Daily Archives: July 28, 2017

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Rakuten and Dentsu partner to offer new marketing solutions

Offering new marketing solutions integrating the data and knowledge of both companies

Tokyo, 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Rakuten, Inc. and Dentsu Inc. today (July 26, 2017) announced that the two companies will establish “Rakuten Data Marketing Co., Ltd.,” a new company that will offer marketing solutions integrating Rakuten Group’s big data and Dentsu Group’s data and mass media expertise. The company will begin operations in October 2017. The agreement related to this matter was concluded today. Rakuten, Inc. Group Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) Makoto Arima will be the new company’s President and Representative Director.

Makoto Arima joined Rakuten in July 2017 to take up a newly created position as Group Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) and head up the expansion of the data marketing business. Arima has made major contributions to the development of the domestic online advertising industry, through leadership roles at Google, Yahoo, Recruit and, most recently, Adroll.

Rakuten Data Marketing Co., Ltd. will harness the Rakuten Group’s broad membership base and big data, combining this with the Dentsu Group’s data and insights relevant to mass media and consumers and its strategy-building knowhow, in order to provide comprehensive digital marketing solutions that will allow optimization and maximize the effectiveness of marketing activities.

The new company will also further enhance the offering of brand partnership opportunities on Rakuten Ichiba, and utilize Rakuten Group’s big data to develop more personalized advertising products based on customer analysis. In addition, the company plans to support the development of customer strategies for brands and offer integrated media planning services beyond the digital field.

To date, Rakuten and Dentsu have collaborated to provide marketing support to companies through the use of the Rakuten Group’s membership base and related media. With the establishment of this new company, Rakuten and Dentsu will develop comprehensive marketing solutions fully utilizing the resources of both companies and breaking new ground in marketing techniques.

Overview of the new company
Name: Rakuten Data Marketing Co., Ltd.
Address: 1-14-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Capital: 100 million yen
Investment ratio: 51% Rakuten, Inc., 49% Dentsu Inc.

Representative: President and Representative Director Makoto Arima (Rakuten, Inc. Group Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer (CRO))
Date of Establishment: Mid-August 2017 (planned)

Start of operations: October 1, 2017
Business line: Offering new marketing solutions through the use of big data

About Rakuten
Rakuten, Inc. (TSE: 4755) is a global leader in internet services that empower individuals, communities, businesses and society. Founded in Tokyo in 1997 as an online marketplace, Rakuten has expanded to offer services in e-commerce, fintech, digital content and communications to more than 1 billion members around the world. Since 2012, Rakuten has ranked in the top 20 of Forbes Magazine’s annual “World’s Most Innovative Companies” list. The Rakuten Group has over 14,000 employees, and operations in 29 countries and regions. For more information visit https://global.rakuten.com/corp/.

About Dentsu
The Dentsu Group is the world’s largest advertising agency brand. Led by Dentsu Inc. (Tokyo: 4324; ISIN: JP3551520004), a company with a history of 116 years of innovation, the Dentsu Group provides a comprehensive range of client-centric brand, integrated communications, media and digital services through its ten global network brands—Carat, Dentsu, dentsu X, iProspect, Isobar, mcgarrybowen, Merkle, MKTG, Posterscope and Vizeum—as well as through its specialist/multi-market brands. The Dentsu Group has a strong presence in over 140 countries across five continents, and employs more than 55,000 dedicated professionals. Dentsu Aegis Network Ltd., its global business headquarters in London, oversees Dentsu’s agency operations outside of Japan. The Group is also active in the production and marketing of sports and entertainment content on a global scale. www.dentsu.com

Source: Rakuten Inc.

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Ediston Real Estate and Europa Capital sell Heathfield Retail Park in Ayr to MCAP Global Finance (UK) affiliate

Edinburgh, Scotland, 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Ediston Real Estate and Europa Capital have sold Heathfield Retail Park in Ayr to an affiliate of MCAP Global Finance (UK), the London based subsidiary of New York based credit manager Marathon Asset Management.

Heathfield Retail Park was purchased in 2011 by Europa Capital and Ediston Real Estate and has subsequently been refurbished and extended to 190,000 sq ft by the partnership.

Major tenants now include Marks and Spencer, Homebase, DFS, Curry’s, PC World, Halfords, Poundworld, KFC and Pizza Hut. An agreement for lease has also been signed with B&M Stores for a unit which is currently being extended.

James Brodie, Director at Europa Capital, said: “Heathfield Retail Park is an excellent example of Europa Capital transforming an asset. Since acquisition there has been a major refurbishment of the frontages and car park, construction of a new 30,000 sq. foot retail terrace which has been leased to Marks & Spencer, B&M Retail and Tapi Carpets & Floors and the addition of new retail units in the car park.

“This sale represents the eleventh disposal from the partnership and underlines Europa Capital’s focus on returning capital to its investors”.

Commenting on the transaction for Ediston Real Estate, Danny O’Neil said: “As a result of proactive asset management Heathfield Retail Park is now South Ayrshire’s pre-eminent retail park and has seen a significant increase in trading performance since acquisition. Nine new tenants have been introduced to the park since 2014 which include major retailers such as DFS, Marks & Spencer, Greggs, Costa Coffee and B&M Stores.”

Further information
Call Ediston Real Estate on:

0131 225 5599

Source: Ediston Real Estate

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Globus to introduce eCommerce services with Diebold Nixdorf solution

Innovative eCommerce technology allows convenient online ordering, store delivery and return services

ST. WENDEL, Germany, 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Globus Group, a leading European retailer with stores across Germany, Russia and the Czech Republic, is driving connected commerce at the point-of-sale (POS) with more than 4,500 new systems and software from Diebold Nixdorf (NYSE: DBD).

The new systems will run on Diebold Nixdorf’s POS software, TP.net, and enable Globus to introduce eCommerce services such as the ability to order online and pick up in-store, or to return items by post that were purchased from a store. The software will provide an enhanced consumer experience as well as the fast, flexible integration of new applications and lay the foundation for more efficient cross-channel management.

“Diebold Nixdorf’s software-driven solutions enable us to standardize our POS data and processes internationally, in all the countries in which we operate,” said Olaf Schomaker, managing director for HR, IT and controlling at Globus. “Moreover, it will enable us to take advantage of every option for introducing and expanding innovative consumer services, including mobile applications and new self-service and payment options.”

In addition, these future-oriented solutions enable Globus to facilitate the central management of the international store network and flexibly integrate new sales channels. While the hardware rollout has already begun, the implementation of the software will continue throughout 2017.

“The core element of Diebold Nixdorf’s retail strategy is to help customers align their businesses to meet consumer needs and to offer internationally scalable solutions,” said Christian Weisser, senior vice president and managing director, Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Diebold Nixdorf. “Our expansive portfolio of innovative retail solutions as well as our deep relationships with key retailers across the globe are driving the future of consumer transactions.”

About Globus
The Globus Group is an independent, family-run business and is one of Germany’s leading retailers. The company operates 46 self-service department stores, 88 DIY stores, Globus-Drive, a fridel markt & restaurant and seven consumer electronic stores in Germany. The Globus Group also includes 27 full-range stores in the Czech Republic and Russia as well as two DIY stores in Luxembourg. The company employs more than 43,000 people, applying a business philosophy that gives its stores decision-making freedom and encourages self-responsibility. The role of employees as co-entrepreneurs is reflected in the economic stake they hold in the company, among other things. The Globus Group generated sales of more than 7 billion euros in fiscal 2015/2016.

About Diebold Nixdorf
Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated (NYSE: DBD) is a world leader in enabling connected commerce for millions of consumers each day across the financial and retail industries. Its software-defined solutions bridge the physical and digital worlds of cash and consumer transactions conveniently, securely and efficiently. As an innovation partner for nearly all of the world’s top 100 financial institutions and a majority of the top 25 global retailers, Diebold Nixdorf delivers unparalleled services and technology that are essential to evolve in an ‘always on’ and changing consumer landscape.

Diebold Nixdorf has a presence in more than 130 countries with approximately 24,000 employees worldwide. The organization maintains corporate offices in North Canton, Ohio, USA and Paderborn, Germany. Shares are traded on the New York and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges under the symbol ‘DBD’. Visit www.DieboldNixdorf.com for more information.

Media Relations:
Ulrich Nolte
+49-5251-6935211
ulrich.nolte@dieboldnixdorf.com

Investor Relations:
Steve Virostek
+1-330-490-6319
steve.virostek@dieboldnixdorf.com

SOURCE: Diebold Nixdorf

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Frost & Sullivan recognized Diebold Nixdorf with “Global Self-Checkout Systems Growth Excellence Leadership Award”

NORTH CANTON, Ohio, 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Diebold Nixdorf (NYSE: DBD), the global leader in driving connected commerce, has received the “Global Self-Checkout Systems Growth Excellence Leadership Award” from Frost & Sullivan. In recognition of its continued growth, leadership, ability to cater to multiple retailer segments, channel partnership strategies and product innovation, Frost & Sullivan analysts recognized Diebold Nixdorf as a leading retail technology provider.

“Diebold Nixdorf has leveraged its unique position in the market through decades of understanding retailer requirements with its POS solutions, cost savings and product features that enhance the customer experience,” said Aravindh Vanchesan, Industry Analyst, Frost & Sullivan. “Diebold Nixdorf’s brand name is associated with quality, reliability, and security. The company’s close relationships with retailers worldwide enable it to better understand the regional market dynamics and adapt its products and solutions to each specific need.”

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated above-market growth and increased share of wallet due to the superiority of the company’s products and services. The awarding organization considered Diebold Nixdorf’s multi-pronged focus on product innovation, collaboration, security, mobility and an omnichannel approach for retail transformation.

“We are honored to receive the Global Self-Checkout Systems Growth Excellence Leadership Award,” said Devora Henderson, Diebold Nixdorf vice president, retail sales, Americas. “This recognition validates our connected commerce strategy and encourages us to continue to drive the future of consumer transactions with best-in-class technology, software and services.”

About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company’s Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO’s Growth Team with disciplined research and best practice models to drive the generation, evaluation and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages more than 50 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses, and the investment community from 45 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit http://www.frost.com.

About Diebold Nixdorf
Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated (NYSE: DBD) is a world leader in enabling connected commerce for millions of consumers each day across the financial and retail industries. Its software-defined solutions bridge the physical and digital worlds of cash and consumer transactions conveniently, securely and efficiently. As an innovation partner for nearly all of the world’s top 100 financial institutions and a majority of the top 25 global retailers, Diebold Nixdorf delivers unparalleled services and technology that are essential to evolve in an ‘always on’ and changing consumer landscape.

Diebold Nixdorf has a presence in more than 130 countries with approximately 24,000 employees worldwide. The organization is headquartered in North Canton, Ohio, USA and Paderborn, Germany. Shares are traded on the New York and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges under the symbol ‘DBD’. Visit www.DieboldNixdorf.com for more information.

Media Relations:
Renee Murphy
+1-330-490-5825
renee.murphy@dieboldnixdorf.com

Investor Relations:
Steve Virostek
+1-330-490-6319
steve.virostek@dieboldnixdorf.com

SOURCE: Diebold Nixdorf

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Newegg joins forces with No Kid Hungry® to help communities feed children in need

Collaboration Supports Goal of Feeding Kids Where They Live, Learn, and Play

Los Angeles, CA, 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Newegg, the leading tech-focused e-retailer in North America and a growing force in global e-commerce, today (July 26, 2017) announced it is joining forces with No Kid Hungry® to help combat childhood hunger. No Kid Hungry – a campaign of national anti-hunger organization Share Our Strength® – connects children in need to programs like school breakfasts and summer meals, and teaches low-income families to cook healthy, affordable foods. No Kid Hungry works closely with organizations such as Newegg to help communities feed children in need every day of the year.

“Summer is a particularly challenging time for children who would otherwise receive meal assistance at their schools,” said Jill Davis, Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at No Kid Hungry. “Newegg will help us bridge this critical time of year by providing meals to those in need.”

Newegg will build awareness within its base of 32 million customers, encouraging them to donate in increments of $1, $5 or $10. The company will then match all customer donations dollar-for-dollar, up to $75,000. Even the smallest donations go a long way with No Kid Hungry. For example:

  • $25 can feed a child 250 nutritious meals throughout the summer.
  • $50 can help a free summer meals site serve 500 summer meals to hungry kids.
  • $100 can help summer meals sites invest in vital operating equipment.

“The reality that one in six children will face hunger this year is unacceptable, so we’re doing our part to bring positive change to this dire situation,” said Danny Lee, CEO at Newegg. “By encouraging our customers to donate and by dedicating corporate funds to match those donations, Newegg hopes to ease the burden hunger places on young people and their families.”

In addition to the donation-match announced today, Newegg also plans to reach out to its extensive network of suppliers to seek support from other tech companies that wish to fight childhood hunger. For more information and to make a donation in support of No Kid Hungry, visit https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=00-996-314.

About Newegg Inc.
Newegg Inc. is the leading electronics-focused e-retailer in the United States. It owns and operates Newegg.com (http://www.newegg.com) which was founded in 2001 and regularly earns industry-leading customer service ratings. The award-winning website has more than 32 million registered users and offers customers a comprehensive selection of the latest consumer electronics products, detailed product descriptions and images, as well as how-to information and customer reviews. Using the site’s online tech community, customers have the opportunity to interact with other computer, gaming and consumer electronics enthusiasts. Newegg Inc. is headquartered in City of Industry, California. Newegg operates Hybrid Centers in City of Industry, CA and Richmond Hill, Ontario.

About No Kid Hungry,br /> No child should go hungry in America, but 1 in 6 kids will face hunger this year. Usen proven, practical solutions, No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger today by ensuring that kids start the day with a nutritious breakfast, eat healthy summer meals, and families learn the skills they need to shop and cook on a budget. When we all work together, we can make sure kids get the healthy food they need. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of national anti-hunger organization Share Our Strength. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.

Source: Newegg Inc.

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Unilever teams up with Accenture to create a single system for trade and marketing operations

Agreement with Accenture and Salesforce includes single system for distributor management using Accenture NewsPage

NEW YORK, 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Unilever, a global consumer goods company, has signed a deal with Accenture (NYSE: ACN) to implement Accenture Cloud Trade Promotion Management (TPM) and Accenture Cloud Retail Execution (RE) to create a single system for trade and marketing operations.

Built on the Salesforce platform, the Accenture Cloud solutions combine Accenture’s front-office consumer goods industry expertise and Salesforce’s #1 CRM solution with built-in cloud, mobile, social, data science and artificial intelligence capabilities. By moving to the cloud solution, Unilever will be able to integrate its mobile applications, unify its front and back-office information, and enhance its trade and sales activities.

Accenture has also been selected to provide Accenture NewsPage allowing Unilever to simultaneously build a single system for the management of their third-party distributor network.

“Today’s consumers are better connected, better informed and more digitally savvy, making them more prone to switching and harder to please, so consumer packaged goods companies need to work ever more closely with their customer partners to drive growth.” said John Zealley, senior managing director of Accenture’s Consumer Goods & Services group. “We are delighted to work with Unilever to help drive digital connections with their customers through our enhanced and integrated front-office capabilities. By using knowledge of consumer preferences and their evolving demands, Unilever is clearly adapting to the changing market and is well positioned to maintain a market leading position.”

“This agreement is a strategic decision based on the skills and capabilities Accenture and Salesforce have in the technology and digital arena, as well as a long track record of successful partnership.” said Gonzalo Esposto, Global IT Vice President at Unilever.  “We hold a leading position in the marketplace across the majority of our 400 brands and enhancing our trade and sales activities will help us strengthen this position. In addition, the implementation of Accenture Cloud will help us close the loop between planning and execution to drive sales and improve customer loyalty and bring our IT costs down.”

“We are living in the age of the customer, where everyone and everything is becoming connected in new and exciting ways,” said Cindy Bolt, SVP, Salesforce Industries, Manufacturing and Consumer Goods. “Consumer goods companies, like Unilever, that take advantage of these new cloud, mobile, social and data science technologies, such as those offered by Accenture Cloud TPM and Accenture Cloud RE, will not only be able to deliver seamless customer experiences, but also create new sources of revenue as well.”

Unilever on NewsPage
Unilever will implement distributor management system, Accenture NewsPage, across their global organisation, starting with the Indian market. The implementation of the software will help Unilever improve productivity, streamline inventory and get accurate, reliable data on their sales through all third party and distributors.

Accenture Cloud TPM and Accenture Cloud RE in collaboration with Salesforce
Accenture Cloud TPM and Accenture Cloud RE were designed in collaboration with some of the world’s leading consumer goods companies and provides an integrated software suite that spans a company’s sales process and operations. By building on the Salesforce platform, Accenture Cloud TPM and Accenture Cloud RE helps new and existing clients integrate mobile applications into their trade promotion and retail execution processes, unify their front- and back-office information and enhance their trade and sales activities.

Accenture was one of the first global companies to establish a strategic alliance partnership with Salesforce, and continues to grow and strengthen its position as a leading ecosystem partner. Whether working with Salesforce on the launch of Salesforce Einstein, introducing more than a dozen new industry solutions to date or training one of the largest ecosystem workforces, with more than 9,500 Salesforce skilled professionals, Accenture’s ongoing investment in building deep specialist skills and leading capabilities is unique in the Salesforce ecosystem.

The Cloud First Applications team—which delivers cloud services for Salesforce and other “pure play” cloud technologies—Accenture has continued investing in its Cloud First agenda by making major moves to expand its position as the leading enterprise cloud services provider, by increasing Salesforce capabilities in particular. Accenture was recently positioned as the overall leader in the “as-a-Service Winners’ Circle” in the HfS Blueprint Report: Salesforce Services 2017 for its excellence in both innovation and execution. The report assessed 12 service providers of Salesforce services related to planning, implementation, management, operations and optimization, and named Accenture as “clear leader in scale” with “the largest Salesforce services practice” in the Salesforce ecosystem.

About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions – underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network – Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With more than 411,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

Salesforce and others are among the trademarks of salesforce.com, inc.

Contact:

Caroline Douglas
Accenture
+ 353 87 680 0074
caroline.douglas@accenture.com

Source: Accenture

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Raiffeisenbank Straubing eG takes a broader approach to digitization with NCR’s Innovation Experience Room

Third bank in Germany to use NCR Innovation Experience Room for its digitization strategy

Augsburg, 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — With the grand opening of its new “Digital Experience Center”, Raiffeisenbank Straubing eG takes an active step toward shaping the digital future in banking with NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR), a global leader in omni-channel solutions. By taking a broader approach to digitization, the bank aims to actively address the challenges digital disruption brings to banking by creating added value for its customers.

The “Digital Experience Center” is based on NCR’s Innovation Experience Room, which is unique in the market and was developed as an entirely new tool to enable financial institutions to build and strengthen the digital competencies of customers and staff. The flexible and versatile room is equipped with a variety of state-of-the art technologies that can range from virtual reality headsets, 3D printers, drones, and robots, to examples of big data or Internet of Things applications and nanotechnologies. Immersing in a playful way in this ‘workshop’ can help leverage technological mega trends and inspire new ideas for products and services among the bank and its corporate customers. NCR has already created similar Innovation Experience Rooms with two other banks in Germany.

Ralf Kluth, Innovation Evangelist at NCR, explained: “Our ‘innovation workshop’ can be used by banks in several different ways, but in essence, it all comes down to familiarizing the consumers, customers or employees with the use of the new technologies through fun, playful interaction. We want to turn fear into curiosity and reluctance into a thirst for innovation that spurs new business ideas.”

The Digital Experience Center of Raiffeisenbank Straubing eG is primarily run by four employees that were selected as promotors of digitization in a series of workshops.

“Only those who have no faith in the future cling to the past”, says Rainer Haas, chairman of Raiffeisenbank Straubing eG. “Our goal, as the management board of the bank, is to provide young innovators in our bank with the right instruments to shape change and give them the necessary freedom to actually make it happen.”

With this initiative, the bank plans to engage local communities by opening the center for schools, public organizations and regional businesses.

“Many banks have responded to digital disruption of their business by closing down branch offices,“ says Diego Navarrete, Vice President Financial Services Division at NCR Europe. “Our Innovation Experience Rooms offer an alternative approach, by helping them to proactively address and shape the digital future of their business.”

About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a leader in omni-channel solutions, turning everyday interactions with businesses into exceptional experiences. With its software, hardware, and portfolio of services, NCR enables nearly 700 million transactions daily across retail, financial, travel, hospitality, telecom and technology, and small business. NCR solutions run the everyday transactions that make your life easier.

NCR is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia with over 30,000 employees and does business in 180 countries. NCR is a trademark of NCR Corporation in the United States and other countries.

Web sites: www.ncr.com
Twitter: @NCRCorporation
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ncrcorp
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ncr-corporation
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/ncrcorporation

News Media Contact:
Ortrud Wenzel
NCR Corporation
+49 821 405 8191
ortrud.wenzel@ncr.com

Source: NCR Corporation

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1Foot 2Foot Centre for Foot and Ankle Care selects NCR as technology partner

NCR Silver links reporting, inventory management across three diverse businesses under one system

DULUTH, Ga., 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Looking for a multi-store solution to gain better insight across three diverse businesses, 1Foot 2Foot Centre for Foot and Ankle Care, a leading podiatry practice in Suffolk, Virginia, found its mobile point-of-sale (POS) partner in NCR Silver.

1Foot 2Foot Centre founder, Dr. Matthew C. Dairman, DPM MS, began his search for a technology partner when his previous system failed to scale across his companies. In addition to founding 1Foot 2Foot Centre, Dr. Dairman owns and operates a footwear retailer, the Shoe Fits, and Stems Nail Spa, which offers pedicures, manicures, massages, reflexology, and facials, along with a few other pampering treatments.

While Dr. Dairman and his team found their scalable solution in NCR Silver, they also found an easier way to do business.

“Initially, we wanted a mobile POS that we could carry with us, whether at the counter or around the store,” said Tina Rountree, Manager and CTS of the Shoe Fits. “However, we use NCR Silver for so much more than that, from inventory management to better customer engagement.”

With NCR Silver, management now has access to real-time inventory levels at all three businesses, rendering the company’s old manual processes obsolete. Dairman’s team recently deployed NCR Silver scanners as well, allowing his employees to automatically log inventory updates with a simple barcode scan.

1Foot 2Foot Centre, The Shoe Fits and Stems Nail Spa also use NCR Silver’s email marketing functionality to enable store management personnel to easily send personalized, opt-in email communication and coupons to customers. For management, it’s a simple way to generate repeat business and drive customer loyalty.

“With NCR Silver, small business owners find an ally to make day-to-day operations simpler and more efficient,” said Chris Poelma, president and general manager, NCR Silver. “As Dr. Dairman and his team demonstrate, NCR Silver is so much more than a mobile POS; it’s a platform that allows all types of businesses to gain an overview into overall performance, whether you’re operating dozens of franchise locations across geographies or three foot-friendly businesses in Virginia.”

To learn more about NCR Silver, visit www.ncrsilver.com, or call 1-877-630-9711. NCR Small Business provides live, 24/7 U.S.-based customer support for NCR Silver users. NCR Silver mobile POS runs in the cloud, uses consumer-friendly technology, works on Apple® devices running the latest iOS, and offers a POS solution catered to franchises as well.

About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a leader in omni-channel solutions, turning everyday interactions with businesses into exceptional experiences. With its software, hardware, and portfolio of services, NCR enables nearly 700 million transactions daily across retail, financial, travel, hospitality, telecom and technology, and small business. NCR solutions run the everyday transactions that make your life easier.

NCR is headquartered in Duluth, Ga., with over 30,000 employees and does business in 180 countries. NCR is a trademark of NCR Corporation in the United States and other countries.

Website: www.ncr.com | www.ncrsilver.com
Twitter: @NCRCorporation | @NCRSilver
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ncrcorp
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ncr-corporation
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/ncrcorporation

News Media Contacts:
Aaron Gould
NCR Corporation
212.589.8556
aaron.gould@ncr.com

Jackie Parker
Arketi Group
404.929.0091, ext. 220
jparker@arketi.com

Source: NCR Corporation

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DoorDash marketplace to be integrated to the NCR Aloha Platform-of-Sale

DoorDash integration with the industry-leading NCR Aloha POS will help improve store operations and reduce delivery times

DULUTH, Ga., 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR), a global leader in omni-channel solutions, today (July 24, 2017) announced an agreement with DoorDash, an on-demand delivery platform operating in more than 500 cities nationwide, for the planned integration of the DoorDash marketplace to the NCR Aloha Platform-of-Sale (POS). The integration will allow restaurants to more efficiently receive and manage delivery orders placed through DoorDash, while helping to provide a better experience to DoorDash customers.

Integrating delivery orders directly into the POS will makes it easier for restaurants on DoorDash to manage their orders, increase accuracy and save time. DoorDash will leverage NCR’s API ecosystem to integrate its delivery marketplace to the NCR Aloha Platform, enabling automated order entry. The integration will be available to restaurants using NCR Aloha and DoorDash in the coming months.

“DoorDash is focused on providing an incredible merchant experience, and one reason restaurants choose to partner with us is because of the customizability of the platform,” said Tony Xu, CEO and co-founder of DoorDash. “Integrating DoorDash with NCR Aloha provides restaurants with another way to streamline their business and expand their off-premise business without requiring additional technology.”

DoorDash’s platform is used by the most top 100 national restaurant brands to power their on-demand delivery business, making them a natural fit for a partnership with NCR Aloha. In addition to their respective leadership in serving restaurants, NCR and DoorDash also share common customers in the retail sector. The opportunity created by this partnership and NCR’s omni-channel approach has the potential to create significant value for NCR, DoorDash, and their common customers.

“We are excited to hear of the integration efforts between Aloha POS and DoorDash.   Our partnership with both DoorDash and NCR will open up doors for P.F. Chang’s to deliver its made from scratch food to even more guests outside of our restaurant in a consistent and timely manner,” said Dwayne Chambers, chief marketing officer for P.F. Chang’s. “The integration between DoorDash and NCR will allow us to update our in-restaurant and delivery menus at the same time, on one platform. This helps us to realize a number of operational efficiencies and ensures that our diners can choose from the most updated menu items, whether they’re eating in our restaurant or dining in the comfort of their own home.”

“As restaurants add new ordering and delivery options to their business to drive growth, it’s critical to have technology in place that streamlines the ordering process and, operationally, treats every order the same, regardless of what channel it comes from,” said Don Zimmerman, vice president of hospitality solutions at NCR. “NCR is excited to extend this capability to our customers that leverage DoorDash’s innovative technology, enabling them to easily manage both delivery and in-house orders from start to finish.”

About DoorDash
DoorDash is a technology company that connects customers with their favorite local and national businesses in more than 500 cities across the United States and Canada. Founded in the summer of 2013, DoorDash empowers merchants to grow their businesses by offering on-demand delivery, data-driven insights, and better in-store efficiency, providing delightful experiences from door to door. By building the last mile delivery infrastructure for local cities, DoorDash is bringing communities closer, one doorstep at a time. Read more on the DoorDash blog or at http://www.doordash.com.

About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a leader in omni-channel solutions, turning everyday interactions with businesses into exceptional experiences. With its software, hardware and portfolio of services, NCR enables nearly 700 million transactions daily across retail, financial, travel, hospitality, telecom and technology, and small business. NCR solutions run the everyday transactions that make your life easier.

NCR is headquartered in Duluth, Ga., with over 30,000 employees and does business in 180 countries. NCR is a trademark of NCR Corporation in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

NCR encourages investors to visit its website, which is updated regularly with financial and other important information about NCR.

Web site: www.ncr.com
Twitter: @NCRCorporation
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ncrcorp
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ncr-corporation
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/ncrcorporation

News Media Contacts:
NCR Corporation
Tim Henschel
770-299-5100
tim.henschel@ncr.com

DoorDash
Eitan Bencuya
415-255-5521
eitan@doordash.com

Source: NCR Corporation

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Grubhub’s online ordering and delivery marketplace integrates with the NCR Aloha Platform-of-Sale

The integration of industry-leading NCR Aloha POS and Grubhub’s online ordering and delivery marketplace will make restaurant management easier, more efficient

DULUTH, Ga., 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR), a global leader in omni-channel solutions, today (July 24, 2017) announced an agreement with Grubhub (NYSE: GRUB), the nation’s leading takeout marketplace, for the integration of Grubhub with the NCR Aloha Platform-of-Sale (POS). Restaurants that use Grubhub as an ordering channel will be able to manage orders from the core POS platform. Additionally, this solution will help restaurants make more efficient use of staff, save time on menu updates, consolidate financials, free up space on the crowded counter, and perhaps more importantly, generate more orders in their locations.

One of the challenges restaurants have when using online food delivery services is managing the flow of orders from multiple channels. Grubhub’s integration with the Aloha POS eliminates the need to use multiple devices to take orders, significantly reducing delays or mistakes in ordering and fulfilment. This means more time for staff to focus on what matters most: creating memorable moments and serving up delicious food.

“Our collaboration with NCR is an important step forward, as we continue innovating with technology to enhance the experience of our restaurant partners,” said Stan Chia, chief operating officer at Grubhub. “We frequently hear that restaurateurs are looking to create more efficiencies in their operations. By integrating with the Aloha POS, we will help our restaurant owners who use the platform spend less time on logistics and more time pleasing their diners with great food.”

“On the Border is constantly driving innovation in the ways in which we leverage technology to improve the guest experience,” said Jeff Dinard, chief information officer, On the Border.  “This integration will not only allow us to streamline operations for our restaurant team members, but will allow us to provide our Grubhub guests a faster and simpler way to enjoy On the Border at home.”

“The growth of order aggregation and delivery has exploded over the past 18 months as the evolution of omni-channel ordering continues in the restaurant industry,” said Don Zimmerman, vice president of hospitality solutions at NCR. “Direct integration into the POS is crucial for restaurants to manage multiple ordering channels, and we’re thrilled to collaborate with industry leader Grubhub to help operators across its comprehensive restaurant network capitalize on the potential from delivery.”

Point-of-sale integration is a top request from Grubhub’s restaurant partners and by partnering with NCR, the integration will make order management easier than ever for restaurants of all sizes. For more information about Grubhub’s POS solutions go to get.grubhub.com

To find takeout restaurants available in your area, check out Grubhub.com. If you are interested in becoming part of the Grubhub Delivery team, please visit driver.grubhub.com. To find out how your restaurant can join Grubhub, check out get.grubhub.com.  To learn more about Grubhub and its portfolio of brands, please visit newsroom.grubhub.com.

About Grubhub
Grubhub (NYSE: GRUB) is the nation’s leading online and mobile takeout food-ordering marketplace with the most comprehensive network of restaurant partners and largest active diner base. Dedicated to moving eating forward and connecting diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, the company’s platforms and services strive to elevate food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub is proud to work with more than 55,000 restaurant partners in over 1,100 U.S. cities and London. The Grubhub portfolio of brands includes Grubhub, Seamless, AllMenus, and MenuPages.

About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a leader in omni-channel solutions, turning everyday interactions with businesses into exceptional experiences. With its software, hardware and portfolio of services, NCR enables nearly 700 million transactions daily across retail, financial, travel, hospitality, telecom and technology, and small business. NCR solutions run the everyday transactions that make your life easier.

NCR is headquartered in Duluth, Ga., with over 30,000 employees and does business in 180 countries. NCR is a trademark of NCR Corporation in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

NCR encourages investors to visit its website, which is updated regularly with financial and other important information about NCR.

Web site: www.ncr.com
Twitter: @NCRCorporation
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ncrcorp
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ncr-corporation
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/ncrcorporation

News Media Contacts:
NCR Corporation
Tim Henschel
770-299-5100
Tim.Henschel@NCR.com

Grubhub
Katie Norris
press@grubhub.com

Source: NCR Corporation

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Alshaya and Australian chef Johnny Di Francesco to bring the 400 Gradi Italian restaurant brand to the Middle East

Alshaya and Australian chef Johnny Di Francesco to bring the 400 Gradi Italian restaurant brand to the Middle East

 

Kuwait, 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — International retail franchise operator M.H. Alshaya Co. has announced a franchise partnership with award-winning Australian chef Johnny Di Francesco to bring the 400 Gradi Italian restaurant brand to the Middle East this year – its first expansion outside Australia.

400 Gradi, a Naples-inspired Italian restaurant, is the creation of chef Johnny Di Francesco, the first Australian ever trained in Naples to the Associazione Verace (AVPN) and President of AVPN Australia. It offers a wide variety of deliciously handcrafted Italian cuisine, using the finest Italian ingredients to give guests the most complete Neapolitan experience outside of Naples.

In 2014, Chef Di Francesco was named the ‘world’s best pizza maker’ during the World Championships in Italy for his authentic Napoletana-style pizza, which is cooked for only 90 seconds at a temperature of 400 degrees hence the name 400 Gradi.

Along with this Napoletana-style pizza, the restaurants offer an array of freshly cooked traditional Italian dishes including its famous handmade gnocchi, succulent lamb and pistachio cutlets, traditional artisan Italian gelato and delicious desserts.

Commenting on the new partnership, Chef Di Francesco said: “This is a groundbreaking milestone for the Gradi Group. Expanding to the Middle East is an exciting step forward, especially through Alshaya, who are a pioneer in franchising international brands. We are delighted with this partnership and we look forward to presenting guests with the best pizza in the world, and great Italian food, at the official debut of 400 Gradi.”

Mohammed Alshaya, Executive Chairman of M.H. Alshaya Co., said: “We’re constantly looking for ways to bring authentic and diverse dining experiences to our customers in the Middle East. 400 Gradi offers a complete Neapolitan experience, and we believe that it will be an exciting addition to the regional dining scene. We look forward to a successful partnership together.”

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.

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

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Dixons Carphone launches Team Knowhow to provide local, one-stop, expert tech service

Dixons Carphone launches Team Knowhow to provide local, one-stop, expert tech service

 

London, 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Rolling out across the UK from today (27 Jul 2017), Team Knowhow will provide a local, one-stop, expert tech service.

Dixons Carphone, Europe’s leading electrical, telecoms and services retailer, today announces the launch of Team Knowhow, a national network of local experts which will help install, support, upgrade or fix customer’s kit – bringing together the very best of the Geek Squad and Knowhow brands.

Putting customer satisfaction at the very heart of the business, Team Knowhow aims to transform the way customers receive support across the whole lifecycle of a product. Offering a refreshed range of expert services, customers can now enjoy a super helpful service, including same day mobile repair.

Team Knowhow will build on the previous success of both Geek Squad and Knowhow teams that in the last year alone, have been responsible for eight million mobile phone repairs and six million computer repairs. Last year, 25 per cent of the UK adult population insured their gadgets with the two Dixons Carphone brands. With Team Knowhow, the same day mobile repairs proposition is now available in London stores.

The local, affordable, expert services brand will offer:

  • Over 7,000 trained experts across the UK, all ready to deliver, install and repair everything from white goods through to mobiles and laptops.
  • The largest central repair centre in Europe, in over 1,000 Currys PC World and Carphone Warehouse stores, four contact centres, and 16 customer service centres.
  • A brand-new fleet of over 700 branded vehicles, with everything from 7.5 tonne trucks to smaller transit vans travelling the UK’s roads to offer a super-helpful, in-home service and deliveries to customers.
  • A local network of experts, with any customer only a 20-minute drive away from a Team Knowhow expert or service.
  • And superior Tech support – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – ensuring that customers have constant access whenever, or wherever, they need it.
  • Importantly, Team Knowhow will be able to aid customers irrespective of where their technology was originally purchased.

Feilim Mackle, CEO Services at Dixons Carphone, commented, “Whatever the challenge, Team Knowhow is aiming to be the UK’s number one technology support service, always on hand to connect it, fix it, protect it, or improve it! We are a local, one-stop shop for expert service. Our colleagues make us who we are, and we are committed to being super-helpful, offering an impressively broad range of services that will consistently provide an exceptional customer experience.”

The exciting new brand’s uniform has been created in collaboration with Wayne Hemingway and Hemingway Design. Over 150 colleagues were involved in the development of the new look, and have several combinations to choose from with each item using higher quality technical fabrics

Waye Hemingway, iconic designer, said, “With technology being such a critical part of our lives, the concept of an instantly recognisable national team that looks after all your tech and home appliance needs is something that HemingwayDesign was excited to tackle!

“We have created a collection of uniforms that will allow Team Knowhow to showcase their expertise but also embrace a more casual and approachable direction when helping consumers. Designed to be able to be updated as garment and material technology evolves, the uniform is adaptable and designed to be reflective of the fast-moving industry and colleagues’ push to stay at the forefront of technology’s trends.”

From 27th July, the Team Knowhow service will be rolling out to more than a thousand Currys PC World and Carphone Warehouse stores across the UK.

Notes to Editor

About Team Knowhow
Rolled out in 2017, Team Knowhow is the key partner brand that operates alongside Dixons Carphone Plc brands, Currys PC World and Carphone Warehouse. The brand is a national network of local experts to help install, support, upgrade or fix customer’s life kit, from tech to white goods.

Team Knowhow is built on the previous success of both Geek Squad and Knowhow teams to create a team of over 7,000 experts to connect, fix, protect, and improve all of life’s kit as well as dispense super-helpful advice through its 24/7 support line. Team Knowhow has the largest central repair centre in Europe, is in over 1,000 Currys PC World and Carphone Warehouse stores across the UK and Ireland and has four contact centres, and 16 customer service centres.

About Dixons Carphone
Dixon Carphone plc is Europe’s leading specialist electrical and telecommunications retailer and services company, employing over 41,000 people in nine countries. Focused on helping customers navigate the connected world, Dixons Carphone offers a comprehensive range of electrical and mobile products, connectivity and expert after-sales services from the Geek Squad and Team Knowhow.

Dixons Carphone’s primary brands include Carphone Warehouse and CurrysPCWorld in the UK & Ireland, Elkjøp, Elkjøp Phonehouse, Elgiganten, Elgiganten Phone House, Gigantti and Lefdal in the Nordic countries, Kotsovolos in Greece, Dixons Travel in a number of UK airports as well as Dublin and Oslo. Our key service brands include Team Knowhow in the UK, Ireland and the Nordics, and Geek Squad in the UK & Ireland.

Business-to-business (B2B) services are provided through Connected World Services, CurrysPCWorld Business and Carphone Warehouse Business. Connected World Services aims to leverage the Group’s existing expertise, operating processes and technology to provide a range of services to businesses.

For media enquiries please contact M&C Saatchi PR
teamknowhow@mcsaatchi.com

Source: Dixons Carphone

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Staples, Inc. announces early termination of the waiting period under the “HSR Act”

FRAMINGHAM, Mass., 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS or “Staples”) announced that on July 26, 2017 the U.S. Federal Trade Commission granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “HSR Act”) with respect to the pending acquisition of Staples by investment funds managed by Sycamore Partners, a leading private equity firm.

The termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act satisfies one of the conditions to the closing of the pending acquisition, which remains subject to other customary closing conditions, including Staples’ stockholder approval.

About Staples, Inc.
Staples brings technology and people together in innovative ways to consistently deliver products, services and expertise that elevate and delight customers. Staples is in business with businesses and is passionate about empowering people to become true professionals at work. Headquartered outside of Boston, Mass., Staples, Inc. operates primarily in North America. More information about Staples (NASDAQ: SPLS) is available at www.staples.com.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

This press release may be deemed solicitation material in respect of the proposed acquisition of Staples by Arch Parent Inc. (the “Parent”), an affiliate of investment funds managed by Sycamore Partners Management, L.P. Staples plans to file with the SEC and mail to its stockholders a Proxy Statement in connection with the transaction. This letter does not constitute a solicitation of any vote or approval. The Proxy Statement will contain important information about the Parent, Staples, the merger and related matters. Investors and security holders are urged to read the Proxy Statement carefully when it is available. Staples filed preliminary proxy materials with the SEC on July 21, 2017.

Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement and other documents filed with the SEC by the Parent and Staples through the web site maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement from Staples by contacting Staples Investor Relations department at investor@staples.com. In addition, the proxy statement and our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available free of charge through our website at investor.staples.com as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.

Staples, and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Staples’s stockholders with respect to the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement between the Parent and Staples relating to the proposed acquisition. Information regarding Staples’ directors and executive officers, including their ownership of Staples’ securities, is contained in Staples’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2017 and its proxy statement dated April 20, 2017, which are filed with the SEC. Investors and security holders may obtain additional information regarding the direct and indirect interests of Staples and its directors and executive officers in the proposed transaction by reading the proxy statement and other public filings referred to above.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release regarding the proposed transaction between the Parent and Staples, the expected timetable for completing the transaction, future financial and operating results, future opportunities for the combined company and any other statements about the Parent and Staples managements’ future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” estimates and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Staples’ actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, some of which Staples may not be able to predict and may not be within Staples’ control. Factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to, (i) the risk that the proposed merger may not be completed in a timely manner, or at all, which may adversely affect Staples’ business and the price of its common stock, (ii) the failure to satisfy all of the closing conditions of the proposed merger, including the adoption of the merger agreement by Staples’ stockholders and the receipt of certain governmental and regulatory approvals in the U.S. and in foreign jurisdictions, (iii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement, (iv) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the proposed merger on Staples’ business, operating results, and relationships with customers, suppliers, competitors and others, (v) risks that the proposed merger may disrupt Staples’ current plans and business operations, (vi) potential difficulties retaining employees as a result of the proposed merger, (vii) risks related to the diverting of management’s attention from Staples’s ongoing business operations, and (viii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Staples related to the merger agreement or the proposed merger. There are a number of important, additional factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward looking statements, including the factors described in Staples’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2017 and its most recent quarterly report filed with the SEC. Staples disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

Media Contacts:
Mark Cautela
508-253-3832
mark.cautela@staples.com

Investor Contact:
Scott Tilghman
508-253-1487
scott.tilghman@staples.com

Source: Staples, Inc.

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SPAR India customers delighted with its latest gift card concept

SPAR India customers delighted with its latest gift card concept

 

India, 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — The gifting industry in India is considered to be worth a massive $30 billion a year. Gifting customs have changed but solutions haven’t always kept pace. SPAR India recognise this and aim to grow their share of the $1 billion gift card industry with an innovative solution!

Instead of producing cards which have a corporate look and feel, SPAR is pushing the boundaries by changing the style of their cards and introducing very engaging solutions for special occasions. By taking into account that emotion is behind the sentiment of every occasion card, a game-changing series of gift cards have been developed. Beginning with Mother’s Day, the launch was supported by a digital campaign #LoveYouMaa, celebrating the relationship between a mother and child. The cards resonate with all age groups and focus on the simple message ‘I love you Mom’.

SPAR’s CEO, Rajeev Krishnan shared his perspective on the gift card, saying, “India has long been a sleeping giant when it comes to the gift card industry and Mother’s Day is the perfect day to awaken it, as millions of people in India are searching for the perfect gift that says is it all. #LoveYouMaa was just what the gifting industry needed.”

In comparison to the sales generated through regular gift-cards, the Mother’s Day gift-cards initiative exponentially increased the overall sales. Many SPAR outlets experienced a mammoth jump in gift card sales, leveraging the untapped potential of Tier II markets.

SPAR India have been delighted with customer reactions to this latest concept, which is completely in keeping with their innovative approach to hypermarket retailing. It goes without saying that no matter what the occasion is, SPAR will have an engaging gift card available in all of their 18 stores.

Contact:

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

Source: Spar International

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SPAR Austria highlight its CSR initiatives

SPAR Austria highlight its CSR initiatives

 

Austria, 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Responsible retailing and community involvement are high on SPAR Austria’s agenda and deeply rooted in its corporate culture. SPAR Austria is actively engaging in CSR initiatives at national, regional and local levels. Here we highlight some recent examples which underline the diversity of the causes being supported.

SPAR Austria and UNIQA support ‘Save the Child’ charity

In early 2017, UNIQA health insurer and SPAR launched a campaign ‘Every move counts’ promoting physical exercise by employees. Upon reaching 50,000 measured kilometres, the two partners would donate €10,000 to children in need. At the end of May 2017, employees of both organisations had already covered 52,968km across 52 different sports and burnt 3.7 million calories; quickly achieving the target. The most popular sports were running, walking and cycling.

Using this donation, Save the Child will be able to support families and children living in physically or socially difficult circumstances throughout Austria. The aid ranges from disability work, caring for socially vulnerable children, fostering through to individual support for families in need.

SPAR Upper Austria sponsors Special Olympics

SPAR Upper Austria is a premium sponsor of the 7th Austrian Special Olympics, which will be organised in Vöcklabruck in 2018, bringing together 2,500 athletes. “We aim to raise approximately €10,000 through the sale of specially branded sparkling water in all of our SPAR, EUROSPAR and INTERSPAR stores, in cooperation with the family business ‘Starzinger’. The money will be donated to the association ‘Building Bridges’ which is organising the event,” said Jakob Leitner, Managing Director of the SPAR Marchtrenk office.

In more than 300 SPAR stores and on SPAR flyers throughout Upper Austria, awareness will be created in the months leading up to the event.

Two SPAR Tyrol stores donate to local charities

As part of the opening of the new SPAR store Reinisch in Steinach am Brenner, a donation of €2,500 was presented to Georg Schärmer, Director of the charity ‘Caritas Innsbruck’. “The donated money was generated by a corporate promotion with the company Ölz”, explains Dr. Christof Rissbacher, Managing Director of SPAR Tyrol and Salzburg.  The donation supports people in need and families in the Wipptal region.

Within the corporate social responsibility programme of SPAR Austria, the donation of some funds is managed by individual stores; in this case the EUROSPAR in Kufstein Tyrol, chose the local food bank, donating €1,200 recently. Socially disadvantaged individuals and families from Kufstein and surrounding areas can purchase food at sharply reduced prices through this charity.

Contact:

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

Source: Spar International

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SPAR UK Partner, A.F. Blakemore and Son Ltd celebrates its 100 years in business

United Kingdom, 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — It’s been a busy summer so far for SPAR UK Partner, A.F. Blakemore and Son Ltd, as it celebrates its 100 years in business. We take a look here at some of the highlights to date.

New SPAR convenience store opens in Aldridge, Walsall

A brand new SPAR store opened on the site of a former pub in the West Midlands town of Aldridge. Featuring a state-of-the-art Daily Deli counter, the store offers food throughout the day from a full English breakfast in the morning to hot meal options in the evening.

The new SPAR store also provides a wide range of everyday essentials and services including a free-to-use cash machine, Collect Plus, PayPoint and National Lottery. Its extensive Food-to-Go offering is complemented by a self-service coffee machine with an ultra-modern digital touch screen. The opening day was celebrated with the store giving out free food samples and goodie bags to its first 200 customers.

As part of its commitment to serving the local community, Blakemore Retail has installed a lifesaving defibrillator outside the new store, ready for any future local emergency.

Significant investment in Distribution Fleet

Blakemore Logistics has announced a significant investment in its distribution fleet as part of an ongoing vehicle replacement programme. The business has acquired 22 new Volvo FM11 410 Globetrotter tractor units to replace some of the older vehicles at its Willenhall distribution premises.The tractor units are 10% more fuel efficient than those they have replaced.

Equipped with the latest Spillard Safety Systems, the new vehicles include safety cameras and cycle-safety features as well as Blue Tree tracking systems to aid fuel management, driver performance, communication and navigation.

Environmental Focus Week

A.F. Blakemore colleagues recently took part in the company’s Environmental Focus Week, featuring a series of initiatives aimed at making a positive impact on the environment and promoting the importance of growing a sustainable business for the next 100 years.

Across England and Wales, more than 300 colleagues cleared litter in their local communities. Community Affairs Officer Liz Bell commented: “I am delighted to see the work our volunteers achieved during the week. Not only will this impact the community and environment immediately, but we will convert the amount of litter collected into trees, which will be planted later this year.”

Further, the company organised a showcase of electric and hybrid cars at its Willenhall head office for colleagues to view and test-drive.

During the Environmental Focus Week, A.F. Blakemore’s property department joined forces with UK Electrical Installations Ltd to improve the energy efficiency and reduce the utility bills of a women’s refuge in Wolverhampton. Volunteers from the two companies spent a week upgrading the electrical fittings to energy-efficient alternatives at The Haven women’s refuge.

Running alongside all of this activity were daily environmental awareness campaigns featuring waste, recycling, transportation and water usage tips to help reduce the company’s impact on the environment. A total of 667 water-saving hippo bags have been distributed to sites across the company’s estate to help conserve water in toilet cisterns.

Contact:

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

Source: Spar International

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ShopRite launches in-store campaign “Go H2O” to help customers stay hydrated this summer

Supermarket Program Helps Shoppers Stay Healthy and Hydrated All Season Long

KEASBEY, NJ, 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — With summer heat advisories on the rise, consumers are continually searching for ways to keep cool and hydrated during the hot summer months.  With this in mind, ShopRite has announced the launch of “Go H2O,” an in-store campaign aimed at helping consumers find easy, delicious and unique ways to stay hydrated during the dog days of summer.

“Staying properly hydrated is so important to our overall wellbeing, especially during the summer when we tend to spend more time outdoors and run the risk of becoming dehydrated,” says Natalie Menza-Crowe, RD, MS, director of Health and Wellness at ShopRite. “Our new Go H20 campaign is all about educating shoppers on ways they can take advantage of our entire array of healthy beverages, water-rich fruits and vegetables. Plus, by consuming a variety of fluids, fruits and vegetables, shoppers can hydrate and fuel up with essential vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, and carbohydrates, at the same time.”

While young children and the elderly are particularly susceptible to the hazards of dehydration, experts advise that everyone should aim to fill up on fluids and water-rich foods during the hot summer months.  Extreme dehydration can cause possible medical issues such as heat exhaustion and, in some cases, heat stroke.

“Some of the hydrating products we are featuring might be items that everyone knows and loves, like watermelon, which is 92% water,” says Menza-Crowe, “But other products might be more surprising. For instance, we are highlighting drinks like unsweetened coconut waters and flavored seltzers, and suggesting other solutions, such as enjoying the ease of using frozen or canned vegetables and fruits, to stay satiated and hydrated.”

Officially set to launch on July 23, “Go H2O” is the latest entry into ShopRite’s Well Everyday themed initiative. The eight week campaign features fun colorful signage throughout the store, as well as messaging in the supermarket’s website, social media channels, and weekly circulars.

As part of the Go H2O program, ShopRite’s team of Registered Dietitians will be hosting in-store events and activities, plus offering recipes to drive home the message about the importance of staying hydrated during the season.  To see a complete list of events, visit here: http://www.shoprite.com/health-events/

Contact:

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

Maureen Gillespie
Phone: 732-906-5295
Manager

Source: ShopRite

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CANADA: RONA Home and Garden stores at Crowfoot (AB) and Kitchener (ON) to convert to the Lowe’s banner by the end of 2017

Boucherville, Quebec, 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Lowe’s Canada announced today (July 24, 2017) that the RONA Home and Garden stores located respectively at 90 Crowfoot Way NW, Calgary, and 730 Ottawa Street South, Kitchener, will convert to the Lowe’s banner. Both locations will undergo an extensive renovation and re-merchandising of the existing store which is expected to be completed at the end of 2017.

Starting on July 31, 2017 for Crowfoot and on August 14, 2017 for Kitchener, the stores will undergo an extensive 16-week physical transformation to the new model of Lowe’s stores in Canada, which will involve construction, departmental sequencing of new racking, re-merchandising, branding and IT conversion. As well, Lowe’s is investing in its people with extensive employee training focused on new product knowledge and customer service.

“The stores will remain open during the conversion and we are committed to minimizing any impact on customers so that we can continue to offer the best shopping experience possible during the store transformation,” confirmed Guy Beaumier, Interim Executive Vice President, Lowe’s Canada Big Box Retail.

Customers of the Crowfoot and Kitchener stores can look forward to an enhanced shopping experience including expanded assortment and access to well-known brands such as Kohler, John Deere and Whirlpool, as well as the introduction of new categories such as appliances. Lowe’s also features established private label brands such as Kobalt and Allen & Roth, which offer great quality at affordable prices. In addition, Lowe’s has strong seasonal programs for its Patio and Holiday collections, top of the line installation programs across many categories, protection plans for products such as appliances, tools and outdoor power equipment, and a superior online program which includes Click & Collect for in-store pickup, local truck delivery and parcel shipping.

The new stores will also offer an enhanced shopping experience for Commercial customers including the introduction of the Contractor Rewards Program, access to a drive through lumber yard and charge accounts that will allow them to make purchases at any RONA Corporate store in Western Canada, as well as new model Lowe’s stores with only ‘one’ monthly invoice for all purchases made from these stores. Enhanced assortment in key contractor categories include lumber, building materials, millwork, tools and hardware.

The new Crowfoot Lowe’s will feature 114,570 square feet of retail sales space, an adjacent Garden Centre with 17,540 square feet, an outdoor lumber yard with 48,129 square feet as well as a covered (drive-thru) lumber yard with 8,644 square feet. The store will employ more than 155 permanent jobs and approximately 45 seasonal positions, and is currently looking to hire an additional 40 permanent and seasonal employees.

As for the new Kitchener Lowe’s, it will feature 93,064 square feet of retail sales space, an adjacent Garden Centre with 28,881 square feet, an outdoor lumber yard with 20,381 square feet and a covered (drive-thru) lumber yard with 3,895 square feet. The store will employ more than 135 permanent jobs and approximately 40 seasonal positions, and is currently looking to hire an additional 35 permanent and seasonal employees.

Interested candidates can visit www.lowes.ca/careers for more information and to apply.

About Lowe’s Canada

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving more than 17 million customers a week in the United States, Canada and Mexico. With fiscal year 2016 sales of $65.0 billion, Lowe’s and its related businesses operate or service 2,365 home improvement and hardware stores and employ over 290,000 people. Based in Boucherville, Quebec, Lowe’s Canadian business, together with its wholly owned subsidiary, RONA inc., operate or service over 600 corporate and independent affiliate dealer stores in a number of complementary formats under different banners. These include Lowe’s, RONA, Réno-Dépôt, Marcil, Dick’s Lumber and Ace. In Canada, the companies have more than 25,000 employees, in addition to nearly 5,000 employees in the stores of RONA’s independent affiliate dealers. For more information, visit Lowes.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Media Relations:
Lowe’s Canada – RONA
Tel 514.599.5900 ext 5271
media@rona.ca

Source: Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

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L’entrepôt RONA in Sherbrooke to undergo major renovation and remerchandising project to become the 22nd Réno-Dépôt store in Canada

Boucherville, Quebec, 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Lowe’s Canada announced today (July 27, 2017) that the L’entrepôt RONA located at 3400 Portland Boulevard in Sherbrooke will be converted to the Réno-Dépôt banner. The store will undergo a major renovation and remerchandising project and consequently become the 22nd Réno-Dépôt store in Canada.

“Our analysis of the market in the greater Sherbrooke region has led us to conclude that given the established strength of the RONA banner in the surrounding area, consumers would benefit from increased diversification of the home improvement offer,” said Guy Beaumier, Executive Vice President, Réno-Dépôt. “Réno-Dépôt contributes strategically to the strength of the Lowe’s Canada network, and we are pleased to continue expanding this banner with this new address in Sherbrooke.”

This project will include construction, modification of the pallet racks, re-merchandising and adjustment of the brand image. Once the conversion project is completed, individuals and commercial customers in the Sherbrooke area will find the same shopping experience and value proposition that they find at other big-box stores of this banner in Canada. The schedule for this major investment will be known in the coming months.

About Lowe’s Canada

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving more than 17 million customers a week in the United States, Canada and Mexico. With fiscal year 2016 sales of $65.0 billion, Lowe’s and its related businesses operate or service 2,365 home improvement and hardware stores and employ over 290,000 people. Based in Boucherville, Quebec, Lowe’s Canadian business, together with its wholly owned subsidiary, RONA inc., operate or service over 600 corporate and independent affiliate dealer stores in a number of complementary formats under different banners. These include Lowe’s, RONA, Réno-Dépôt, Marcil, Dick’s Lumber and Ace. In Canada, the companies have more than 25,000 employees, in addition to nearly 5,000 employees in the stores of RONA’s independent affiliate dealers. For more information, visit Lowes.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Media Relations:
Lowe’s Canada – RONA
Tel 514.599.5900 ext 5271
media@rona.ca

Source: Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

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Brookshire Brothers joins Topco’s membership

Elk Grove Village, Ill., 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Topco Associates, LLC announced today ( JULY 26, 2017) that the Lufkin, Texas-based Brookshire Brothers, Inc. has joined the membership.

“Brookshire Brothers’ philosophy of innovation and commitment to serving customers’ needs makes it a great addition to Topco’s membership, especially as we drive new ways to advance as one in the marketplace. We look forward to helping them leverage Topco’s platform of aggregation, innovation and knowledge management across multiple categories so that they can deliver even more value and in-store solutions to their shoppers,” said Randy Skoda, Topco President & CEO.

Brookshire Brothers was founded in 1921 and became a majority employee-owned company in 1999. In 2006, the employees bought the remaining shares of the company to become one of the largest 100% employee owned companies in the country.

With store formats ranging from contemporary grocery stores and convenience supermarket hybrids to traditional convenience stores, Brookshire Brothers owns and operates under nine distinctive retail brands: Brookshire Brothers, Brookshire Brothers Express, Cormie’s Grocery, David’s Supermarkets, David’s Express, Pecan Foods, Polk Pick-It-Up, Brookshire Brothers Pharmacy and Tobacco Barn.

“2017 has been a year of outstanding growth and innovation for Brookshire Brothers. On behalf of the company and our 7,000 employee-owners, we are delighted to become a members of Topco Associates. Topco offers a unique opportunity for its members to dramatically increase our scale, gain industry insight from other regional grocers and more effectively compete in our respective markets,” said John Alston, President and CEO, Brookshire Brothers.

About Topco Associates LLC
Topco Associates LLC is an over $14 billion, privately held company that provides aggregation, innovation and knowledge management solutions for its leading food industry member-owners and customers, including grocery retailers, wholesalers and food service companies. Topco leverages the collective volume, knowledge and commitment of these companies to create a competitive advantage in the marketplace by reducing costs and offering winning business-building capabilities. For more information, please visit www.topco.com.

Media contact:

Nancy Antol
847-329-3386
nantol@topco.com

Source:  Topco Associates LLC

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Al-Futtaim ACE introduces fun and exciting collection of back to school products

Al-Futtaim ACE introduces fun and exciting collection of back to school products

 

Dubai, UAE, 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — To prepare your kids for the new school year, Al-Futtaim ACE is introducing a fun and exciting collection of back to school products all under one roof.

The collection will feature a range of quality products from leading brands including Nataraj, Kores, Sivo, bento lunch boxes from Sistema, Lock & Lock and Zipit amongst others.

Parents will find arts and craft, school bags, lunch boxes and bottle tumblers in addition to special bundle stationery packs starting from just AED 5. There are also colourful shelving and smart storage solutions to keep kids’ school necessities and toys organised at affordable prices.

The Back to School collection is available from 1st August across all Al-Futtaim ACE stores in the UAE including Dubai Festival City and Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, Yas Island, Mina Road and Dalma Mall in Abu Dhabi, and Bawadi Mall in Al Ain.

For more information on the Al-Futtaim ACE Back to School collection, visit the website www.aceuae.com, Facebook facebook.com/AlFuttaim.Ace or Instagram @alfuttaimace.

Source: Al-Futtaim

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Tops Friendly Markets partners with Fulmer Valley Farms to offer delicious, fresh local greens, 365 days a year

Williamsville, N.Y., 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Tops Friendly Markets always takes great pride in offering its customers the very best produce New York State has to offer. TOPS supports over 200 local growers during the homegrown season and now, thanks to an exclusive partnership with Fulmer Valley Farms in NY’s southern tier, customers can enjoy local flavor year round. The new microgreen product, “Pick’d”, provides access to delicious, fresh local greens, 365 days a year.

Based out of Andover, NY, Fulmer Valley Farms produces microgreens with clean growing technology, free of GMOs and pesticides. Fulmer Valley Farms uses a hydroponics system in a clean, controlled environment to grow produce the way that it’s supposed to be. Microgreens are harvested at the peak of taste and nutritional value, and delivered within hours to a local TOPS supermarket.

“We value our partnerships with local growers and love to offer our customers the latest in innovative products”, said Scott Tyo, category business manager, fresh vegetables, for Tops Friendly Markets. “Microgreens also provide 44% more nutritional value than mature lettuces and vegetables, which is an additional value that no other local grocer can offer.”

Currently, Tops Markets carries three different varieties of Pick’d greens to choose from at 73 of its locations including: ? Red Vein Sorrel ? Pea Shoots ? Spicy Mix.

To learn more about Pick’d microgreens offered exclusively at Tops Friendly Markets visit http://pickdgreens.com/.

About Tops Friendly Markets

Tops Markets, LLC, is headquartered in Williamsville, NY and operates 173 full-service supermarkets with five additional by franchisees under the Tops banner. Tops employs more than 15,000 associates and is a leading full-service grocery retailer in New York, northern Pennsylvania, western Vermont, and north central Massachusetts. For more information about Tops Markets, visit the company’s website at www.topsmarkets.com.

CONTACT: 

Kathy Romanowski
716-635-5577

Source: Tops Friendly Markets

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Schnuck and Simbe Robotics to test-pilot an aisle-roving robot named Tally

“Tally’s” pilot program adds to Schnucks’ commitment to provide an innovative and exceptional customer experience

ST. LOUIS, 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Schnucks is turning to a high-tech partner to help maintain an exceptional shopping experience: an aisle-roving robot named Tally. Schnuck Markets, Inc. and Simbe Robotics, Inc. will collaborate to test-pilot Tally at three St. Louis metro area stores beginning July 31.

During the six-week pilot, Tally will be charged with scanning store aisles three times a day to help keep Schnucks stores fully in stock. Tally will also ensure that each product is placed correctly with its appropriate shelf tag.

Tally is an innovation designed to help provide Schnucks teammates with real-time information, making it easier to do their jobs and ultimately keep shelves full for customers, said Dave Steck, Schnucks Vice President of IT – Infrastructure. The robot will do its daily storewide scans in the morning, midday and evening.

“The data that Tally collects will be sent to Simbe, which will do on-the-spot analysis and provide us with the information we can share with our vendor partners and teammates throughout our organization to help us have the right products at the right time for our customers,” Steck said. “We’re starting Tally’s pilot with a focus on in-stock position, but we’re hopeful that Tally may open up a world of other possibilities with the shelf data it collects.”

The three St. Louis area Schnucks stores taking part in the test are:

  • Schnucks Richmond Center, 6600 Clayton Road, 63117
  • Schnucks Woods Mill, 1060 Woods Mill Road, 63017
  • Schnucks Kirkwood, 10233 Manchester Road, 63122

“We’re excited to see what this partnership brings,” Steck said. “This is just one of many ways that Schnucks is staying at the forefront of technology to enhance our customers’ shopping experiences.”

In addition to bringing Tally to three stores, Schnucks and Simbe have engaged officials at Washington University so students and faculty can benefit from pilot learnings. Some of the potential partnerships include startups/entrepreneurship, engineering/robotics and a  data “hackathon” that would allow Wash U. students to study the enormous amount of data collected by Tally and look for new ways of driving retail analytics.

Founded in St. Louis in 1939, Schnuck Markets, Inc. is a third-generation, family-owned grocery/pharmacy retailer committed to nourishing people’s lives. The company takes pride in its community partnerships and gives more than $13 million annually in food to food pantries and more than $1.7 million to not-for-profit organizations through the company’s My Schnucks Card program. Schnucks operates 100 stores in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa. Privately held, Schnucks employs 14,000 teammates and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Follow Schnucks on Facebook at www.facebook.com/schnucks.

Media Contact:

Paul Simon
314-994-4603
psimon@schnucks.com

Source: Schnuck Markets, Inc.

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Visa and Marqeta partner to drive further innovations in commercial and consumer payments

Visa Makes Strategic Investment in Marqeta to Support Key Growth Initiatives

SAN FRANCISCO & OAKLAND, Calif., 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ —Visa (NYSE: V) and Marqeta, the open API payment card issuing platform, today (07/26/2017) announced a multi-year, global partnership to drive further innovations in commercial and consumer payments. Additionally, Visa has made a strategic investment in Marqeta to support Marqeta’s domestic and international growth objectives.

The initial efforts of the partnership will involve growing opportunities for virtual, physical and tokenized payments across a number of commercial markets and use cases that can benefit from Marqeta’s developer-friendly platform.

“We’re excited to partner with Marqeta to collectively bring our unique assets and capabilities to more partners and clients globally,” said Jim McCarthy, executive vice president, innovation and strategic partnerships, Visa. “We are always looking for partnerships and investments that allow us to evaluate innovative, new ways to support our clients’ needs, and increasingly see open, developer-friendly platforms as a way to help clients move quickly in today’s fast-paced environment.”

The market for electronic payments continues to grow in commercial payables, alternative lending, disbursements, eCommerce, on-demand services and P2P payments. To enable this growth, Marqeta’s platform and patent-pending Just-In-Time (“JIT”) Funding feature allows companies of all sizes to authorize their own card transactions, fundamentally changing how companies engage with card issuing and transaction processing. Developers on Marqeta’s platform can sign up for a sandbox in under a minute and then leverage Marqeta’s modern set of card controls and configurations to get a fully funded card program to market in a matter of days.

“The Marqeta core processing platform is architected from the ground up to be the most modern, flexible and developer friendly platform anywhere in the market today,” said Marqeta CEO, Jason Gardner. “We’re democratizing access to innovation for new issuers and fintech players, and we’re proud to partner with Visa and its broader ecosystem.”

This is the latest partnership and investment for Visa with an emerging innovator within the payments ecosystem. As a global payments technology company, Visa continually evaluates technologies of all kinds – especially those that have the potential to advance digital payments for Visa’s clients and their customers. Recently, Visa has made investments in Chain, Klarna, Square and Stripe, among others.

About Visa

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments in more than 200 countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable electronic payments. We operate one of the world’s most advanced processing networks — VisaNet — that is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second, with fraud protection for consumers and assured payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa’s innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers to offer consumers more choices: pay now with debit, pay ahead with prepaid or pay later with credit products. For more information, visit usa.visa.com/about-visa, visacorporate.tumblr.com and @VisaNews.

About Marqeta

Marqeta is the first modern card issuing and core processing platform, powering prepaid, debit and credit cards for the world’s top commerce innovators. Marqeta’s advancements represent the first fundamental updates in the past twenty years to card issuing platforms, a $30 trillion addressable market covering all possible cardable spending. Marqeta employs more than 100 people and is headquartered in Oakland, California. For more information, visit Marqeta on our website, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Media Relations:
Visa
Kryssa Guntrum
415-805-4488
kguntrum@visa.com

Bite Communications for Marqeta
Erin Freeley
646-246-1962
Marqeta@biteglobal.com

Source: Visa Inc.

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Opioid overdose-reversal medication naloxone now available without prescription at all CVS Pharmacy locations in South Dakota

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2017-Jul-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) announced today ( July 27, 2017) that the opioid overdose-reversal medication naloxone is now available without an individual prescription at all CVS Pharmacy locations in South Dakota. Under a collaborative practice agreement between CVS Pharmacists and a local physician, CVS pharmacies, located inside Target stores in Rapid City and Sioux Falls, can dispense the medication to patients without the need for a separate visit to a prescriber.

“Naloxone is a safe and effective antidote to opioid overdoses and by expanding access to this medication in our pharmacies in South Dakota we can help save lives,” said Tom Davis, RPh, Vice President of Pharmacy Professional Services at CVS Pharmacy. “We are dedicated to helping the communities we serve address and prevent prescription drug abuse and we are expanding access to naloxone to give more people a chance to get the help they need for recovery.”

“Increased access to naloxone is an important resource for families struggling with addiction,” said Gary Mendell, founder and CEO of Shatterproof, a non-profit dedicated to reducing the devastation the disease of addiction causes families. “Naloxone is a safe and trusted tool that helps loved ones fight the overdoses that are ravaging our communities. We are pleased to see CVS Health make this life-saving medication available at pharmacies in South Dakota and 41 other states.”

Earlier this year, Shatterproof launched a new website, Shatterproof.org, which provides information about naloxone as well as other resources for those affected by substance use disorder. The launch of the site was supported in part through a grant from the CVS Health Foundation.

Today’s naloxone announcement also builds on CVS Health’s commitment to helping communities address and prevent prescription drug abuse by focusing on prevention and safe medication disposal. In 2015 CVS Health launched a community outreach program called Pharmacists Teach, which brings CVS pharmacists to local schools to talk to students about the dangers of drug abuse. More than 275,000 students across the U.S. have already taken part in the program. High school teachers and administrators can learn more about bringing Pharmacists Teach to their school at www.CVSHealth.com.

CVS Health has also joined with the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids to create the Medication Disposal for Safer Communities Program, which donates disposal units to local police departments, providing a safe and environmentally friendly way to dispose of unwanted medication. Law enforcement officials in South Dakota can apply to receive a drug collection unit at www.cvs.com/safercommunities. Additionally, CVS Health has launched digital resources on its website CVS.com that give patients and families information about drug abuse prevention.

With the addition of South Dakota, CVS Pharmacy now dispenses naloxone to patients without an individual prescription in these 42 states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

About CVS Health

CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,700 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 90 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contact:

Erin Shields Britt
Corporate Communications
(401) 770-9237
Erin.Britt@CVSHealth.com

SOURCE: CVS Health