Daily Archives: September 22, 2017

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Albertsons Companies announces the acquisition of premier meal kit service, Plated

Acquisition of a Premier Food Tech Company Sets the Stage for the First Omnichannel Meal Kit Service

Boise, ID and New York, NY, 2017-Sep-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Albertsons Companies, one of the nation’s largest grocery retailers, today (September 20, 2017) announced the acquisition of Plated, a premier meal kit service. This move advances a shared strategy to reinvent the way consumers discover, purchase, and experience food. Plated will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Albertsons Cos.

In teaming up with Plated, Albertsons Cos. adds a meal kit company with leading technology and data capabilities, a strategic step for the company as it continues to focus on innovation, personalization, and customization. Together, Albertsons Cos. and Plated will leverage their diverse and complementary strengths to serve customers in a way that appeals to the evolving lifestyles and food preferences of people across the country. Among the key projected outcomes of this deal is for Plated to become the first omnichannel meal kit offering with national scale.

“Today’s consumer is looking for a variety of personalized shopping alternatives, and this transaction is the latest example of Albertsons Cos. meeting our customers wherever and however they like to shop,” said Bob Miller, Chairman and CEO of Albertsons Companies. “With Plated, we’ve found a partner who shares our commitment to delicious, affordable food; superior technology and innovation; and world class customer service. Plated knows its customers better than anyone, and together we will accelerate our ability to serve them.  We are excited to offer our customers more online options and fresh, quality ingredients along with distinctive recipes at their doorstep or through traditional shopping trips.”

Plated will benefit from Albertsons Cos.’ resources and national reach with over 2,300 stores to scale its business and improve its customer experience with new offerings. Albertsons Cos. will enable Plated to expand beyond its existing subscription model by offering Plated meal kits at many store locations, across its digital channels, and through a variety of distribution options to make it easy to create delicious meals at home by providing the flexibility, convenience, and access to high-quality, fresh ingredients coupled with chef-designed recipes that customers are looking for. Plated’s marketing and acquisition efforts will also benefit by gaining exposure to Albertson Cos.’ 35 million customers per week.

Josh Hix, Co-founder and CEO of Plated, said, “Joining Albertsons Companies presents an amazing opportunity to accelerate our positive impact on the future of food in America by making fresh, delicious food more widely available. Albertsons Cos. is at the forefront of the changing food and grocery landscape with their customer obsession, their large national store footprint, and their exciting plans for the future of the grocery store. We’re excited to be partnering with them to shepherd our growth while preserving the unique strengths that define Plated today. There’s tremendous upside for Plated’s customers whose experience with our brand will only get better. As meal kits continue to gain traction in the marketplace, we believe the winning formula combines choice, flexibility, culinary expertise, and the ability for customers to buy across channels–all of which we are now singularly positioned to deliver in collaboration with Albertsons Cos.”

Plated will continue to operate as a distinct consumer brand with its own leadership team led by Co-founder and CEO Josh Hix. The company will continue to be headquartered in New York City, with fulfillment centers across the country.

Credit Suisse served as financial advisor to Albertsons Cos.

About Albertsons Companies

Albertsons Companies is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with both a strong local presence and national scale. We operate stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia under 20 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs. Albertsons Companies is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood.

About Plated

Plated launched in 2012 with a mission to change the way America eats by leveraging data and technology to disrupt the traditional food supply chain and make it easy for people to cook delicious meals at home. Founded by Josh Hix and Nick Taranto, the company has rapidly scaled and evolved with a customer-centric model focusing on choice and flexibility to provide a personalized dinner experience. At the same time, the brand has an unwavering commitment to creating delicious recipes that appeal to people who are passionate about food and seek discovery in the kitchen. The Culinary Team is led by Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef Elana Karp, the company’s Chief Culinary Officer and Culinary Co-founder. Learn more at Plated.com.

Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our perspectives and expectations, are forward looking statements. The words “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions, when related to the Company and its subsidiaries, indicate forward-looking statements. These statements reflect the current view of management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on various assumptions and factors, including general economic, market, industry and operational factors. Any changes to these assumptions or factors may lead to practical results different from current expectations. Excessive reliance should not be placed on those statements. Forward-looking statements relate only to the date they were made, and the Company and its subsidiaries undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made.

Media Contact:

For Albertsons Companies
Christine Wilcox
christine.wilcox@albertsons.com

For Plated:
Liz Marsh
liz.marsh@plated.com

Source:  Albertsons Companies

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CarMax opens new store in Langhorne, its 5th location in the Philadelphia

RICHMOND, Virginia, 2017-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, is celebrating the grand opening of its new store in Langhorne, the company’s 5th location in the Philadelphia area. The store is located at 1776 E Lincoln Hwy and has the capacity to stock approximately 240 used vehicles of nearly every make and model. Customers can also request transfers to the Langhorne CarMax of almost any vehicle from other CarMax locations throughout the country.

In celebration of the Langhorne store opening, CarMax and The CarMax Foundation awarded $8,000 in donations and grants to the Lower Bucks Family YMCA. Support for this organization came at the recommendation of the Langhorne CarMax associates.

“CarMax associates care deeply about our communities and enjoy getting involved locally and supporting organizations like the Lower Bucks Family YMCA,” said Bill Hawkins, location general manager of the Langhorne CarMax. “We are excited to join the Langhorne community and look forward to providing an honest, stress-free car-buying experience to customers here.”

CarMax disrupted the industry more than 20 years ago by offering a high integrity car-buying experience customers want that’s transparent and stress-free. Since that time, CarMax has continued to revolutionize the experience through customer-focused technology innovations. Approximately 90% of CarMax purchasers start on CarMax.com or the CarMax mobile app. Customers can browse CarMax’s nationwide inventory of nearly 50,000 vehicles, hold a vehicle for a test drive, schedule an appraisal, and even get pre-qualified for financing before visiting the store. CarMax stands behind their vehicles with a 5-Day Money-Back Guarantee and a 30-Day Limited Warranty (60-Day in CT, MN & RI, 90-Day in MA, NY and NJ).

About CarMax

CarMax is the nation’s largest retailer of used cars and operates more than 175 stores in 39 states nationwide. CarMax revolutionized the auto industry by delivering the honest, transparent and high-integrity car buying experience customers want and deserve. For more than 20 years, CarMax has made car buying more ethical, fair and stress-free by offering a no-haggle, no-hassle experience and an incredible selection of vehicles. CarMax makes selling your car easy too, by offering no-obligation appraisals good for seven days. At CarMax, we’ll buy your car even if you don’t buy ours®. CarMax has more than 24,000 associates nationwide and for 13 consecutive years has been named as one of the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For®. During the 12 months ending February 28, 2017, the company retailed 671,294 used cars and sold 391,686 wholesale vehicles at its in-store auctions. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com.

Media Contact:

Lindsey Duke
CarMax Public Relations
(855) 887-2915
pr@carmax.com
@CarMax
facebook.com/CarMax

Source: CarMax Inc.

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Krispy Kreme Doughnuts extends National Coffee Day celebration with a free cup of coffee from Friday, Sept. 29-Sunday, Oct. 1

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts extends National Coffee Day celebration with a free cup of coffee from Friday, Sept. 29-Sunday, Oct. 1

 

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., 2017-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Krispy Kreme Doughnuts announced that it will spread the joy of National Coffee Day over an entire weekend, offering guests one free cup of coffee each day, Friday, Sept. 29 through Sunday, Oct. 1.

Customers can enjoy any sized hot brewed or small iced premium blend coffee for free at participating Krispy Kreme shops across the United States and Canada.

“For the first time, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is giving National Coffee Day a new name – National Coffee Weekend,” said Jackie Woodward, Chief Marketing Officer of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. “That means more opportunities, more choices and more fun. With three days to try our doughnut-worthy coffee for free, guests can enjoy hot brewed, iced or both!”

Krispy Kreme’s coffee is designed to be the perfect complement to its freshly-made Original Glazed® doughnuts and other treats – a combination that’s deliciously inseparable. During National Coffee Weekend, customers can select from Krispy Kreme’s premium Smooth or Rich blend hot brewed coffee or enjoy a small iced coffee of their choice, all made from 100 percent Arabica beans and brewed fresh all day long.

Lightly roasted with a subtle blend of Central and South American beans, the Smooth blend is crafted to produce a smooth, balanced body for easy drinking and a naturally sweet finish. A bold alternative, Krispy Kreme’s Rich blend is an aromatic and flavorful medium-bodied blend, creating a lush, well-rounded flavor and satisfying finish. Guests can also enjoy Krispy Kreme’s iced coffee, which is available in a variety of premium flavors ranging from vanilla to caramel.

Say goodbye to #NationalCoffeeDay and hello to #NationalCoffeeWeekend by sharing your photos and tagging @krispykreme. Offer is limited to one coffee per customer, per day – no purchase necessary. Go to www.krispykreme.com/NationalCoffeeDay to learn more.

About Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation

Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation is a global retailer of premium-quality sweet treats, including its signature Original Glazed doughnut. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C., the Company has offered the highest-quality doughnuts and great-tasting coffee since it was founded in 1937. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is proud of its Fundraising program, which for decades has helped non-profit organizations raise millions of dollars in needed funds. Krispy Kreme doughnuts can be found in approximately 12,000 grocery, convenience and mass merchant stores in the U.S. The Company has more than 1,300 retail shops in 31 countries. Connect with Krispy Kreme Doughnuts at www.KrispyKreme.com, or on one of its many social media channels, including www.Facebook.com/KrispyKreme, and www.Twitter.com/KrispyKreme.

Contact:
Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation
Sarah Roof
336-726-8878
Manager of Corporate Communication
sroof@krispykreme.com

Source: Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation

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Wegmans Food Markets ready to open new store in Montvale, New Jersey on Sunday, September 24

New Wegmans employees are ready to deliver exceptional service beginning at 7 a.m. on Sunday, September 24

MONTVALE, NJ, 2017-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Paul Jordan can’t hide his enthusiasm about the grand opening on September 24 of Wegmans Food Markets’ new 108,000 sq. ft. store in Montvale, New Jersey, where he’s the store manager. It’s as if his 28 years of working at Wegmans were warm-ups for this moment.

The new Montvale store employs 500 people, 450 of whom are new to the company. Employees have spent the last several months training and preparing for the opening. For Jordan, the most exciting part of opening a new Wegmans store is “getting to know all the fantastic new people we have – every single person has a great story to tell.”

One of Jordan’s most important responsibilities, he says, is to ensure that every member of his team has the kinds of opportunities he had in his own career.

Jordan grew up in Liverpool, New York. By the time he was 16, he’d set his sights on Wegmans, where his brother had a part-time job. By high school graduation, Paul had earned a Wegmans employee scholarship that provided tuition assistance for him to earn a bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University in Cleveland. He graduated in 1996 and went back to Wegmans, working as a night manager in Upstate New York. Then he was invited in 2001 to become a management trainee in the produce department at the Bridgewater, New Jersey store. He was assigned a mentor and began learning not only how to make the produce department an irresistible part of the store for customers, but also how to foster the career development of his team members.

His next managerial assignment was to open the produce department at the Woodbridge store in 2003. The following year, he became the service manager at Bridgewater, and then gained additional experience as the perishable manager at the Woodbridge, Princeton and Manalapan stores. He returned to Princeton in 2014 as store manager.

While Jordan has helped open other Wegmans stores, the Montvale store is the first he has opened as the store manager, overseeing hiring for the entire store as well as ensuring that everything stays on track as opening day approaches.

“There’s so much for our people to learn,” says Jordan. “We carry hundreds of produce items every day, imported and specialty cheeses, foods from around the world, and approximately 65,000 products in all. We will teach customers about cooking techniques, we have a 250-seat Market Café, and The Burger Bar will serve fresh-cooked meals for families to enjoy.”

The new employees also learn about Wegmans’ culture of mutual support. They see in action what it means to respect and care about those you work with and how team members empower each other to be their best.

“One of the first conversations we have at orientation is about empowerment. I want our team to know that it’s okay to do what they think is right to take care of the customer, and I’ll support them. When our folks know that their decisions will be respected, they don’t hesitate to act on behalf of the customer – and that’s powerful.”

The new Montvale store is Wegmans’ ninth in New Jersey and its 94th store overall.

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a 94-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The family-owned company, recognized as an industry leader and innovator, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016. Wegmans has been named one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ by FORTUNE magazine for 20 consecutive years, ranking #2 in 2017.

Press Contact:

Valerie Fox
Media Relations Coordinator
585-720-5713
valerie.fox@wegmans.com

Source: Wegmans Food Market

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Whole Foods Market launches the first ever vegan tuna in sushi venues in Los Angeles and New York

Whole Foods Market launches the first ever vegan tuna in sushi venues in Los Angeles and New York

 

Select stores will offer vegan tuna made from tomatoes

AUSTIN, Texas, 2017-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Whole Foods Market will now offer Ahimi, the first ever plant-based alternative to raw tuna, in select sushi venues in Los Angeles and New York.

Ahimi, created by Ocean Hugger Foods, is made from tomatoes and savory, umami-rich ingredients to replicate the taste and texture of ahi tuna.

“A tasty, vegan option for raw tuna is at the intersection of a few major trends, including the growing popularity of sushi, as well as the surge in plant-based diets and dishes,” said Andy Sasser, global category manager at Whole Foods Market. “We love when we can bring shoppers something delicious that’s never been done before, and Ahimi does just that.”

Ahimi will be available at select in-store sushi venues in Los Angeles and New York beginning Nov. 1. Shoppers can try it in two sushi dishes – the Ahimi Nigiri and Roll Combo, and Ahimi California Roll.

Contact:
SOmedia@wholefoods.com

Source: Whole Foods Market

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CBRE expands role of GWS Executive Managing Director Karen Ellzey to include Co-Executive Sponsor of LGBT & Allies

Los Angeles, 2017-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — CBRE today (September 20, 2017) announced that Karen Ellzey, CBRE Executive Managing Director, Global Workplace Solutions (GWS), has taken a leadership role for LGBT & Allies. Ms. Ellzey will serve as the Co-Executive Sponsor of the company’s employee network group.

Founded in 2009, LGBT & Allies is a group dedicated to supporting our LGBT community while influencing CBRE diversity and inclusion practices. Since launching the group, LGBT & Allies has grown to 300 employees.

Ms. Ellzey will work with Chris Ludeman, Capital Markets Global President and Co-Executive Sponsor to LGBT & Allies. Together they will support the LGBT & Allies leadership team on all their aspirations for the group.

“Karen has an outstanding history as a leader within our company. She has a reputation for getting things done and at the same time has a passion for diversity and inclusion topics,” says Mr. Ludeman. “I am confident she’ll bring the same excellence to her expanded role with LGBT & Allies.”

With 17 years at CBRE and over 20 years of experience in the real estate industry, Ms. Ellzey is a recognized thought leader. For GWS, she oversees client strategy and consulting, business analytics, the CBRE Institute, the Building Innovation Lab, and marketing and communications, in addition to supporting numerous strategic initiatives. She and her team specialize in corporate real estate organization design and delivery models, process design and optimization, business analytics, and occupancy cost solutions for public and private-sector clients. Their work includes consulting engagements, workshops, and innovation activities focused on helping clients define strategic priorities, identify improved solutions and implement new delivery models and methods that result in superior outcomes.

“The LGBT & Allies leadership team has created a strong foundation over the years and I look forward to supporting their progress and positive impacts. This group and its members have the potential to influence many professional lives at CBRE,” says Ms. Ellzey.

Additional information about diversity and inclusion practices at CBRE can be found at https://www.cbre.us/about/careers/diversity.

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

MEDIA CONTACT:

Robert McGrath
212.984.8267
robert.mcgrath@cbre.com

SOURCE: CBRE Group, Inc.

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Albert Heijn introduceert verse pureersoepen

Albert Heijn introduceert verse pureersoepen

 

Zaandam, Netherlands, 2017-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Elke dag groente eten. We weten allemaal dat het moet, maar het blijft een grote uitdaging. Gemiddeld eten Nederlanders 117 gram groente per dag terwijl de aanbevolen hoeveelheid 250 gram per dag is. Albert Heijn helpt graag een handje en maakt het klanten daarom al het hele jaar door makkelijker om groenten te eten. Met innovaties als broccolirijst, verse pastasauzen en curry’s op basis van groenten, of door inspiratie te bieden in de vorm van lekkere recepten. Vanaf vandaag komt daar een nieuwe innovatie in het koelversschap bij: verse pureersoepen.

Boordevol verse groente en kruiden

Soep is gezond en lekker, maar een verse soep maken vergt wat extra inspanning. Met deze introductie wordt het makkelijk om een echte verse soep op tafel te zetten. De pureersoepen worden verkocht in een pot vol grofgesneden groenten, waarin je alle benodigdheden vindt om zelf snel soep te maken. Je fruit de groenten, kookt ze in water en bouillonkruiden, voegt de verse kruiden toe en pureert het geheel tot slot met de staafmixer tot een gladde soep. De soep is klaar in een kwartiertje en geschikt voor 2 tot 3 personen.

Voor ieder wat wils

De nieuwe range is in drie verschillende smaken verkrijgbaar:

  • Linzen, courgette met peterselie (548 gr)
  • Tomaat, oregano (638 gr)
  • Pompoen, wortel met koriander (528 gr)

De soepen zijn vanaf 20 september in het koelversschap te vinden bij de soepgroente, een verpakking kost €2,99.

Afdeling mediarelaties:
pers@ah.nl
088 6590 2020

Source: Albert Heijn

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NEW ZEALAND: Foodstuffs commits to 100% cage free eggs within 10 years

Auckland, New Zealand, 2017-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Foodstuffs announced today (21 September 2017) that following an extensive review of its egg sourcing and animal welfare policies the business has committed to a goal of being 100% cage free for eggs within 10 years.

“We are committed to working with our suppliers toward our goal to be 100% cage free for packaged eggs by the end of 2027” says Steve Anderson, Managing Director, Foodstuffs (NZ) Ltd.

Foodstuffs will increase customer communications around barn raised and free range eggs. The merchandising teams will gradually reduce the range of caged eggs on offer, and undertake a promotional programme supporting the transition of the business to cage free over the next few years.

“Foodstuffs has been proactive for many years in responding to increased customer demand for free range and barn raised eggs. Our Pams eggs have been cage free since 2008, and sales of other free range and barn raised eggs have grown significantly over the last decade,” says Anderson. “Now we are ready to take the next step – but we need to work closely with the industry to make this happen.

“Our customers’ expectations drive us every day to offer products and services which meet a wide variety of needs including availability, quality, food safety, provenance and animal welfare, which is why we needed to take the time to review the business before announcing our position,” adds Anderson. “Ensuring the correct balance could be achieved both environmentally, and in terms of our egg producers’ ability to supply, realise the cost of their investment and manage the retail cost to customers was critical”.

The review confirmed that the industry needs Foodstuffs to take a clear position on what types of eggs it will need for its future customers so they can plan and prepare. The need for realistic timelines was also identified – many suppliers will need to change the way they currently farm.

Many suppliers have invested heavily in the colony style of farming. Foodstuffs believes farmers need to recoup the costs of these investments to allow them to invest further in cage free eggs.

Some suppliers will need to build different types of infrastructure. “Giving the industry time to achieve this is important as this will ensure our customers’ needs can be met,” says Anderson. “Eggs are a healthy essential on most households’ shopping list, so we need to ensure that we keep that egg-tray in the fridge well-stocked.”

“On balance we believe 10 years is a reasonable timeframe to enable producers to realise their investment and be able to reinvest in alternative farming infrastructure,” says Anderson. “If this can be achieved, then the industry will have a much better chance of being able to meet the increasing demand from shoppers, which is seeing egg consumption increase by over 4% year on year.”

“Ensuring there is a strong, growing egg industry in New Zealand is important to Foodstuffs. It means we will be able to give our customers surety around the quality and price of eggs into the future.”

Contact:
Tel: +64 4 472 6435
Fax:+64 4 472 6412

Source: Foodstuffs NZ

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PetSmart and Adventure Cats partner on curated line of products suited for the adventurous pet cat

AdventureCats.org Co-founded by Laura Moss as Resource for Adventurous Pet Parents Highlighting Cats Who Hike, Camp, Canoe, Sail and Kayak

PHOENIX, 2017-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — With the recent launch of AdventureCats.org’s book, Adventure Cats: Living Nine Lives to the Fullest (Workman Publishing Company, 2017), PetSmart announced today (Sept. 20, 2017) a collaboration featuring a curated line of products well suited for this adventurous pet lifestyle, as well as social campaign with full site takeovers and book giveaways.

Adventure Cats: Living Nine Lives to the Fullest offers readers an array of jaw-dropping photographs, inspiring stories of real-world cats that camp, hike and participate in watersports, along with the how-tos a cat owner needs to expand their adventures with their cat beyond the indoors or the backyard. Laura Moss, co-founder of AdventureCats.org, wrote the new Adventure Cats bookas the ideal guide for safely introducing an indoor cat to the great outdoors, including leash training, what to pack, managing wildlife encounters, as well as tips for less adventurous cats with backyard adventures, “catios” and indoor adventurous activities.

The PetSmart-Adventure Cats collaboration will also include two one-day “takeovers” of the PetSmart Instagram account by Adventure Cats, where cats will be featured hiking, camping and sailing, among other outdoor activities. Please see Instagram and Instagram stories @PetSmart for the first takeover today.

“I’m an animal writer and active hiker, and I kept coming across more and more people who were leash walking their cats and bringing them along for adventures – whether it was in the backyard or out on the trail,” said Moss, author of Adventure Cats. “I thought that spotlighting these felines would be a great way to challenge negative stereotypes we have about cats being lazy and aloof animals. I’m thrilled to team up with PetSmart to show cat owners new ways they can engage with their pets both indoors and out.”

More than a third of all U.S. households own a cat, and nearly half of all Americans participate in outdoor recreation activities each year, according to the Outdoor Foundation. The Adventure Cats lifestyle aims to merge the two.

“At PetSmart, we love pets and know they make us better people. We want pets and pet parents to enjoy all of life’s cherished moments together and for some that may mean a hike or a canoe trip!” said Eran Cohen, chief customer experience officer, PetSmart. “Working with Adventure Cats creates an opportunity to foster an even closer bond between pet parents and their cats, whether they’re hiking, paddling or simply relaxing together at a campground.”

To help cats travel, play and relax with maximum enjoyment and ease, PetSmart has curated a special collection of products, including the following:

Hike, Camp, Canoe, Fish and Sail

  • Whisker City Reflective Cat Leash
  • Grreat Choice Cat Harness
  • Top Paw Life Jacket
  • Wacky Paws Pet Backpack Carrier
  • Top Paw Travel Water Bottle
  • Top Paw Travel Bowl
  • TagWorks Sport Collection Gold Fish Pet ID Tag

Car Travel

  • Whisker City Flower Soft Sided Cat Carrier
  • Grreat Choice Microfiber Rear Seat Cover
  • Petmate 19” 2-Door Top Load Kennel

At the Campsite

  • Whisker City Interchangeable Tip Laser Cat Toy
  • Wild Salmon Bite Cat Treats
  • Whisker City Slicker Cat Brush
  • Seresto Flea & Tick Cat Collar
  • Whisker City Tearless Non-Rinse Waterless Cat Shampoo
  • GNC Pets Hypoallergenic Cat Wipes
  • Capstar 2-25 lb. Dog & Cat Flea Treatment
  • Kurgo First Aid Kit
  • ExquisiCat Naturals Disposable Litter Tray & Cat Litter
  • NATURE’S MIRACLE® Pre-Filled Crystal Disposable Cat Litter Pan

Indoor Adventures

  • WARE Cat Condo
  • Laser Cat Toy
  • Jackson Galaxy Air Prey Wand & Laser Cat Toy

See the full collection at www.petsmart.com/adventurecats.

About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel™ dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart® Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, OnlyNaturalPet.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017*. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

Turn your passion for pets into a career you’ll love! Visit careers.petsmart.com to learn more about corporate, retail store, and Distribution Center opportunities.

*Ends 12/31/17.  5 oz. dog food, 1.5 oz. cat food donated to PetSmart Charities to feed dogs and cats in need.  See details at petsmart.com/giveameal. The actual number of meals donated is based on dog and cat food bags sold.  The meal donation estimate is based on historic sales for similar time periods. No guaranteed amount. Rescue Bank and Feeding America will help distribute a large portion of the pet food donation in the U.S., while four large animal welfare agencies will distribute it in Canada.

About Adventure Cats
Adventure Cats is a group of outdoorsy cat lovers who started AdventureCats.org as a resource for people looking for safe ways to explore the great outdoors with their feline friends. The organization also wants to challenge negative stereotypes about cats and the people who love them in order to increase shelter cat adoptions. The Adventure Cats book is available through AdventureCats.org as well as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and IndieBound.

Follow Adventure Cats on Instagram: instagram.com/adventurecatsorg
Follow Adventure Cats on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AdventureCatsorg
Follow Adventure Cats on Twitter: twitter.com/adventurecatorg
Follow Adventure Cats on Tumblr: adventurecatsorg.tumblr.com

Source: PetSmart, Inc.

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Delivery Hero Group to acquire the remaining shares in Korean food delivery platform Foodfly

Berlin, 2017-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Delivery Hero Group (“Delivery Hero”), the leading global online food ordering and delivery marketplace, today (20 September 2017 ) announced it has agreed to acquire the remaining shares in Foodfly, a fast-growing Korean food delivery platform based in Seoul. Before the transaction, Delivery Hero already held a fully diluted stake of 21 percent in Fly&Company Inc. operating the Foodfly business. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Foodfly operates a food delivery marketplace with own delivery services, allowing it to add restaurants to its platform that do not offer delivery services themselves. Currently Foodfly maintains partnerships with 1,700 restaurants in Seoul. These services will allow Delivery Hero in Korea, currently operating under the Yogiyo brand and the Baedaltong brand, to provide additional restaurant choice to the consumer.

Foodfly was founded in 2011 and is managed by CEO Eunseon Lim. The entire management team will stay on board going forward.

Niklas Östberg, CEO of Delivery Hero, said: “We know the Foodfly team for two years and are impressed by their achievements. We believe in strong local teams and believe that the Foodfly services complement our offering for Korean consumers.”

Eunseon Lim, CEO of Foodfly: “We are excited to join forces with Delivery Hero and look forward to exploring the future of food delivery as part of the global leader.”

About Delivery Hero

Delivery Hero is the leading global online food ordering and delivery marketplace with number one market positions in terms of restaurants, active users and orders in more countries than any of its competitors and online and mobile platforms across 40+ countries in Europe, the Middle East & North Africa (MENA), Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region. Delivery Hero also operates its own delivery service primarily in 60+ high-density urban areas around the world. The Company is headquartered in Berlin and has over 6,000 employees in addition to thousands of employed delivery drivers.

For more information, please visit www.deliveryhero.com.

Media Enquiries:

Bodo v. Braunmühl
Head of Corporate Communications
bodo.braunmuehl@deliveryhero.com

Source: Delivery Hero Group

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GameStop Offers Unbeatable Trade-In Values and Layaway Options

GRAPEVINE, Texas, 2017-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ —

WHAT: After selling out of Xbox One X – Project Scorpio Edition console reserves in record time, GameStop has now secured a new allotment of the world’s most powerful system, in its standard edition. Accompanying the second wave of pre-orders, the company is showing its commitment to providing customers the best value in gaming with exclusive trade-in offers and layaway options.

WHEN: Pre-orders available on Sept. 20 at 12 p.m. CT.

TRADE-IN: PowerUp Rewards (PUR) members who pre-order Xbox One X can save up to $200, when they trade their current console towards Xbox One X at launch. Trade-in coupons will be delivered to PUR members’ digital lockers by Nov. 1—valid toward a new Xbox One X system.

TITLES: Games play better on Xbox One X, but fans can enjoy an above-and-beyond gaming experience with 4K Ultra HD titles, like Forza Motorsport 7, Assassin’s Creed Origins and Middle Earth: Shadow of War.

LAYAWAY BUNDLES: GameStop is helping gamers revamp their gaming setup and save big when they bundle Xbox One X with other products, offering three bundle tiers: Gold, Silver and Bronze. Bundles are available for customers who layaway one of GameStop’s accessory bundles by Oct. 31 with purchase of Xbox One X between Nov. 7 and Nov. 18.

  1. Gold: Save $120
    • Microsoft Xbox One Black/Silver Elite Wireless Controller
    • ASTRO A40 TR Headset with M80 Adapter for Xbox One
    • Xbox One SCUF Elite Pro Kit – Green
    • Microsoft Xbox Live Six-Month Subscription
  2. Silver: Save $50
    • Xbox Wireless Black/Gold Recon Tech Controller (GameStop exclusive)
    • Microsoft Xbox Live Three-Month Gold Membership
    • Turtle Beach Xbox One XO Three Gaming Headset Black + Green
    • BD&A Xbox One Play & Charge Kit
    • CyberPower Six-Outlet & Two USB Surge Protector with White USB Charger
  3. Bronze: Save $25
    • Microsoft Xbox One Red Wireless Controller
    • CyberPower Six-Outlet & Two USB Surge Protector with White USB Charger
    • Microsoft Xbox Live Three-Month Gold Membership

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ARRANGE SPOKESPERSON INTERVIEWS, CONTACT:
Alexis Barsalou
External Communications
alexisbarsalou@gamestop.com
817.424.2117

Source: GameStop Corp./globenewswire

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BRP: consumers expect quick access to products and most retailers respond by offering same day delivery

According to the 2017 Digital Commerce Survey, Autonomous Fulfillment is the Next Step in Delivery as Self-driving Vehicles and Helper Robots Become More Prevalent

Boston, MA, 2017-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — According to a new report from BRP, consumers expect quick access to products and most retailers are now responding by offering same day delivery. Currently, 51% of retailers indicate they offer same day delivery, up from 16% last year, and within two years 65% plan to offer this service. Delivery via a third party service, such as Uber or Lyft has also increased (from 20% last year to 32% this year) as retailers look at different ways to offer customers the flexibility to shop, purchase and receive their goods on their own terms.

“With Amazon offering same day delivery in some markets, the push is on for retailers to get items delivered to customers as soon as possible,” said Jeffrey Neville, vice president at BRP. “Autonomous delivery and distribution are the next step with self-driving vehicles soon a reality and a few food delivery start-ups already testing the concept.”

Consumer behavior and mobile technology are dramatically changing the traditional retail model. Amazon continues to disrupt retail as it delves deeper into brick-and-mortar with the acquisition of Whole Foods. Meanwhile, bankruptcies and store closures make daily headlines, as the phrase ‘retail apocalypse’ becomes the topic of many conversations. These developments dictate retailers’ necessity to adapt to the new customer journey to accommodate the blurred lines of retail and innovative methods of shopping driven by mobile technology, artificial intelligence and rapidly changing fulfillment methods. To succeed, retailers may need to reinvent themselves to create an effective blend of the physical and digital worlds to maintain customer loyalty.

BRP conducted the 2017 Digital Commerce Benchmark Survey to understand the current retail challenges and the available opportunities for retailers as they face the future of retail. The key customer imperatives are:

  • Personal – Combining behavioral, historical and customer profile data empowers retailers to deliver tailored and relevant content to meet customers’ individual needs. 38% of retailers indicate that improving personalization is a top digital customer experience priority.
  • Ubiquitous – Customer expectations for a personalized, seamless experience require retailers to  follow customers’ journeys as they research and shop from anywhere. 49% of retailers will offer customers the ability to ‘start anywhere, finish anywhere’ within five years.
  • Unified – Retailers’ technology, processes and organization need to be unified and aligned across channels to offer a seamless and consistent customer experience. 54% of retailers indicate that creating a consistent brand experience across channels is a top priority.

To download the complete 2017 Digital Commerce Benchmark Survey, visit: https://brpconsulting.com/2017-digital-commerce-survey/.

The 2017 Customer Experience/ Unified Commerce Benchmark Survey platinum sponsor is Manhattan Associates and the gold sponsors are ECRS, Mi9 Retail, NCR, and Radial.

About BRP

BRP is an innovative retail management consulting firm dedicated to providing superior service and enduring value to our clients. BRP combines its consultants’ deep retail business knowledge and cross-functional capabilities to deliver superior design and implementation of strategy, technology, and process solutions. The firm’s unique combination of industry focus, knowledge-based approach, and rapid, end-to-end solution deployment helps clients to achieve their business potential. BRP’s consulting services include:

Strategy | Business Intelligence | Business Process Optimization | Point of Sale (POS)
Mobile POS | Payment Security | E-Commerce | Store Systems and Operations | CRM
Unified Commerce | Customer Experience | Order Management | Networks
Merchandise Management | Supply Chain | Private Equity

For more information on BRP, visit http://www.brpconsulting.com.

Source: BRP

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Barnes & Noble announces $1 million book donation to First Book for areas affected by hurricanes Harvey and Irma

Donation Includes Thousands of Children’s Books to Be Distributed by First Book to Schools and Charities in both Texas and Florida

New York, New York, 2017-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world’s largest bookseller, today ( September 20, 2017) announced a $1 million book donation to First Book for areas affected by hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The donation features thousands of children’s books for a variety of ages including chapter books, board books, picture books, and coloring books, and will be delivered by First Book to schools and local charities in both Texas and Florida.

The donation underscores Barnes & Noble’s support of First Book, a nonprofit social enterprise that has distributed more than 170 million books and resources to kids in need – including a focused effort providing books to children affected by natural disasters.

“Barnes & Noble is committed to the communities it serves across the country, and when natural disasters of this magnitude affect our customers and booksellers we feel a duty to help,” said Demos Parneros, CEO of Barnes & Noble, Inc. “We hope that by partnering with First Book to put books in the hands of children in affected areas, we can help brighten the outlook of some of the families who lost the most in these unprecedented storms.”

“We are so grateful to Barnes & Noble for stepping up and making a significant difference at a time of need for so many children and families in our country,” said First Book President and CEO Kyle Zimmer. “These books will be distributed to schools and charities that require the most help in both Texas and Florida. Since Hurricane Katrina, First Book has already distributed more than 5 million new books to areas affected by natural disasters, and we’ve seen firsthand how books can improve the lives of young people, even in the most difficult circumstances.”

For more information on First Book and to find out how to donate, please visit https://www.firstbook.org. For more information on Barnes & Noble, visit your local Barnes & Noble store or go online at www.bn.com.

About Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) is the world’s largest bookseller, and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products.  The Company operates 632 Barnes & Noble bookstores in 50 states, and one of the Web’s premier e-commerce sites, BN.com (www.bn.com).  The Nook Digital business offers a lineup of popular NOOK® tablets and eReaders and an expansive collection of digital reading and entertainment content through the NOOK Store®. The NOOK Store features more than 4.5 million digital books in the US (www.nook.com), plus periodicals and comics, and offers the ability to enjoy content across a wide array of popular devices through Free NOOK Reading Apps™ available for Android™, iOS® and Windows®.

General information on Barnes & Noble, Inc. can be obtained by visiting the Company’s corporate website at www.barnesandnobleinc.com.

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

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

About First Book

First Book transforms the lives of children in need. Through a sustainable, market-driven model, First Book is creating equal access to quality education — making everything from brand-new, high-quality books and educational resources, to sports equipment, winter coats, snacks, and more – affordable to its member network of more than 325,000 educators who exclusively serve kids in need. Since 1992, First Book has distributed more than 170 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income families in more than 30 countries. First Book currently reaches an average of 3 million children every year and supports more than one in four of the estimated 1.3 million classrooms and programs serving children in need. With an additional 1,000 educators joining each week, First Book is the largest and fastest-growing network of educators in the United States exclusively serving kids in need. Eligible educators, librarians, providers, and others serving children in need can sign up at firstbook.org/register. For more information, please visit firstbook.org or follow the latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Contacts:

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

Melanie Boyer
Public Relations
First Book
(202) 639-0114
mboyer@firstbook.org

Source: Barnes & Noble, Inc.

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Barnes & Noble declares quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share

NEW YORK, 2017-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) today (09/19/2017 ) announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share, payable on October 27, 2017, to stockholders of record at the close of business on October 6, 2017.

About Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) is the nation’s largest retail bookseller, and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products. The Company operates 632 Barnes & Noble bookstores in 50 states, and one of the Web’s premier e-commerce sites, BN.com (www.bn.com). The Nook Digital business offers a lineup of popular NOOK® tablets and eReaders and an expansive collection of digital reading and entertainment content through the NOOK Store®. The NOOK Store features more than 4.5 million digital books in the US (www.nook.com), plus periodicals and comics, and offers the ability to enjoy content across a wide array of popular devices through Free NOOK Reading Apps™ available for Android™, iOS® and Windows®.

General information on Barnes & Noble, Inc. can be obtained by visiting the Company’s corporate website at www.barnesandnobleinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

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

Such statements reflect the current views of Barnes & Noble with respect to future events, the outcome of which is subject to certain risks, including, among others, the general economic environment and consumer spending patterns, decreased consumer demand for Barnes & Noble’s products, low growth or declining sales and net income due to various factors, including store closings, higher-than-anticipated or increasing costs, including with respect to store closings, relocation, occupancy (including in connection with lease renewals) and labor costs, the effects of competition, the risk of insufficient access to financing to implement future business initiatives, risks associated with data privacy and information security, risks associated with Barnes & Noble’s supply chain, including possible delays and disruptions and increases in shipping rates, various risks associated with the digital business, including the possible loss of customers, declines in digital content sales, risks and costs associated with ongoing efforts to rationalize the digital business, the risk that financial and operational forecasts and projections are not achieved, the performance of Barnes & Noble’s initiatives including but not limited to new store concepts and eCommerce initiatives, unanticipated adverse litigation results or effects, potential infringement of Barnes & Noble’s intellectual property by third parties or by Barnes & Noble of the intellectual property of third parties, and other factors, including those factors discussed in detail in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in Barnes & Noble’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 29, 2017, and in Barnes & Noble’s other filings made hereafter from time to time with the SEC.

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

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

Investor:
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
Andy Milevoj
Vice President
Corporate Finance and Investor Relations
212-633-3489
amilevoj@bn.com

Source: Barnes & Noble, Inc.

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ascena retail group to release Q4 2017 financial results on Monday, September 25, 2017

MAHWAH, N.J., 2017-Sep-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — ascena retail group, inc. (NASDAQ:ASNA) (the “Company” or “ascena”) today (Sep. 20, 2017) announces the release of its Fiscal 2017 fourth quarter financial results will take place on Monday, September 25, 2017. Results will be released over Business Wire at approximately 4:00 PM Eastern Time. The Company will also host a conference call at 4:30 PM Eastern Time to review its results, which will include comments by David Jaffe, Chairman and CEO, Robb Giammatteo, Executive Vice President and CFO, Brian Lynch, President and COO and Gary Muto, President and CEO ascena Brands, followed by a question and answer session.

Parties interested in participating in this call should dial in at (877) 930-8316 for domestic calls or (253) 336-8869 for international calls prior to the start time. The conference ID is 82349149. The call will also be simultaneously broadcast at www.ascenaretail.com. A recording of the call will be available shortly after its conclusion and until October 2, 2017 by dialing (855) 859-2056 for domestic calls or (404) 537-3406 for international calls. The replay ID is 82349149.

About ascena retail group, inc.

ascena retail group, inc. (NASDAQ:ASNA) is a leading national specialty retailer offering apparel, shoes, and accessories for women under the Premium Fashion segment (Ann Taylor, LOFT, and Lou & Grey), Value Fashion segment (maurices and dressbarn), Plus Fashion segment (Lane Bryant and Catherines), and for tween girls under the Kids Fashion segment (Justice). ascena retail group, inc. operates ecommerce websites and approximately 4,800 stores throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

For more information about ascena retail group, inc. visit: ascenaretail.com, AnnTaylor.com, LOFT.com, louandgrey.com, maurices.com, dressbarn.com, lanebryant.com, Catherines.com, and shopjustice.com.

For investors:
ICR, Inc.
James Palczynski
Partner
203-682-8229
jp@icrinc.com

For media:
ascena retail group, inc.
Sue Ross
Corporate Affairs
218-491-2110
sue.ross@ascenaretail.com

Source: ascena retail group, inc.

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Bed Bath & Beyond Q2 2017 financial results: Net Sales Decrease of Approximately 1.7%

  • Net Earnings per Diluted Share of $.67, Including Unfavorable Impacts of Restructuring Charges Related to the Realignment of the Store Management Structure and Estimated Costs Associated with Hurricane Harvey
  • Net Sales Decrease of Approximately 1.7%; Comparable Sales Decrease of Approximately 2.6%
  • Company Provides Update On Ongoing Transformational Initiatives

UNION, N.J., 2017-Sep-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ:BBBY) today (Sept. 19, 2017) reported financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 ended August 26, 2017.

Second Quarter Results

For the fiscal 2017 second quarter, the Company reported net earnings of $.67 per diluted share ($94.2 million), including the unfavorable impacts of approximately $.08 per diluted share of cash restructuring charges associated with the acceleration of the realignment of our store management structure announced on August 3, 2017; the estimated costs associated with the impact of Hurricane Harvey of approximately $.02 per diluted share; and the impact of the new share-based payment accounting standard of approximately $.01 per diluted share, compared with $1.11 per diluted share ($167.3 million) for the fiscal 2016 second quarter.  Net sales for the fiscal 2017 second quarter were approximately $2.9 billion, a decrease of approximately 1.7% from the prior year quarter.  Comparable sales in the fiscal 2017 second quarter decreased by approximately 2.6%.  Comparable sales from customer-facing digital channels continued to have strong growth in excess of 20% for the 13th consecutive quarter, while comparable sales from stores declined in the mid-single-digit percentage range during the fiscal 2017 second quarter.

Transformational Initiatives

The Company is undertaking a number of transformational initiatives to drive operational excellence and further its mission to be its customer’s first choice for the home and heart-felt life events.  These initiatives will be discussed in further detail on the Company’s conference call with analysts and investors to be held today at 5:00 pm (ET).

The Company believes the initiatives to drive operational excellence, as well as opportunities for added efficiencies, should produce savings in excess of $150 million over the next few years, a portion of which may be strategically reinvested toward future growth.

Capital Allocation

The Company’s Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $.15 per share, to be paid on January 16, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 15, 2017.

During the fiscal 2017 second quarter, the Company repurchased approximately $56 million of its common stock, representing approximately 1.8 million shares, under its existing $2.5 billion share repurchase program.  As of August 26, 2017, the program had a remaining balance of approximately $1.6 billion.

Fiscal 2017

During the call, the Company plans to review its financial planning assumptions for fiscal 2017, which is a 53-week year.

The Company’s planning assumptions reflect actual results through the fiscal second quarter and the continuation of the trends the Company has been experiencing, and the unfavorable impacts of:  the cash restructuring charges associated with the acceleration of the realignment of our store management structure; Hurricanes Harvey and Irma; the adoption of the new shared based payment accounting standard; and further increases in its overall expense structure to reflect some of the accelerated spending associated with the Company’s organizational changes and transformational initiatives.  Based upon these planning assumptions, the Company is now modeling net earnings per diluted share for the full year to be about $3.00, with the balance of the net earnings per diluted share to be split approximately 20% in the fiscal third quarter and approximately 80% in the fiscal fourth quarter.

Fiscal 2017 Second Quarter Conference Call

The Company’s fiscal 2017 second quarter conference call  may be accessed by dialing 1-800-446-1671, or if international, 1-847-413-3362, using conference ID number 45587344. The replay of the call can be accessed by dialing 1-888-843-7419, using conference ID number 45587344.  The call and replay can also be accessed via audio webcast on the investor relations section of our website at www.bedbathandbeyond.com.

About the Company

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) is an omnichannel retailer selling a wide assortment of domestics merchandise and home furnishings which operates under the names Bed Bath & Beyond, Christmas Tree Shops, Christmas Tree Shops andThat! or andThat!, Harmon, Harmon Face Values or Face Values, buybuy BABY and World Market, Cost Plus World Market or Cost Plus. Customers can purchase products either in-store, online, with a mobile device or through a customer contact center. The Company generally has the ability to have customer purchases picked up in-store or shipped direct to the customer from the Company’s distribution facilities, stores or vendors. In addition, the Company operates Of a Kind, an e-commerce website that features specially commissioned, limited edition items from emerging fashion and home designers; One Kings Lane, an authority in home décor and design, offering a unique collection of select home goods, designer and vintage items; PersonalizationMall.com, an industry-leading online retailer of personalized products; Chef Central, an online retailer of kitchenware, cookware and homeware items catering to cooking and baking enthusiasts; and Decorist, an online interior design platform that provides personalized home design services. The Company also operates Linen Holdings, a provider of a variety of textile products, amenities and other goods to institutional customers in the hospitality, cruise line, healthcare and other industries. Additionally, the Company is a partner in a joint venture which operates retail stores in Mexico under the name Bed Bath & Beyond.

The Company operates websites at bedbathandbeyond.com, bedbathandbeyond.ca, worldmarket.com, buybuybaby.com, buybuybaby.ca, christmastreeshops.com, andthat.com, harmondiscount.com, facevalues.com, ofakind.com, onekingslane.com, personalizationmall.com, chefcentral.com, decorist.com, harborlinen.com, and t-ygroup.com.  As of August 26, 2017, the Company had a total of 1,550 stores, including 1,023 Bed Bath & Beyond stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada, 277 stores under the names of World Market, Cost Plus World Market or Cost Plus, 114 buybuy BABY stores, 81 stores under the names Christmas Tree Shops, Christmas Tree Shops andThat! or andThat!, and 55 stores under the names Harmon, Harmon Face Values or Face Values.  During the fiscal second quarter, the Company opened one Bed Bath & Beyondstore, two World Market stores, one buybuy BABY store, and one andThat! store, and closed one World Market store.  In addition, the Company is a partner in a joint venture which operates eight stores in Mexico under the name Bed Bath & Beyond.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements.  Many of these forward-looking statements can be identified by use of words such as may, will, expect, anticipate, approximate, estimate, assume, continue, model, project, plan, and similar words and phrases.  The Company’s actual results and future financial condition may differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements as a result of many factors. Such factors include, without limitation: general economic conditions including the housing market, a challenging overall macroeconomic environment and related changes in the retailing environment; consumer preferences, spending habits and adoption of new technologies; demographics and other macroeconomic factors that may impact the level of spending for the types of merchandise sold by the Company; civil disturbances and terrorist acts; unusual weather patterns and natural disasters; competition from existing and potential competitors; competition from other channels of distribution; pricing pressures; liquidity; the ability to achieve anticipated cost savings, and to not exceed anticipated costs, associated with organizational changes; the ability to attract and retain qualified employees in all areas of the organization; the cost of labor, merchandise and other costs and expenses; potential supply chain disruption due to trade restrictions, political instability, labor disturbances, product recalls, financial or operational instability of suppliers or carriers, and other items; the ability to find suitable locations at acceptable occupancy costs and other terms to support the Company’s plans for new stores; the ability to assess and implement technologies in support of the Company’s development of its omnichannel capabilities; the ability to establish and profitably maintain the appropriate mix of digital and physical presence in the markets it serves; uncertainty in financial markets; volatility in the price of the Company’s common stock and its effect, and the effect of other factors, on the Company’s capital allocation strategy; disruptions to the Company’s information technology systems including but not limited to security breaches of systems protecting consumer and employee information; reputational risk arising from challenges to the Company’s or a third party supplier’s compliance with various laws, regulations or standards, including those related to labor, health, safety, privacy or the environment; reputational risk arising from third-party merchandise or service vendor performance in direct home delivery or assembly of product for customers; changes to statutory, regulatory and legal requirements, including without limitation proposed changes affecting international trade; changes to, or new, tax laws or interpretation of existing tax laws; new, or developments in existing, litigation, claims or assessments; changes to, or new, accounting standards; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; and the integration of acquired businesses.  The Company does not undertake any obligation to update its forward-looking statements.

INVESTOR CONTACT:
Janet M. Barth
(908) 613-5820

SOURCE: Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.