’s most sustainable distribution center

REI co-op invested a record $9.3 million in nonprofits in 2016 and opened the country’s most sustainable distribution center

 

Co-op invested $9.3 million in nonprofits and continues to operate 100% on renewable energy

SEATTLE, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ —  Today (03.15.2017) REI, the outdoor co-op, announced record revenues for 2016 and highlighted how it gives back nearly 70 percent of its profits to the outdoor community. In his message to members, REI CEO and President Jerry Stritzke talked about the co-op’s sustainability work and its efforts to deliver inspiring outdoor experiences to local communities by creating access to the outdoors for all.

REI reported annual revenues of $2.56 billion in 2016, a 5.5 percent increase from $2.42 billion in 2015. Comparable store sales, which include direct to consumer sales, were up nearly 4 percent and digital sales grew by nearly 18 percent. The co-op invested a record $9.3 million in nonprofit partners in 2016 and opened the country’s most sustainable distribution center. Since 2008, REI’s demand for energy from the grid has grown only 4 percent while sales have grown 78 percent.

“There is no doubt that the current retail landscape is challenging, but we had another good year,” said Stritzke. “I am grateful to our employees, our members and our customers for their passion and commitment to the co-op community. Your involvement and commitment to REI allows us to do things like help build the nation’s trail network, protect public lands, and innovate in sustainability. Together we can continue to keep the outdoors healthy and accessible for the next generation.”

Giving back to the Co-op Community
This year, REI members received a record $193.7 million in annual dividends and credit card rebates. Members have the option of donating their dividend to The REI Foundation, if they choose. REI shared $57 million with employees through retirement and incentive program contributions, and the co-op’s record $9.3 million investment in more than 300 nonprofit partners benefited more than 1,000 outdoor places across the country. Many of the co-op’s community partners were among 700 organizations that joined the #OptOutside movement to inspire more than 6 million people to get outside last Black Friday.

Advancing Sustainability
REI prioritizes advancing sustainability in the co-op’s day-to-day business operations and throughout the industry. In 2016, REI established partnerships with 66 of its largest outdoor brands to advance product sustainability and gave more than 1 million products a second life through used gear sales, repair workshops and gear swaps. The co-op shared details about the design of its new distribution center in Arizona—the first in the country to achieve LEED Platinum and Net Zero Energy—to make it easier for other companies to build sustainability into their operations. REI also continued to operate 100 percent on renewable energy at all stores, distribution centers and headquarters.

Rewilding Projects
For nearly eight decades, REI has been committed to creating outdoor access for all. The co-op has helped build the nation’s trail network by investing more than $77 million in nonprofits that create access to and steward outdoor places across the country. As part of its investment in communities, the co-op launched five Rewilding Projects – a multi-year, multi-million dollar program focused on reshaping how people in large urban and suburban areas connect with the outdoors. REI is collaborating with nonprofits in five cities to help provide millions of people with easier access to nearby outdoor places.

The first set of Rewilding Projects include:

  • Bay Area Ridge Trail – When complete, the Bay Area Ridge Trail will total 550 miles and circumnavigate the Bay Area, surrounding 8 million people. Currently, 365 miles of the trail are open to the public. REI’s investment is helping accelerate completion by increasing the Bay Area Ridge Council’s capacity and supporting efforts to convene key stakeholders.
  • San Gabriel Mountains National Monument – The San Gabriel Mountains National Monument in the Angeles National Forest provides recreational opportunities for millions of people in the Los Angeles area. REI’s investment in the National Forest Foundation and The Wilderness Society supports sustainable access, restoring and rerouting trails, enhancing infrastructure, and increasing connectivity between the city and the national monument by linking urban trails and developing alternate transportation.
  • Seattle Duwamish River Valley Trail Connectivity – This project will create a 15-mile mixed-use trail from the Seattle waterfront to South Park and Georgetown when complete. In partnership with the Seattle Parks Foundation, Forterra, Cascade Bicycle Club, Trust for Public Land and Mountains to Sound Greenway, this project seeks to advance environmental justice, address racial and neighborhood-level disparities, reduce health inequities and create economic opportunities through trail and open space connectivity.
  • Southeast Chicago – REI is partnering with the Chicago Parks Foundation, Active Transportation Alliance and Friends of Big Marsh to support the long-term transformation of the Calumet area into a thriving outdoor recreation hub. This project will develop a brand and raise awareness for the area, plan and implement transportation that will improve access for the community, and develop the Big Marsh property to include one of the largest mountain bike parks in the country, with mixed-use trails and paddling opportunities.
  • Washington, D.C., Capital Trails Coalition – In partnership with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and The Trust for Public Land, REI’s investment is supporting the completion of a multi-use trail network in the Washington, D.C., region. This project will connect existing trails with new ones to provide outdoor recreation and alternative transportation to more communities.

As a member-owned co-op, REI’s board of directors is selected by active members, who can exercise their rights to vote for the board March 17 through April 24.

REI’s 2016 audited financial report is available at REI.com/about-rei/financial-information, the 2016 stewardship report is available at REI.com/stewardship/report and additional details on the co-op’s stewardship efforts are available at REI.com/stewardship.

About REI
REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation’s largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of more than 16 million members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. REI has 147 stores in 36 states. If you can’t visit a store, you can shop at REI.com, REI.com/REI-Garage or the free REI shopping app. REI isn’t just about gear. You can take the trip of a lifetime with REI Adventures, a global leader in active adventure travel that runs 170 custom-designed itineraries on every continent. REI’s Outdoor School is run by professionally-trained, expert-instructors who teach beginner- to advanced-level courses about a wide range of activities. To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create access to–and steward–the outdoor places that inspire us.

Contact:

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

Source: REI

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UNIQLO upgrades its uniqlo.com online store in Japan

Berlin, Germany, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — UNIQLO today (2017.03.16) announces that it has upgraded its uniqlo.com online store in Japan. The new site stocks 22,710 items for spring and summer alone, more than any of UNIQLO’s physical stores around the world. An intuitive, thumb-based user interface makes shopping by smartphone more enjoyable, and customers can request home delivery or opt to pick merchandise up from a UNIQLO store or convenience store.

As well as offering sizes in everything from XS to XXL through 4XL, the site provides designs, colors, and patterns not otherwise available at UNIQLO stores in Japan and merchandise that is typically sold only abroad. In addition, there is a more extensive range of semi-tailored shirts and jackets for men and women, with 1,183 variations for men’s shirts and 440 variations for women’s shirts, and 2,112 variations in total for men’s and women’s jackets.

The revamped online store offers a host of other advantages. Shop by Look mixes and matches items so it is easier for customers to choose coordinates, with special discounts available over a campaign running from March 24 through 30. An image search feature helps customers to find items that are similar to those they see in magazines or elsewhere online. Customers can also register sizes for themselves, family members and friends so it is easier to choose the right merchandise on future visits.

Customers can choose to collect online purchases at UNIQLO stores, where they can try items on and return them instantly if they do not fit. Alternatively, items can be picked up around the clock from over 43,000 branches of Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart and Lawson convenience stores across Japan. Customers who prefer to shop in person will be able to check the availability of items at their closest UNIQLO stores before visiting.

As part of the revamped uniqlo.com, a service now applies to all merchandise and stores where customers can choose an item from their mobile if out of stock at a store, then pay at their local store and have the item delivered or ready for pick up wherever desired. For orders made by noon, shoppers residing in the Honshu and Shikoku regions can in most cases designate when they want delivery, effective from the subsequent day.

Source: FAST RETAILING CO., LTD.

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Barnes & Noble announces new stock repurchase program of up to $50 million of its common shares

NEW YORK, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) today (03/15/2017 ) announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a new stock repurchase program of up to $50 million of its common shares, to be utilized at the Company’s discretion. Stock repurchases under this program may be made through open market and privately negotiated transactions from time to time and in such amounts as management deems appropriate. The repurchase program has no expiration date and may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

Additionally, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share, payable on April 28, 2017 to stockholders of record at the close of business on April 7, 2017.

About Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE:BKS) is a Fortune 500 company, the nation’s largest retail bookseller, and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products. The Company operates 634 Barnes & Noble bookstores in 50 states, and one of the Web’s premier e-commerce sites, BN.com (www.bn.com). The Nook Digital business offers a lineup of popular NOOK® tablets and eReaders and an expansive collection of digital reading and entertainment content through the NOOK Store®. The NOOK Store features more than 4.5 million digital books in the US (www.nook.com), plus periodicals and comics, and offers the ability to enjoy content across a wide array of popular devices through Free NOOK Reading Apps™ available for Android™, iOS® and Windows®. General information on Barnes & Noble, Inc. can be obtained by visiting the Company’s corporate website at www.barnesandnobleinc.com.

BKS – Financial

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) and information relating to Barnes & Noble that are based on the beliefs of the management of Barnes & Noble as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the management of Barnes & Noble. When used in this communication, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “forecasts,” “projections,” and similar expressions, as they relate to Barnes & Noble or the management of Barnes & Noble, identify forward-looking statements.

Such statements reflect the current views of Barnes & Noble with respect to future events, the outcome of which is subject to certain risks, including, among others, the general economic environment and consumer spending patterns, decreased consumer demand for Barnes & Noble’s products, low growth or declining sales and net income due to various factors, including store closings, higher-than-anticipated or increasing costs, including with respect to store closings, relocation, occupancy (including in connection with lease renewals) and labor costs, the effects of competition, the risk of insufficient access to financing to implement future business initiatives, risks associated with data privacy and information security, risks associated with Barnes & Noble’s supply chain, including possible delays and disruptions and increases in shipping rates, various risks associated with the digital business, including the possible loss of customers, declines in digital content sales, risks and costs associated with ongoing efforts to rationalize the digital business and the digital business not being able to perform its obligations under the Samsung commercial agreement and the consequences thereof, the risk that financial and operational forecasts and projections are not achieved, the performance of Barnes & Noble’s initiatives including but not limited to its new store concept and e-commerce initiatives, unanticipated adverse litigation results or effects, potential infringement of Barnes & Noble’s intellectual property by third parties or by Barnes & Noble of the intellectual property of third parties, and other factors, including those factors discussed in detail in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in Barnes & Noble’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2016, and in Barnes & Noble’s other filings made hereafter from time to time with the SEC.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those described as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended or planned. Subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Barnes & Noble or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this paragraph. Barnes & Noble undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this communication.

Media Contact:
Mary Ellen Keating
212-633-3323
Senior Vice President
Corporate Communications
mkeating@bn.com

Investors Contact:
Andy Milevoj
212-633-3489
Vice President, Investor Relations
amilevoj@bn.com

Source: Barnes & Noble, Inc.

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RBR Meat Company recalls frozen pizza product that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes

WASHINGTON, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — RBR Meat Company, Inc., a Vernon, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 21,220 pounds of frozen pizza product that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today (Mar 15, 2017).

The supreme frozen pizza item was produced on Feb. 23, 2017. The following product is subject to recall: 

  • 50.6-oz. corrugated box containing 1 shrink wrapped 16” pizza labeled as “Marketside Extra Large Supreme Pizza,” with lot code 20547.  

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 1821” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail distribution centers in California, Nevada, Utah and Washington.

The problem was discovered during routine sampling by the firm. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers.

Consumers who have purchased this product are urged not to consume it. This product should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

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

FSIS advises all consumers to reheat ready-to-eat product until steaming hot.

Media with questions regarding the recall can contact Larry Vanden Bos, Vice President, at (323) 826-2144 Ext. 150. Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Eunice Wu, QA Director, at (323) 826-2144 Ext. 190.

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

PREPARING PRODUCT FOR SAFE CONSUMPTION
USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
1-888-MPHOTLINE or visit
www.fsis.usda.govWash hands with warm, soapy water before and after handling raw meat and poultry for at least 20 seconds. Wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot, soapy water. Immediately clean spills.

Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, bologna or other deli meats unless reheated until steaming hot.

Do not eat refrigerated pate, meat spreads from a meat counter or smoked seafood found in the refrigerated section of the store. Foods that do not need refrigeration, like canned tuna and canned salmon, are safe to eat. Refrigerate after opening.

Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk and do not eat foods that have unpasteurized milk in them.

Do not eat salads made in the store, such as ham salad, chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad or seafood salad.

Do not eat soft cheeses, such as Feta, queso blanco, queso fresco, Brie, Camembert cheeses, blue-veined cheeses and Panela, unless it is labeled as made with pasteurized milk.

Use precooked or ready-to-eat food as soon as you can. L. monocytogenes can grow in the refrigerator. The refrigerator should be 40º F or cooler and the freezer 0º F or colder Use an appliance thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator.
USDA Recall Classifications
Class I This is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.
Class II This is a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product.
Class III This is a situation where the use of the product will not cause adverse health consequences.

Contact:

Congressional and Public Affairs
Gabrielle N. Johnston
(202) 720-9113
Press@fsis.usda.gov

Source: USDA

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MIGROS: FABRICE ZUMBRUNNEN NEUER PRÄSIDENT DER GENERALDIREKTION DES MIGROS-GENOSSENSCHAFTS-BUNDES

MIGROS: FABRICE ZUMBRUNNEN NEUER PRÄSIDENT DER GENERALDIREKTION DES MIGROS-GENOSSENSCHAFTS-BUNDES

 

Zurich, Switzerland, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Unter der Leitung von Andrea Broggini hat die Verwaltung des Migros-Genossenschafts-Bundes (MGB) an ihrer Sitzung vom 16. März 2017 den 47-jährigen Westschweizer Fabrice Zumbrunnen als Nachfolger von Herbert Bolliger zum Präsidenten der Generaldirektion MGB ernannt. Herbert Bolliger wird am 31. Dezember 2017 nach 13 äusserst erfolgreichen Jahren in Pension gehen.

Fabrice Zumbrunnen ist ein profunder Kenner der Migros. Bevor er vor fünf Jahren als Leiter des Departementes HR, Kulturelles & Soziales, Freizeit in die Generaldirektion des MGB wechselte, arbeitete er während 16 Jahren für die Migros-Genossenschaft Neuenburg-Freiburg, zuerst als Verkaufschef, dann als Verantwortlicher für das Marketing und die Logistik, bis er 2005 zum Geschäftsleiter gewählt wurde. Während dieser Zeit erneuerte er das gesamte Filialnetz und trieb die Expansion erfolgreich voran. Als Leiter des Departementes HR, Kulturelles & Soziales, Freizeit im MGB befasste er sich intensiv mit dem Gesundheitsmarkt und erschloss mit den Akquisitionen der Gesundheitszentren Medbase und Santémed für die Migros einen neuen, gesellschaftlich relevanten Bereich. Letztes Jahr wurde unter seiner Federführung auch die digitale Gesundheitsplattform Impuls lanciert.

Der Westschweizer studierte an der Universität Neuenburg Betriebswirtschaft und Soziologie, ist mit einer Musikerin verheiratet und Vater zweier Kinder. In seiner Freizeit treibt er Sport und beschäftigt sich mit Musik, Kunst und Literatur.

„Fabrice Zumbrunnen verfügt über alle Fähigkeiten, um Herbert Bolligers Erfolgskurs weiterzuführen“, freut sich Andrea Broggini, Präsident der Verwaltung MGB, über die Wahl. „Er wird die in der Migros-Gruppe stark verankerten Grundwerte hochhalten, sich für die Anliegen der Konsumenten einsetzen und gleichzeitig klare betriebswirtschaftliche Ziele verfolgen. Er versteht den klassischen Detailhandel, hat sich aber auch stark in das Thema Digitalisierung vertieft. Deshalb ist Fabrice Zumbrunnen ein Garant für Kontinuität. In Zeiten des sich stark verändernden stationären wie auch digitalen Geschäfts ist das umso wichtiger.“

Mit seinen 47 Jahren ist Fabrice Zumbrunnen der bisher jüngste Präsident der Generaldirektion MGB. Er wird seine neue Funktion am 1. Januar 2018 übernehmen. Seine Nachfolge als Mitglied der Generaldirektion MGB und Leiter des Departementes HR, Kulturelles & Soziales und Freizeit wird in den nächsten Monaten bekannt gegeben.

Die Wahl des Präsidenten der Generaldirektion MGB als Mitglied der Verwaltung MGB liegt in der Kompetenz der Delegiertenversammlung (DV). Diesen Entscheid wird die DV an ihrer ordentlichen Versammlung vom 25. März 2017 treffen.

Contact:
Monica Glisenti
Migros-Genossenschafts-Bund
Leiterin Corporate Communications
TEL:058 570 38 26
E-MAIL: monica.glisenti@mgb.ch

Source: Migros

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AVEC LES FILLES contemporary lifestyle brand by Joyce Azria now available at Macy’s

AVEC LES FILLES contemporary lifestyle brand by Joyce Azria now available at Macy’s

 

 

The contemporary lifestyle brand, featuring beautifully tailored, French-inspired separates and dresses, is available at more than 150 Macy’s stores and on macys.com

NEW YORK, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — AVEC LES FILLES, now available at Macy’s, is a contemporary lifestyle brand created by fashion industry favorite Joyce Azria for the self-assured and stylish woman. French for “with the girls,” AVEC LES FILLES connects an achievable price point with aspirational design for a line that hits the millennial woman’s sartorial sweet spot. The new brand is Azria’s journey into the “dress code” of the inspired millennial, and aims to redefine how women express themselves and explore the world through the lens of fashion.

“I’ve always been acutely aware of who the millennial customer is and how her shopping habits have evolved over time,” said Azria. “AVEC LES FILLES is uniquely positioned to bring a relevant and fashionable collection of lifestyle products in the spirit of today’s shopper, and I am grateful to be bringing my vision to life with the power of Macy’s.”

The stunningly constructed collection embodies a playfully sophisticated French aesthetic—think ‘70s Parisian chic with California ease for a range that is equal parts confident, sexy and feminine. Soft tailoring, smart separates, and a sophisticated color palette combine for an effortlessly hip, gamine look.

“Joyce Azria had incredible vision as she steered BCBGeneration in a direction of success defined by enviable designs,” said Cassandra Jones, senior vice president of Macy’s Fashion. “With AVEC LES FILLES, Joyce is bringing a collection tailor-made for the modern woman—it’s a range of classic, versatile pieces imbued with innovative treatments. Its ease of wear is as impressive as the breathtaking design, and we’re thrilled to bring her fresh, cutting-edge vision to the Macy’s customer.”

Menswear-inspired shirting is accented with femme ruffle details while overalls receive a chic update rendered in luxurious fabrics. Lattice-work bodices, bomber jackets in opulent textiles, and embellished cold-shoulder tops add a formal touch to sportswear, while jersey dresses with knot details, silk hoodies, and cropped sweatshirts with satin ties offer an elevated take on the popular athleisure trend. Rounding out the collection are outerwear-inspired sleeveless maxi dresses, versatile shift dresses, and plissé tops that highlight the Rive Droite-cum-Malibusensibility that defines the AVEC LES FILLES aesthetic.

The collection retails from $38 to $595, and is available at more than 150 Macy’s stores and on macys.com.

About Macy’s

Macy’s, the largest retail brand of Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE:M), delivers fashion and affordable luxury to customers at 670 locations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, as well as to customers in the U.S. and more than 100 international destinations through its leading online store at macys.com. Via its stores, e-commerce site, mobile and social platforms, Macy’s offers distinctive assortments including the most desired family of exclusive and fashion brands for him, her and home. Macy’s is known for such epic events as Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks® and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®, as well as spectacular fashion shows, culinary events, flower shows and celebrity appearances. Macy’s flagship stores — including Herald Square in New York City, Union Square in San Francisco, State Street in Chicago, and Dadeland in Miami and South Coast Plaza in southern California — are known internationally and are leading destinations for visitors. Building on a more than 150-year tradition, and with the collective support of customers and employees, Macy’s helps strengthen communities by supporting local and national charities giving more than $69 million each year to help make a difference in the lives of our customers.

For Macy’s media materials, including images and contacts, please visit our online pressroom at macys.com/pressroom.

Macy’s Media Relations:
Julie Strider-Fukami
646-429-5213
julie.striderfukami@macys.com

Billy Dumé
646-429-7449
billy.dume@macys.com

Source: Macy’s

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LVMH Institut des Métiers d’Excellence (IME) Village on March 29 at Clichy-sous-Bois

LVMH Institut des Métiers d’Excellence (IME) Village on March 29 at Clichy-sous-Bois

 

Paris, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — On March 29 the city of Clichy-sous-Bois, just north of Paris, will welcome the LVMH Institut des Métiers d’Excellence (IME) Village, a vocational fair that invites young people to discover the work/study training programs offered by the IME. Several schools and LVMH Houses are participating to present professions in jewelry, leather goods, retail and the culinary arts.

The LVMH Institut des Métiers d’Excellence Village engages with future apprentices, inviting them to discover exceptional professions and skills along with the educational programs offered by partner schools. This year’s edition of the IME Village will welcome both students and the general public on March 29 at the Espace 93 in Clichy-sous-Bois.

This innovative event is being organized in partnership with the cities of Clichy-sous-Bois and Montfermeil and reflects the IME’s commitment to promoting equal opportunity. It enables young people and adults to discover work/training programs in métiers such as jewelry, couture, leather goods, winemaking and oenology, the culinary arts, retail design and sales.

Following the success of the first edition, the IME is this year inviting six partner schools to the Village: Avize Viti Campus (winegrowing and oenology), BJO Formation Bijouterie Joaillerie (jewelry), Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Française, EMASUP (fashion and beauty retailing), trade apprenticeship organizations Les Compagnons du Devoir and Les Compagnons du Tour de France, and the Ecole Ferrandi culinary arts school. Visitors will have a chance to meet with representatives from the schools, as well as Human Resources managers from LVMH Houses. Several public sector partners will also be part of the village, including the Pôle Emploi employment office, Defi, Mission Locale d’Insertion (MLI) and Point Information Jeunesse (PIJ).

Practical details:
LVMH Institut des Métiers d’Excellence Village
Address: Espace 93 – 3 Place de l’Orangerie, 93390 Clichy-sous-Bois
Opening times: 10 am to 1 pm: reserved to groups from educational establishments in Seine-Saint-Denis
2 pm to 6 pm: open to the public – pre-registration required (contact.ime@lvmh.fr

Contact:

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

Source: LVMH

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John Lewis collaborates with L.A. based designer Calvin Rucker to launch its first in-house denim lifestyle brand for women – AND/OR

London, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — In a move designed to accelerate its growing own brand fashion sales John Lewis has announced that on 22 March it will launch its first in-house denim lifestyle brand for women – AND/OR.  The new brand, which has been created in collaboration with L.A. based denim experts Calvin Rucker, will see the retailer sell a range of versatile womenswear, shoes, accessories and lingerie to complement the denim clothing inspired by the L.A. way of life.

AND/OR which will initially launch in 15 shops and on johnlewis.com, follows the success of modern rarity, John Lewis’s first luxury ready-to-wear range. Launched last September, modern rarity has boosted the retailer’s own-brand womenswear sales which increased by 6.8% last financial year.

The 90-piece launch AND/OR collection comprises innovative denim washes combined with high-end finishes, including busted-out seams, distressing, bleaching and perfectly frayed hems. The different denim styles are named after the places in L.A. that inspired the collection.

Commenting on the launch of AND/OR Jo Bennett, Head of Womenswear Buying at John Lewis said:

‘AND/OR is an exciting addition to the portfolio of powerhouse own-brand labels we have created over the past few years. The idea came from our love of denim which is the foundation of every wardrobe. We wanted to create an authentic denim range in L.A. that combined the high-end fit and finish at an accessible price point, which customers can style in their own individual way with a perfect collection of ready-to- wear clothing and accessories.’

Iain Ewing, Head of Design Womenswear and Accessories continued:

‘This is the first time we have launched a brand across ready-to-wear, accessories, shoes and lingerie. Although the brand starts with denim, you can then add to this to create a fully versatile collection which serves a modern wardrobe.’

With decades of denim experience, the Calvin Rucker duo – Joie Rucker, founder of contemporary brand Joie, and Caroline Calvin, previously Senior Vice President of Levi’s – have brought true credentials to the collection, elevating the quality and adding their own flavour of fashion-focused edge into the mix.

Caroline Calvin and Joie Rucker, added:

‘Denim is at the heart of what we do. With over 20 years of experience and involvement in the jeanswear market we are very excited to bring our expertise to the British high street. AND/ OR is the perfect fit for us to do this. We are so very proud to be part of this launch.’

The AND/OR denim ranges from £85 – £120, available in sizes 26 – 34, while the AND/OR collection starts at £22 for a cotton tee to £250 for a leather jacket, in sizes 8 – 16.

In line with the relaxed, yet distinctive West Coast aesthetic AND/OR, will be presented in bespoke in-store spaces with a shop fit encapsulating its individuality. Featuring brushed leather and metal, white-washed brick and embossed hexagon mosaic tiles, the spirit of AND/OR will be translated throughout the whole shopping experience.

Notes to editors

AND/OR – The 90-piece collection will launch exclusively in 15 John Lewis shops and on johnlewis.com Wednesday 22 March. Available at Oxford Street, Peter Jones, Cheadle, Bluewater, Nottingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Reading, Birmingham, Chelmsford, Kingston, Cambridge, Cribbs Causeway, Stratford and Newcastle.

John Lewis now has four in-house designed womenswear labels AND/OR, modern rarity, Kin by John Lewis and John Lewis.

John Lewis – John Lewis operates 48 John Lewis shops across the UK (34 department stores, 12 John Lewis at home and shops at St Pancras International and Heathrow Terminal 2) as well as johnlewis.com. It is part of the John Lewis Partnership, the UK’s largest example of worker co-ownership and all 30,000 John Lewis staff are Partners in the business.

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

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

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

Contact:
Mandy Pursey
Communications Manager Corporate
Telephone: 020 7798 3896
Email: mandy.pursey@johnlewis.co.uk

Source:  John Lewis

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CVS Health achieved favorable drug trend results for 2016

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) today (March 15, 2017) announced that, in 2016, its pharmacy benefit management (PBM) clients achieved the lowest drug trend in the past four years, despite rising drug prices. CVS Caremark clients saw their prescription drug trend drop to an average of 3.2 percent compared to 5.0 percent in 2015. In addition, 38 percent of CVS Caremark commercial clients achieved a negative trend which means they actually spent less on their prescription benefit in 2016 than they did in 2015, despite rising drug prices. Out-of-pocket costs for members also dropped 3.0 percent compared to the previous year.

“No one is more concerned about the high cost of prescription drugs than CVS Health,” said Troyen Brennan, M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, CVS Health. “Our very favorable drug trend results for 2016 demonstrate that we have been able to deliver best-in-class value to clients and their members.”

Unmanaged drug trend for 2016 was 11.0 percent, driven primarily by price inflation for branded specialty and traditional drugs, as well as increased utilization due to an aging population. CVS Caremark was able to reduce trend for clients by 7.8 percentage points to 3.2 percent through PBM management solutions that include price protection and the negotiation of rebates, of which more than 90 percent are passed back to clients. CVS Caremark also encouraged the use of less expensive generic drugs through managed formularies and applied targeted approaches to addressing high-spend drivers such as hyper-inflating drugs. On average, clients who selected the CVS Caremark standard managed formulary achieved a trend of 2.2 percent, which was less than half the trend of 4.5 percent for clients who used a custom formulary and opted out of drug removals. Additionally, clients who chose our generic-focused value formulary had the highest generic dispensing rate (GDR) at 88.2 percent and the lowest baseline cost at $81.86 per member per month.

Although overall drug price inflation was lower in 2016, it still accounted for almost 80 percent of the unmanaged trend. The relative impact of inflation on specialty branded products continued to increase relative to traditional branded medications. At the same time, overall specialty products grew to nearly 36 percent of overall gross spend. Three of the top five categories contributing to gross trend were specialty drug categories, including anti-inflammatory medications for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis; antineoplastics and adjunctive therapies used to treat cancer; and psychotherapeutic and neurological agents, including multiple sclerosis therapies. Meanwhile, generic utilization growth kept costs low for members as well as clients and drove a 3.5 point overall cost reduction for clients.

CVS Caremark offers a variety of solutions, including flexible formulary options based on clinical evidence, to help manage pharmacy costs while ensuring patients have access to the medications they need. In addition, CVS Caremark’s strategic assessment of the pharmaceutical marketplace enables the company to negotiate aggressive rebates and help to lower costs for clients. More than 90 percent of brand manufacturer contracts also include price protection, a critical element in protecting clients in a market characterized by significant drug price increases.

Prescription drug trend is the measure of growth in prescription spending per member per month. Trend calculations take into account the effects of drug price, drug utilization and the mix of branded versus generic drugs as well as the positive effect of negotiated rebates on overall trend. The 2016 trend performance is based on a cohort of CVS Health PBM commercial clients employers and health plans.

To learn more about the CVS Caremark 2016 drug trend, click here.

About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,700 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 90 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, 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.

Media Contact:

Christine Cramer
CVS Health
(401) 770-3317
christine.cramer@cvshealth.com

Investor Contact:

Nancy Christal
CVS Health
(914) 722-4704

SOURCE: CVS Health

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Gap Inc. announces the appointment of Mark Breitbard as president and CEO of Banana Republic

SAN FRANCISCO, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) today (March 14, 2017) announced the appointment of Mark Breitbard as president and chief executive officer of Banana Republic. Breitbard will report to Art Peck, president and chief executive officer of Gap Inc., and will serve on the company’s senior leadership team. Peck will continue to directly oversee Banana Republic until Breitbard joins the company in early May.

“Mark brings significant retail leadership experience to Gap Inc., along with deep knowledge of the company and our customer,” said Peck. “We know what Banana Republic is capable of, and Mark’s ability to drive transformation and innovation will help revitalize the brand and position it to achieve its long-term potential.”

“I believe there’s tremendous opportunity for Banana Republic to differentiate itself with optimized product and customer experiences,” said Breitbard.  “I’m looking forward to working with the Banana Republic team to build the brand for the future.”

Most recently, Breitbard served as chief executive officer at The Gymboree Corporation from 2013 until early 2017. From 2010 to 2013, Breitbard held leadership positions across Gap North America, where he was instrumental in delivering the product-led resurgence of Gap’s North America business. He also served as chief merchandising and creative officer of Old Navy from 2009 to early 2010. Previously, Breitbard served in leadership roles at Levi Strauss & Co. and Abercrombie & Fitch.

Breitbard graduated from Vassar College and earned a Master of Business Administration from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.

About Gap Inc.

Gap Inc. is a leading global retailer offering clothing, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, and children under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta, and Intermix brands. Fiscal year 2016 net sales were $15.5 billion. Gap Inc. products are available for purchase in more than 90 countries worldwide through about 3,200 company-operated stores, about 450 franchise stores, and e-commerce sites. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com.

Contact: 

650-952-4400

Source: Gap Inc.

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Dolcetta Artisan Sweets recalls Dolcetta branded chocolate confections that may contain undeclared soy and milk

Seattle, WA, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Dolcetta Artisan Sweets of Seattle, WA is recalling Dolcetta branded chocolate confections (see table below) because they may contain undeclared soy and milk. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy or milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

Product Name UPC Codes
Black and Tan Bar none none
Dark Chocolate Coconut Bar none none
S’mores Bar none none
Sweet & Salty Almond Bar none none
White Chocolate Coconut Snowman none none

Product was distributed in Washington and Oregon through retail stores, online order, and direct sales at markets, fairs, and festivals between March 1, 2016 and March 1, 2017.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recall was initiated after it was discovered during a routine FDA inspection that products containing soy and milk were distributed in packaging that did not clearly reveal the presence of these allergens.

This recall is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Consumers who have purchased Dolcetta chocolate bars, truffles, and caramels and who have allergy issues may contact dolcettachocolate@gmail.com to return unused product.

Consumer can also call 206-280-7701 between 9 am and 6pm daily, PST. Dolcetta apologizes for any inconvenience.

Consumers Contact:

dolcettachocolate@gmail.com
206-280-7701

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Dolcetta Artisan Sweets recalls Dolcetta branded chocolate confections that may contain undeclared soy and milk

 

Source: FDA

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Whole Foods Market commits to rigorous sustainability and traceability requirements for all canned tuna sold in its grocery aisle

Company is first national retailer to create storewide requirements spanning grocery products and prepared foods items

AUSTIN, Texas, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — By January 2018, all canned tuna sold at Whole Foods Market will meet rigorous sustainability and traceability requirements that aim to reduce overfishing and bycatch, and support fishing communities. The new sourcing policy includes canned tuna items sold in the grocery aisle as well as the prepared foods department. Whole Foods Market is the first national retailer to create such stringent standards for canned tuna, which is among the three most consumed seafood items in the United States.

Under the new policy, all canned tuna at Whole Foods Market must come from fisheries using only pole-and-line, troll, or handline catch methods, all of which take fish one by one, preventing bycatch and creating more jobs in coastal communities. These fisheries must either be certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council or rated green or yellow by the Monterey Bay Aquarium and The Safina Center.

Every supplier must also use Trace Register, traceability software that tracks each lot of tuna at every point from vessel to can. The traceability data are continuously crosschecked to help verify sourcing and prevent illegally caught or unauthorized fish from entering the supply chain.

“We created this new policy for canned tuna because we want to lead by example in sourcing only the highest quality, sustainably caught tuna,” said Carrie Brownstein, global seafood quality standards coordinator for Whole Foods Market. “Combined with better international fishery management, overfishing and bycatch can be greatly reduced when tuna is caught by these low-impact fishing methods. We are honored to be working with suppliers and partners who are driving positive change.”

Leading brands that already source canned tuna from one-by-one fisheries, including 365 Everyday Value®, American Tuna, Pole and Line, Henry and Lisa’s, and Wild Planet, are updating their operations to meet the policy’s traceability requirements. These measures will also help importers get ahead of the traceability provisions in NOAA’s Seafood Import Monitoring Program, which has a deadline for mandatory compliance by Jan. 1, 2018.

Over the coming months, remaining suppliers will shift their operations and fishing practices to use the approved one-by-one catch methods, which are more environmentally friendly and offer more employment opportunities for fishermen worldwide.

“Since America is the largest canned tuna market in the world, shifts toward greater sustainability in this category can create a meaningful, positive impact on our oceans and our global fishing communities,” said Adam Baske, director of policy and outreach for International Pole and Line Foundation. “In some cases, these one-by-one fisheries are one of very few sources of local employment. The boats also make relatively short trips, enabling crews to return home frequently, compared to large industrial tuna vessels that may spend multiple months or even years at sea.”

Whole Foods Market’s new canned tuna policy expands on the retailer’s existing sustainability standards for fresh and frozen seafood, which also require that all seafood must either be certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council or rated green or yellow by the Monterey Bay Aquarium and The Safina Center. Additionally, all of the retailer’s farmed seafood must meet its industry-leading aquaculture standards, which include third-party on-site audits.

In 2016, Whole Foods Market introduced the retailer’s first Fair Trade certified yellowfin tuna, a designation which ensures better wages and working conditions for fishermen, and provides additional funding to their communities for improvement projects and investments. Fair Trade certification also verifies full supply chain traceability.

These continual advancements in policies and sourcing are part of Whole Foods Market’s mission to create a model that moves the seafood industry toward greater sustainability.

Press Contacts:

Darrah Gist
darrah.gist@wholefoods.com
678.638.5888

Lauren Bernath
lauren.bernath@wholefoods.com
678.638.5805

SOURCE: Whole Foods Market

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Rite Aid announces availability of MMR vaccines upon request

As Number of Mumps Cases Increase Nationwide, Rite Aid Pharmacists Stand Ready to Immunize

CAMP HILL, PA, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — As the number of mumps cases increase across the country, Rite Aid pharmacists stand ready to administer the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, subject to state regulations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported more than 1,000 cases of mumps in the U.S. since the start of 2017.1

MMR vaccinations are available upon request at Rite Aid pharmacies in 28 states and the District of Columbia, subject to state regulations, during pharmacy hours; no appointment is necessary. To locate the nearest Rite Aid pharmacy, visit www.riteaid.com or call 1-800-RITE-AID. Cost varies based on the patient’s insurance coverage and the MMR vaccine is covered by many insurance plans.

Currently, Rite Aid pharmacists in the following 28 states and the District of Columbia, are able to administer the MMR vaccine, subject to state regulations: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

Although young children typically receive the MMR vaccine from their primary health care providers as part of a regular vaccine schedule, the CDC recommends that people 18 years of age or older who was born after 1956 should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine unless they have either been vaccinated previously or have had all three diseases. Pregnant women should not receive an MMR vaccine.

According to the CDC, mumps is a contagious disease caused by a virus. Mumps symptoms begin with a fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite, followed by swelling of salivary glands, causing puffy cheeks and a tender, swollen jaw.

In addition to the MMR vaccine, Rite Aid certified immunizing pharmacists are able to vaccinate patients against more than a dozen diseases based on the CDC’s vaccine guidelines and state regulations. By visiting Rite Aid’s Vaccine Central, at www.riteaid.com/vaccinecentral, customers can complete an immunization evaluation, track their personal immunization history, and find other educational resources on immunizations.

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.

1.       https://www.cdc.gov/mumps/outbreaks.html

Media Contact:

Kristin Kellum
717-975-5713

Source: Rite Aid Corporation

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BJ’s Wholesale Club welcomes Dawn Albright as general manager of its new Club in Summerville, SC

CHARLESTON, S.C., 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — BJ’s Wholesale Club today (March 15, 2017) announced that Dawn Albright has been appointed general manager of its new Club in Summerville, SC.

“We are thrilled to have Dawn help us lead our new Club in Summerville,” said Gina Iacovone, senior vice president of field operations at BJ’s Wholesale Club. “During her time at BJ’s, Dawn has been a dedicated Team Member, going above and beyond to make a positive impact on the company as well as in the community.”

Albright most recently served as the general manager of BJ’s Wholesale Club in Hampton, VA. In 2015, she was recognized at BJ’s annual Team Member Conference for her dedication to the community through volunteering, hosting in-Club events and food drives and fostering partnerships with local organizations. Albright began her career at BJ’s Wholesale Club in 2009 as a personnel manager at the company’s Chesapeake, VA location and was promoted several times before becoming the general manager of the Hampton, VA Club.

“I’m excited to serve as general manager for BJ’s Wholesale Club in Summerville,” said Albright. “It’s a privilege to introduce BJ’s to the region, and I look forward to building great relationships with our members and the local community.”

The BJ’s Wholesale Club is slated for opening in Spring 2017 and is the perfect one-stop shopping destination for everything from fresh food and diapers to televisions and gas. Families can save up to $500 a year by shopping at BJ’s. The BJ’s Wholesale Club will be located at the intersection of Interstate 26 and North Main Street, Summerville’s primary retail corridor. The Club will be the first in South Carolina, expanding BJ’s footprint to 16 states and marking club #215 for the company. The Club will also feature a BJ’s Gas® station, saving Members even more.

Enjoy the privileges of being a Summerville Founding Member when you join by April 1st. For just $45, you’ll receive a 14-month membership and 10 cents off per gallon at BJ’s Gas® for six months after the Club opens. Join now with this special offer at BJs.com/Summerville.

Summerville Founding Members are invited to visit the BJ’s Hospitality Center to meet Albright and her team on April 6th and April 13th from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. BJ’s Hospitality Center is located at 975 Bacons Bridge Road.

  • BJ’s offers the best value of any supermarket or club.
    • BJ’s everyday prices on the key items that families buy most often are significantly better value than supermarkets, saving families up to 25 percent or more.
    • The company is the only major wholesale club that accepts manufacturers’ coupons, offering families another great way to save.
    • Its own brands, Berkley Jensen and Wellsley Farms, let families save without sacrificing quality or fun.
  • BJ’s biggest advantage is fresh food – produce, dairy, meat and deli.
    • Members buy 65 percent more fresh food from BJ’s than from other clubs.
    • BJ’s is the only major wholesale club to offer a full-service deli with premium meats and cheeses.
    • Members are able to choose fresh meats cut to their specifications. BJ’s butchers will recut and repackage at no charge.
  • A BJ’s Membership is filled with added convenience.
    • BJ’s offers the most payment options of any major wholesale club.
    • Members are able to research, shop and install electronics with help from BJ’s Tech Advisors.
    • Its new Pick Up & Pay® program allows shoppers to stock up by reserving items online and then picking up in-club.
    • Members can save time and money by filling up their tanks at BJ’s. The company’s gas prices are among the lowest around.

Based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer surveys on household spending, the BJ’s Wholesale Club could save area shoppers more than $40 million a year.

Shoppers can learn more about BJ’s Wholesale Club by going to www.BJs.com.

About BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc.
Headquartered in Westborough, Massachusetts, BJ’s is the leading operator of membership warehouse clubs in the Eastern United States. The company currently operates 214 clubs and 130 BJ’s Gas® locations in 15 states.

BJ’s provides a one-stop shopping destination filled with top-quality, leading brands, including its exclusive Wellsley Farms and Berkley Jensen brands, along with USDA Choice meats, premium produce and delicious organics, many in supermarket sizes. BJ’s is also the only major membership warehouse club to accept all manufacturers’ coupons and, for greater convenience, offers the most payment options.

Visit www.BJs.com, and for exclusive content find us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

BJ’s is wholly owned by affiliates of Leonard Green & Partners, CVC Capital Partners and its management team.

For further information:
Jennie Hardin
jhardin@bjs.com
774-512-6978

SOURCE: BJ’s Wholesale Club

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2017 Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give tickets now available online

2017 Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give tickets now available online

 

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Tickets to the 2017 Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give held June 13-18 at Blythefield Country Club are now available online.

General admission weekly tickets cost $25, and general admission daily tickets cost $10. Kids, ages 17 and under, will receive free admission with a ticketed adult.

“We strive to make the Meijer LPGA Classic an event for the entire community because there is something for everyone to enjoy,” Meijer President & CEO Rick Keyes said. “Our hope is that families, individuals and golf fans from across the Midwest will come to Grand Rapids to enjoy a week of events and watch world-class golf at an affordable cost.”

The Grand Taste, a three-day food tasting event, will return to this year’s tournament week lineup at Blythefield Country Club.

It will be held June 16-18, and adult tickets cost $30 for a single day or $60 for the weekend. Tickets for kids, ages 17 and under with a ticketed adult, cost $10 for a single day and $20 for the weekend. The upgraded ticket will include food and beverage samples from participating local restaurants, breweries and Meijer vendors. This ticket also includes general admission access to the golf tournament.

“The inaugural year of the Grand Taste surpassed our expectations, and we cannot wait to share an enhanced experience with our guests,” said Cathy Cooper, Director of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. “The Grand Taste features some of the best restaurants and breweries in West Michigan along with Meijer, and is truly a culinary experience the entire family can enjoy.

In addition, the Meijer LPGA Classic 5k Run & Walk presented by Kellogg’s® will once again be held at 8 a.m. June 17 at Rockford High School. Each participant will receive a T-shirt, two daily tickets to the golf tournament – valid any one day Tuesday through Sunday – and a complimentary breakfast provided by Kellogg’s® after the run.

The cost is $15 per person, ages 17 and under, and $25 per person, ages 18 and older. Strollers are welcome at the event. The top three runners in each age group will receive $500, $250 and $100 in Meijer gift cards, respectively. Local companies, community organizations, families and schools throughout West Michigan are encouraged to put together a team of 5-10 runners; the cost to participate is $150 per team. Winners of the team challenges will receive a $1,000 donation to the Meijer Simply Give program in their team’s name.

The 2017 Meijer LPGA Classic will host a full field of 144 of the best women golfers for 72 holes of stroke play over four days of competition. Proceeds from the tournament – and each of the week’s festivities – will once again benefit the Meijer Simply Give program that restocks the shelves of food pantries across the Midwest. To date, the Meijer LPGA Classic has generated more than $2.1 million for food pantries in the communities it serves.

For more information on the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give or to volunteer, please visit meijerLPGAclassic.com.

About Meijer:

Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 230 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. A privately-owned and family-operated company since 1934, Meijer has a fundamental philosophy aimed at strengthening the communities it serves and proudly donates more than 6 percent of its net profit each year to charities throughout the Midwest. With hunger as a corporate philanthropic focus, Meijer partners with hundreds of food banks and pantries through its Simply Give and food rescue programs. Meijer also supports education, disaster relief, and health and wellness initiatives. For additional information on Meijer philanthropy, please visit www.meijercommunity.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer and @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.

About Blythefield Country Club:

Located just north of Grand Rapids, Blythefield has been providing families the best golf and social experience in West Michigan since 1928. With the Rogue River flowing through, Blythefield boasts one of the most beautiful championship layouts in Michigan. Previously, Blythefield has hosted the 1953 Western Amateur, the 1961 Western Open won by Arnold Palmer, and the 2005 Western Junior won by Rickie Fowler. Beginning in 2014, Blythefield is honored to host the Meijer LPGA Classic. Learn more about Blythefield Country Club at www.blythefieldcc.org.

Contact:

Christina Fecher
christina.fecher@meijer.com
616-540-6108

Source: Meijer

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Martha & Marley Spoon meal kits now available through AmazonFresh

Launching in four major regions, including New York and San Francisco, AmazonFresh customers can now shop Martha Stewart’s meal kits and receive her trusted recipes and quality, pre-portioned ingredients delivered to their door seven days a week.

NEW YORK, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sequential Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:SQBG) (“Sequential” or the “Company”) and Marley Spoon, Inc. announced today (Mar 14, 2017) that customers in select cities can now order Martha & Marley Spoon meal kits through AmazonFresh.

Beginning today, AmazonFresh customers in the larger metro areas of New York, San Francisco, Dallas and Philadelphia can purchase a Martha & Marley Spoon meal kit that includes a delicious recipe and pre-portioned ingredients to cook a meal for two adults. Offering Martha & Marley Spoon products through AmazonFresh is an exciting new way for consumers to experience the convenience and variety of meal kits, without having to commit to several nights of meals or order a week in advance.

“I am pleased to collaborate with the most innovative retailer, Amazon, to bring better weeknight cooking solutions to all customers,” said Martha Stewart. “It is so important to cook wholesome, delicious, healthy dinners, and I believe people will enjoy the nutritious and seasonal recipes offered by Martha & Marley Spoon, coupled with the flexibility and convenience of AmazonFresh.”

Delivered and designed with simple, quick everyday cooking in mind, the Martha & Marley Spoon meal kits reflect Martha’s love for fresh seasonal ingredients and varied cooking techniques. Each meal kit comes with an easy-to-follow recipe card that guides home cooks through six simple steps. Competitively priced, the Martha & Marley Spoon meal kit features quality pre-portioned fresh produce and proteins, artisanal ingredients, and healthy, quick-cook grains. Recipes will change seasonally to include the best ingredients available.

“We are setting a new standard for the meal kit industry by offering flexible delivery options, a variety of dishes to choose from and no meal plan service commitments via AmazonFresh,” said Marley Spoon CEO and co-founder Fabian Siegel. “This partnership enables added flexibility for consumers looking to incorporate meal kits into their dinner routine, whether it be for a single night or several different meals for the week.”

“>With AmazonFresh, customers can combine grocery and other shopping into one seamless experience that easily fits into their busy lives. Customers can order a wide range of items, including everything from fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, baked goods, and dairy products to beauty products and household goods. AmazonFresh offers convenient delivery windows, seven days a week, including the option of either attended or unattended delivery.

To use AmazonFresh, Prime customers can simply go to www.amazon.com/amazonfresh and sign up for a free 30-day trial. After the free trial, Prime members can continue to shop AmazonFresh for a monthly fee of $14.99.

ABOUT MARTHA STEWART
Martha Stewart is an Emmy Award-winning television show host, entrepreneur, bestselling author of 87 books, and America’s most trusted lifestyle expert and teacher. Millions of people rely on Martha Stewart as a source of useful “how-to” information for all aspects of everyday living – cooking, entertaining, gardening, home renovating, collecting, organizing, crafting, holidays, healthy living and pets. The Martha Stewart brand reaches approximately 100 million consumers across all media and merchandising platforms each month. Martha Stewart Living, the magazine she founded 25 years ago, has published more than 11,000 recipes, and MarthaStewart.com includes a recipe database of over 18,000 recipes. Her branded products can be found in over 70 million households and have a growing retail presence in thousands of locations.

ABOUT MARLEY SPOON, INC.
Marley Spoon creates meal kits that contain recipes and pre­portioned seasonal ingredients, making it easy to cook a delicious dinner at home. Customers have the ability to choose which recipes and for how many, from a fresh menu each week.

Founded in 2014 by Fabian Siegel and Till Neatby, Marley Spoon currently operates in six markets across three continents. In June 2016, Marley Spoon partnered with Martha Stewart and Sequential Brands Group, Inc. to launch Martha & Marley Spoon, a meal kit delivery service featuring Martha Stewart’s award-winning recipes and smart cooking techniques. Martha & Marley Spoon meal kits are also available for order in select markets through AmazonFresh.

Marley Spoon’s global mission is to help millions of people to cook better and live smarter by radically reducing food waste. For more information, visit: www.marleyspoon.com.

ABOUT SEQUENTIAL BRANDS GROUP, INC.
Sequential Brands Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SQBG) owns, promotes, markets, and licenses a portfolio of consumer brands in the fashion, active, and home categories, which includes the Martha Stewart media and merchandising properties. Sequential seeks to ensure that its brands continue to thrive and grow by employing strong brand management, design and marketing teams. Sequential has licensed and intends to license its brands in a variety of consumer categories to retailers, wholesalers and distributors in the United States and around the world. For more information, please visit Sequential’s website at: www.sequentialbrandsgroup.com. To inquire about licensing opportunities, please email: newbusiness@sbg-ny.com.

The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress.

Contact:

Sequential Brands Group, Inc.
Jaime Cassavechia
212-518-4771 x108
jcassavechia@sbg-ny.com

Martha & Marley Spoon
Jo Ferro
(347) 291-5247
jo.ferro@marleyspoon.com

Source: Sequential Brands Group, Inc./globenewswire

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New restaurant Abacus arrives in Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

ATLANTA, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Paradies Lagardère, the travel retail and restaurateur leader in North America, and Kent Rathbun Concepts, have opened a new restaurant, Abacus, in Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s (DFW) Terminal D. Together, both companies proposed and were awarded the contract for three new restaurants and bars in the DFW Airport. Abacus is the second restaurant to open; Whitetail Bistro opened in September 2016.

Quotes:“We’re excited to bring Abacus to DFW, providing travelers variety and a taste of the local cuisine,” said Bill Casey, senior vice president, Food and Beverage, Paradies Lagardère. “Paradies Lagardère’s offerings through Kent Rathbun Concepts, Abacus and Whitetail Bistro, offer sophisticated dining environments and delicious, high-quality menu offerings that provide the first-class, internationally-renowned experience travelers expect at DFW.”

“Bringing the Abacus concept to DFW Airport is something I believe sophisticated travelers are seeking in terms of airport fine dining,” said William Hyde, owner of Kent Rathbun Concepts.  “It is an honor to work with Paradies Lagardère and we look forward to bringing such an internationally-renowned restaurant to travelers from around the world.”

Abacus’ contemporary global cuisine leads the way in upscale dining with a menu that reflects only the best seasonal ingredients.  Eclectic and enticing lunch and dinner menu options include signature small plates like the famous Lobster Scallion “Shooters,” and the much talked about Hudson Valley Foie Gras. The restaurant will also serve breakfast, and offer travelers’ items such as granola with honey yogurt, seasonal fruit or berries, or a three-egg omelet featuring ham, spinach, mushrooms and white cheddar.

High-end restaurants, quick-serve restaurants, bars and coffee shops are all a part of Paradies Lagardère’s Food and Beverage concepts. Brands have been tailored to entice travelers with the same familiar quality, variety, taste and atmosphere as their favorite “at home” dining spots, while maintaining the highest levels of quality and service.

Paradies Lagardère was recently awarded three prestigious awards for excellence in Food and Beverage. Airport Revenue News awarded the company an ARN Award for Best Chef-Driven, Local or Regional Restaurant for Bar Symon in the Pittsburgh International Airport.

The USA Today 10 Best Reader’s Choice Awards also awarded Paradies Lagardère the Best Airport Bar Wait Staff for its Bar Symon Restaurant in the Pittsburgh International Airport, and recognized Long Beach Airport, where Paradies Lagardère manages the full restaurant program, as its Best Airport for Dining.

Contact:

Nicole V. Linton
Marketing Communications Manager
P: 404 494 3419
M: 470 455 1843
Email: nicole.linton@paradies-na.com

Source: Paradies Lagardère

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PHILIPPINES: SM wins four awards at the PRSP Gabi ng Parangal 52nd Anvil Awards

PHILIPPINES: SM wins four awards at the PRSP Gabi ng Parangal 52nd Anvil Awards

 

Pasay City, Philippines, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — SM won four awards during the Public Relations Society of the Philippines’ (PRSP) Gabi ng Parangal 52nd Anvil Awards held last March 10, 2017.

SM Investments Corporation was awarded for its website redesign project, 2015 Annual Report and Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) Report. SM Foundation, on the other hand, received a silver Anvil for its School Building program.

SM’s second ESG Report in 2015 with the theme, “Creating a Sustainable Future”, earned a Gold Anvil Award for “manifesting SM’s committment to sustainability and underscored its alignment with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.”

SM also bagged a Silver Anvil Award for its website redesign project which introduced “a more current and global aesthetic, improved content and organization and increased functionality and navigability.”

The SM 2015 Unified Annual Reports, with the theme, “Sustaining Growth, Delivering Value”, clinched a Silver Anvil Award “for providing accurate and comprehensive disclosure of SM’s financial performance, growth plans and strategies in key social investments, environment, governnance policies and initiatives.”

The Anvil is presented to the outstanding public relations tools and programs that have met the high standards set for each category.  PR practitioners, industry communications specialists, academicians and business persons attended the event.

Read more about SM Investments’ 2015 Annual Report and ESG Report here: http://www.sminvestments.com/annual-reports

Contact:
Ms. Corazon P. Guidote
Senior Vice President for Investor Relations
SM Investments Corporation
E-mail: cora.guidote@sminvestments.com
Tel. No. (632) 857-0117
www.sminvestments.com

Source: SM Investments Corporation

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Interactions and Advance Auto Parts hit the road this month for two 2017 Mobile Tours

Leading automotive aftermarket parts provider teams up with Interactions Marketing to inspire, educate and activate automotive enthusiasts

SAN DIEGO, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Interactions, the global leader in innovative retail solutions and experiential marketing, and Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE:AAP), a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider that serves both professional installers and do-it-yourself customers, will hit the road this month for two 2017 Mobile Tours. This year’s Advance Auto Parts Restoration and VIP Tours are designed to engage and educate auto enthusiasts, fans of do-it-yourself (DIY) car repair and professional installer partners where they live and play.

The Restoration Tour kicked off on March 10 at Daytona Bike Week and features a fully branded, state-of-the-art truck and trailer hauling a 1967 Camaro RS that will be restored along the tour route at Advance’s participating TECHNET member shops. The Restoration Tour will deliver a highly immersive, hands-on experience for auto enthusiasts. The VIP Tour, which kicks off in Austin, TX in April at the MotoGP Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas, also promises to deliver an extraordinary experience for attendees and will feature a custom branded truck with garage-themed components.

This is the fourth consecutive year of Mobile Tours for Advance Auto Parts and Interactions, following the success of last year’s tour, which made 41 stops throughout 17 states in a 9-month timeframe. The 2017 tours focus on deeper customer engagement through interactive and educational experiences, as well as driving traffic to Advance stores through local events, professional installer partnerships and VIP experiences for Speed Perks members.

The Restoration and VIP Tours will feature parking lot events, educational seminars and talk shops for auto enthusiasts across the country. Event attendees will have the chance to win prizes, try out the Speed Perks game app, and on the Restoration tour, meet Tuxlee, the Speed Perks tour mascot and Instagram star. The tours will feature more than 24 events in the first half of the year, including concerts and car shows such as the Barrett-Jackson car auction in West Palm Beach, FL and the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, TN.

“We’re revved up for our fourth annual Mobile Tour with Interactions and are looking forward to an exciting and memorable experience for all of our attendees,” said Advance’s Chief Marketing Officer, Walter Scott. “Throughout this year’s tour, we will be engaging our DIY and professional customers in the experience and setting Advance apart as a company that has a passion for our customers and a passion for yes.”

“Through our partnership last year, we were able to engage with nearly 100,000 event attendees, and we’re eager to once again team up with Advance Auto Parts,” said Nicole LeMaire, Vice President, Interactions. “This year’s tours give us the opportunity to involve new markets and provide consumers with an educational and fun experience. We look forward to supporting this initiative as Advance Auto Parts reaches more DIYers, professional installers and enthusiasts around the country.”

Attendees can spread the word about the event on social media by using the hashtag #AAPRevItUp, visiting the Mobile Tours’ microsite, and by following Interactions Marketing on Facebook and Twitter and also Advance Auto Parts on Facebook, Twitter and on Instagram.

About Advance Auto Parts

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider that serves both professional installer and do-it-yourself customers. As of December 31, 2016, Advance operated 5,062 stores and 127 WORLDPAC branches and employed 74,000 Team Members in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company also serves approximately 1,250 independently owned Carquest branded stores across these locations in addition to Mexico and the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands and Pacific Islands. Additional information about the Company, employment opportunities, customer services, and on-line shopping for parts, accessories and other offerings can be found on the Company’s website at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com.

About Interactions

Founded in 1988, Interactions is the global leader in innovative retail solutions and experiential marketing for retailers and brands. With a workforce of more than 45,000 associates around the world, Interactions creates and executes nearly 3 million events every year, managing 5,500 events each day. Interactions offers integrated sales and marketing programs that engage shoppers in-store and outdoor, and provides insights into shopper behavior and customer service that enable retailers and brands to make smarter business decisions and drive significant sales increases. The company has offices around the globe and operates in North America, Europe, South Africa, Australia and Asia. Interactions is a subsidiary of Daymon, the world’s leading full-service, global retail branding and sourcing partner for retailers and manufacturers. For more information on Interactions, visit www.interactionsmarketing.com.

Contact:
Emily Roy
212-279-3115 x232
eroy@prosek.com

Source: Interactions and Advance Auto Parts, Inc.

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DICK’S Sporting Goods to open new store at Perimeter Pointe in Atlanta, GA on March 31

The retailer will celebrate the opening of its tenth store in the Atlanta area

PITTSBURGH, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — DICK’S Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS), the largest U.S.-based, full-line omni-channel sporting goods retailer, will celebrate the opening of a new DICK’S Sporting Goods on Friday, March 31 at Perimeter Pointe in Atlanta, GA.

This will be the retailer’s 686th DICK’S store in the nation and 21st in the state of Georgia.

“We’re excited to expand our presence in Atlanta in the coming weeks,” said Lauren Hobart, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, DICK’S Sporting Goods. “The love for sports and the outdoors in this area provides us with a great opportunity to serve residents in a way only we can. The new store will carry a wide range of apparel, equipment and accessories and offer top-of-the-line in-store services tailored to the needs of the community.”

The new location is the seventh former Sports Authority location that that Company has converted and reopened as a DICK’S Sporting Goods this year. This store will feature athletic and outdoor apparel and the latest gear for team sports, fitness, camping, hunting and fishing. It will also include a new and improved footwear section designed to offer a broad selection of sports performance and casual footwear.

DICK’S has brought approximately 90 jobs to the community through the hiring of full-time, part-time and temporary associates for the store.

The store will host their grand opening celebrations from Friday, March 31 through Sunday, April 2. Customers will receive the chance to win great prizes throughout the weekend and meet special guest Atlanta Linebacker Deion Jones** on Saturday, April 1.

Visit dicks.com/PerimeterPointe for full details on the Grand Opening celebration, including giveaways, promotions, special guests and brand activations.

**WRISTBAND REQUIRED!  Wristbands are distributed on a first-come, first served basis beginning at store open on the day of event only. Limited Quantity. Limit one wristband per person.  Must be present to receive wristband.  Must have a wristband and must be in the Special Appearance line prior to the start of the appearance to receive an autograph.  Times and appearances are subject to change without notice. See store for details.

About DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc.

Founded in 1948, DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc. is a leading omni-channel sporting goods retailer offering an extensive assortment of authentic, high-quality sports equipment, apparel, footwear and accessories. As of January 28, 2017, the Company operated more than 675 DICK’S Sporting Goods locations, serving and inspiring athletes and outdoor enthusiasts to achieve their personal best through a blend of dedicated associates, in-store services and unique specialty shop-in-shops.  Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, DICK’S also owns and operates Golf Galaxy and Field & Stream specialty stores, as well as DICK’S Team Sports HQ, an all-in-one youth sports digital platform offering free league management services, mobile apps for communications and live scorekeeping, custom uniforms and FanWear and access to donations and sponsorships. For more information, visit the Press Room or Investor Relations pages at dicks.com.

Contact:

DICK’S Sporting Goods
press@dcsg.com
724-273-5552

Source:  DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc.