Daily Archives: March 30, 2017

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BRC invites students to help tackle cyber security threats in the UK retail industry

BRC invites students to help tackle cyber security threats in the UK retail industry

 

The BRC has launched a new cyber security student challenge with the chance to win up to £500

London, 2017-Mar-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — The BRC is inviting students at UK higher education institutions to participate in a paper contest on ‘cyber security risks facing the UK retail industry’, with a focus on how to tackle them. The challenge, which is open to any student based at a UK higher education establishment, invites students to offer new ideas on how government, law enforcement and industry should work together to tackle the main cyber security threats facing retail in the UK.

Entries will be judged by a panel of leading cyber security scholars from Imperial College, London, UCL, and King’s College, London. Successful candidates will be awarded prizes totalling £800 with the winner of the competition will also be given the opportunity to present their paper to members of the BRC’s Fraud and Cyber Security Group, as well as have their work printed in the BRC’s regular membership magazine, The Retailer.

Hugo Rosemont, Crime and Security Policy Adviser at the BRC said:

“Today we’re posing a new challenge around a pressing issue and we think that students across the country will rise to it. Working closely with partners in academia, this initiative has been designed to provide an opportunity to encourage a future generation of cyber security leaders to engage with issues of rapidly increasing importance to the UK. An estimated 53 per cent of reported fraud in the retail industry is cyber-enabled, which represents a total direct cost of around £100 million to UK businesses. The retail industry has long been investing in its cyber resilience in this context, however this is a rapidly evolving field and we are inviting the next generation to come forward with suggestions of new ideas and innovation that can help us keep on top of the challenges facing businesses.”

The challenge is being hosted as part of the BRC’s campaign on cyber security. The BRC recently launched a cyber security ‘toolkit’ for retailers that provides businesses of all sizes with a practical, step-by-step guide to prevent and manage cyber security threats and protect the customers they serve. The toolkit is for the whole of the retail industry and it was launched by Home Office Minister Sarah Newton earlier this month, and has received support from, amongst others, the UK’s new National Cyber Security Centre.

For details and conditions of the competition: entry guidelines

Contact:

BRC Press Office
TELEPHONE: + 44 (0) 20 7854 8924
EMAIL: media@brc.org.uk

Source: BRC

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RILA announces eight finalists for the 2017 (R)Tech Asset Protection: Innovation Awards

Eight Companies Ranked Among The Best For Technology Advancements In Asset Protection

Arlington , VA., 2017-Mar-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), the trade association for the world’s largest and most innovative retail companies, announced eight finalists for the 2017 (R)Tech Asset Protection: Innovation Awards. The Awards serve as a showcase for emerging, game-changing technologies that mitigate total retail loss, as defined in a groundbreaking research report published by RILA last year.

RILA received applications across AP business functions, including Business Intelligence and Analytics, Workplace Safety, Crimes Against Business, and more. Finalists will showcase their cutting-edge technology to a panel of top executives at RILA’s 2017 Retail Asset Protection Conference, April 9-12 in New Orleans, where the winners will be announced. Conference attendees will have the chance to meet the finalists, experience their technology, and cast their vote for Retailers’ Choice Award.

“The awards are an exciting opportunity to recognize visionary companies that are developing innovative technology to address the industry’s biggest challenges,” said Lisa LaBruno, RILA’s senior vice president of retail operations. “Our retail panel of judges felt that these companies stood apart from the pack, and they should be proud of their designation as leaders in innovation. We’re looking forward to crowning a winner in New Orleans.”

2017 (R)Tech Asset Protection: Innovation Awards finalists are:

  • Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
  • ClickIt Inc.
  • Digital Safety USA
  • Lassu, Inc.
  • Lillii RNB Inc.
  • LISNR
  • Profitect
  • Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

The Awards come on the heels of RILA’s public announcement of the (R)Tech Center for Innovation. (R)Tech is a new term coined by RILA to describe the confluence of retail and technology. An (R)Tech company embodies the core values of both those industries – global and local, nimble, and entrepreneurial – to win the loyalty of today’s empowered consumers. The Center’s mission is to is to help retailers navigate the industry transformation, and to spur the adoption of the “(R)Tech” term within the retail innovation ecosystem. To learn more visit www.rtech.org.

For more information, visit the awards homepage.

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

Contact:

Christin Fernandez
Vice President, Communications
Phone: 703-600-2039
Email: christin.fernandez@rila.org

Source: RILA

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Inditex’s for&from opens new store in the SAMBIL Outlet Madrid shopping centre in Leganés

  • The new Inditex Tempe Group ‘for&from’ store is located in the SAMBIL Outlet Madrid shopping centre (Leganés).
  • With a staff of 18 people and 500m2 retail space, the store is managed by the Fundación Prodis, a foundation which specialises in the labour market integration of people with disabilities.
  • ‘for&from’ program now boasts 12 establishments and a staff of 144.

Arteixo, Spain, 2017-Mar-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Inditex Group expands its network of for&from stores with a new establishment in the SAMBIL Outlet Madrid shopping centre in Leganés. The new store is the first ‘for&from’ project in the Autonomous Community of Madrid. This landmark collaboration to improve the social and labour market integration of people with disabilities with the support of specialist social organizations now boasts 12 establishments and a staff of 144.

The new store has 18 people in staff and 500m2 of retail space dedicated to footwear and accessories produced by the Tempe Group, which supplies all the Inditex chains (Zara, Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Zara Home and Uterqüe). The store is managed by the Fundación Prodis, a foundation which specialises in the Iabour market integration of people with disabilities.

The initiative began in 2002 with a small Massimo Dutti store in Palafolls, Barcelona. Current participants in the for&from project include Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Pull&Bear and the Tempe Group. All of these stores are managed by social organizations specializing in the integration of people with disabilities, such as The Galician Confederation of People with Disabilities (Confederación Galega de Persoas con Discapacidades, COGAMI), Fundació El Molí d’ En Puigvert, Moltacte, the Alicante Association for People with Mental Disabilities (Asociación pro discapacitados psíquicos de Alicante, APSA), and Fundación Prodis.

The business model involves the supply of clothing, footwear and accessories from previous seasons to these organizations, who then sell the garments at reduced prices. Following an initial donation from Inditex to fund the store’s construction, the model then becomes self-sustaining, the sale of the products providing consistent profits for the social organizations. The store, managed by people with various types of disability, turns a retail space into a landmark for inclusion, accessibility and the elimination of barriers.

With headquarters in Madrid, the Fundación Prodis is dedicated to providing training and support for more than 400 people with disabilities and their families. This is provided by over 100 professionals who work on a range of projects to improve the quality of life of the people they help and ensure their active participation in society.

Contact:

Tlf: +34 981 185 400
Fax: +34 981 185 544
comunicacion@inditex.com

Source: Inditex

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NACS: Americans seeking out fueling locations based on quality of food and beverages

New National Survey Shows Growing Trend of Consumers Seeking Out High-Quality Food and Beverages as Part of Fueling Experience

ALEXANDRIA, Va., 2017-Mar-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — Americans are increasingly seeking out fueling locations based on the quality of the food associated with the gas station, according to new national survey results released today (3/29/2017) by NACS. The association represents the convenience store industry, which sells 80% of the fuel purchased in the United States.

While survey results show that gas price is still the primary determinant in selecting a station, an increasing percentage of consumers say that the quality of items inside the store dictates where they buy fuel.  In fact, one in seven drivers (16%) say that the in-store offer is driving their fueling decision, a 5-point increase since 2015.

A majority (51%) of American drivers still say that the gas price is the reason that they prefer a specific store or chain, but that is a 6-point drop over the past two years.

Because of the expanded food and beverage offers at stores, fueling customers also are going inside the store more: 42% of those fueling up also went inside the store, a 7-point jump from two years ago. For those going inside, the most popular reasons were to pay for gas at the register (50%), buy a beverage (45%) or buy a snack (36%). More than one in five (22%) say they used the rest room. Overall, 8% say they bought a sandwich or meal, and that percentage jumps to 13% for younger consumers ages 18 to 34.

“The numbers clearly show the growing trend of consumers seeking out food and beverages as part of their fueling experience. While retailers know they need to aggressively compete on gas prices — 67% of Americans say they will drive 5 minutes out of their way to save 5 cents per gallon — it also shows that there are other ways to compete for customers with a quality in-store offer,” said NACS Vice President of Strategic Industry Initiatives Jeff Lenard.

Gasoline demand in 2016 reached a record 9.32 million barrels per day in 2016 but only 33% of American drivers report that they drove more in 2016. For those who say they drove more, 41% cited their job as the main reason, as opposed to only 8% who cited gas prices.

Others findings from the survey results include:

  • 73% of fuel customers pay by debit (37%) or credit (36%) card. Debit cards are most popular with younger consumers ages 18-34 (45%).
  • Evening rush is the most popular time to purchase fuel (36%), significantly more than morning rush (22%).
  • Nearly half (46%) of consumers say they have gotten a discount for their fuel by using a loyalty card or app and 23% have gotten a discount for paying by cash.
  • For those purchasing a sandwich or meal, 56% say they eat in in their car, compared to 34% who eat it once they arrive at their destination and 10% who eat at tables in the store.
  • Drivers expect that gas prices will increase throughout 2017. They predict that prices will be $2.84 at year’s end, a 52-cent increase from prices on January 1.

The survey results were released today as part of the 2016 NACS Retail Fuels Report (www.nacsonline.com/gasprices), which examines conditions and trends that could impact gasoline prices. The online resource is annually published to help demystify the retail fueling industry by exploring, among other topics, how fuel is sold, how prices affect consumer sentiment, why prices historically increase in the spring and which new fuels are likely to gain traction in the marketplace.

The survey was conducted online by Penn Schoen Berland; 1,114 U.S. adults who purchase fuel for a vehicle such as a car, truck or van at least once per month were surveyed January 4-6, 2017.

Founded in 1961 as the National Association of Convenience Stores, NACS (nacsonline.com) is the international association for convenience and fuel retailing. The U.S. convenience store industry, with more than 154,000 stores across the country, conducts 160 million transactions a day, sells 80% of the fuel purchased in the country and had total sales of $575 billion in 2015. NACS has 2,100 retail and 1,700 supplier member companies, which do business in nearly 50 countries.

Contact:

(703) 684-3600 (phone)
(703) 836-4564 (fax)

Source: NACS

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Babies“R”Us® brings The Honest Company’s products in stores and online

Family-Favorite Brand Known for its Commitment to Safe and Effective Products and On-Trend Designs is Now Available at Nation’s Leading Baby Product Retailer

Wayne, NJ, 2017-Mar-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — When a child is born into the world, so is a parent. Among the very first things to cross the minds of new caregivers – aside from, “are there instructions?” – is “how do I keep this little one as safe?” This is at the core of The Honest Company’s mission to empower people to live happy and healthy lives. Millennial parents are growing at a rate of one million per year; and these new parents are placing value in investing in brands that are not only safe for their families, but also eco-friendly and affordable.

With a shared commitment to providing budget-conscious, trusted and thoughtfully designed options for parents making important choices in caring for their little ones, Babies“R”Us® and The Honest Company® have partnered to bring The Honest Company’s products to Babies“R”Us stores across the U.S., with an expanded assortment and sizes online at Babiesrus.com. Available now, customers will find everyday essentials from The Honest Company, including the brand’s popular seasonal print diapers, wipes, gift sets, bibs, lotions, sun care and formula; with homecare items, like detergents and cleaning solutions, rolling out later this year.

“The partnership between Babies“R”Us and The Honest Company goes deeper than an assortment of product on shelves; it’s about uniting two brands that value the importance of connecting with customers and celebrating the honest journey of parenting,” said Richard Barry, Executive Vice President, Global Chief Merchandising Officer, Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us. “We share in the excitement with our customers who have been looking forward to seeing this family-favorite brand on our shelves.”

“I started The Honest Company to help make the transition to parenthood a little easier for people. Through products, education and community, we aim to simplify what can be a very confusing and stressful time” said Jessica Alba, Founder, The Honest Company. Partnering with Babies“R”Us was a natural fit because they are the go-to store for new parents who are looking for all of their baby essentials and we offer a wide range of products that address the needs of modern consumers who want healthy options for a happy, healthy life.

The Honest Company was founded in 2012 by actress, advocate, and New York Times bestselling author and mother of two Jessica Alba, and bestselling author and father of four Christopher Gavigan. The mission-driven company provides more than 100 trusted, effective, and delightful products across a wide range of consumer categories, including baby, personal care, beauty, home care, and vitamins & supplements, to a passionate community of consumers united by values and style.

About Toys“R”Us, Inc.

Toys“R”Us, Inc. is the world’s leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer, offering a differentiated shopping experience through its family of brands. Merchandise is sold in 885 Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us stores in the United States, Puerto Rico and Guam, and in 795 international stores and 254 licensed stores in 37 countries and jurisdictions. With its strong portfolio of e-commerce sites including Toysrus.com and Babiesrus.com, the company provides shoppers with a broad online selection of distinctive toy and baby products. Toys“R”Us, Inc. is headquartered in Wayne, NJ, and has an annual workforce of approximately 62,000 employees worldwide. The company is committed to serving its communities as a caring and reputable neighbor through programs dedicated to keeping kids safe and helping them in times of need. Since 1992, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund, a public charity affiliated with Toys“R”Us, Inc., has donated more than $125 million in grants to children’s charities. For more information, visit Toysrusinc.com or follow @ToysRUsNews on Twitter. Follow Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Toysrus and Facebook.com/Babiesrus and on Twitter at Twitter.com/Toysrus and Twitter.com/Babiesrus.

About The Honest Company

The Honest Company is dedicated to helping people live happy and healthy lives. Founded in 2012, the mission-driven company provides 100+ trusted, effective, and delightful products across a wide range of consumer categories, including baby, personal care, beauty, home care, and vitamins & supplements, to a passionate community of consumers united by values and style. Honest products are available across the U.S. via honest.com and honestbeauty.com and at more than 13,000 retail locations across North America. The Honest Company is privately held and headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Media Relations:

1 (973) 617-5900
Press@toysrus.com

Source: Toys“R”Us

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Colleen Wegman named president and CEO of Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.

ROCHESTER, NY, 2017-Mar-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — Danny Wegman announced that his daughter, Colleen Wegman, has been named president and CEO of Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., and he will assume the title of chairman.

“I will continue in my role, but now as chairman of the company,” said Danny Wegman. “The time has come to create a structure for the future that will allow us to remain strong, vibrant and family-owned. I have no doubt that our company will be in good hands.”

Colleen Wegman joined Wegmans in 1991 and was named president in 2005 by the late Robert B. Wegman, her grandfather.

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a 92-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The family-owned company, recognized as an industry leader and innovator, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016. Wegmans has been named one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ by FORTUNE magazine for 20 consecutive years, ranking #2 in 2017.

Press Contact:

Jo Natale
Vice President of Media Relations
585-429-3627

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Colleen Wegman named president and CEO of Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.

 

Source: Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.

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Price Chopper/Market 32 to showcase local products on Taste NY Day on Saturday, April 1

Schenectady, NY, 2017-Mar-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — Price Chopper/Market 32 will salute Homegrown Flavors with a Taste NY Day on Saturday, April 1 from 10:0 0 AM-2:00 PM at a half-dozen Capital Region locations, including:

• Clifton Shoppers World Market 32 (Route 146 and Plank Road, Clifton Park),
• Wilton Market 32 (3045 Route 50, Saratoga Springs),
• Glenville Market 32 (290 Saratoga Road, Scotia),
• Hamilton Square Market 32 (Routes 20 and 155, Guilderland),
• Hudson Valley Plaza Market 32 (79 Vandenburg Place, Troy), and
• Bethlehem Price Chopper (1395 New Scotland Ave, Slingerlands).

“We’re proud to help shine the spotlight on all of New York’s terrific growers and producers through Governor Cuomo’s Taste NY program”, said State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball. “By working with our partners at Price Chopper/Market 32, who value our local farmers and source locally-grown foods, we are able to reach even more consumers. New York State has a great story to tell when it comes to agriculture and our agribusinesses. The Homegrown Flavors –Taste NY Day will provide us the opportunity to share that story with shoppers who will be able to meet the producers behind the products.”

More than 40 of Price Chopper/Market 32’s many local and regional suppliers will be on hand to chat with customers about what makes their products special and to offer free samples.

“As a homegrown business ourselves, we like to call special attention to our trade partners who are producing right here in New York,” said Mona Golub, Price Chopper/Market 32’s vice president of public relations and consumer services. “We are deeply committed to sourcing locally grown, produced and manufactured products as a way of stimulating the economies in our local communities, satisfying regional tastes, ensuring farm-to-table freshness, and continuing our long-standing practice of supporting small family businesses and farms.”

“R & G is thrilled with Price Chopper/Market 32’s commitment to featuring local producers in their stores,” said Sean O’Connor, Head Cheese Maker, R & G Cheesemakers. “As a proud supplier to Price Chopper/Market 32, we’re very excited to participate in their Homegrown Flavors event for Taste NY.”

Price Chopper/Market 32, a homegrown supermarket chain that has operated in the Northeast since 1932, has long emphasized the importance of supporting local growers and producers in the communities where it operates stores.

About The Golub Corporation:

Based in Schenectady, NY, the Golub Corporation owns and operates 136 Price Chopper and Market 32 grocery stores in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The American owned, family-managed company prides itself on longstanding traditions of innovative food merchandising, leadership in community service, and cooperative employee relations. Golub’s 20,000 teammates collectively own more than 47% of the company’s privately held stock, making it one of the nation’s largest privately held corporations that is predominantly employee-owned. For additional information, visit www.pricechopper.com

About Taste NY:

Taste NY is an initiative launched by Governor Cuomo in 2013 to promote New York’s food and beverage industries and drive agritourism across the State. It is overseen by the Department of Agriculture and Markets and has created opportunities for local producers to showcase their goods at a variety of venues throughout the State and at large public events, such as the Great New York State Fair and the Barclays Tournament at Bethpage State Park. Over the last three years, the Taste NY initiative has seen steady growth and recognition. The program reported sales of $4.5 million in 2015 and nearly tripled those figures to more than $13.1 million in 2016. Today, New York products sold under Taste NY branding are available in more than 60 locations throughout the State as well as the New York State Office of Trade and Tourism in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

For more information about Taste NY, please visit www.taste.ny.gov. Connect with Taste NY through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Contact:

Mona Golub
Price Chopper
518.379.1480

Jonathan Pierce
APR Pierce Communications
518.427.1186

Source:  Price Chopper

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Morrisons to pay its smaller suppliers within 14 days

Bradford, England, 2017-Mar-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — From 1st April 2017, all goods for resale suppliers, whose business with Morrisons is worth up to £100,000 annually with Morrisons, will be paid within 14 days of receipt of a valid electronic invoice.

As a result, more than 3,000 suppliers will be on payment terms of less than 14 days. Morrisons is also aiming to find 200 local suppliers as part of its ‘Nation’s Local Foodmakers’ programme and they could benefit from the change.

In addition, Morrisons is also announcing today (27/03/2017), that to help small suppliers who currently don’t use an electronic invoicing system, it is developing a free-to-use supplier portal, through which invoices can be raised and submitted. The new service is expected to be introduced later this year.

Darren Blackhurst, Morrisons Group Commercial Director, said:

“We aim to buy and sell simply and when we listened to our smaller suppliers, they told us that these payment terms would help them with their cash flow. We want our smallest suppliers to grow with us.”

Suppliers who are already on payment terms that are less than 14 days, including livestock farmers, will remain on the same terms.

The moves aim to build on Morrisons’ ambition to buy and sell simply and follows on from other changes that have been introduced, including:

  • Reducing the type of supplier income from 37 to three
  • Removing or reducing many charges that suppliers pay
  • Resolving all cost price invoice queries within five working days
  • Introducing a simpler standard Supply Agreement for adoption this yearMorrisons is currently:
    • Developing longer term business plans for own-brand partners and strategic suppliers allowing for more effective collaboration
    • Launching an independent whistleblowing service so suppliers may anonymously report concerns

Notes:

  • Morrisons is writing to suppliers to inform them of the changes
  • Morrisons’ suppliers can receive further information on our helpdesk number 0845 611 5700
  • To benefit a supplier must:
    – be a goods for resale supplier;
    – have a turnover with Morrisons on goods for resale during Morrisons last financial year, of £100,000 or less excluding VAT;
    – submit valid electronic invoices through an EDI platform approved by Morrisons.

 

Contact: 0845 611 5111

Source: Morrisons

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Waitrose joins John Lewis Partnership’s global start-up accelerator programme

  • JLAB fast-tracks growth of start-ups in the retail space
  • Start-ups to be embedded in John Lewis and Waitrose across 12 week programme
  • Finalists will have access to a microfund of up to £200,000
  • Applications open 28 Mar, enter for free at www.jlab.co.uk

London, 2017-Mar-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — The John Lewis Partnership has opened the call for applications for JLAB 2017, its global start-up accelerator programme, run in association with innovation specialists L Marks. Now in its fourth year, this year’s JLAB sees Waitrose joining the programme, creating the UK’s largest retail tech accelerator and widening the growth opportunities for companies with disruptive retail tech ideas.

The programme was set up in 2014 to help talented tech start-ups fast track their growth by giving them access to John Lewis’s resources and industry-leading insight, as well as the opportunity to apply for funding in exchange for equity. The programme enables the John Lewis Partnership to tap into emerging innovation in retail which will benefit their customers and forge long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with some of the world’s most exciting young tech companies.

This year five to ten successful applicants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves across both the John Lewis and Waitrose businesses. Throughout the twelve-week programme, which commences in July, they will receive support from senior level mentors and free workspace in John Lewis’s head office in Victoria and Waitrose’s head office in Bracknell. Participating companies will also have access to industry knowledge and expertise from across the John Lewis Partnership, as well as specialist insight on the Partnership’s combined range of over 400,000 of fashion, home, food and technology products and services.

Start-ups participating in JLAB will have access to capital from the dedicated microfund provided by the John Lewis Partnership and L Marks. Each team will be eligible to apply for funding of up to £100,000 from the total pot of £200,000, in exchange for equity in their company.

Paul Coby, Chief Information Officer John Lewis Partnership, said: ‘Industries are being disrupted almost overnight and retail technology in particular is evolving at a rapid pace. JLAB enables us to augment our understanding of innovation and partner with these disruptors to offer the next generation of customer experiences. Waitrose involvement in JLAB means we can now provide start-ups with unprecedented access to two of the UK’s leading retailers and ensure we add value to these fledgling companies, in the same spirit of cooperation the John Lewis Partnership was founded on.’

Stuart Marks, technology entrepreneur and Chairman of L Marks, said: ‘JLAB has become one of the best and most advanced retail accelerator programmes, attracting hundreds of hopeful entrepreneurs from around the world. At a time when most large companies are seeing disruption all around them, the John Lewis Partnership has willingly opened up its entire business up to assist and develop startups. We are excited to have Waitrose join the programme and bringing with it their unique grocery related categories.  We expect this to be our best JLAB yet.’

JLAB is focusing on enhancing customer experience and is inviting early-stage and high-growth companies looking to collaborate with in the following categories:

Amazing Food Experiences: There is a growing potential to enhance customer experience in food shopping and food service. We are looking for start-ups which will help us serve food to our customers in more convenient, exciting and innovative ways.

Amazing Store Experiences: We want to partner with start-ups to make in store experiences even more inspiring and individual.

Effortless Shopping: We’re looking for solutions that create frictionless on and offline shopping for customers; start-ups who can help us enhance shopping experiences and save our customers time.

Help Me Live a Healthier Life: We want to help our customers to live well when it comes to their food and lifestyle. We want to find innovative health and wellbeing solutions that can be implemented across online channels and in store.

Smarter Supply Chain: We want to hear from start-ups who have innovative ideas, or solutions to disrupt traditional supply chain practices, from last mile deliveries and farm to fork traceability to smart product IDs and Internet of Things.

Surprise us – Innovations that are so out of this world they can’t be classified.

Applications open on Tuesday 28 March and will close at midnight on 30 April. John Lewis Partnership and L Marks will then select five to ten start-ups to complete the 12 week JLAB programme, commencing in July 2017. The final winner will be announced at a showcase event in September 2017.

Notes to editors

The John Lewis Partnership – operates 48 John Lewis shops across the UK, johnlewis.com, 352 Waitrose shops, waitrose.com and business to business contracts in the UK and abroad. The business has annual gross sales of over £11bn. It is the UK’s largest example of an employee-owned business where all 86,700 staff are Partners in the business.

Waitrose – winner of the Best Supermarket1 and Best Food Retailer2 awards- currently has 352 shops in England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands, including 63 convenience branches, and another 27 shops at Welcome Break locations. It combines the convenience of a supermarket with the expertise and service of a specialist shop – dedicated to offering quality food that has been responsibly sourced, combined with high standards of customer service.  Waitrose also exports its products to 58 countries worldwide and has eight shops which operate under licence in the Middle East. Waitrose’s omnichannel business includes the online grocery service Waitrose.com, as well as specialist online shops including waitrosecellar.com for wine.

¹ Which? Customer Survey
² Verdict Customer Satisfaction Awards

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  ‘Best In-Store Experience 2016’, ‘Best Clothing Retailer 2016,’ ‘Best Electricals Retailer 2016,’ ‘Best Furniture Retailer 2016,’ ‘Best Homewares Retailer 2016’ and ‘Best Click & Collect Retailer 2016’1, typically stocks more than 350,000 separate lines in its department stores across fashion, home and technology. Johnlewis.com stocks over 280.000 products and 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.

1Verdict Consumer Satisfaction Awards 2016

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

Media Contact:
Rob Joyce
Antidote Communications
Email: JLAB@antidotecommunications.com
Telephone: 0203 740 4009

Source:  John Lewis

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Chipotle becomes the only national restaurant brand to eliminate unnecessary additives and preservatives in its food

Multi-Year Quest to Develop Better Tasting, Preservative-Free Tortilla Complete; Company’s Food Now Includes Only 51 Real, Delicious Ingredients

DENVER, 2017-Mar-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) announced that it has become the only national restaurant brand with no added colors, flavors or preservatives in any of the ingredients it uses to prepare its food (except for lemon and lime juices which can be used as preservatives, though Chipotle uses them only for taste). This applies to all Chipotle restaurants in the United States and does not include beverages. The accomplishment furthers the company’s mission to make better food accessible to everyone. Details about each of the company’s ingredients can be seen at http://www.chipotle.com/real.

Two years ago, the company began working to eliminate unnecessary additives and preservatives from the tortillas it uses to make burritos, tacos and chips. The new tortillas are now served in all the company’s U.S. restaurants, and were tested extensively in Chipotle restaurants around the country beginning in January. The new recipes for corn and flour tortillas now contain between two and five ingredients. For example, the new flour tortillas are made using only flour, water, canola oil, salt and yeast. The corn tortillas used for the chips are made only with corn masa flour and water.

“We have always used high quality ingredients and prepared them using classic cooking techniques,” said Steve Ells, Chipotle Founder, Chairman and CEO. “We never resorted to using added colors or flavors like many other fast food companies do simply because these industrial additives often interfere with the taste of the food. However, commercially available tortillas, whether they are for us or someone else, use dough conditioners and preservatives. I’ve been on a quest for a better tasting tortilla for years, and we finally achieved a tortilla made the way you would make them at home, and they are simply delicious. Ultimately, all of the decisions we make about the ingredients we use are about making the very best tasting food we can.”

Chipotle has long been a pioneer in serving better quality ingredients. This includes the use of local and organically grown produce when available and practical, dairy from cows raised on pasture and meats from animals raised without hormones or non-therapeutic antibiotics. Additionally, none of the ingredients used in Chipotle’s food have been genetically modified. With the introduction of its new tortillas, the company now touts only 51 real ingredients used to prepare all of its food. This is in stark contrast to most other fast food chains where a single menu item can contain 40 or more ingredients — many of which are added flavors, colors, preservatives and other industrial additives.

“When helping people find ways to eat well, I always encourage them to look for food made with simple ingredients, and without unnecessary additives. Even the word ‘natural,’ when it comes to additives, can be misleading because there are added colors and added flavors that can be labeled as ‘natural,’” said Ellie Krieger, RD, Nutritionist, Chef, and host of the public television show, “Ellie’s Real Good Food.” “And when I go out to eat, I seek out restaurants that use the same real, high-quality ingredients I use in my own kitchen. That’s why I absolutely love what Chipotle is doing here.”

Chipotle’s accomplishment comes at a time when other fast food brands are scrambling to clean up their ingredient statements as consumers turn away from processed foods and foods with added colors, flavors, preservatives and other industrial additives. But nearly every fast food chain has chosen the easier path of simply switching from artificial flavors and colors to “natural” versions of additives that serve the same purpose. Some fast food companies have gone so far as to designate the preservatives they use as “natural” even though nearly all preservatives identified in FDA rules are known as “chemical preservatives.”

Evidence of how confusing the distinction between artificial and natural additives can be is illustrated by looking at the ingredient statement from what is arguably fast food’s most popular offering: the French fry. Typical fast food French fries contain several ingredients including “natural beef flavor.” Even though it contains no beef, the “natural” beef designation can be used simply because the chemical is derived from plant material.

“Rather than switching from artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners and preservatives to ‘natural’ alternatives of the same additives, fast food companies should be asking why their food needs added colors, flavors, sweeteners and preservatives in the first place,” said Mark Crumpacker, Chief Marketing and Development Officer for Chipotle. “Because we prepare our fresh food using classic cooking techniques, we avoid using the industrial additives typically associated with fast food — but most importantly, that approach is the reason our food is so delicious.”

The company also released a “visual ingredient statement” which visually depicts the ingredients in each of its menu items. The visual ingredient statement can be seen at http://www.chipotle.com/ingredients.

Chipotle defines “national restaurant brand” as any restaurant brand included in the Nation’s Restaurant News top 200 list (August 2016) having more than 100 total U.S. locations. The company’s statements that it uses no added colors, flavors or preservatives apply only to Chipotle branded restaurants operating within the U.S., and only to the ingredients used to prepare food and not to ingredients used in the beverages sold at Chipotle.

ABOUT CHIPOTLE

Steve Ells, founder, chairman and CEO, started Chipotle with the idea that food served fast did not have to be a typical fast food experience. Today, Chipotle continues to offer a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salads made from fresh, high-quality raw ingredients, prepared using classic cooking methods and served in an interactive style allowing people to get exactly what they want. Chipotle seeks out the finest ingredients that are not only fresh, but that are raised responsibly, with respect for the animals, land, and people who produce them. Chipotle prepares its food without the use of added colors, flavors or preservatives typically found in fast food. Chipotle opened with a single restaurant in Denver in 1993 and now operates more than 2,200 restaurants. For more information, visit Chipotle.com.

Contact:
Chris Arnold
303-222-5912
carnold@chipotle.com

Source: Chipotle Mexican Grill

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RILA names Andrew Sousa as assistant director for the Center for Retail Compliance

Arlington , VA , 2017-Mar-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) announced today (3/28/2017) that Andrew Sousa has joined the association as assistant director for the Center for Retail Compliance and director at RILA. In this role, Sousa will manage RILA’s committee of retail environmental compliance professionals and develop comprehensive tools, content, and training to help retailers navigate environmental compliance regulations.

Sousa joins RILA from Canadian Tire Corporation, where he served on the risk & regulatory affairs team focusing on both compliance and product and chemical safety.

“Coming from a retail company and having a science background, Andrew brings a unique understanding of the challenges retailers face in the environmental compliance space,” said Tiffin Shewmake, executive director for the Center for Retail Compliance and vice president at RILA. “Andrew will play an integral role as we look to expand the CRC and its offerings for retailers, and we’re excited to have him on board.”

The Center for Retail Compliance was established by RILA in 2013 to provide retailers and industry stakeholders with access to retail-specific information, tools, and solutions pertaining to state and federal environmental regulations. To learn more, visit retailcrc.org.

Sousa officially started at RILA on March 13, 2017.

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

Contact:
Christin Fernandez
Vice President, Communications
Phone: 703-600-2039
Email: christin.fernandez@rila.org

Source: RILA

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NGA Fall Leadership Meetings to join NACS Show

​ALEXANDRIA, Va. and ARLINGTON, Va., 2017-Mar-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — NACS and the National Grocers Association (NGA), the leading associations representing convenience retailers and independent grocers respectively, announced that NGA is aligning its Fall Leadership Meetings comprised of the Trading Partner Business Sessions and Financial Management and Technology Conference with the NACS Show, which will take place October 17-20 in Chicago.

The strategic partnership brings together the leading small format and independent retailers to explore emerging trends in foodservice, consumer packaged goods, retail motor fuels, consumer-facing technologies and operating best practices.

NGA is the third major trade association to partner with the NACS Show. The Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMAA) and Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI) have previously co-located their programming and expositions with the NACS Show. Conexxus, the stand-alone spin off of the NACS Technology Project, also is aligned with the NACS Show.

The NACS Show is the premier event of the year for the convenience and fuel retailing industry. More than 23,000 attendees from 60-plus countries annually attend the NACS Show, which features four days of general sessions, 50 education sessions and more than 1,200 exhibiting companies in a nearly 410,000 net-square-foot expo. The NACS Show is one of the 40 largest tradeshows in the United States.

“This partnership furthers the efforts of both organizations to provide its members with convenient, one-stop shopping for new ideas, new connections and new products and services,” said NACS President and CEO Henry Armour.

“We’re excited to partner with NACS on this one-of-a-kind experience for independent grocers. The combination of our events provides NGA members the opportunity to see innovative products and solutions and further expand their networks,” said Peter J. Larkin, NGA president and CEO.

More information on the 2017 NACS Show is available at nacsshow.com. More information on the NGA Fall Leadership Meetings is available at ngafall.com.

Founded in 1961 as the National Association of Convenience Stores, NACS (nacsonline.com) is the international association for convenience and fuel retailing. The U.S. convenience store industry, with more than 154,000 stores across the country, conducts 160 million transactions a day, sells 80% of the fuel purchased in the country and had total sales of $575 billion in 2015. NACS has 2,100 retail and 1,700 supplier member companies, which do business in nearly 50 countries.

Contact:

(703) 684-3600 (phone)
(703) 836-4564 (fax)

Source: NACS

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Forever 21 announces songstress Justine Skye as the global campaign face of its 2017 Festival collection

LOS ANGELES, CA, 2017-Mar-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — Forever 21, one of the most recognized and largest independent fashion retailers in the world, announces today the global campaign face of their 2017 Festival collection, songstress Justine Skye.  With over two million views on YouTube, the Roc Nation records singer/songwriter’s fashion-forward style and social media presence are perfectly in line with Forever 21 making this the ultimate partnership.

“We are thrilled to be collaborating with Justine Skye, an artist who has a unique sense of style that embodies the spirit of Forever 21,” says Linda Chang, Vice President of Merchandising for F21. “The connection between new talent, music and fashion has never been stronger and we know our customers will be drawn to her energy and style.”

“Fashion has always been an important part of my life, and I am thrilled to be partnering with Forever 21, a brand that embraces fashion-forward style, diversity and creativity,” says Justine Skye. “This festival collection reflects my personal style, and I can’t wait for my fans to see the pieces.”

To celebrate the launch of the Forever 21 Festival Collection, Justine Skye will make an in-store appearance, open to the public, to unveil and perform her new song “Flames. Written by The Dream, “Flames” was the perfect musical accompaniment to the Forever 21 campaign. The music video will also be premiered at the in store appearance event as well. Customers will have the chance to meet Justine Skye at Forever 21, at The Americana at Brand in Glendale starting at 6:00 p.m. PST on Thursday, March 23, 2017.

The Forever 21 Festival Collection pays tribute to festival season and celebrates F21xMusic. A fresh take on urban sporty style, silhouettes are cropped and layering pieces are oversized providing just the right amount of cool girl attitude. A palette of metallic silver, scarlet red, and black featured alongside offbeat pops of neon yellow and royal blue create a bold statement.

The Forever 21 Festival collection launches in stores globally and on Forever21.com on Friday, March 24, 2017.

#F21xMusic

ABOUT FOREVER 21

Forever 21, Inc., headquartered in Los Angeles, California, is a fashion retailer of women’s, men’s and kids clothing and accessories and is known for offering the hottest, most current fashion trends at a great value to consumers. This model operates by keeping the store exciting with new merchandise brought in daily. Founded in 1984, Forever 21 operates more than 815 stores in 57 countries with retailers in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Latin America, Mexico, Philippines and United Kingdom. For more information please visit: www.newsroom.forever21.com

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Forever 21 Public Relations
press@forever21.com

Source: Forever 21

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Cajasur y EROSKI firman un acuerdo para apoyar a franquiciados con condiciones ventajosas de financiación

  • Cajasur ofrecerá una completa gama de productos financieros con condiciones ventajosas a los actuales y futuros franquiciados de EROSKI con la finalidad de cubrir las necesidades financieras propias de su negocio
  • EROSKI prevé superar las 100 aperturas de supermercados franquiciados durante este año

ELORRIO,España, 2017-Mar-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — Cajasur, comprometido con el sector de la distribución de Andalucía, ha puesto a disposición de todos los franquiciados de EROSKI una línea de financiación con condiciones ventajosas para un amplio conjunto de productos y servicios, que permitirá a estas empresas franquiciadas por EROSKI apoyar sus necesidades financieras, así como otras derivadas de su actividad diaria.

El acuerdo, que ha sido firmado por el responsable de Banca de Empresas de Cajasur, Fernando Mariscal, y el director de Franquicias de EROSKI, Enrique Martínez, sitúa la oferta financiera de Cajasur en una posición destacada en relación a la financiación de pequeñas empresas y emprendedores que deciden poner en marcha su propio negocio de la mano de las franquicias de EROSKI.

EROSKI prevé superar las 100 aperturas de supermercados franquiciados durante este año y Andalucía es una de las regiones donde más tiendas está abriendo la cooperativa. El grupo de distribución cuenta ya en la región andaluza con más de medio centenar de supermercados franquiciados. Durante 2017, prevé mantener un alto ritmo de nuevas aperturas, dando un fuerte impulso a la consolidación de su red de supermercados franquiciados EROSI en la comunidad andaluza.

La red franquiciada es una oportunidad de futuro para emprendedores por su potencial rentabilidad y un modelo de negocio altamente competitivo y rentable, apoyado por una estrecha relación colaborativa entre EROSKI y el franquiciado. Es un modelo de franquicia que destaca por generar actividad a través de una alta relación con el cliente y en el que el comerciante es gestor directo de su propio negocio, con el respaldo de profesionales con gran experiencia en el sector de la distribución y una marca de confianza que les respalda.

Mariscal ha señalado, durante la firma del acuerdo celebrado en la sede central de la entidad financiera andaluza, que “este acuerdo no sólo muestra el compromiso que Cajasur tiene con el sector de la distribución alimentaria y el tejido empresarial andaluz, sino que ayudará al desarrollo del sector de las franquicias fomentando su crecimiento, a través  de la prestación de una amplia gama de productos y servicios financieros, en línea con sus necesidades y expectativas”.

“Ofrecemos una franquicia diferente, en un establecimiento cercano que se aleja de otros conceptos gracias a sus productos frescos y a sus buenos precios en los alimentos de la cesta habitual, todo ello en un local que permite hacer la compra de manera cómoda y rápida”, destaca el director de Franquicias de EROSKI, Enrique Martínez. “Extendemos rápidamente a la red franquiciada las iniciativas de éxito que desarrollamos en nuestra red de tiendas propias de nueva generación” y concluye “nos esforzamos en conseguir una buena rentabilidad tanto para el franquiciado como para EROSKI para asegurar relaciones a largo plazo”.

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

Source: Eroski

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Darden Restaurants to add Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen to its portfolio of differentiated brands

ORLANDO, Fla., 2017-Mar-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI) today (March 27, 2017) announced that it has agreed to acquire Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen (Cheddar’s) for $780 million in an all-cash transaction from its stockholders including private equity firms L Catterton and Oak Investment Partners. Cheddar’s will add to Darden’s portfolio of differentiated brands which currently includes Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze and Eddie V’s.

Cheddar’s was founded in 1979 in Arlington, Texas and features high-quality, made-from-scratch food at compelling prices in a polished yet warm atmosphere. Today, Cheddar’s has 165 locations, including 140 owned and 25 franchised, across 28 states with significant growth opportunities in new and existing markets and average annual restaurant volumes of $4.4 million.

Transaction Highlights

  • Darden has agreed to acquire Cheddar’s for $780 million, subject to customary adjustments.
  • Net of certain tax benefits estimated at approximately $30 million, the purchase price represents a 10.4x multiple of trailing twelve month adjusted EBITDA ending December 2016.
  • Darden expects between $20 and $25 million of annualized pre-tax run rate synergies by fiscal 2019.
  • Total acquisition and integration-related expenses are expected to be approximately $25 to $35 million.
  • The transaction is expected to be accretive to Darden’s diluted net earnings per share in fiscal 2018 by approximately 12 cents, excluding any acquisition and integration-related expenses.
  • Darden will also pay $10 million for certain Cheddar’s transaction-related tax attributes and reimburse its equityholders for pre-closing capital expenditures on new restaurants under development.
  • Ian Baines, CEO of Cheddar’s, will remain President of Cheddar’s and report to Gene Lee, Darden President and CEO.
  • The completion of the transaction is expected to occur in Darden’s fiscal 2017 fourth quarter and is subject to customary closing conditions.

“Cheddar’s is an undisputed casual dining value leader with broad appeal and strong average restaurant volumes,” said Darden CEO Gene Lee. “Cheddar’s is a great fit in the Darden portfolio because it complements our existing brands. This addition will also enable Darden to further strengthen two of our most important competitive advantages: our significant scale and our extensive data and insights.”

Ian Baines, Cheddar’s CEO, stated, “We are excited about the opportunity to be a part of Darden. Our operating philosophy and values are similar and we believe this transaction provides a great opportunity for our team members to continue to grow and develop in their careers. Additionally, Darden’s expertise will enable us to further capitalize on our growth potential.”

BofA Merrill Lynch is acting as exclusive financial advisor and Hunton & Williams LLP is acting as legal advisor to Darden. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Cheddar’s and DLA Piper is acting as legal advisor to L Catterton, Oak Investment Partners and Cheddar’s.

Investor Conference Call
Darden Restaurants, Inc. will host a conference call to discuss the transaction and its fiscal 2017 third quarter earnings results, which were distributed in a separate release today, on Tuesday, March 28 at 8:30 am ET. To listen to the call live, please go to https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1007/19977 at least fifteen minutes early to register, download, and install any necessary audio software. Prior to the call, a slide presentation will be posted on the Investor Relations section of our website at: www.darden.com. For those who cannot access the Internet, please dial 1-888-994-3811 and enter passcode 2216120. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available shortly after the call.

About Darden
Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI) owns and operates more than 1,500 restaurants that generate $7 billion in annual sales. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, and employing 150,000 people, Darden is recognized for a culture that rewards caring for and responding to people. Our restaurant brands – Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, Eddie V’s and Yard House – reflect the rich diversity of those who dine with us. Our brands are built on deep insights into what our guests want. For more information, please visit www.darden.com.

About L Catterton
L Catterton, formed in 2016 through the partnership of Catterton, LVMH and Groupe Arnault, is the largest consumer-focused private equity firm in the world, operating multiple funds out of seventeen offices across five continents. More information about L Catterton can be found at www.lcatterton.com.

About Oak Investment Partners
As a multi-stage venture capital firm, Oak Investment Partners focuses on high-growth opportunities in the Information Technology, Internet and Consumer, Financial Services Technology, Healthcare Information and Services and Clean Energy sectors. Oak Investment Partners’ goal is to help dynamic companies transform the way business is done.

Information about Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements in this communication regarding our ability to close the transaction, the impact of the transaction on our sales and earnings growth, new restaurant growth and all other statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation statements concerning our future economic performance, are made under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are first made, and we undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after such date. We wish to caution investors not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to materially differ from those anticipated in the statements. The most significant of these uncertainties are described in Darden’s Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports. These risks and uncertainties include the successful completion of the proposed transaction in a timely manner, the ability to successfully integrate the new operations into our business following completion of the proposed transaction, technology failures including failure to maintain a secure cyber network, food safety and food-borne illness concerns, litigation, unfavorable publicity, risks relating to public policy changes and federal, state and local regulation of our business, labor and insurance costs, failure to execute a business continuity plan following a disaster, health concerns including food-related pandemics or virus outbreaks, intense competition, failure to drive profitable sales growth, our plans to expand our smaller brands Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52 and Eddie V’s, a lack of availability of suitable locations for new restaurants, higher-than-anticipated costs to open, close, relocate or remodel restaurants, a failure to execute innovative marketing tactics, a failure to develop and recruit effective leaders, a failure to address cost pressures, shortages or interruptions in the delivery of food and other products and services, adverse weather conditions and natural disasters, volatility in the market value of derivatives, economic factors specific to the restaurant industry and general macroeconomic factors including interest rates, disruptions in the financial markets, risks of doing business with franchisees and vendors in foreign markets, failure to protect our intellectual property, impairment in the carrying value of our goodwill or other intangible assets, failure of our internal controls over financial reporting, an inability or failure to manage the accelerated impact of social media, our ability to successfully complete our acquisition of Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen and integrate it into our business, including our ability to realize anticipated synergies and tax benefits arising from the acquisition and other factors and uncertainties discussed from time to time in reports filed by Darden with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:
Financial(Analysts)
Kevin Kalicak
(407) 245-5870

(Media)
Rich Jeffers
(407) 245-4189

SOURCE: Darden Restaurants, Inc.

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The Forrester Wave™: B2B Commerce Suites, Q1 2017 ranks Intershop as a Leader in B2B commerce suites

  • Scores number two in current offering
  • Among top score in solution architecture category
  • Report highlights: “core commerce capabilities…remain strong”, “strong technical roadmap”, “deep ecosystem of partners”

Jena, Germany, 2017-Mar-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — Intershop, the largest independent technology vendor for omni-channel commerce solutions, has been cited as a Leader in B2B commerce suites in a report published by renowned industry analyst firm Forrester Research, Inc. The report, “The Forrester Wave™: B2B Commerce Suites, Q1 2017” ranks Intershop as number two in current offering, and tied for number one in solution architecture category.

The report cites that “Intershop is a best fit for brand manufacturers that have complex channel support requirements, need especially well-developed commerce feature functionality, and are looking for flexibility on global pricing and licensing.”

The new Intershop Order Management System is also noted by the report; the strong core commerce capabilities of the Intershop Commerce Suite including promotions, channel management, and customization features, as well as its strong technical roadmap and deep partner ecosystem.

As organizations in the B2B sector are building out increasingly sophisticated digital commerce channels, they are able to expand outside their traditional markets, as the recent Intershop research report, “Taking the fast track into the digital future of B2B commerce” shows. However, the Intershop study also highlighted that organizations need to have the right technological infrastructure in place to fully leverage the potential of digitalization.

Jochen Wiechen, CEO at Intershop commented: “A strong commerce platform can help companies master the digital transformation of both their commerce and customer relationship processes. We pride ourselves in understanding what the market needs and developing a feature-reach platform that flexibly meets our customers’ requirements, whether they are only just starting to build their commerce channel, or expanding it across borders. We are delighted that Intershop is recognized as a leader in the B2B commerce market.”

The Forrester research report can be downloaded here: http://www.intershop.com/forrester-wave-b2b-commerce-suites-2017.

About Intershop

Intershop Communications AG (founded in Germany 1992; Prime Standard: ISH2) is the leading independent provider of omni-channel commerce solutions. Intershop offers high-performance packaged software for internet sales, complemented by all necessary services. Intershop also acts as a business process outsourcing provider, covering all aspects of online retailing up to fulfillment. Around the globe more than 300 enterprise customers, including HP, BMW, Würth, and Deutsche Telekom run Intershop solutions. Intershop is headquartered in Jena, Germany, and has offices in the United States, Europe, Australia, and China. More information about Intershop can be found online at www.intershop.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial and operational performance of Intershop. Actual events or performance may differ materially from those contained or implied in such forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that could lead to such difference could include, among other things: Intershop’s limited operating history, the unpredictability of future revenues and expenses and potential fluctuations in revenues and operating results, significant dependence on large single customer deals, consumer trends, the level of competition, seasonality, risks related to electronic security, possible governmental regulation, and general economic conditions.

Contact:

Intershop Public Relations
HEIDE RAUSCH
Head of Corporate Communication
Phone: +49 3641 50-1000
Fax: +49 3641 50-1309
mail to: pr@intershop.de

Source: Intershop Communications AG

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Whole Foods Market® in Hadley, Massachusetts recalls Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins due to undeclared walnuts

Whole Foods Market® in Hadley, Massachusetts recalls Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins due to undeclared walnuts

 

Hadley, Massachusett, 2017-Mar-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — Whole Foods Market ® in Hadley, Massachusetts is issuing an allergy alert to recall six-packs of Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins due to an in-store labeling error.

The muffins, which were labeled as “Made Right Here 6pk Banana Choc Chip Muffins”, contained walnuts, which were not declared on the ingredient list. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to walnuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. The muffins were sold in clear, plastic six-pack containers and had a “Sell by” date of March 28, 2017.

Signage is posted to notify customers of this recall.
One allergic reaction has been reported.

Consumers who have purchased this product may bring their receipt to the store for a full refund. Consumers with questions should contact the store at 1-413-586-9932.

Consumers Contact:

1 (413) 586-9932

Media Contact:

Heather McCready
Heather.mccready@wholefoods.com

Source: FDA

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