Daily Archives: July 12, 2017

Posted on by

Starbucks introduces Teavana Shaken Iced Tea Infusions

Starbucks introduces Teavana Shaken Iced Tea Infusions

 

Seattle, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — Tea cocktails. Tea-smoked duck. Green tea ice cream. The essential flavors of liquors and food are often enriched by blending or cooking with tea. For Starbucks product developers Melynda Cheng and Megan Droz, infusing “tea with tea” will yield a similar result – an iced tea beverage with an enhanced, perfectly balanced taste. According to the Tea Association of the U.S.A. Inc., nearly 84 billion servings of tea were consumed by Americans last year and approximately 80 percent was iced tea. Starbucks has developed a new take on this beverage.

“You get more of a true tea experience when you flavor green, white or black tea with herbal tea made from botanicals and fruit,” said Cheng.

“Freshly steeped botanicals have subtle flavors that don’t overpower the pure and simple notes of tea, which then have a chance to shine through,” added Droz.

More than a year ago, the duo embarked on a journey to transform the way iced tea is crafted and flavored and today (July 11), Starbucks introduces Teavana® Shaken Iced Tea Infusions, containing tea, fruit and botanical blends, slightly sweetened with liquid cane sugar. These new shaken iced teas are made without artificial flavors and sweeteners and are 45 calories for a Grande-sized (16 fluid-ounce) beverage. Pineapple Black Tea, Peach Citrus White Tea and Strawberry Green Tea will be available year-round at participating Starbucks® company-operated and select licensed stores in the United States and Canada. Customers in North America can try a complimentary Tall (12 fluid-ounce) Teavana Shaken Iced Tea Infusion during “Free Tea Friday” on July 14 from 1-2 p.m.

From ideation to creation

Cheng, who was educated at New York’s Culinary Institute of America, and Droz who graduated from Central Washington University with a degree in food science, took the lead in developing the new beverages. They set out to address the growing number of Starbucks customers who order their iced tea unsweetened and explore a tea-on-tea concept to reinvent the way iced tea is flavored.

“We realized we could appeal to our tea customers looking for ways to customize their tea just as coffee drinkers do with their espresso beverages,” said Cheng. “Unlocking tea from sweetness and honing in on flavor was one way to achieve this goal.”

Droz and Cheng began investigating flavor combinations when infusing tea with botanicals and fruit.

“We tried hundreds of combinations,” said Droz. “We know when flavor notes are complementary after tasting so many beverages and food over the years as part of our work. We identified flavors that stood out against tea as well as those that were buried by it.”

Informed by Teavana’s history in blending premium loose-leaf teas and inspired by three customer-favorite teas, Pineapple Kona Pop® Herbal Tea, Strawberry Paraiso White Tea and Peach Tranquility® Herbal Tea, Cheng, Droz and their team spent five months developing the perfect flavors. Ultimately, they landed on three varieties of Teavana Shaken Iced Tea Infusions that customers can now find at participating Starbucks® stores.

“The fruit and botanical blends of pineapple, peach citrus and strawberry take the place of sweeteners for a lighter mouthfeel and more delicate flavor than other iced tea beverages,” said Droz. “It’s possible to mix and match the different infusions because the flavors are all complementary to our core Teavana black, green, herbal and white teas.”

Customers can choose to customize any iced tea beverage with the flavors of pineapple, peach citrus or strawberry by asking their barista to create a beverage specific to their taste preferences.

Spreading the ‘good’ news

To support the introduction of the new Teavana Shaken Iced Tea Infusions, Starbucks will launch a multi-faceted advertising campaign under the theme “Good Feels Good” that will be shared across print, online, television and digital channels starting today. The campaign celebrates and explores the universal human truth of how feeling good makes one feel.

“We are excited about the quality and innovation in our Teavana Shaken Iced Tea Infusions and wanted to create a campaign that makes people feel the way the tea makes us feel, which is really good,” said Leanne Fremar, Starbucks senior vice president and executive creative director.

Starbucks enlisted the support of prolific director Dave Meyers and music artist Perfume Genius, along with a cast of 17 people from diverse backgrounds who are representative of Starbucks baristas, customers and everyday people. Featured in the campaign are poet, artist and speaker Cleo Wade; author and artist, Dallas Clayton; and United States Marine Veteran, Kyle Carpenter. Also featured are other vets, students, artists, innovators, risk takers and those who are simply doing inspiring work.

“There are lots of ways to represent tea and from the perspective of Teavana at Starbucks, this is a creative way to express the new Teavana Shaken Iced Tea Infusions, a product line that is made with so much integrity,” Fremar said. “That’s a real differentiator for us as a brand.”

To learn more about Teavana Shaken Iced Tea Infusions and “Good Feels Good” campaign visit tea.starbucks.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

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

SOURCE: Starbucks Corporation

###

Posted on by

Shopify to announce 2Q 2017 financial results on Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Ottawa, Canada, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — Shopify Inc. (NYSE:SHOP)(TSX:SHOP), the leading cloud-based commerce platform, plans to announce financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2017 before markets open on Tuesday, August 1, 2017.

Shopify’s management team will host a conference call to discuss second-quarter results at 8:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, August 1, 2017.  The conference call is available via webcast on the investor relations section of Shopify’s website athttps://investors.shopify.com/events/Events-Presentations/default.aspx.

An archived replay of the webcast will be available following the conclusion of the call.

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.

Source: Shopify

Posted on by

MinuteClinic joins the Alere eScreen Occupational Health Network

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — MinuteClinic, the retail medical clinic of CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), today (July 11, 2017) announced that MinuteClinic has joined the Alere eScreen Occupational Health Network (EOHN), a comprehensive alliance of clinic partners. Businesses that utilize Alere eScreen’s services can now direct employees who are required to participate in occupational health screening prior to employment, or as a part of their employment, to one of the more than 1,100 MinuteClinic locations nationwide for required workplace testing.

“MinuteClinic is pleased to partner with Alere eScreen to provide workplace health services to employers and their employees at times and locations that are convenient for them,” said Sharon Vitti, Senior Vice President and Executive Director, MinuteClinic. “Our practitioners are trusted and knowledgeable resources for health care services in their communities and they are looking forward to being able to provide this important service to local employees as well.”

Through the new partnership with Alere eScreen, employees can visit MinuteClinic for a number of services commonly required by employers, such as biometric screenings, vaccinations, Department of Transportation (DOT) physicals and drug testing. Employees in need of these services can visit Alere eScreen’s website that allows them to choose the location they would like to visit for testing, including their local MinuteClinic. Once the patient selects a location and enters some required demographic data, the patient then prints out an “e-passport” and presents this to the provider, identifying which tests or screenings the employer is requesting.

“Alere is excited to be an enabling partner for MinuteClinic in their desire to dramatically improve the accessibility of workplace testing services,” said Sanjay Malkani, Global President of Toxicology at Alere. “With the Alere eScreen system already in place, and access to a broad services menu including biometric screening, DOT physicals, vaccinations, and drug testing, MinuteClinic is poised to become a valuable workplace health destination for employers nationwide.”

MinuteClinic is open seven days a week, including evenings and holidays, and is staffed by nurse practitioners or physician assistants who specialize in family health care and can diagnose, treat and write prescriptions for acute illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye, sinus, bladder and bronchial infections. MinuteClinic providers can also treat minor wounds and abrasions, and sprains, strains and joint pain and can administer common vaccinations such as influenza, tetanus, pneumonia and Hepatitis A & B.

Prevention and wellness services offered at MinuteClinic include screening and monitoring for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, tuberculosis (TB) testing, contraceptive care, motion sickness prevention and smoking cessation. In addition, the providers can evaluate and treat common skin conditions, such as acne, dermatitis and rosacea.

About MinuteClinic

MinuteClinic is the retail medical clinic of CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), the largest pharmacy health care provider in the United States. MinuteClinic launched the first retail medical clinics in the United States in 2000 and is the largest provider of retail clinics with more than 1,100 locations in 33 states and the District of Columbia. By creating a health care delivery model that responds to patient demand, MinuteClinic makes access to high-quality medical treatment easier for more Americans. Nationally, the company has provided care through more than 37 million patient visits, with a 95 percent customer satisfaction rating. MinuteClinic is the only retail health care provider to receive four consecutive accreditations from The Joint Commission, the national evaluation and certifying agency for nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. For more information, visit www.minuteclinic.com.

About Alere eScreen, Inc.

As one of the country’s largest third-party administrators of workplace testing, Alere eScreen’s ability to transform workplace testing into a networked approach saves employers time, money, and resources. With integrated web applications and a suite of screening tools utilized by thousands of locations, we help automate test administration processes linking HR, supervisors, managers, collection sites, and employees throughout a variety of workplace testing events. Through Alere eScreen, employers have all the tools they need to successfully hire and maintain a healthy, drug-free, compliant, and productive workforce. For more information, visit www.escreen.com.

Media Contact:

Amy Lanctot
(401) 770-2931
CVS Health
Amy.Lanctot@cvshealth.com

SOURCE: CVS Health

Posted on by

NACS Consumer Fuels Survey: As gas prices decline, Americans more optimistic about the economy

​ALEXANDRIA, Va., 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — Another decline in gas prices helped fuel Americans’ optimism about the economy to near record levels, according to the latest NACS Consumer Fuels Survey.

The U.S. convenience store industry sells an estimated 80% of the fuel sold in the country, and NACS has conducted monthly surveys related to economic issues since January 2013.

Drivers report a median gas price of $2.22, down 13 cents from $2.35 in June. This month’s prices are the lowest gas prices reported by consumers this year.

As gas prices decline, consumers are feeling more optimistic about the state of the economy. Three in five (60%) American drivers report feeling optimistic about the economy, a two-point increase from last month and a point off the record high recorded in March. Last July, 47% of American drivers expressed optimism related to the economy.

Historically, most consumers say that prices will increase over the next 30 days; however, that perception is changing as gas prices remain low for a sustained period. Only 41% of drivers now say that they expect prices to climb this month, the lowest percentage in 12 months.

The decline in gas price has been felt most strongly in the South, where over half (55%) of consumers say they noticed lower gas prices this month. In contrast, just under a third (29%) of consumers in the West say they noticed this month’s dip in prices. Overall, 43% say they believe gas prices are lower than 30 days ago.

Nearly one in four consumers (24%) say that they will drive more this month and nearly one in five (18%) say they will spend more.

“The cumulative effect of low gas prices over the past three summers is certainly pushing consumer optimism higher,” said Jeff Lenard, NACS vice president of strategic industry initiatives. “Low gas prices, warm summer weather and high consumer optimism are the three factors most cited by convenience stores retailers looking to grow their sales and retailers are very optimistic about summer sales.”

In fact, more than four in five convenience store retailers (83%) say they are optimistic about their business prospects for the third quarter of 2017, the highest level recorded in the past eight quarters, according to a NACS retailer optimism survey published in late June.

The NACS Consumer Fuels Survey was conducted online by PSB (Penn Schoen Berland); 1,118 U.S. adults who purchase fuel for a vehicle such as a car, truck or van at least once per month were surveyed July 5-7, 2017. Summary results are available at convenience.org/fuelssurvey.

NACS advances the role of convenience stores as positive economic, social and philanthropic contributors to the communities they serve. The U.S. convenience store industry, with more than 154,000 stores nationwide selling fuel, food and merchandise, serves 160 million customers daily—half of the U.S. population—and has sales that are 10.8% of total U.S. retail and foodservice sales. NACS has 2,100 retailer and 1,750 supplier members from more than 50 countries.

Source: NACS

Posted on by

Whole Foods Market to open Arizona’s first Whole Foods Market 365 store at Tempe

Tempe, Ariz., 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — Whole Foods Market announced it has signed a new lease for a Whole Foods Market 365 store in Tempe, Arizona. This will be the first Whole Foods Market 365 location in Arizona. The news was announced this morning during a groundbreaking ceremony at for The Local, a new, mixed-use development located at the intersection of University Drive and Ash Avenue in downtown Tempe.

“We are thrilled to announce that our region’s first Whole Foods Market 365 in Arizona store will be located in Tempe,” said Patrick Bradley, president, Whole Foods Market Southern Pacific Region. “Our 365 stores deliver the same quality that our customers have come to expect, but in a convenient and fun new format that provides exceptional value.”

Whole Foods Market 365 stores focus on an affordable and convenient shopping destination. The design, technology and carefully curated product selection at Whole Foods Market 365 stores provides a streamlined and modern experience for customers, while still adhering to Whole Foods Market’s industry-leading quality standards.

Customers can look forward to unique in-store venues with the “Friends of 365” program and the free 365 Rewards program to save even more.

For more, visit the Whole Foods Market 365 website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

Contact:

SWmedia@wholefoods.com

Source: Whole Foods Market

Posted on by

Viajes EROSKI firma un acuerdo de promoción del destino Flandes

Viajes EROSKI firma un acuerdo de promoción del destino Flandes

 

Se promocionarán ofertas y sus múltiples posibilidades turísticas, además de ciudades como Bruselas, Brujas, Amberes, Gante, Lovaina y Malinas

ELORRIO, España, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — Viajes EROSKI ha firmado un acuerdo de colaboración con Turismo de Bélgica por el que promocionará la oferta turística de este destacado destino turístico europeo durante 2017 incluyendo el lanzamiento de ofertas atractivas que incentiven su elección como lugar de vacaciones.

Entre las iniciativas de promoción que Viajes EROSKI desarrollará se incluye la creación de un destacado en su escaparate web, lanzamiento de diversas ofertas y promociones especiales para los viajeros y acciones en sus redes sociales y vía SMS a sus mejores clientes (más de 40.000 mensajes). También se incorporará información destacada en su intranet a la que tienen acceso todos los agentes de viajes para poder llegar a las ofertas y que informen con más precisión del destino. Además, viajes promocionará las  ofertas de Flandes y Bruselas en la revista EROSKI Club para fortalecer la campaña.

Flandes y Bruselas, regiones de Bélgica, cuentan con impresionantes tesoros arquitectónicos y artísticos. En un radio de pocos kilómetros se encuentran ciudades plenas de atractivos como Bruselas –sede del Parlamento Europeo y la Comisión, así como de otras instituciones comunitarias-, con su famosa Grand Place y sus edificios Art Nouveau, ambos patrimonio de la UNESCO; Brujas, con su centro histórico, también Patrimonio de la Humanidad; Amberes, capital mundial del diamante, ciudad de Rubens y de la moda; Gante, la ciudad de Flandes con mayor número de edificios históricos; Lovaina, apacible ciudad universitaria y de la cerveza; y Malinas, conocida por el carillón y los tapices.

Destacan también estas ciudades por su oferta cultural, con el legado de pintores como Magritte, Rubens, Van Eyck y el resto de primitivos flamencos; y por su oferta de ocio, con paseos en barco por los canales, paseos en bici, talleres de chocolate, degustaciones de cerveza artesana en sus típicas cervecerías, etc.

Flandes es reconocida mundialmente por su gastronomía, que forma parte del ADN flamenco, como suelen declarar sus propios habitantes, en la que destacan el chocolate y la cerveza, la cultura de esta última fue declarada recientemente Patrimonio Inmaterial de la UNESCO, y también el grupo de jóvenes cocineros Flanders Kitchen Rebels.

“El acuerdo responde a la estrategia de Viajes EROSKI de acercar al cliente los destinos más atractivos del momento, presentando en cada uno de ellos sus múltiples posibilidades de ocio y ofreciéndoles la posibilidad de encontrar además ofertas y promociones especiales”, ha declarado el director Comercial de Viajes EROSKI, Sergio Gómez.

Sobre Viajes EROSKI

Viajes EROSKI es una de las agencias líderes del sector, especialista en el viaje vacacional y con una red comercial de 160 agencias, incluyendo, además de su marca Viajes EROSKIi, su marca Viatges Caprabo –de implantación en Cataluña- y su división especializada en viajes de empresa y organización de congresos, Travel Air; además de sus oficinas online www.viajeseroski.es y www.viatgescaprabo.es

Viajes Eroski es la primera Agencia de Viajes con los certificados de calidad UNE-EN-ISO 9001-2008, UNE 189001 de Servicios Turísticos de Intermediación (Q de Calidad Turística del ICTE) y el certificado Q de plata 2008 como reconocimiento a la excelencia en la gestión empresarial. Además, cuenta con el sello de Turismo Familiar otorgado por la Federación Española de Familias Numerosas.

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

Source: Eroski

###

Posted on by

X5 strengthens its logistics operations with the opening of two new distribution centres in Yekaterinburg, Russia

Yekaterinburg, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — X5 Retail Group N.V. (“X5” or “the Company”), a leading Russian food retailer (LSE ticker: “FIVE”), announces the launch of two new state-of-the-art distribution centres (“DCs”) in Yekaterinburg: “Yekaterinburg” and “Kosulino”. The new DCs will help boost the efficiency of X5’s logistics operations, encourage more local sourcing and provide the best available prices to customers in the Ural, Volga and Siberian Federal Districts.

The Yekaterinburg DC has over 35,500 sq m of space and will service 1,260 Pyaterochka stores in the Sverdlovsk, Tyumen, Chelyabinsk, Kurgan, Novosibirsk, Omsk and Kemerovo regions, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area – Yugra, Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area, and Perm territory. Featuring six storage zones with individual temperature bands, the facility is designed to accommodate all categories of goods.

The Kosulino DC consists of 13,700 sq m and will support supplies to 36 Perekrestok supermarkets and 9 Karusel hypermarkets in the Sverdlovsk, Tyumen, Chelyabinsk regions, Perm territory, and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area – Yugra. Featuring five storage zones, the DC is the first to service the Perekrestok and Karusel chains in the Urals.

The new DCs will ensure the freshness and availability of goods as X5 continues its rapid expansion. They will also help to cut transportation costs and unlock new opportunities for local producers. The DCs will also help to increase sales volumes for local producers and make their products available in new regions. At its full capacity, the Yekaterinburg DC will be able to handle and store products from over 480 suppliers, and the Kosulino DC will handle over 1,000 suppliers. The share of local goods in the product mix of Pyaterochka stores in the Sverdlovsk region is 35%, while for Perekrestok and Karusel it exceeds 20%.

Following the launch of the two DCs, the number of jobs created by Pyaterochka, Perekrestok and Karusel in the Sverdlovsk region will exceed 6,500. The Yekaterinburg DC will operate around-the-clock with the help of 480 local residents, while the Kosulino DC will employ 105 local staff.

The opening ceremony for the DCs, which took place during the INNOPROM International Industrial Trade Fair, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Arkady Dvorkovich, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Viktor Evtukhov, and the CEOs of Pyaterochka and Perekrestok, Olga Naumova and Vladimir Sorokin.

The Yekaterinburg DC is among the most high-tech in Russia. The centre will deploy innovative solutions like dynamic slotting (a mathematical algorithm that provides for a shorter run for the picker based on order histories), voice picking (goods picked with the help of a voice terminal), EDI systems to maintain shelf availability and plan sales, and RFID technology to label goods and monitor their movement online. All these solutions, along with biometric employee identification, will help double labour productivity compared to peers.

X5 Retail Group invited managers of over 150 major suppliers from the Ural, Volga, and Siberian Federal Districts to the event. After the ceremony, the Kosulino DC hosted the X5 Dialogue Forum, where representatives of X5 Retail Group’s chain stores shared X5’s best practices in partnering with local suppliers and food producers. The local manufacturers received valuable advice on how to build relationships with retail chains, including information on product quality controls and requirements for transportation, storage, sales and disposal of food products set out in the Customs Union’s and X5’s applicable technical regulations.​

For further details please contact:
Maxim Novikov
Head of Investor Relations
Tel.:+7 (495) 502-9783
e-mail: Maxim.Novikov@x5.ru

Andrey Vasin
Investor Relations Officer
Tel.:+7 (495) 662-88-88 ext. 21-456
e-mail: Andrey.Vasin@x5.ru

Source: X5 Retail Group

Posted on by

JCPenney introduces new and improved JCPenney Rewards program

PLANO, Texas, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — JCPenney [NYSE: JCP] today (July 11, 2017) launched a new and improved JCPenney Rewards program. First introduced in 2008, the retailer’s customer loyalty program has been enhanced with new benefits and features that allow greater flexibility and reward earning potential, along with a new website and app experience that make accessing JCPenney Rewards easier than ever.

“We know our JCPenney Rewards members shop and spend more than twice as much as non-Rewards customers. As we focus on growing revenue per customer, our customer loyalty program will be integral to enticing customers to shop often and spend more on every trip,” said Sherina Smith, vice president of loyalty and customer relationship management for JCPenney. “We have spent the last year testing, analyzing and refining various pilot programs across the country to create the best loyalty program for our customers. We are excited to introduce a new program that better rewards our customers for regularly shopping JCPenney, ensuring she’s getting her ‘Penney’s worth’ – all while building long-term customer loyalty.”

No Cap on $10 Rewards and Points That Don’t Expire
With the new JCPenney Rewards program, every time a customer earns 200 points, the customer will receive a $10 reward, valid for a minimum of 45 days. There is no cap on the number of $10 rewards customers can accrue in a month and any remaining points will continue to roll over each month, as long as the customer remains an active JCPenney shopper. The $10 rewards can be used on a future JCPenney purchase in store and online at jcpenney.com.

JCPenney credit cardmembers are automatically enrolled in the program and will earn one point for every dollar they spend. JCPenney Reward members who use any other form of payment will earn 1 point for every $2 they spend.

Enticing, Member-Only Benefits
Customers receive an array of exclusive benefits as a JCPenney Rewards member. Members can expect special offers throughout the year, from member-only prices for select merchandise to limited Sephora inside JCPenney sample product offers and even an extra coupon to use on their birthday. Furthermore, during bonus reward events, all members can receive $10 bonus rewards for every $50 spent up to $150.

With JCPenney cardmembers shopping JCPenney more frequently and spending over 2.5 times as much as other customers, JCPenney has added more incentives for customers to become cardmembers. Under the new JCPenney Rewards program, JCPenney credit cardmembers will receive additional benefits such as exclusive coupons and invitation-only shopping events, including more than 150 exclusive cardmember savings days. In fact, credit cardmembers shopping the retailer’s Cyber in July sale this week will enjoy an additional 30 percent off when they use their JCPenney credit card on top of an array of enticing online-only deals.

Furthermore, Gold and Platinum cardmembers receive extra benefits such as a passbook of coupons, which includes a “Pick Your Own Sale Day,” along with additional coupons and special offers. Platinum cardmembers also receive a special “thank you” offer, Sephora inside JCPenney bonus point events and Platinum Appreciation sale days. Gold and Platinum cardmember status will now be determined by the customer’s annual spend, regardless of how many times a customer shops JCPenney or JCPenney.com throughout the year.

Manage Rewards Anytime, Anywhere
JCPenney has consolidated its JCPenney Rewards website with jcpenney.com – all members need to remember is: jcp.com/rewards. Through one single sign-in, a member’s rewards automatically appear at checkout and the customer can choose to apply them to their purchase with one simple click. JCPenney Rewards members will be notified by email when they have earned a reward.

Additionally, members can manage their JCPenney Rewards account in the newly redesigned JCPenney mobile app. Members can easily access their $10 rewards in the app’s user profile and view how many points until their next reward. Much like the desktop version, a member’s rewards automatically appear at checkout when shopping in the app. When checking out in a store, customers can simply ask an associate to scan the barcode of their $10 reward directly from the app on their smartphone.

The app also includes a barcode with the member’s JCPenney Rewards identification number. Store associates can scan the barcode to look up the customers’ JCPenney Rewards account to ensure they receive points for their store purchase. A member’s $10 rewards will automatically be stored within the app’s new digital wallet feature, where app users can also scan their JCPenney coupons and gift cards to store all their JCPenney savings one convenient location. Futhermore, JCPenney credit cardmembers can enjoy the convenience of paying their bill within the app.

To encourage JCPenney Reward members to take advantage of these new features on the app, members that download the JCPenney app for the first time from July 16-Aug. 31 will receive a $10 reward.

Customers interested in the joining the JCPenney Rewards program can sign-up for free by visiting www.jcp.com/rewards or inquire at their local JCPenney store.

About JCPenney:
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE:JCP), one of the nation’s largest apparel and home furnishings retailers, is on a mission to ensure every customer’s shopping experience is worth her time, money and effort. Whether shopping jcp.com or visiting one of over 1,000 store locations across the United States and Puerto Rico, she will discover a broad assortment of products from a leading portfolio of private, exclusive and national brands. Supporting this value proposition is the warrior spirit of over 100,000 JCPenney associates worldwide, who are focused on the Company’s three strategic priorities of strengthening private brands, becoming a world-class omnichannel retailer and increasing revenue per customer. For additional information, please visit jcp.com.

JCPenney Media Relations:
(972) 431-3400
jcpnews@jcp.com
@jcpnews

Source: J. C. Penney Company, Inc.

Posted on by

Chow Tai Fook launches “Marvel” jewellery Collection

Hong Kong, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — For the release of the new superhero film “Spider-Man: Homecoming”, the group is proudly presenting Chow Tai Fook “Marvel” Collection inspired by some of the classic characters from Marvel, one of The Walt Disney Company’s most popular franchises. The collection sees the transformation of the iconic characters including Spider-Man, Iron Man and Captain America into a marvelous range of statuette, jewellery accessories in pure gold, silver and diamonds.

With the highly anticipated “Spider-Man: Homecoming” hitting the big screens on 6th July 2017 in Hong Kong, Spider-Man is going to once again delight fans. Peter Parker (Spider-Man), with the help of his mentor Iron Man, attempts to strike a balance between his roles as a high school student and Spider-Man after the events of “Captain America: Civil War”. He eventually grows into a true superhero as he fights against the new villain, Vulture. The Chow Tai Fook “Marvel” Collection features Spider-Man, Iron Man and Captain America, as well as Thor and Hulk from the upcoming Marvel sequel “Thor: Ragnarok”. The most highlighted one is the real-like Iron Man pure gold statuette and pendant which Chow Tai Fook firstly launches developed based on classic Iron Man Mark 45 with highly accurate details as shown in helmet and armor, which are good choices for fans’ collectible items! Besides, Chow Tai Fook also launches iconic pure gold, silver and silver with diamond Spider-Man pendant. Marvel fans can fulfill their superhero dreams through the exquisite and dynamic range of jewellery accessories and statuette.

Spending HK$1,200 or above* at ctfeShop (including at least one product of “Marvel” Collection) can get a Hot Toys Spider-Man Cosbaby (S) for free; available while stocks last; terms and conditions apply.

[Chow Tai Fook Gear Up Challenge]

Chow Tai Fook invited celebrity Louis Cheung to promote for the Chow Tai Fook “Marvel” Collection by acting as a training ambassador creating a set of three cool-looking and practical poses for two personal trainers to demonstrate to draw fans to participate in the Challenge.

How to enter:

i) i) Participant browses “Chow Tai Fook Gear Up Challenge” event page to understand the requirements of each pose Link:https://www.facebook.com/events/1915176172103426/

ii) Do 10 times for each pose according to the sequence and the poses introduced in the video and say “CTF Gear Up Challenge”

iii) Shoot a video and upload to “Chow Tai Fook Gear Up Challenge” event page, and tag 3 friends and invite them to participate in the Challenge

iv) Chow Tai Fook will select the winner, first runner-up and second runner-up for male and female groups based on the following criteria to win the prizes:

Criteria:

i) Accuracy of poses

ii) The quickest time to finish the poses

iii) Styling (related to the hero characters that Louis Cheung mentioned in the video)

Prizes：

Champion (worths HK$23,298)

i) Chow Tai Fook “Marvel” Collection Iron Man Pure Gold Statuette (worths HK$14,500)

ii) HK$1,000 Department Store cash coupon

iii) Fitness Centre Privilege Membership (1 month unlimited group class & 4 one-on-one Personal Training sessions (worths HK$7,798)

First Runner-up (worths HK$6,698)

i) Chow Tai Fook “Marvel” Collection Spider-Man Pure Gold Pendant (worths HK$1,500)

ii) HK$800 Department Store cash coupon

iii) Fitness Centre Privilege Membership (14 days unlimited group class & 2 one-on-one Personal Training sessions (worths HK$4,398)

Second Runner-up (worths HK$4,298)

i) Chow Tai Fook “Marvel” Collection Spider-Man Pure Gold Charm/Pendant (Including leather strap) (worths HK$1,100)

ii) HK$500 Department Store cash coupon

iii) Fitness Centre Privilege Membership (7 days unlimited group class & 1 one-on-one Personal Training sessions (worths HK$2,698)

Additional Prize:

Participants who successfully upload video which is approved by Chow Tai Fook can have a chance to get HK$100 Department Store cash coupon and Fitness Centre Trial Session (limited to 100 quota; terms & conditions apply).

Media Enquiries:
media@chowtaifook.com

Source: Chow Tai Fook

Posted on by

TIEFGARAGE DER MIGROS EMBRACH WIRD ERNEUERT

TIEFGARAGE DER MIGROS EMBRACH WIRD ERNEUERT

 

Gossau, Switzerland, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — Von 17. bis 27. Juli 2017 werden der Bodenbelag und die Markierungen in der Tiefgarage der Migros Embrach erneuert.

Die Sanierung der Tiefgarage erfolgt vorgelagert zum eigentlichen Umbau der Migros Embrach, der für 2018 geplant ist. Während den zehntägigen Arbeiten werden der Bodenbelag und die Markierungen in der Tiefgarage erneuert. Die 65 Parkplätze im Freien stehen der Kundschaft während der Bauzeit uneingeschränkt zur Verfügung, der Zugang zu den Geschäften mit Einkaufswagen ist über die Tiefgarage möglich. Der Bodenbelag wird vorgelagert ersetzt, da er sich in einem schlechten Zustand befindet. Die Migros Ostschweiz informiert über Details zum gesamten Umbau der Migros Embrach parallel zur Eingabe des Baugesuchs im Verlauf des Sommers.

Communication:

Silke Seichter
Cooperative Migros Eastern Switzerland
Industriestrasse 47
9201 Gossau
TEL: 071 493 24 50
FAX: 071 493 27 89
E-MAIL: silke.seichter@gmos.ch

Source: Migros

###

Posted on by

Sequential Brands expands exclusive Martha Stewart line of office products at Staples

Sequential Brands expands exclusive Martha Stewart line of office products at Staples

 

Lifestyle expert provides new essentials for school, home, office and travel

NEW YORK, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sequential Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:SQBG) and Staples (Nasdaq:SPLS) announce the expansion of the Martha Stewart line of office products available exclusively at Staples.

The collection includes a new line of organizing products and accessories such as Discbound™ notebooks, message boards, folders, and Stack + Fit®storage solutions. The new product, which has been available since June, features beautiful new patterns, gold-finished hardware, and two new colors, persimmon and gray. The line also features a customizable Wall Manager® System.

“When we design, our goal is to identify innovative organizing ideas and transform them in to stylish, high-quality products that consumers love and trust. It’s important that people have the ability to stay organized whether the space they’re working with is a roomy office, a small desk, a closet or just a tote bag. We design products which make those spaces as functional as possible. Consumers really appreciate our attention to detail and use this line for its quality, style, and value,” said Martha Stewart.

Earlier this year, the Martha Stewart line of office products launched a new office storage system and new travel products and accessories. The office storage system offers basketweave bins with raised lids that make stacking and storing easy in even the smallest spaces; bins come in 6 sizes, most of which can hold letter-size paper and standard folders. The travel line is designed to help travelers stay organized and ease the travel experience; products include a brand-new Martha Stewart backpack—featuring a rear pocket that unzips to slip over a rolling luggage handle—a tote bag, and assorted zipper pouches, perfect for accessories such as toiletries, makeup, and more. These latest products and the entire Martha Stewart collection are currently available online at Staples.com/MarthaStewart and in stores.

“We’re thrilled to expand the exclusive Martha Stewart collection at Staples that includes beautiful organizational products and bright pattern finishes,” said Amy Steel Vanden-Eykel, vice president, merchandising, Staples. “The Martha Stewart brand is perfect for the moms and teens who are looking for a stylish, functional alternative to classic office supplies.”

About Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart is an Emmy Award-winning television show host, entrepreneur, bestselling author, and a trusted lifestyle expert and teacher. The Martha Stewart brand reaches approximately 100 million consumers across all media and merchandising platforms each month. Her branded products can be found in over 70 million households and have a growing retail presence in thousands of locations.

About Sequential Brands Group, Inc.
Sequential Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:SQBG) owns, promotes, markets, and licenses a portfolio of consumer brands in the home, active and fashion categories.  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.

About Staples, Inc.
Staples makes it easy to make more happen with more products and more ways to shop. Through its world-class retail, online and delivery capabilities, Staples lets customers shop however and whenever they want, whether it’s in-store, online, on mobile devices, or through the company’s innovative buy online, pick-up in store option. Staples offers more products than ever, such as technology, facilities and breakroom supplies, furniture, safety supplies, medical supplies, and Print and Marketing Services. Headquartered outside of Boston, Staples operates throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. More information about Staples (SPLS) is available at www.staples.com.

Media Contacts:
Sequential Brands Group, Inc.
Alexa Stark
astark@marthastewart.com
212-827-8348

Dana Miller
dmmiller@marthastewart.com
212-827-8347
Staples, Inc.

Kaleigh Sands
Kaleigh.Sands@Staples.com
508-253-1050

Source: Sequential Brands Group, Inc./globenewswire

###

Posted on by

CBRE: Vacant office space in the U.S. remained unchanged during the Q2 2017 at 13 percent

Los Angeles, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — Vacant office space in the U.S. remained unchanged during the second quarter of 2017 (Q2 2017) at 13 percent. The steady performance was attributable to a balance of supply and demand, according to the latest analysis from CBRE.

The vacancy rate in suburban markets increased by 10 bps, to 14.3 percent, while downtown vacancy remained steady at 10.7 percent. Vacancy continued to fall in an about half of the U.S. office markets, and the national office vacancy rate remains near its post-recession low.

”The office market remained in equilibrium during the second quarter with supply and demand roughly in balance,” said Jeffrey Havsy, Americas’ chief economist for CBRE. “Absorption was in the 7 million sq. ft. range for three out of the last four quarters while supply growth has been between 10.5 million and 11.8 million sq. ft. the past four quarters. This steadiness has kept the overall vacancy rate near 13 percent over the past year.”

The largest quarterly declines in vacancy were in Columbus (170 bps), Las Vegas (160 bps) and Albuquerque (130 bps). Louisville, Jacksonville, Norfolk, Honolulu, Orlando, Cincinnati and Atlanta each declined by 60 bps or more. Over the past four quarters, market conditions have tightened notably in mid-sized markets—including Tucson, Orlando, Las Vegas, Richmond, Sacramento, Albuquerque, Kansas City, Raleigh, West Palm Beach, Detroit and St. Louis.

“The market is in a very sustainable place with neither supply nor demand overheated, which bodes well for the health of the market over the next few quarters,” added Mr. Havsy.

About CBRE Group, Inc.
CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (based on 2016 revenue). The company has more than 75,000 employees (excluding affiliates), and serves real estate investors and occupiers through approximately 450 offices (excluding affiliates) worldwide. CBRE offers a broad range of integrated services, including facilities, transaction and project management; property management; investment management; appraisal and valuation; property leasing; strategic consulting; property sales; mortgage services and development services. Please visit our website at www.cbre.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Robert McGrath
212.984.8267
robert.mcgrath@cbre.com

SOURCE: CBRE Group, Inc.

Posted on by

Albert Heijn gaat strijd aan tegen suiker in frisdrank voor kinderen

Albert Heijn gaat strijd aan tegen suiker in frisdrank voor kinderen

Suikerreductie, introductie nieuwe producten en Friswijzer 

Zaandam, Netherlands, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — De komende weken gaat Albert Heijn een flinke suikerreductie doorvoeren in het schap met frisdrank voor kinderen en het schap met sappen. In meer dan 40 producten wordt het suikergehalte verlaagd, waardoor per jaar 50 miljoen minder suikerklontjes worden geconsumeerd. Ook vind je in het schap veertien nieuwe producten, zoals Droomwater en AH Natuurlijk mineraalwater met Wally de Walvis. De nieuwe Friswijzer bij het schap maakt het ouders met kinderen nog makkelijker om te kiezen voor een gezondere variant in de schooltas.

30% minder suiker

Steeds meer ouders kijken kritisch naar het suikergehalte in frisdrank. Albert Heijn speelt hierop in door vanaf vandaag het suikergehalte in alle AH Frisse Fruitdrank en AH Djoezz met maar liefst 30% te verlagen. Vorig jaar werd door Albert Heijn al een flinke suikerreductie ingezet. Zo’n honderd producten die veel door gezinnen met kinderen worden gekocht, werden in suikergehalte verlaagd.

Friswijzer

De Friswijzer die vorig jaar werd geïntroduceerd bij het frisdrankschap vind je nu ook bij het schap met frisdrank voor kinderen. De wijzer laat je op een makkelijke manier zien hoeveel suiker een product bevat en op welke wijze het product is gezoet (suiker, kunstmatige zoetstoffen of van natuurlijke oorsprong). In één oogopslag zie je of een product geen suiker (geel), laag in suiker (donkergeel), midden in suiker (licht oranje) of een hoog suikergehalte (donker oranje) bevat.

Twee nieuwe introducties

Steeds meer scholen adviseren ouders water mee te geven voor het pauze- en lunchmoment van hun kinderen. Daarom introduceert Albert Heijn iets nieuws: Wally de Walvis water. Als je het pakje met AH Natuurlijk mineraalwater opent, tover je de vinnen van Wally tevoorschijn. Van de nieuwe pakjes Droomwater, exclusief bij Albert Heijn in het schap, kunnen kinderen iets leuks knutselen. Zo valt er voor ouders en kinderen straks altijd iets gezonder én leuks te kiezen in het schap met frisdrank voor kinderen.

Afdeling mediarelaties:
pers@ah.nl
088 6590 2020

Source: Albert Heijn

###

Posted on by

DICK’S Sporting Goods welcomes Scott Hudler as Senior Vice President – Chief Marketing Officer

Scott Hudler to Lead DICK’S Marketing, Consumer Engagement Efforts

PITTSBURGH, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — DICK’S Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) today (July 11, 2017) announced Scott Hudler has been named Senior Vice President – Chief Marketing Officer. In this role, Hudler will be responsible for the Company’s overall marketing and consumer engagement strategy and implementation, and will report to Lauren Hobart, President, DICK’S Sporting Goods.

“Scott will play a pivotal role in driving our continued digital transformation across all consumer touch points and optimizing all of our marketing channels,” said Hobart. “His experience will make an immediate impact on our team, and we are thrilled to welcome him to the DICK’S family.”

Hudler joins DICK’S from an 11-year career with Dunkin’ Brands, where he most recently served as Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Officer, responsible for the brand’s digital strategy and product roadmap, including mobile, loyalty and all consumer-facing technology. Previously, he was Vice President, Global Consumer Engagement, and was responsible for advertising, media, promotions and eCommerce functions for the 12,000 Dunkin’ restaurants globally.

“I have always admired the DICK’S Sporting Goods brand as both a marketer and as a consumer. I am incredibly excited to align my personal and professional passions and lead the digital transformation for such a strong consumer brand,” said Hudler.

Earlier in his career, Hudler worked for Mars Inc., holding a variety of marketing roles in brand, sponsorship and marketing communications. He holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Valdosta State University.

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 April 29, 2017, the Company operated more than 690 DICK’S Sporting Goods locations across the United States, 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 dedicated to Team Sports, Athletic Apparel, Golf, Lodge/Outdoor, Fitness and Footwear. 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 scheduling, communications and live scorekeeping, custom uniforms and FanWear and access to donations and sponsorships. DICK’S offers its products through a content-rich eCommerce platform that is integrated with its store network and provides customers with the convenience and expertise of a 24-hour storefront.  For more information, visit the Press Room or Investor Relations pages at dicks.com.

Contact:

press@dcsg.com
724-273-5552

Source: DICK’S Sporting Goods Inc.

Posted on by

Nugget Markets and Center for Land-Based Learning to host annual fundraising event Dinner on the Farm on July 15, 2017

Woodland, CA, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — In partnership with the Center for Land-Based Learning (CLBL), Nugget Markets is proud to present this year’s Dinner on the Farm. This annual fundraising event invites guests to share in some of the best food and drink the region has to offer at the Farm on Putah Creek. Home of CLBL, this idyllic setting is surrounded by walnut orchards, fields of specialty crops and a view of the Vaca Hills and Berryessa Gap. This year’s dinner will take place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2017.

“The Center for Land-Based Learning has always celebrated our region’s agricultural heritage at Dinner on the Farm,” said Mary Kimball, Executive Director of CLBL. “The majority of the produce comes from the beginning farmers in our farm business incubator program. It’s a chance for us to highlight what they are doing and celebrate their success.”

While sourcing local produce and protein is a hallmark of this event, the menu changes every year to reflect what’s locally available and in season. This year, Nugget Markets’ executive chef, Stazi Dulman, crafted the gourmet, multi-course menu featuring fresh seasonal dishes like grilled eggplant “caviar” crostini, chilled melon soup, grilled marinated leg of lamb and a seasonal berry trifle. Dulman will also lend his culinary talent in leading the preparation of the feast at the event. Additionally, the white tablecloth dinner for 200 guests will feature local wines, beer and custom cocktails.

“Nugget Markets is proud to partner with the Center for Land-Based Learning to present this fantastic event and support the nonprofit as a whole,” said Kate Stille, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Nugget Markets. “Part of our key focus at Nugget Markets is to support those who produce the food that we then share with our guests, and this is a great way to do it.”

Family owned and operated since 1926, Nugget Markets is a full-line grocery store with roots in Yolo County. The family of stores provides high-quality perishables, organics and a variety of local options, chef-prepared foods, specialty grocery items and conventional goods in a European marketplace setting. The Nugget Market, Inc. family of stores includes 12 Nugget Markets in Northern California, Fork Lift by Nugget Markets in Cameron Park, Food 4 Less Woodland and Sonoma Market and Glen Ellen Village Market in Sonoma Valley.

Nugget Markets’ partnership with CLBL has extended for more than a decade, including a variety of event sponsorships and support for local urban farms. These and other programs help further CLBL’s mission to cultivate opportunity for the land, environment, youth, business and the future of agriculture through supporting beginning farmers and ranchers, and educating youth and exposing them to careers in agriculture and environmental science.

Dinner on the Farm is one of two annual fundraiser dinners that benefit CLBL and its many educational programs. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.landbasedlearning.org/dinner/dotf-events.

Press Contact:
Kate Stille
VP of Marketing and Communications
Nugget Market, Inc.
Mobile: (530) 219-1573
Office: (530) 669-3350

Source: Nugget Market, Inc.

Posted on by

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. terminates discussions regarding a potential transaction

New Albany, Ohio, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) announced today (July 10, 2017 ) that it has terminated discussions regarding a potential transaction. The company reported on May 10, 2017 that, after receiving expressions of interest, it had commenced preliminary discussions with several parties regarding a potential transaction.

Arthur Martinez, Executive Chairman of the Board of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. said:  “After a comprehensive review of all relevant factors, with the assistance of our financial advisor, the A&F Board of Directors determined that the best path to enhance value for stockholders is the rigorous execution of our business plan.

“>We believe in the prospects for our business and the opportunities for our brands. We are generating solid comp store sales momentum at Hollister and continue to refine and implement strategies to position the Abercrombie brand for revitalized performance. Our strong management team and dedicated people, the investments we have made in marketing, omnichannel and other strategies to drive sales, together with our relentless focus on operational efficiencies, all contribute to our expectation for improved trends beginning in the second half of the year, compared to the prior year period.”

“We are committed to taking sound, aggressive action to deliver enhanced performance and long-term stockholder value,” concluded Mr. Martinez.

The company said it does not intend to comment any further on the above noted discussions.

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

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

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

A&F cautions that any forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) contained in this Press Release or made by management or spokespeople of A&F involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various important factors, many of which may be beyond the company’s control. Words such as “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. Except as may be required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. The following factors, disclosed in “ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS” of A&F’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2017, in some cases have affected, and in the future could affect, the company’s financial performance and could cause actual results for Fiscal 2017 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any of the forward-looking statements included in this Press Release or otherwise made by management: changes in global economic and financial conditions, and the resulting impact on consumer confidence and consumer spending, as well as other changes in consumer discretionary spending habits, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and liquidity; our inability to anticipate customer demand and changing fashion trends and to manage our inventory commensurately could adversely impact our sales levels and profitability; our market share may be negatively impacted by increasing competition and pricing pressures from companies with brands or merchandise competitive with ours; direct-to- consumer sales channels are a significant component of our growth strategy, and the failure to successfully develop our position in these channels could have an adverse impact on our results of operations; our ability to conduct business in international markets may be adversely affected by legal, regulatory, political and economic risks; our inability to successfully implement our business plans could have a negative impact on our growth and profitability; our failure to protect our reputation could have a material adverse effect on our brands; our business could suffer if our information technology systems are disrupted or cease to operate effectively; we may be exposed to risks and costs associated with cyber-attacks, credit card fraud and identity theft that would cause us to incur unexpected expenses and reputation loss; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations; changes in the cost, availability and quality of raw materials, labor, transportation and trade relations could cause manufacturing delays and increase our costs; we depend upon independent third parties for the manufacture and delivery of all our merchandise, and a disruption of the manufacture or delivery of our merchandise could result in lost sales and could increase our costs; our ability to attract customers to our stores depends, in part, on the success of the shopping malls or area attractions that our stores are located in or around; we rely on the experience and skills of our senior executive officers, the loss of whom could have a material adverse effect on our business; our reliance on distribution centers makes us susceptible to disruptions or adverse conditions affecting our supply chain; our litigation exposure could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations; our inability or failure to adequately protect our trademarks could have a negative impact on our brand image and limit our ability to penetrate new markets; fluctuations in our tax obligations and effective tax rate may result in volatility in our operating results; extreme weather conditions and the seasonal nature of our business may cause net sales to fluctuate and negatively impact our results of operations; our facilities, systems and stores, as well as the facilities and systems of our vendors and manufacturers, are vulnerable to natural disasters, pandemic disease and other unexpected events, any of which could result in an interruption to our business and adversely affect our operating results; the impact of war or acts of terrorism could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition; changes in the regulatory or compliance landscape could adversely affect our business and results of operations; our Asset-Based Revolving Credit Agreement and our Term Loan Agreement include restrictive covenants that limit our flexibility in operating our business; and, compliance with changing regulations and standards for accounting, corporate governance and public disclosure could adversely affect our business, results of operations and reported financial results.

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

Media Contact:
Dawn Dover
Kekst
(212) 521-4817
Dawn.dover@kekst.com

Source: Abercrombie & Fitch

Posted on by

Coach, Inc. successfully completed its tender offer for all outstanding shares of common stock of Kate Spade & Company

NEW YORK, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — Coach, Inc. (NYSE:COH) (SEHK:6388), a leading New York design house of modern luxury accessories and lifestyle brands, today (Jul. 10, 2017) announced that its wholly owned subsidiary has successfully completed its previously announced tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Kate Spade & Company (NYSE:KATE), at a price of $18.50 per share, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon and less any applicable withholding taxes.

The tender offer expired at 5:00 p.m. EDT on July 10, 2017. Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., the depositary for the tender offer, has advised Coach, Inc.that, as of the tender offer expiration, an aggregate of 96,384,196 Kate Spade & Company shares were validly tendered pursuant to the tender offer, representing approximately 75% of the Kate Spade & Company shares then outstanding.

The parties expect to complete the acquisition of all remaining outstanding shares of Kate Spade & Company on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, pursuant to a merger of Coach, Inc.’s wholly owned subsidiary into Kate Spade & Company. Following the merger Kate Spade & Company will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Coach, Inc. and its shares will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.

About Coach, Inc.

Coach, Inc. is a leading New York design house of modern luxury accessories and lifestyle brands. The Coach brand was established in New York City in 1941, and has a rich heritage of pairing exceptional leathers and materials with innovative design. Coach is sold worldwide through Coach stores, select department stores and specialty stores, and through Coach’s website at www.coach.com. In 2015, Coach acquired Stuart Weitzman, a global leader in designer footwear, sold in more than 70 countries and through its website at www.stuartweitzman.com. Coach, Inc.’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol COH and Coach’s Hong Kong Depositary Receipts are traded on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the symbol 6388.

Neither the Hong Kong Depositary Receipts nor the Hong Kong Depositary Shares evidenced thereby have been or will be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account of, a U.S. Person (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act), absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. Hedging transactions involving these securities may not be conducted unless in compliance with the Securities Act.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “see,” “will,” “would,” “target,” similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about the consummation of the proposed transaction. Such statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of Coach, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the possibility that expected benefits may not materialize as expected; that the parties are unable to successfully implement integration strategies; and other risks that are described in Coach, Inc.’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other filings with the SEC.

Analysts & Media:
Andrea Shaw Resnick
212-629-2618
Global Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
AResnick@coach.com

Christina Colone
212-946-7252
Senior Director, Investor Relations
CColone@coach.com

Source: Coach, Inc.

Posted on by

Gordon Reid MBE becomes the latest Global Brand Ambassador for UNIQLO

Yamaguchi, Japan, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — UNIQLO today ( 2017.07.10) announces Gordon Reid MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire)*, the world’s top** male professional wheelchair tennis player, Paralympics singles gold medalist as its latest Global Brand Ambassador. The appointment marks the first time UNIQLO has selected a British athlete for the global role.

Speaking of the appointment, Tadashi Yanai, Chairman, President and CEO of the UNIQLO parent company, Fast Retailing, said, “We are delighted that Mr. Reid joins us as the newest UNIQLO Global Brand Ambassador. Mr. Reid is a champion of great resilience and human character, overcoming adversity to triumph at the highest level of his sport. These are exactly the values we look for in our brand ambassadors, so it will be a great honor to see him compete in UNIQLO apparel at Wimbledon, where he made history as its first ever men’s singles wheelchair champion.

Yanai added, “We are also pleased to underline our commitment to the ITF (International Tennis Federation) and to wheelchair tennis. As one of the largest employers of people with disabilities in Japan, inclusion and respect are among our most important company values. UNIQLO is made for all, and we believe Mr. Reid will help us inspire people from all backgrounds to be their very best.”

Reid was also enthusiastic about the partnership, saying, “It’s a real privilege to be joining UNIQLO as part of such a great team of Global Brand Ambassadors. It is important that I am comfortable when training and competing and the superb quality and technology of UNIQLO apparel is the perfect fit. I look forward to representing the UNIQLO both on and off the court.”

Effective immediately, the partnership sees Reid promoting the UNIQLO brand and its signature LifeWear worldwide. UNIQLO will leverage Reid’s professional insight in product development, using its advanced proprietary clothing technologies to create apparel that supports Reid’s performance at the top level, while also bringing greater comfort and functionality to the everyday lives of its customers. Reid will also assist UNIQLO with global community engagement and support initiatives.

*An MBE is a British honor given to a person by Her Majesty The Queen for a special achievement
**Player rankings are as of July 10, 2017

About Gordon Reid MBE
Gordon was born on the October 2, 1991 in Alexandia, Scotland. In 2007, he became the youngest national wheelchair tennis champion in the UK aged just 15, and in the same year, he led the Great Britain junior team to win the World Team Cup. In 2016 Gordon won singles titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and won the coveted Gold medal at the Rio Paralympic games. He finished the year as world number one and was honored with an MBE. Gordon is ranked No.1* in the world singles rankings.

About the UNIQLO Global Brand Ambassador Program
UNIQLO partners with world-leading athletes to promote its brand and LifeWear globally. Reflecting core UNIQLO values, Global Brand Ambassadors embrace challenge in pursuit of the highest possible achievement. They are universally admired for their integrity and character, and for the optimism, respect and humility they demonstrate to all.

UNIQLO combines the expert professional insight of its Global Brand Ambassadors with its most advanced proprietary technologies, creating apparel that supports human performance at the highest level, while also bringing greater comfort and functionality to the everyday lives of its customers. In addition, UNIQLO works with its ambassadors to promote community engagement and development initiatives around the world.

The current UNIQLO Global Brand Ambassadors are Kei Nishikori (Tennis), Shingo Kunieda and Gordon Reid MBE (Wheelchair Tennis), Adam Scott (Golf) and Marin Minamiya (Mountaineering and Exploring).

Source: UNIQLO

Posted on by

IKEA seeks to fill 250 positions for its new store opening Fall 2017 in Fishers, IN

FISHERS, IN, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today (07/07/2017) announced that coworker recruitment is underway for its future Indianapolis-area store, opening Fall 2017 in Fishers, IN along the eastern side of Interstate 69, just south of the E. 116th Street exit, approximately 15 miles northeast of downtown Indianapolis. Candidates interested in working at the future IKEA Fishers should be monitoring and applying online at SeeACareerWithUs.com, and can find more information about IKEA at IKEA-USA.com.

“We are thrilled to offer positions with limitless opportunity at a global company known for being a great place to work to friendly, people-oriented job-seekers,” said Holly Davidson, store manager. “IKEA offers diverse positions for different coworkers’ interests so they can enjoy their job and contribute successfully. We believe it is as fun to work at IKEA as it is to shop at IKEA,” explained Davidson.

As IKEA Fishers progresses through the construction process, prospective coworkers can apply for the approximately 250 diverse positions available in: home furnishings sales, interior design/visual merchandising, customer service, safety and security, cashiers, facility management, warehouse receiving, stock replenishment, and child play area supervision. Also, setting itself apart from other retailers, IKEA Fishers offers approximately 50 food service opportunities in its Restaurant, Swedish Foodmarket, Exit Bistro and coworker cafeteria. The recruitment effort is rolling, with the jobs posted online changing periodically based on timing need during the store’s build-up process.

Drawing from the company’s Swedish heritage, IKEA offers family-friendly initiatives and diverse workplace benefits including full medical/dental insurance to coworkers working 20 hours or more per week with eligibility for domestic partners and children. Most recently, IKEA announced an expanded policy for coworkers to receive up to four months of paid parental leave. Other benefits include: vacation, paid maternity/paternity leave and paid time off for child adoption, tuition assistance, a bonus program, 401(k) matching, a pension plan, professional development, training and mentoring programs, free uniforms, and – of course – a discount for shopping at IKEA.IKEA has been voted by coworkers as a Great Place to Work® on the ‘Fortune 20 Best Retail Workplaces’ list, received a 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2016 Corporate Equality Index, and was listed as #3 on Forbes’ list of “Happiest Retailers to Work For.” Previously, the company has been included in rankings of “Best Companies to Work For” and, as further investment in its coworkers, has raised its own minimum wage twice in two years.

RECRUITMENT UNDERWAY FOR IKEA STORE IN FISHERS, IN
The organization puts career opportunity into the hands of the individual, encouraging coworkers to consider assignments within different functions, at other IKEA stores or even in other countries. IKEA prides itself on the fact that an opportunity at IKEA truly can evolve into a career, potentially paving the way for a global experience as well. The company also places value and emphasis on coworkers’ personal lives and the importance of a work/life balance.

The 289,000-square-foot future IKEA Fishers and 1,000 parking spaces reflects the unique architectural design for which IKEA is known worldwide, and will include one of Indiana’s largest solar rooftops, consistent with the solar presence at 90% of IKEA U.S. locations.

IKEA Fishers will feature nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items, 50 inspirational room-settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area, and a 325-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as meatballs with lingonberries and salmon plates, as well as American dishes. Other family-friendly features include a ‘Children’s IKEA’ area in the Showroom, baby care rooms, play areas throughout the store, and preferred parking. The store also will offer the IKEA FAMILY loyalty program free to customers who sign-up to receive regular member discounts on IKEA FAMILY products and promotional opportunities on home furnishings.

IKEA will generate significant tax revenue for state and local governments. When IKEA Fishers opens in Fall 2017, the new store will welcome the newly hired 250 coworkers to the IKEA family of more than 14,000 in the United States and 155,000 globally. Until IKEA Fishers opens, customers can shop at Cincinnati-area IKEA West Chester, OH; Chicago-area IKEA Bolingbrook and IKEA Schaumburg; or online at IKEA-USA.com.

Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of good design and function, at low prices so the majority of people can afford them. There are currently more than 390 IKEA stores in 48 countries, including 44 in the U.S. IKEA incorporates sustainability into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information see IKEA-USA.com, @IKEAUSANews, @IKEAUSA or IKEAUSA on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.

Contact:

Joseph Roth
Expansion Public Affairs
(610) 834-0180, x6500

Source: IKEA

Posted on by

JCPenney CFO Edward Record to leave the company

Andrew Drexler to Serve as Interim CFO as an Executive Search is Underway

PLANO, Texas, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP) today  (July 10, 2017) announced that Edward Record has informed the Company of his intention to step down from his position as executive vice president, chief financial officer effective July 11 to pursue other interests. Record will remain with the Company in an advisory capacity until Aug. 7 to assist with the transition while a search for his replacement is conducted. Additionally, Andrew Drexler, senior vice president, chief accounting officer and controller, will assume the position of Interim chief financial officer along with his current duties.

Record joined JCPenney as chief financial officer in March 2014. During his tenure, the Company retired over $1.4 billion in debt, enhanced its revolving credit facility, and has obtained numerous credit rating upgrades.

Ed Record stated, “I’ve had a very rewarding experience at JCPenney, and am proud of the work we have undertaken to strengthen the company’s financial condition. JCPenney is well positioned for the future, and I will continue to follow the company closely as the team builds on the positive momentum it has experienced over the last few years.”

“On behalf of our board and leadership team, I want to thank Ed for his service and dedication to JCPenney during a challenging turnaround and a competitive retail climate. We wish him much success in his future endeavors,” said Marvin R. Ellison, chairman and chief executive officer. “The timing of his departure coincides with a demonstrated sales performance improvement in the second quarter, and we continue to expect to report significantly improved top-line results this quarter versus the first quarter. We look forward to sharing more details on August 11.”

About JCPenney:
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE:JCP), one of the nation’s largest apparel and home furnishings retailers, is on a mission to ensure every customer’s shopping experience is worth her time, money and effort. Whether shopping jcp.com or visiting one of over 1,000 store locations across the United States and Puerto Rico, she will discover a broad assortment of products from a leading portfolio of private, exclusive and national brands.  Supporting this value proposition is the warrior spirit of over 100,000 JCPenney associates worldwide, who are focused on the Company’s three strategic priorities of strengthening private brands, becoming a world-class omnichannel retailer and increasing revenue per customer. For additional information, please visit jcp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Words such as “expect” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s financial position, the revolving credit facility and interest expense.  Forward-looking statements are based only on the Company’s current assumptions and views of future events and financial performance. They are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of the Company’s control that may cause the Company’s actual results to be materially different from planned or expected results. Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, including inflation, recession, unemployment levels, consumer confidence and spending patterns, credit availability and debt levels, changes in store traffic trends, the cost of goods, more stringent or costly payment terms and/or the decision by a significant number of vendors not to sell us merchandise on a timely basis or at all, trade restrictions, the ability to monetize non-core assets on acceptable terms, the ability to implement our strategic plan including our omnichannel initiatives, customer acceptance of our strategies, our ability to attract, motivate and retain key executives and other associates, the impact of cost reduction initiatives, our ability to generate or maintain liquidity, implementation of new systems and platforms, changes in tariff, freight and shipping rates, changes in the cost of fuel and other energy and transportation costs, disruptions and congestion at ports through which we import goods, increases in wage and benefit costs, competition and retail industry consolidations, interest rate fluctuations, dollar and other currency valuations, the impact of weather conditions, risks associated with war, an act of terrorism or pandemic, the ability of the federal government to fund and conduct its operations, a systems failure and/or security breach that results in the theft, transfer or unauthorized disclosure of customer, employee or Company information, legal and regulatory proceedings and the Company’s ability to access the debt or equity markets on favorable terms or at all.  There can be no assurances that the Company will achieve expected results, and actual results may be materially less than expectations.  Please refer to the Company’s most recent Form 10-Q for a further discussion of risks and uncertainties. Investors should take such risks into account and should not rely on forward-looking statements when making investment decisions. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made.  We do not undertake to update these forward-looking statements as of any future date.

Media Relations:
(972) 431-3400
jcpnews@jcp.com; or follow us at @jcpnews on Twitter

Investor Relations: 
(972) 431-5500
jcpinvestorrelations@jcpenney.com

Source:  J. C. Penney Company, Inc.

Posted on by

The Wendy’s Company to host 2Q 2017 results conference call on Wednesday, August 9

DUBLIN, Ohio, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Wendy’s Company (NASDAQ: WEN) will release its second quarter 2017 results before the market opens on Wednesday, August 9. A conference call will follow at 9 a.m. ET, with a simultaneous webcast from the investors section of the Company’s website at www.aboutwendys.com. The live conference call will be available at (877) 572-6014 or, for international callers, at (281) 913-8524. An archived webcast with the accompanying slides will be available on the Company’s website at www.aboutwendys.com.

Additionally, the Company has added global systemwide sales by quarter to the supplemental financial information located in the investors section of the Company’s website.

About The Wendy’s Company
The Wendy’s Company is the world’s third-largest quick-service hamburger company. The Wendy’s system includes approximately 6,500 franchise and Company-operated restaurants in the United States and 30 countries and U.S. territories worldwide. For more information, visit www.aboutwendys.com.

Investor Contact:

Peter Koumas
Director – Investor Relations
(614) 764-8478
peter.koumas@wendys.com

SOURCE: The Wendy’s Company

Posted on by

Barnes & Noble welcomes Carl Hauch as Vice President of Stores

New York, NY, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world’s largest bookseller, today (July 10, 2017) announced that Carl Hauch has been named Vice President, Stores, effective immediately. In his new role, Mr. Hauch will be responsible for the entire retail store organization and profitable growth of the business, driving sales, training, developing talent and recruitment. Mr. Hauch will report directly to Demos Parneros, Chief Executive Officer.

“I am excited about Carl’s addition to our management team,” said Mr. Parneros. “He is an accomplished leader with a proven track record for driving results, and he is an important appointment as we position the Company for future growth.”Mr. Hauch joins Barnes & Noble from CityMD where he served as Chief Operating Officer, responsible for all aspects of both front-of-house and back-of-house operations for one of the fastest growing and highest volume Urgent Care companies in the U.S. He is a knowledgeable leader with over 20 years of global experience in the direct-to-consumer industry.He started his career at Starbucks Coffee Company back in 1994, where he worked for 14 years, beginning as a Store Manager at one of the highest volume locations at the time. After only two years, he went on to become District Manager in midtown Manhattan, then Director of Operations New York, NY, Vice President of Operations, Starbucks Australia, and CEO, Managing Director of Starbucks Switzerland and Austria.

Mr. Hauch went on to Advance Auto Parts, a $9B retailer, where he made his way up the ranks from the SVP of Operations for the West, to SVP of Human Resources, and finally the SVP of National Operations and Customer Experience, where he was the head of store operations, asset protection and field human resources before coming to CityMD as the SVP Operations and getting promoted to Chief Operating Officer.

Mr. Hauch is a graduate of Rutgers College with a Bachelor of Arts in English and also attended Rutgers Graduate School of Management.

About Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) is the nation’s largest retail bookseller, and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products.  The Company operates 633 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.

Barnes & Noble®, Barnes & Noble Booksellers® and Barnes & Noble.com® are trademarks of Barnes & Noble, Inc. or its affiliates. NOOK® and the NOOK logos are trademarks of Nook Digital, LLC or its affiliates.

For more information on Barnes & Noble, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Snapchat (bnsnaps), and like us on Facebook. For more information on NOOK, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

All Contacts:

Mary Ellen Keating
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
(212) 633-3323
mkeating@bn.com

Andy Milevoj
Vice President, Investor Relations
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
(212) 633-3489
amilevoj@bn.com

Source: Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Posted on by

Barnes & Noble Founder and Chairman Leonard Riggio named Grand Marshal of the 73rd Columbus Day Parade

Barnes & Noble Chairman and Founder Creates Theme Entitled “A Celebration of Italian-American Authors” and Invites them to March Up Fifth Avenue

NEW YORK, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Columbus Citizens Foundation announced today (July 10, 2017) that Leonard Riggio, the Founder and Chairman of Barnes & Noble, the world’s largest bookseller, has been named Grand Marshal of the 73rd Columbus Day Parade. Mr. Riggio created the theme of this year’s parade, “A Celebration of Italian-American Authors,” and is inviting Italian-American authors from across the country to march up Fifth Avenue with him in the parade.

The annual parade, the largest celebration of Italian-American heritage and culture in the United States, will take place on Monday, October 9, 2017, beginning at 11:30 a.m. As Grand Marshal, Mr. Riggio will lead dozens of marching bands and floats and over 100 marching groups up the Fifth Avenue parade route, from 44th Street to 72nd Street.

In naming Mr. Riggio Grand Marshal, Columbus Citizens Foundation president Angelo Vivolo praised his success as a prominent Italian-American business leader and his contributions to philanthropy and community service.

“Len Riggio’s visionary role in the bookselling industry has made him one of the most respected business minds in America and a pillar of success in the Italian-American community,” Mr. Vivolo said.“But his phenomenal achievements in business are surpassed by his passion for giving back to those in need and his tireless commitment to making our communities and the world better places. It is those qualities that make Len an obvious choice as Grand Marshal of this very special event.”

“I am honored and pleased to carry on this important tradition and join the ranks of distinguished Italian-Americans who have served in this role before me.” Mr. Riggio said.“At the same time, I am thrilled to use this opportunity to recognize the achievements of Italian-American writers and their enormous contributions to the literary fabric of America. This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase their talents and inspire others to follow in their footsteps. My family and I look forward to marching on Fifth Avenue with these great writers.”

Beginning with a single college bookstore in 1965, Mr. Riggio built Barnes & Noble into one of the largest enterprises in the history of American retail. Mr. Riggio also founded Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, a Barnes & Noble Education company and a leading operator of university bookstores in the U.S., and GameStop, the world’s largest videogame retailer. In all, the companies founded by Mr. Riggio employ more than 100,000 people.

The Columbus Day Parade, organized by the Columbus Citizens Foundation, began in 1929 when New York City businessman and Italian immigrant Generoso Pope led a parade from East Harlem to Columbus Circle.

Event: Columbus Day Parade

Location: Fifth Ave. from 44th – 72nd Streets

Date: Monday, October 9, 2017

Hours: 11:30 AM – 3:00 p.m.

Broadcast: WABC-TV, 12 Noon – 3:00 p.m.

About Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) is the nation’s largest retail bookseller, and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products.  The Company operates 633 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.

Barnes & Noble®, Barnes & Noble Booksellers® and Barnes & Noble.com® are trademarks of Barnes & Noble, Inc. or its affiliates. NOOK® and the NOOK logos are trademarks of Nook Digital, LLC or its affiliates.

For more information on Barnes & Noble, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Snapchat (bnsnaps), and like us on Facebook. For more information on NOOK, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

ABOUT THE COLUMBUS CITIZENS FOUNDATION

The Columbus Citizens Foundation is a non-profit organization in New York City committed to fostering an appreciation of Italian-American heritage and achievement.  The Foundation, through a broad range of philanthropic and cultural activities, provides opportunities for advancement to deserving Italian-American students through various scholarship and grant programs. The Foundation organizes New York City’s annual Columbus Celebration and Columbus Day Parade, which has celebrated Italian-American heritage on New York’s Fifth Avenue since 1929. For more information, contact jwilson@columbuscitizens.org.

All Contacts:

Jefferson Wilson
Director of Marketing & Communications
Columbus Citizens Foundation
(212) 249-9923 x242
jwilson@columbuscitizens.org

Mary Ellen Keating
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
(212) 633-3323
mkeating@bn.com

Source: Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Posted on by

160 Kuwaiti students start Alshaya’s Summer Internship Programme

160 Kuwaiti students start Alshaya’s Summer Internship Programme

 

Kuwait, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — School’s out, but for more than 160 Kuwaiti students, the learning journey has just begun as they start Alshaya’s Summer Internship Programme, which gives young people hands-on experience of the world of retail.

Starting this week, the programme will see high school and university students spending four hours daily in one of Alshaya’s stores, gaining invaluable hands-on learning and development experience. They will be working in some of the more than 80 international brands operated by Alshaya, including Starbucks, H&M, Mothercare, Debenhams, American Eagle Outfitters, Bath & Body Works, Jack Wills, and KidZania.

During the four-week programme, the interns will get intensive training in all aspects of store operations, including sales, promotions, customer service, merchandising and stock management – ideal preparation for those interested in a career in retail.

Now in its tenth year, the programme is testimony to the strong partnership between Alshaya and Kuwait’s Manpower and Government Restructuring Programme (MGRP).

“Our partnership with Alshaya has been going on successfully for a decade now,” said Mr. Tareq Alkandari, MGRP’s supervisor of student training. “Alshaya has always been very supportive of all our training initiatives, and its store staff has shown great energy and enthusiasm to work with our young interns every summer. We are very pleased to see our interns gain valuable retail knowledge and experience during their training at Alshaya stores.”

Andrew Stotter-Brooks, Regional Learning and Development Manager at Alshaya, said the internship programme was a great opportunity for young people to get a better understanding of the career options available in the retail industry, and the behaviours and skills necessary to forge a career in retail.

“The summer internship programme in Kuwait is one of the highlights of our year. We look forward to helping young Kuwaiti students develop their skills and get more insights into this dynamic industry,” said Mr. Stotter-Brooks.

For more information about future summer programmes and other training and career opportunities at Alshaya, please contact nationalisation@alshaya.com.

Stay up to date

With more than 80 brands across the Middle East and North Africa, Russia, Turkey and Europe, there’s always something interesting happening at Alshaya.

Media

If you are a journalist and want some information about Alshaya or one of our brands, please contact our Corporate Communications team:

+965 2224 2475
+965 2224 3626
communications@alshaya.com

Source: Alshaya

###

Posted on by

Swedish ICA stores announces 3.4% sales increase in June 2017 vs. same period last year

Solna, Sweden, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sales in the Swedish ICA stores increased by 3.4% in June 2017 compared with the corresponding month last year. Sales in like-for-like stores increased by 2.6%.

June 2017 January –June 2017
Store sales
excl. VAT		 Mkr Change  all stores Change like-for-like Mkr Change  all stores Change like-for-like
Maxi ICA Stormarknad 3,110 3.7% 3.7% 16,988 2.4% 2.4%
ICA Kvantum 2,444 5.3% 3.0% 13,697 3.8% 1.9%
ICA Supermarket 3,026 2.3% 1.7% 16,977 2.3% 1.8%
ICA Nära 1,507 1.7% 1.6% 8,286 1.9% 2.0%
Total 10,087 3.4% 2.6% 55,948 2.6% 2.0%

In June 2017, sales in the Swedish ICA stores totaled SEK 10,087 million excluding VAT, which is an increase of 3.4% compared with the same month in the previous year. Sales in January-June 2017 amounted to SEK 55,948 million, an increase of 2.6% compared with the previous year.

ICA Gruppen estimates the calendar effect for June to be +1.4%.

At 30 June 2017, the number of ICA stores in Sweden was 1,291. Store sales for July will be published on 8 August 2017 at 08.45 CET.

To see all publication dates in 2017, please visit ICA Gruppen’s website http://www.icagruppen.se/en/investors/calendar.

For more information:
ICA Gruppen press service
Telephone number: +46 10 422 52 52

Source: ICA Gruppen

Posted on by

Office Depot announces new loyalty program

BOCA RATON, Fla., 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — Office Depot, Inc. (NASDAQ:ODP), a leading provider of office products, services, and solutions, today (July 10, 2017) announced a new loyalty program to save customers money with expanded benefits, “Office Depot OfficeMax Rewards Everything”. The program has been updated to ensure every member is rewarded, and by creating a VIP tier, gives members even more savings while delivering an exclusive experience. In addition, the program is free to join.

The company conducted extensive research, including a year-long pilot in several markets, to gather customer feedback and used their input and data to redesign a program that best meets customer needs.

“’Office Depot OfficeMax Rewards Everything’ simplifies our loyalty program by offering 2 percent back in rewards on everything, and we mean everything,” said Lukana Justin, vice president of customer marketing for Office Depot, Inc. “It’s simple to use and save while providing members with quicker access to rewards.”

With no minimum thresholds for redeeming reward dollars, members can access and use their available rewards any time at any Office Depot and OfficeMax stores or on officedepot.com.

Signing up for the program has been simplified with card-free enrollment. In addition, “Office Depot OfficeMax Rewards Everything” integrates seamlessly with the company’s mobile app.

Customers who spend more, such as small businesses, can take advantage of “Office Depot OfficeMax Rewards Everything’s” VIP Tier. After spending $500 within a year, VIP members will receive free delivery with no minimum purchase and earn 5 percent back on ink, toner, paper, printing and copying services for 12 months. VIP Members also receive exclusive perks such as special promotions, a birthday offer and free product samples or services.

All members of the new program will also have access to member-only promotions and personalized offers based on their shopping habits. Additionally, “Office Depot OfficeMax Rewards Everything’s” members can earn $2 in rewards by posting online product reviews.

For more information about “Office Depot OfficeMax Rewards Everything” or to sign up, visit officedepot.com/rewards or the nearest Office Depot or OfficeMax store.

About Office Depot, Inc.

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

The company had 2016 annual sales of approximately $11 billion, employed approximately 38,000 associates, and served consumers and businesses in North America and abroad with approximately 1,400 retail stores, award-winning e-commerce sites and a dedicated business-to-business sales organization – with a global network of wholly owned operations, franchisees, licensees and alliance partners. The company operates under several banner brands including Office Depot, OfficeMax and Grand & Toy. The company’s portfolio of exclusive product brands include TUL, Foray, Brenton Studio, Ativa, WorkPro, Realspace and Highmark.

Office Depot, Inc.’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “ODP.”

Office Depot is a trademark of The Office Club, Inc. OfficeMax is a trademark of OMX, Inc. ©2017 Office Depot, Inc. All rights reserved. Any other product or company names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

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

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

Source: Office Depot, Inc.

Posted on by

RUSSIA: O’KEY Group and Familia announce strategic partnership

MOSCOW, Russia, 2017-Jul-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — O’KEY Group S.A. (LSE: OKEY, the “Group”), one of the leading Russian food retailers, and Familia, the leading off-price retailer in Russia, announce a strategic partnership. All the materials published by the Group are available on its website www.okeyinvestors.ru.

As part of the strategic partnership, Familia will open stores in 2 of O’KEY’s hypermarkets – Ekaterinburg and Tyumen in the second half of this year. The cooperation will also involve joint marketing campaigns and other activities. This partnership is likely to be extended to further O’KEY stores in other locations from
next year.

This project is part of O’KEY’s ongoing strategic initiative to enhance efficiency through the creation of a “compact hypermarket”. This is achieved through leasing selling space to a strategic partner without decreasing the total number of SKUs in the store. It is expected to result in customer traffic growth and additional rent income, increasing profitability.

Miodrag Borojević, Chief Executive Officer of O’KEY Group, said:
“We are pleased to announce our partnership with Familia, a leading off-price retailer in Russia. This contract marks the start of a long-term strategic relationship which will boost the efficiency of ou hypermarkets by attracting additional traffic and selling space optimization.”

Konstantin Nadezhdin, Chief Executive Officer of Familia, commented:
”This partnership with O’KEY is a key milestone for our company. The agreement should generate additional traffic both for our stores and the hypermarkets in which they are based. We are confident that this cooperation will further strengthen our position as a leading off-price retailer in the Russian market.”

COMPANY OVERVIEW
O’KEY is one of the largest retail chains in Russia. Its primary retail format is the modern Western European style hypermarket which operates under the “O’KEY” brand, complemented by O’KEY supermarkets. The Group is developing an innovative discounter format under the “DA!” brand. O’KEY is the first among Russian food retailers to launch e-commerce operations in St. Petersburg and Moscow,
based on its hypermarket assortment.

The Group opened its first hypermarket in St. Petersburg in 2002 and has since demonstrated continuous growth. As of July 10, 2017, O’KEY operates 109 stores across Russia – 72 hypermarkets, 37 supermarkets and 55 discounters under the “DA!” brand.

FAMILIA, the first and single off-price retail chain in Russia.
Famila is the leading off-price retailer in Russia. Its first store was opened in 2000 in Moscow. During 2016-17, Familia increased its number of stores by more than 150%. At present, Familia runs 169 stores in 64 cities across Russia, with a trade area of over 200,000 m2. By the end of 2017, Familia plans to run 195-200 stores. More than 2,700 brands from 40 countries are partnered with the company. All materials published by the company are available on its website http://www.famil.ru/en/partnership/
Company profile: http://www.famil.ru/data/presentation_en.pdf

Disclaimer
These materials contain statements about future events and expectations that are forward-looking statements. These statements typically contain words such as “expects” and “anticipates” and words of similar import. Any statement in these materials that is not a statement of historical fact is a forward-looking statement that involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. None of the future projections, expectations, estimates or prospects in this announcement should be taken as forecasts or promises nor should they be taken as implying any indication, assurance or guarantee that the assumptions on which such future projections, expectations, estimates or prospects have been prepared are correct or exhaustive or, in the case of the assumptions, fully stated in this announcement. We assume no obligations to update the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in factors affecting these statements.

For further information please contact:
Veronika Kryachko
Head of Investor Relations
+7 495 663 6677 ext. 404
Veronika.Kryachko@okmarket.ru
www.okeyinvestors.ru

Source: O’KEY Group

Posted on by

O’KEY Group names Ivan Dropuljic as Commercial Operations Director, hypermarket and supermarket business

MOSCOW, Russia, 2017-Jul-11 — /EPR Retail News/ — O’KEY Group S.A. (LSE: OKEY, the “Group”), one of the leading Russian food retailers, announces the appointment of Ivan Dropuljic as Commercial Operations Director for the hypermarket and supermarket business.

All materials published by the Group are available on its website www.okeyinvestors.ru.

In the role of Commercial Operations Director, Mr. Dropuljic will combine under his management the Commercial Department of the hypermarket and supermarket business, Marketing, Space Management and Quality Control. Mr. Dropuljic is expected to commence his work upon receipt of all the necessary work permission documents. In his new role, he will be primarily focused on strategic and trade marketing, standardization and optimization of portfolio assortment and quality control, to support O’KEY’s strategic transition towards the compact hypermarket format.

Ivan Dropuljic, 37, has a long track record in the food retail industry. Since 2012, he has been Purchasing and Marketing Director and Member of the Board of Kaufland Croatia, one of the leading hypermarket chains in Europe (part of Schwartz Group, a grocery retailer with more than US$100bn in revenues), where during the last two years he was responsible for diverse international projects. Prior to that, he worked as Fresh Food Director at Kaufland Croatia where he achieved success in purchasing process optimization, which enabled the company to double its sales. Prior to that, up to 2007, Mr. Dropuljic held various positions at Pik Vrbovec and Jamnica. Mr. Dropuljic holds an MA degree in Economics from the University of Zagreb. He speaks Croatian, English, German, and Polish.

Miodrag Borojević, Chief Executive Officer of O’KEY Group, said:
“We are pleased to welcome Ivan Dropuljic to the management team. The Russian market is characterized by strong competition and high pace of growth which are driving our strategic transition. I strongly believe that optimization of processes and focus on the key aspects of our business, which Ivan will play a key role in, will enable us to complete our strategic transition in a timely manner and become a trendsetter in our market.”

Ivan Dropuljic commented:
“I am very excited to be joining O’KEY Group. I see enormous potential for the Company’s future business development given its unique customer value proposition and strong team of retail professionals. I believe that standardization of assortment portfolio and marketing mix, along with the modern and efficient supply chain, will enable us to meet the needs of existing customers and increase traffic across our retail chain.

COMPANY OVERVIEW
O’KEY is one of the largest retail chains in Russia. Its primary retail format is the modern Western European style hypermarket which operates under the “O’KEY” brand, complemented by O’KEY supermarkets. The Group is developing an innovative discounter format under the “DA!” brand. O’KEY is the first among Russian food retailers to launch e-commerce operations in St. Petersburg and Moscow,
based on its hypermarket assortment.

The Group opened its first hypermarket in St. Petersburg in 2002 and has since demonstrated continuous growth. As of July 10, 2017, O’KEY operates 109 stores across Russia – 72 hypermarkets, 37 supermarkets and 55 discounters under the “DA!” brand.

Disclaimer
These materials contain statements about future events and expectations that are forward-looking statements. These statements typically contain words such as “expects” and “anticipates” and words of similar import. Any statement in these materials that is not a statement of historical fact is a forward-looking statement that involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. None of the future projections, expectations, estimates or prospects in this announcement should be taken as forecasts or promises nor should they be taken as implying any indication, assurance or guarantee that the assumptions on which such future projections, expectations, estimates or prospects have been prepared are correct or exhaustive or, in the case of the assumptions, fully stated in this announcement. We assume no obligations to update the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in factors affecting these statements.

For further information please contact:
Veronika Kryachko
Head of Investor Relations
+7 495 663 6677 ext. 404
Veronika.Kryachko@okmarket.ru
www.okeyinvestors.ru

Source: O’KEY Group