Daily Archives: October 18, 2017

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Kroger Central division President Katie Wolfram to retire; Pam Matthews to succeed

CINCINNATI, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today (Oct. 17, 2017) announced the retirement of Central division President Katie Wolfram and the promotion of Pam Matthews, currently the QFC division president, to succeed her. Suzy Monford will join the company to serve as the president of the QFC division.

“We are grateful for Katie’s nearly 40 years of dedicated service to our associates and customers, and we are excited to have Pam and Suzy take on these indispensable leadership roles in our company,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO. “Both leaders bring successful and distinguished retail experience to the roles and will help with the execution of the Restock Kroger Plan that will bring valuable changes to our customers, associates, communities and shareholders.”

Katie Wolfram to Retire after 38 Years of Service 
Ms. Wolfram will retire from the company after 38 years of distinguished service, effective November 4.

“Katie has accomplished much in her career with Kroger and has always been passionate about creating an inclusive and diverse work culture,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO. “She has been a valued leadership partner across the company and Central division. We truly appreciate the many contributions Katie has made to Kroger, and we wish her and her family the best in retirement.”

Ms. Wolfram was named to her current role in 2016 and has been spearheading an aggressive growth strategy in the Central division since joining the region as the vice president of merchandising in 2014. In the last two years, the company has invested nearly $329 million in the central Indiana market, adding five new Marketplace stores and 12 new gas stations, remodeling and/or expanding 14 existing stores, building a regional training center and adding more than 1,400 new jobs to the region. The Central Division operates 138 stores with more than 19,500 associates.

Ms. Wolfram began her career with Kroger in 1979 as an assistant store manager in the Cincinnati-Dayton division. She went on to serve in several leadership positions at Kroger’s corporate office in Cincinnati and with Kroger’s Manufacturing division. In 2005, she moved to Denver to join the King Soopers division as vice president of merchandising, before joining the Central division in 2014 to serve in the same role.

Ms. Wolfram was a leader for the first Cultural Council, a team development and culture-building group, started at the corporate office, and she started the Reach Higher initiative in Kroger Manufacturing. Additionally, Ms. Wolfram represented Kroger as a leader in the Network of Executive Women, Denver.

In retirement, she plans to move back to Denver to be near her daughter and grandson.

Pam Matthews Promoted to President of Central Division 
Ms. Matthews, currently president of the QFC division, succeeds Ms. Wolfram as president of Kroger’s Central division, effective October 23.

Ms. Matthews started with the company in 1980 in the Fred Meyer division. She has held a variety of leadership roles in her 25-year career with Fred Meyer, including store management, training, corporate brand development, and merchandising for deli-bakery, drug-general merchandise and grocery. Ms. Matthews also served as director of deli-bakery merchandising and director of floral merchandising and procurement at Kroger’s corporate office in Cincinnati before being promoted to vice president of merchandising for the Central division in 2006. She moved to the Delta division as vice president of merchandising in 2014 and was named vice president of operations in 2015. She was named president of the QFC division in 2016.

Suzy Monford Named President of QFC Division 
Ms. Monford joins the company to succeed Ms. Matthews as president of QFC, effective October 23. Ms. Monford is the former CEO of Andronico’s Community Markets, a Bay Area chain acquired by Albertsons in early 2017.

Prior to Andronico’s, Ms. Monford was the head of innovation for Woolworths Supermarkets in Australia, after spending 10 years as an executive for H-E-B Central Market and H-E-B Grocery Company in Texas.

Passionate about creating healthy communities, Ms. Monford is an internationally-certified group exercise instructor and health coach. She’s been recognized as a Top Woman in Retail Tech by Retail Info Systems (RIS), Top Woman in Grocery by Progressive Grocer and a Top 25 Technological Disruptor by Supermarket News.

She will be based at the division office in Seattle and oversee QFC’s 65 stores in Washington and Oregon.

At The Kroger Co., we are dedicated to our purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit™. We are 450,000 associates who serve nearly nine million customers daily in 2,793 retail food stores under a variety of local banner names in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Our Family of Companies operates an expanding ClickList offering – a personalized order online service – in addition to 2,258 pharmacies, 783 convenience stores, 307 fine jewelry stores, 222 retail health clinics, 1,472 supermarket fuel centers and 38 food production plants in the United States. Our Company has been recognized as one of America’s most generous companies for our support of more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners, breast cancer research and awareness, the military and their families, and more than 145,000 community organizations including schools. As a leader in supplier diversity, we are a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable.

SOURCE: The Kroger Co.

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BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. to to host Q3 2017 results conference call on Thursday, October 26, 2017

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — BJ’s Restaurants, Inc.(NASDAQ:BJRI) today (Oct. 17, 2017) announced that it will release its third quarter 2017 results after the market closes on Thursday, October 26, 2017.  The Company will host an investor conference call at 2:00 p.m. (Pacific) that same day.  The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet.  To listen to the conference call, please visit the “Investors” page of the Company’s website located at http://www.bjsrestaurants.com several minutes prior to the start of the call to register and download any necessary audio software.  An archive of the presentation will be available for 30 days following the call.

BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. currently owns and operates 195 casual dining restaurants under the BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse®, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery®, BJ’s Pizza & Grill® and BJ’s Grill® brand names.  BJ’s Restaurants offer an innovative and broad menu featuring award-winning, signature deep-dish pizza complemented with generously portioned salads, appetizers, sandwiches, soups, pastas, entrees and desserts, including the Pizookie® dessert.  Quality, flavor, value, moderate prices and sincere service remain distinct attributes of the BJ’s experience.  All restaurants feature BJ’s critically acclaimed proprietary craft beers, which are produced at several of the Company’s Restaurant & Brewery locations, brewpub locations in Texas and qualified independent third party craft brewers.  The Company’s restaurants are located in the 24 states of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington. Visit BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. on the Web at http://www.bjsrestaurants.com

For further information, please contact:

Greg Levin
BJ’s Restaurants, Inc.
(714) 500-2400

JCIR
(212) 835-8500
bjri@jcir.com.

Source: BJ’s Restaurants, Inc./globenewswire

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Walgreens to bring 300 new positions to its Chicago Sullivan Center to establish a new technology center of excellence

Company to Double Number of Employees in Downtown Chicago Office with 300 Additional Positions

DEERFIELD, Ill., 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Walgreens today (October 17, 2017) announced with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel that it will bring approximately 300 technology positions to its current downtown Chicago office in the Sullivan Center to establish a new technology center of excellence. Through a combination of new hires and relocations from its Deerfield, Ill., support office, Walgreens will double its number of employees working at the Sullivan Center, located at 36 S. Wabash Ave.

Walgreens is currently building out its space in the Sullivan Center to host the new center of excellence, which will host much of the company’s retail pharmacy technology team along with the digital, mobile and e-commerce technology teams that currently work there.

“We are excited to bring more technology jobs to the City of Chicago and establish a technology center of excellence that will focus on delivering state-of-the-art systems to our more than 8,000 drugstores nationwide,” said Alex Gourlay, president of Walgreens. “Chicago is where Walgreens began as a single drugstore in 1901, and expanding our downtown presence will help us retain and attract the best talent to continue developing our digital and technology capabilities.”

Walgreens already employs more than 3,500 people in the City of Chicago, where it operates 136 drugstores.

“Chicago and Walgreens have a long and shared history of innovation and ingenuity,” Mayor Emanuel said. “That history makes Chicago the perfect city for Walgreens to locate 300 jobs and make an investment in its future.”

About Walgreens

Walgreens (walgreens.com), one of the nation’s largest drugstore chains, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. More than 10 million customers interact with Walgreens each day in communities across America, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,175 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with its omnichannel business, Walgreens.com. Approximately 400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.

Contact:

Phil Caruso
847-315-2962
philip.caruso@walgreens.com
http://news.walgreens.com
@WalgreensNews
facebook.com/Walgreens

Source: Walgreens

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A late bumper crop of British strawberries to go on sale at Tesco

A late bumper crop of British strawberries to go on sale at Tesco

 

Welwyn Garden City, UK, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — A late bumper crop of British strawberries is to go on sale at Tesco as a result of the recent mini heatwave and unseasonably warm autumn weather.

The British strawberry season is usually over by the end of the September but extra hours of sunshine and the recent mini heatwave have created enough of the fruit to last until the end of October.

The weather has been so good – with a perfect mixture of warmth, sunshine and rain – that there is enough of the British crop to last until the end of October – right until Halloween.

Tesco strawberry buyer Ben Rowbotham said:

“Fans of British strawberries are in for a real treat as our home-grown variety are considered to be the very best in the world.

“It’s very rare for British strawberries to still be on sale at this time of year and we should have enough to last right through until Halloween.”

Usually the last British strawberries of the season are grown in Scotland but the fine weather has helped growers right across Britain including Kent, West and East Sussex, Essex, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Perthshire, Arbroath in Angus.

The strawberries will be available at Tesco stores across the UK and will cost £2 for a 300g box and £3.25 for a 600g box.

Note to editors

At Tesco, we’re passionate about working in partnership with our suppliers so that no edible food goes to waste. In the last 12 months, we’ve been able to take bumper crops like this and offer customers bonus deals on strawberries, carrots, cauliflowers, cherries, lettuce, lemons and celery.

Customers benefitted from great prices, our farmers were happy we could take more from them, and we prevented good food from going to waste. Everyone wins.

This is another example of Tesco working with our farmers and suppliers to give customers the best British products, at the best prices.

We are a team of 480,000 in 11 markets dedicated to serving shoppers a little better every day.

For more information please contact the Tesco Press Office on 01707 918 701  

Source: Tesco

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Breast Cancer Awareness Day: Carrefour partners with the Spanish Cancer Awareness Association for new post-operative bra

Breast Cancer Awareness Day: Carrefour partners with the Spanish Cancer Awareness Association for new post-operative bra

 

Boulogne-Billancourt, France, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Next 19 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Day and this year again, Carrefour has joined forces with the Spanish Cancer Awareness Association, AECC, to support the cause with a new post-operative bra to help women who have undergone breast cancer surgery.

The presentation, which took place this morning at the Carrefour Innovation Centre, was attended by Beatriz González Torrecilla, Carrefour Textiles Manager, Isabel Martínez-Noriega, AECC External Relations Manager, María Narváez, AECC Physiotherapist and María Cid, Carrefour Solidarity Foundation Manager.

The BienStar (WellBeing) post-surgery bra was designed specifically for women affected by this disease to aid their recovery with an attractive, feminine design and a very competitive price, ensuring it is more accessible.

Improving self-esteem
One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime and, besides the medical costs, they have to cope with the cost of many other items designed to improve their self-esteem during treatment (hairdressing, orthopaedic fabric products, creams, etc.) which, together with medicines, can amount to an average of 450€ while they are undergoing treatment.

In addition to this, according to the AECC, many women who have been diagnosed with this illness develop symptoms of anxiety and emotional changes due, in many cases, to the changes that the treatments can cause in their physical appearance. With this new bra, Carrefour seeks to support all women facing these processes and help with the emotional side of things through products that help boost their self-esteem and, as far as possible, meet their specific needs.

Collaboration with the AECC
To develop the new BienStar post-operative bra, Carrefour was advised by the AECC and company employees who have undergone surgery. These ladies tried the new garment themselves in order to improve it and are also the image of the campaign.

The AECC advised on the development of this product, which benefits women in being made mostly from cotton and front-fastening, as well as having wider straps and an opening for prostheses. Not only that, it is very competitively priced, which, together with the design, makes it a very attractive product for women who have undergone breast cancer surgery.

#paramujeresqueestrenanvida

For all request about the Carrefour Group (sales, financial results, governance, international,…), please contact the Carrefour Group media relations office:

. By phone:

Switchboard: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 00

For journalists: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 17

. By e-mail: presse_groupe@

Source: Carrefour Group

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From Taipei to Rio de Janeiro – nearly 2000 Carrefour stores to participate at this year’s international Food Bank collection campaign

From Taipei to Rio de Janeiro – nearly 2000 Carrefour stores to participate at this year’s international Food Bank collection campaign

 

Boulogne-Billancourt, France, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — In 2013, the Carrefour Foundation launched a major international and simultaneous collection campaign for Food Banks. Fast-forward to 2017 and 38 million meals later, it is gearing up to launch the 5th international Food Bank collection campaign with support from the European Food Bank Federation and The Global FoodBanking Network. Teams from nearly 2000 stores will be involved in the project which will run for more than 2 months across 10 countries: Taiwan, followed by Romania, Spain, France, Italy, Poland, Brazil, China, Argentina and Belgium. Employees, customers and volunteers will all be drawing on all their resources and focusing on helping the world’s poorest people.

From Taipei to Rio de Janeiro – nearly 2000 Carrefour stores are getting involved in 10 different countries
Carrefour Taiwan’s teams will start collecting donations on 16 October – World Food Day; and they’ll continue until the end of December. Then on 1 November, Carrefour Romania will launch its own campaign. Starting on 24 November, the teams will be joined by Carrefour Poland, Carrefour Spain and Carrefour France. The next day, the campaign will get under way at Carrefour stores in Italy, Brazil, before commencing in China, Argentina and Belgium, where Carrefour will hold a virtual collection from 15 to 18 December.

The campaign will be implemented in stores by nearly 1500 Carrefour employees, all working alongside volunteers from the Food Banks. In 2016, the equivalent of some 9.3 million meals were donated and then redistributed to charities who help people in need.

Thousands of “orange jackets” in action out in the field
This 5th edition is an opportunity to take stock of what we’ve accomplished so far. Since 2013, the Carrefour Foundation and its country aid ambassadors have collected donations amounting to the equivalent of nearly 38 million meals in more than 10,000 stores thanks to 6200 volunteer Carrefour employees, all wearing the famous orange jackets. Their task is to raise customers’ awareness, receive the foodstuffs from them as they leave the checkouts and then sort them so they can be easily redistributed via the Food Banks’ warehouses.

Give every day: the equivalent of 142 million meals donated by Carrefour stores throughout the world in 2016
Carrefour has been partnering the Food Banks every day since 1994. And alongside these collection campaigns, Carrefour also donates foodstuffs to various associations on a daily basis – fresh produce in particular. In 2016, these donations amounted to the equivalent of 142 million meals given for food aid associations around the world. The initiative is very much in line with Carrefour’s campaign to tackle food wastage that it launched back in 2013 – not just in France, but also in Belgium, Brazil, Argentina and Taiwan. In France, Carrefour is the leading private donor to Food Banks.
Carrefour stores in France are committed to a policy that involves making daily donations to charities and in 2016, they donated 11,239 tonnes of foodstuffs to Food Banks – that’s the equivalent of some 22.5 million meals.

Give effectively:Logistics support and a training programme 
The Carrefour Foundation also gives the Food Banks logistics support: it provides vehicles for transporting products – including fresh products – and cold rooms for storing them. In 2016, a €357,070 grant financed the purchase of 13 refrigeration vehicles and a cold storage room. It was also used to develop training programmes about hygiene and food safety for managers, volunteers and the Food Bank’s partner associations. Since 1994, Carrefour has funded the purchase of 300 facilities for the Food Banks throughout the world. These include 157 refrigeration vehicles, 31 cold rooms and refrigeration cabinets, etc.

For all request about the Carrefour Group (sales, financial results, governance, international,…), please contact the Carrefour Group media relations office:

. By phone:

Switchboard: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 00

For journalists: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 17

. By e-mail: presse_groupe@

Source: Carrefour Group

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Walmart Foundation supports military families affected by the 2017 hurricanes with $500,000 donation to Operation Homefront

The funding will meet critical needs for up to 1,000 military family members affected by the 2017 Hurricane Season

SAN ANTONIO, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Walmart Foundation is committing $500,000 to Operation Homefront’s Critical Financial Assistance program to help meet the unique and urgent needs of military families affected by the 2017 hurricane season.

The funding will support the financial needs of up to 1,000 requests from military family members struggling to make ends meet in the areas impacted by disaster, including hotel costs for those displaced from their homes, car repairs, utility bills, housing costs and groceries. In addition, the funding will help make up the difference in lost wages for members in the Reserve and National Guard who are called for active duty and must take leave of absence from jobs due to hurricane relief and rescue efforts.

“This year’s hurricane season has been particularly devastating. While hurricanes impact many of us, they can have a double impact on men and women in uniform, who serve a vital role in activating to support local communities affected by disaster, while also feeling the impact on their own families and homes,” said Julie Gehrki, vice president, programs for Walmart. “As a company committed to disaster relief, and a long-term partner of Operation Homefront, we share a commitment to build strong, stable and secure military families and are fully dedicated to assisting these families as they face financial hardships due to this year’s devastating hurricanes.”

The funding builds upon Walmart and the Walmart Foundation’s previously announced commitments totaling $35 million to support 2017 hurricane assistance in response to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

The Critical Financial Assistance program addresses financial crises for families of deployed and injured service members and is managed by Operation Homefront professional case workers who validate financial needs, offer assistance in the form of grants rather than loans and pay funds directly to service providers. The Walmart Foundation funding will support eligible participants, focusing on junior- and mid-grade enlisted service members (E1-E6) and all post-9/11 wounded, ill or injured service members with medical documentation on injury and discharged with honorable service within the past seven years. In addition, activated National Guard and Reserve members are considered active duty and are also eligible for the Critical Financial Assistance program.

“Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have been incredible partners for more than a decade,” said Brig Gen (ret) John I. Pray, Jr., president and CEO of Operation Homefront. “We are very grateful for their continuing commitment to helping us help our military families as well as their new support for our Critical Financial Assistance program. Since 2011, this vital program has fulfilled over 35,000 requests from veteran and military families, and the Walmart Foundation’s enthusiastic support will allow us to serve more military families, particularly those impacted by this year’s devastating hurricanes with the goal of helping them thrive in the communities they have worked so hard to protect.”

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have a history of providing aid in times of disasters, helping communities prepare and recover by donating emergency supplies, such as food and water, home and personal products. Aside from the $35 million committed in response to this year’s hurricanes, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have donated more than $60 million in cash and in-kind donations in response to disaster events since 2005.

In addition, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have long supported military members, veterans and their families. As a long-term partner of Operation Homefront, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have helped tens of thousands of military and veteran families through cumulative contributions of $6 million since 2006. Moreover, through its Military Family Promise, Walmart guarantees a job at a nearby store or club for all military personnel and military spouses employed by the company who move to a different part of the country because they or their spouse have been transferred by the U.S. military. Walmart also recently announced major changes to its military leave of absence policy, offering differential pay to associates for any military assignment, including voluntary service like basic training, allowing associates who are considering enlisting in the armed forces to do so without fear of losing wages.

About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices.er 260 million customers and members visit our more than 11,600 stores under 59 banners in 28 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries. With fiscal year 2017 revenue of $485.9 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.3 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart.

About Philanthropy at Walmart
By using our strengths to help others, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation create opportunities for people to live better every day. Walmart has stores in 28 countries, employing more than 2.3 million associates and doing business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. Our philanthropy helps people live better by supporting upward job mobility and economic development for the retail workforce; addressing hunger and making healthier, more sustainably-grown food a reality; and building strong communities where Walmart operates and inspiring our associates to give back. Whether it is helping to lead the fight against hunger in the United States with $2 billion in cash and in-kind donations or supporting Women’s Economic Empowerment through a series of grants totaling $10 million to the Women in Factories training program in Bangladesh, China, India and Central America, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are not only working to tackle key social issues, we are also collaborating with others to inspire solutions for long-lasting systemic change. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit http://www.foundation.walmart.com.

About Operation Homefront
Founded in 2002, Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive – not simply struggle to get by – in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 92 percent of Operation Homefront expenditures go directly to programs that support tens of thousands of military families each year. Operation Homefront provides critical financial assistance, transitional and permanent housing and family support services to prevent short-term needs from turning into chronic, long-term struggles. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the support from thousands of volunteers, Operation Homefront proudly serves America’s military families. For more information, visit OperationHomefront.org.

Source: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

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Amazon.com launches its 2017 Holiday Toy List, Electronics Gift Guide and Home Gift Guide

  • Curated gift guides take the guesswork out of gifting and make it easy for customers to discover the perfect present for everyone on their list
  • Customers can shop products featured in Amazon’s holiday gift guides while on-the-go via the Amazon App or hands-free by voice shopping with Alexa

SEATTLE, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Amazon.com today (Oct. 16, 2017) announced the launch of its 2017 Holiday Toy List, Electronics Gift Guide and Home Gift Guide, taking the guesswork out of gifting and helping customers delight their loved ones this holiday season. Thoughtfully curated and inspired by Amazon product experts, influencers, kids and parents, Amazon’s holiday gift guides offer customers quick and easy access to the top gifts for everyone on their nice list. Customers can enjoy the convenience of shopping products featured in the Amazon holiday gift guides from anywhere via the Amazon App or hands-free by voice shopping with Alexa on any AmazonAlexa-enabled device.

Holiday Toy List

Available at amazon.com/holidaytoylist, the 2017 Amazon Holiday Toy List features more than a thousand of the most sought-after products for children of all ages and interests. Simplifying holiday gifting, the Holiday Toy List enables customers to shop by curated themes – STEM Stars, Action-Packed Toys, Too Cute Too Cuddly, Tech Toys, Family Night, Arts & Crafts, Get Active and Preschool. The Top 100 and Kid Picks are back by popular demand, both ideal for those who want quick access to a shortlist of the best-of-the-best toys and games. Kids and parents will find the top STEM toys that inspire curious minds and encourage imaginative play, as well as the latest tech toys for connected play. In addition, kids will love the toys from this year’s top new movies, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and The LEGO Ninjago Movie. Watch toys come to life in videos that showcase this year’s must-have products in select categories, such as Top 100, Tech Toys, Kid Picks and STEM Stars. The Holiday Toy List also features products that are available exclusively on Amazon, including furReal Makers Proto Max, Fisher-Price Think & Learn Smart Cycle, Disney Princess Dress Up Trunk, Candy Land the World of Sweets Game and much more. This season, customers can spend more precious moments with loved ones by relying on toy experts who hand-picked the holiday favorites from millions of toys available on Amazon.

Electronics Gift Guide

Available at amazon.com/electronicsgiftguide, the 2017 Amazon Electronics Gift Guide features more than 500 of the season’s hottest technology products, including the latest innovations from TVs to gaming systems, all in one convenient location. Tech enthusiasts can browse new releases including the Bose Soundlink Micro Bluetooth Speaker, Fitbit Ionic smartwatch and DJI Mavic Pro. The Electronics Gift Guide enables customers to shop from more than 10 areas of interest, including Entertainment, Audio & Accessories, Smart Home, Photography, Gaming, Gadgets & Gizmos and more. In addition, shoppers searching for budget-friendly gift ideas can browse the top gifts under $100 for every techie in their life. While shopping the Electronics Gift Guide, customers can enjoy expert reviews, videos from top influencers in their fields and product demonstration videos, further assisting in finding the perfect gift.

Home Gift Guide

Available at amazon.com/homegiftguide, the 2017 Amazon Home Gift Guide is a specially curated list of more than a thousand products for inside and outside the home. Gift givers can browse more than 10 easy-to-shop lists, including Cooking & Baking, Crafts & Work Space, Holiday Hosting, Décor & Furniture, Practical Gifts, Grilling & Backyard, Tools & DIY, Baby & Nursery, Pet Gifts, Smart Home and Sports & Outdoors. Inspired by some of the most influential minds in the industry, the Home Gift Guide features curated picks by Apartment Therapy, Kitchn, Athena Calderone, Jessica Biel and The Dogist, helping customers find the perfect gift for the cook, baker, home decorator, party planner, outdoor adventurer, smart home aficionado, sports enthusiast, grill master and pet lover in their life. Customers can discover the latest home trends in the Home Gift Guide, such as cooking tools with app connectivity, one-pot cooking appliances and ‘hygge’-inspired cozy decor, as well as new products for this holiday season including Nordic Ware Bundt Pans in exclusive colors, Petcube Bites Treat Pet Camera, and the Weber Genesis II E-310 Liquid Propane Grill.

Convenient Shopping Experience

Last holiday season, more than 72 percent of Amazon customers worldwide shopped using a mobile device and shopping on the Amazon App grew by 56 percent. Customers can shop Amazon’s curated holiday gift guides from their mobile devices, as well as enjoy a hands-free shopping experience by voice shopping with Alexa, available on the Amazon Echo, Echo Show, Echo Dot, and more. With tens of millions of Prime-eligible products to choose from, customers can simply say, “Alexa, order Connect 4,” to their Alexa-enabled device such as the Echo Show, and Alexa will find a well-priced product that ships with Prime. Just say, “yes” to buy it.

Fast, Free Shipping Options

Customers who shop the Holiday Toy List, Electronics Gift Guide and Home Gift Guide will find the same tools and helpful information they have come to know and love from Amazon, including fast, free shipping options – unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on more than 50 million items with Amazon Prime, Prime Free Same-Day Delivery in over 5,000 cities and towns, and Prime Now for one-and-two hour delivery in more than 30 U.S. cities – millions of helpful customer reviews, best-sellers and personalized product recommendations.

About Amazon

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

Media Hotline:

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

Source: Amazon.com, Inc.

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Sears Holdings announces that Bruce R. Berkowitz to step down from its board of directors

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD) today (Oct. 16, 2017) announced that Bruce R. Berkowitz has decided to step down from the company’s board of directors, effective October 31, 2017. Mr. Berkowitz joined the board of Sears Holdings in February 2016.

“On behalf of the board of directors and management, I want to thank Bruce for his long-term commitment and investment in Sears Holdings. His leadership, guidance and counsel as a board member have been invaluable to our company,” said Edward S. Lampert, Chairman and CEO of Sears Holdings.

“It has been a pleasure to serve on the board of Sears Holdings and work closely with Eddie and the rest of the leadership team. I wish the company and its associates all the best as Sears Holdings continues to execute on its strategic priorities,” said Mr. Berkowitz.

Mr. Berkowitz serves as the Chief Investment Officer of Fairholme Capital Management, LLC, an investment adviser registered with the SEC, and is the President and a Director of Fairholme Funds, Inc., a SEC-registered investment company.

About Sears Holdings Corporation
Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD) is a leading integrated retailer focused on seamlessly connecting the digital and physical shopping experiences to serve our members – wherever, whenever and however they want to shop. Sears Holdings is home to Shop Your Way®, a social shopping platform offering members rewards for shopping at Sears and Kmart, as well as with other retail partners across categories important to them. The Company operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation, with full-line and specialty retail stores across the United States. For more information, visit www.searsholdings.com.

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
Sears Holdings Public Relations
(847) 286-8371

SOURCE: Sears Holdings Corporation

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Sainsbury’s rolls out Chop Chop one-hour delivery service to customers across London zone 1 and 2

Sainsbury’s rolls out Chop Chop one-hour delivery service to customers across London zone 1 and 2

 

  • Sainsbury’s Chop Chop delivery service has been rolled out to five more London boroughs
  • Over 70,000 more postcodes will be added, giving Sainsbury’s the biggest reach of UK supermarkets offering one-hour delivery
  • Baby emergency products and weekend brunch ingredients among the most popular shopping items

London, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Following a successful trial in its Pimlico and Wandsworth stores, Sainsbury’s is now rolling out Chop Chop, its one-hour delivery service, to customers across Zone 1 and 2.

Sainsbury’s was the first UK supermarket to trial an on-demand, one hour, grocery delivery service last year; giving customers a new way to shop. Now the retailer will extend its trial to add over 70,000 more postcodes to the service catchment area. This takes its total reach to over 1.7 million customers, giving Sainsbury’s the largest reach of UK retailers offering a one-hour delivery service.

Chop Chop is a service that enables customers to order up to 25 items from Sainsbury’s, via an IOS or Android app, and have them delivered by bicycle or moped within one hour, for a flat fee of £4.99. Since its launch in September last year, the service has proved particularly popular with customers looking to purchase weekend brunch ingredients and baby emergency products as well as ‘dinner for tonight’ items and post party celebration remedies.

Shoppers who order via the app within store opening hours will be able to receive their groceries within an hour on the same day, depending on slot availability. The service will be open to shoppers seven days a week at all participating stores.

Clodagh Moriarty, Director of Online at Sainsbury’s commented, “We’re delighted the trial of our Chop Chop delivery service in Wandsworth and Pimlico has proven to be such a success. Our ambition is to help our customers live well for less and saving them time by offering one-hour delivery is one way we’re doing just that.

“We were the first UK supermarket to introduce one-hour delivery last year and this roll-out will give us the largest reach to shoppers across London. It’s an exciting time for our customers and we hope to see continued success of Chop Chop within these new boroughs.”

Chop Chop is now available in all or parts of: Barnet, Brent, Camden, City of London, Ealing, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Islington, Kensington & Chelsea, Lambeth, Merton, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Westminster. Customers can check if Sainsbury’s delivers to them by putting their postcode into the App.

Contact:

press_office@sainsburys.co.uk
020 7695 7295

Source: Sainsbury

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Argos’s AW17 jewellery collection makes its debut this week at Britain’s Next Top Model

Argos’s AW17 jewellery collection makes its debut this week at Britain’s Next Top Model

 

London, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Argos jewellery hits the runway this week as the hotly anticipated new series of Britain’s Next Top Model returns to TV screens on Thursday 19 October 2017.

The first episode broadcast exclusively on Lifetime will see head judge, Abbey Clancy, task new recruits to take part in a Princess photoshoot – accessorising exclusively with stunning jewellery from leading jewellery retailer, Argos.

The 13 wannabe models look every bit the princess as they adorn themselves with pieces from two of Argos’s AW17 jewellery collections.  The brand-new Revere range includes comprises beautiful, timeless jewellery to suit all budgets and the Abbey Clancy collection, designed by the model herself, incorporates stunning fashion-led statement pieces.

Highlights featured in the show include:

  • Brummie beauty Alisia Grant showcases the Abbey Clancy Silver Colour Drop Necklet (£64.99), a unique piece featuring round cubic zirconia stones that will turn heads whether you’re strutting on the cat walk or the side walk.  Alisia also wears the Revere Sterling Silver Cubic Zirconia Multi Crossover Band (£19.99), a sophisticated ring with a dazzling design.
  • Essex shopaholic Sophia Chawki looks striking in the Revere Silver Round Cubic Zirconia Halo Pendant (£39.99). The hand crafted 18” sterling silver chain features a 1.00ct look of diamond and flawless sparkle and it really is fit for a princess.
  • Fashion student Louisa Northcote from London looks sensational in Abbey Clancy Rose Gold Colour Circle Drop Earrings(£39.99). These on-trend hoops are the perfect eye-catching accessory to add a touch of class to your look day or night.

Abbey Clancy said: “I’m loving working with all our new models and it was so fun seeing them accessorise for their first shoot with designs from my new AW Argos jewellery range. There’s nothing more exciting than seeing women wear my collection, bringing the pieces to life with their own unique style.”

Argos jewellery buyer Jo Rowland said: “We’re delighted to have Argos jewellery feature in the first episode of the new series of Britain’s Next Top Model.  It’s clear to see that this year’s contenders are really committed – and they just wowed us all with their professionalism when modelling the brand new Revere and Abbey Clancy collections.”

The new series of Britain’s Next Top Model premieres on Thursday 19 October at 9pm exclusively on Lifetime, available on Sky 156, Virgin 208, TalkTalk 329 and BT 329.

Contact:

press_office@sainsburys.co.uk
020 7695 7295

Source: Sainsbury

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LVMH holds successful second DARE (Disrupt, Act, Risk to be an Entrepreneur) event

LVMH holds successful second DARE (Disrupt, Act, Risk to be an Entrepreneur) event

 

Paris, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Following the success of its first DARE (Disrupt, Act, Risk to be an Entrepreneur) event in July, LVMH organized a second edition from October 9-11 focused on the environment. Sustainable development connected with entrepreneurial drive, creativity and innovation during three intensive days.

Blending open innovation and professional development, the DARE program gives LVMH managers a chance to transform their forward-looking ideas into full-fledged business plans. Following the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the LVMH Environment Department in September, the second edition of DARE focused the collective talents of LVMH managers on environmental issues facing the luxury industry.

Working in the same framework as for a new product launch, 60 LVMH intrapreneurs from 15 Maisons and 10 countries shared their experience and expertise while testing new modes of collaborative working. Fourteen students from LVMH partners schools (ESSEC, CSM and ParisTech) and the Ecole 42 tech school in Paris were also part of this inspiring adventure. Coached by mentors specialized in environmental issues and CEOs from LVMH Maisons, the 11 finalist teams pitched their ideas to a jury comprising members of the LVMH Executive Committee, along with outside experts.

Three teams received awards for innovative projects ranging from the common sourcing and reuse of raw materials throughout the Maisons, to the sustainable reinvention of products life-cycle. The winning teams are now advancing with the next steps in their projects, supported by experts from the Group.

“This new success for the DARE initiative underlines the fundamental importance that our core values of creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and innovation play in the future of our organization,” said Chantal Gaemperle, LVMH Group Executive Vice President, Human Resources & Synergies. “We will continue to encourage intrapraneurial initiative by our talents because we believe their ideas are key to foster innovation throughout LVMH.”

Contact:

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

Source: LVMH

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Maison Francis Kurkdjian launches “Homes Sweet Homes” line of scented candles

Maison Francis Kurkdjian launches “Homes Sweet Homes” line of scented candles

 

Paris, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Childhood homes rich in memories were the starting point for a new collection of scented candles introduced by Maison Francis Kurkdjian. Dubbed “Homes Sweet Homes”, the line of five scented candles recounts personal stories that have nourished the olfactory memory of Francis Kurkdjian, the perfumer of the eponymous Maison.

Francis Kurkdjian has translated cherished memories into colors and scents, creating a collection of five candles that bring together his talent as a perfumer and personal memories.

“Rue des Groseilliers”, the street where he grew up a dozen miles from Paris, evokes the bright red berries found in the garden every summer, with their sweet juicy savors. “Anouche” proposes a a smooth, flowery sweetness with lightly honeyed and spicy notes, rekindling the unforgettable memory of the rose petal and plum jam made by his grandmother. “La Trouverie” harks back to escapades at an old farm in the French countryside of Le Perche, with an aroma of fresh straw, lavender, thyme and rosemary. “Les Tamaris” revisits the scent of everlasting flowers and acacias that grow on the Atlantic coast, where the perfumer loves to vacation with his family. And with “Au 17”, Francis Kurkdjian encapsulates the cozy and eclectic atmosphere of his Paris apartment with the mingled aromas of an open fire and Japanese incense.

From the design of the mold to the hand-decorated box, manual craftsmanship has guided the creation of this collection of scented candles, expressing the intimate memories of these special places.

Contact:

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

Source: LVMH

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IKEA to open its second Dallas-Fort Worth-area store on December 13, 2017 in Grand Prairie, TX

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today (Oct 17,2017) announced that its second Dallas-Fort Worth-area store will open at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 in Grand Prairie, TX, expanding the IKEA U.S. presence.The 290,000 square-foot future IKEA Grand Prairie will be the fourth store in Texas, and 47th in the U.S. Collin County’s IKEA Frisco opened in 2005 as the first DFW IKEA store. Other Texas IKEA stores are in Houston and Round Rock, with a San Antonio-area store planned to open summer 2019 in Live Oak, and a Fort Worth store to open as the third DFW-area location, also in summer 2019.

“We are thrilled by the excellent construction progress made to date, and believe we can complete the remaining milestones and interior build-up by the end of November. Besides furnishing our store, we also are focused on continuing recruitment and training of all the coworkers joining the IKEA family,” noted Matt Hunsicker, manager of the future store. “We look forward to introducing more DFW customers to a whole new way of shopping for the home or just to bringing the IKEA experience closer to them.”

IKEA Grand Prairie will feature nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items, 50 inspirational room-settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area, and a restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as salmon plates, meatballs with lingonberries, Swedish pastries and American dishes. The single-level store will reflect the unique architectural design for which IKEA is known worldwide and will include one of the largest retail solar rooftops in Texas.

In addition to the more than 500 jobs created from construction, approximately 250 coworkers will have joined the IKEA family when the new store opens. Diverse positions at this employer of choice are still available. Interested candidates should visit IKEA-USA.com to apply.Customers can begin lining-up at the store on Monday, December 11, 2017 – 48 hours in advance of the doors’ opening on December 13 – and soon can learn of more grand opening plans and promotions at IKEA-USA.com/Grand Prairie.

About IKEA
Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of good design and function, at affordable prices. IKEA incorporates responsible social practices and sustainability into its business model, and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. There are currently more than 400 IKEA stores in 49 countries, including 45 in the U.S. IKEA has been ranked among “Best Companies to Work For” and, as further investment in its coworkers, has raised its own minimum wage twice in two years. For more information see IKEA-USA.com, @IKEAUSANews, @IKEAUSA or IKEAUSA on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.

Contact:

Latisha Bracy
Expansion Public Affairs
(610) 834-0180, x. 5615

Source: IKEA

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CVS Pharmacy to participate in the first annual National Check Your Meds Day On Saturday, October 21st

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — CVS Pharmacy (NYSE: CVS) is participating in the first annual National Check Your Meds Day, a day established by Consumer Reports and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HSS). On Saturday, October 21st, consumers are encouraged to bring their prescription medications and supplements to their local CVS Pharmacy for free “brown bag” medication reviews.

During a “brown bag” review, CVS pharmacists will perform a comprehensive evaluation of all of the medications a patient is taking to help them better understand their prescription medications, determine whether any of their medications could lead to potentially harmful drug interactions, and help them determine the best time of day to take their prescribed medications to ensure greater efficacy and fewer side effects.

If a patient takes other medications, such as over-the-counter medications or prescriptions filled at other pharmacies, the patient should present a list of those medications or bring them to the pharmacy to ensure an accurate review.

According to Consumer Reports, patients are encouraged to consider a number of factors in determining whether they could benefit from a medication review, including the number of providers who prescribe medications for them, whether they take over-the-counter supplements along with prescription drugs, if they take more than one drug to treat the same condition, if they take one medication to control the side effects of another, if they have been taking certain medications for more than three months and if they struggle to pay for their medications.

“Medication reviews are an important health care service that our pharmacists provide to patients each and every day,” said Pete Simmons, R.Ph., Vice President, Pharmacy Operations for CVS Pharmacy. “During these reviews, pharmacists are able to help patients better understand their medications, clear up any confusion that may exist, as well as pinpoint opportunities for cost-savings. It’s a great opportunity for patients to take a look at all of their medications and make sure they are taking them correctly.”

CVS pharmacists are uniquely qualified to conduct medication reviews thanks to the ScriptPath Prescription Schedule, a core element of the newly launched ScriptPath prescription management system. The schedule is generated by a scientific clinical system that automatically reviews all of a patient’s current CVS Pharmacy prescription information and prescribers’ instructions, and then, using clinical data, provides a schedule of the most effective times of day to take the medications. The Prescription Schedule is available in all stores nationwide in both English and Spanish, and is available to all patients, at any time, upon request. Pharmacists will also discuss CVS Pharmacy’s ScriptSync program, which provides the added convenience of fewer pharmacy trips by coordinating prescriptions for pick-up together.

To learn more about National Check Your Meds Day, visit CR.org/CheckYourMeds.

About CVS Pharmacy
CVS Pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), is America’s leading retail pharmacy with over 9,700 locations. It is the first national pharmacy to end the sale of tobacco and the first pharmacy in the nation to receive the Community Pharmacy accreditation from URAC, the leading health care accreditation organization that establishes quality standards for the health care industry. CVS Pharmacy is reinventing pharmacy to help people on their path to better health by providing the most accessible and personalized expertise, both in its stores and online at CVS.com. General information about CVS Pharmacy and CVS Health is available at www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contact:

Amy Lanctot
CVS Pharmacy
401-770-2931
Amy.Lanctot@CVSHealth.com

SOURCE: CVS Pharmacy

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The BRC and its members introduce Codes of Practice to further enhance the safety of children’s halloween costumes

London, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — The BRC and its members have introduced two voluntary Codes of Practice which exceed the current testing standard, to further enhance the safety of children’s dress-up costumes.

The terrible accident involving Claudia Winkleman’s daughter in 2014 and the subsequent media coverage focussed attention on what were seen as failings to the existing Toy Safety Standard for the flammability of children’s dress-up costumes. Against this backdrop, the BRC and its members agreed the need for a more robust flammability test and worked together with UK laboratories to develop one that could be adopted quickly and ensure that products sold were safer.

The resulting BRC test standard for flammability, endorsed by RoSPA, The National Fire Chiefs Council, Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service and the Children’s Burns Trust, has since been reinforced with the more stringent requirement of a maximum burn rate of 10mm/minute – an improvement of 300 per cent over the existing 30mm/minute standard. This is just one of the many stricter requirements introduced in the last 12 months.

David Bolton, Head of Product Safety at the BRC said:

“We have led the way in developing guidance and tools to help all companies, not just our members, test products to a standard above current regulations to give their customers the reassurances they rightly demand. First introduced in 2016, we continue to review and refine it to ensure it is robust and add to a company’s own due diligence process. We have also been working with BSI to encourage Europe to adopt our standard.

“Whilst this is a valuable tool for all companies, we are still recommending that the UK Government and EU authorities revisit the legislation to ensure all products on the market are effectively regulated to reflect the hazards presented by today’s style of costumes, including the fabrics and finishes used.”

Paul M Fuller CBE QFSM, Chief Fire Officer, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said:

“We fully endorse the two Codes of Practice developed by the BRC and its members, which go further than the mandatory regulations in putting children’s welfare and safety first.  Retailers have considered the potential risk and vulnerability of children and rightly made the voluntary decision to go beyond the current testing standard to ensure the dress-up products they sell are safer.”

Ken Dunn BSc FRCS (Lond) FRCS (plast) FRCS (ed), Consultant Burns and Plastic Surgeon.  Medical Trustee, Children’s Burns Trust said:

“The number of incidents of burns involving clothing, for example a child’s fancy-dress costume, is thankfully relatively low – but when it does happen it is catastrophic. We continue to support the work of the Government and the BSI (British Standard Institute) in increasing the flammability standards of children’s clothes in particular and are grateful to the British Retail Consortium for the developments in their Code of Practice.”

  • The two BRC voluntary Codes of Practice are:

Method of Test for the Flammability Safety of Children’s Dress-Up

Additional Flammability Labelling of Children’s Dress-Up

  • Dress-up clothes are defined in European Law (Toy Safety Directive) as a “Toy”. As such, there are a suite of standards (EN 71) that are used whereby compliance with the standard can be used to demonstrate that a toy is safe. For dress-up flammability, this standard is called “EN71-2”.

Contact:
BRC Press Office
TELEPHONE: + 44 (0) 20 7854 8924
EMAIL: media@brc.org.uk
OUT OF HOURS: +44 (0) 7557 747 269

Source: BRC

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Chipotle’s Halloween Boorito celebration: Get the chance to win free burritos for an entire year!

No trick: Costumed customers score entrees for three bucks, plus a chance to win free burritos for a year

DENVER, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) will be holding their annual Halloween Boorito celebration on Tuesday, Oct. 31, from 3 p.m. to closing, at all Chipotle locations. Customers who show up in costume will be treated to a three-dollar burrito, bowl, salad or order of tacos. This year, Chipotle is also sweetening the deal with a sweepstakes. Customers can text “BOORITO” to 888222 between Oct. 16 and Oct. 31 at midnight to be entered to win free burritos for an entire year.

“Boorito is a Chipotle tradition. Our customers love it, and our restaurant teams have a great time, too,” said Mark Crumpacker, chief marketing and development officer at Chipotle. “Whether your costume is elaborate, or you just grab some aluminum foil and arrive as a burrito, it’s a great way to add some delicious food to your Halloween celebration.”

Boorito has long been a Chipotle tradition, when customers and fans of all ages have fun dressing up all in the spirit of Halloween (and burritos). For more information about this year’s Boorito celebration, and the Burritos for a Year sweepstakes, please visit www.chipotle.com/boorito.

ABOUT CHIPOTLE

Steve Ells, Founder, Chairman and CEO, started Chipotle with the idea that food served fast did not have to be a typical fast food experience. Today, Chipotle continues to offer a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salads made from fresh, high-quality raw ingredients, prepared using classic cooking methods and served in an interactive style allowing people to get exactly what they want. Chipotle seeks out extraordinary ingredients that are not only fresh, but that are raised responsibly, with respect for the animals, land, and people who produce them. Chipotle prepares its food using only real, whole ingredients, and is the only national restaurant brand that uses absolutely no added colors, flavors or other industrial additives typically found in fast food. Chipotle opened with a single restaurant in Denver in 1993 and now operates more than 2,300 restaurants. For more information, visit Chipotle.com.

Contact:

Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chris Arnold
303-222-5912
carnold@chipotle.com

Source: Chipotle Mexican Grill

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Co-op’s Fuel Good Day raised more than $570,000 for registered charities and non-profits

Saskatoon, SK, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — A lot can happen when you work together. This fall, Co-op teamed up with thousands of Western Canadians to raise more than $570,000 for registered charities and non-profits — all in a single day.

We called it Fuel Good Day.

“With the support of Co-op members and customers, Fuel Good Day is assisting dozens of local organizations and causes, creating a wave of positive activity that spans Western Canada,” said Cal Fichter, Vice-President Energy with Federated Co-operatives Limited, which is owned by more than 190 independent retail co-operatives across Western Canada.

“This is something that we can all feel good about. As a Co-op member, you’re an owner in a local business that delivers important services, shares profits and makes investments that enrich your community and your neighbours.”

Local actions, big results

On Sept. 19, more than 380 Co-op Gas Bars throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and northwest Ontario participated in Fuel Good Day. As part of the event, a minimum of five cents from every litre of fuel sold at these locations was donated to registered charities and non-profit organizations in their region.

The $570,000 raised on Fuel Good Day will be shared by more than 160 local organizations and causes throughout Western Canada. A complete list of local retail co-operatives and charities that participated in Co-op’s Fuel Good Day is available at coopfuel.ca.

Celebrate Co-op Week

From Oct. 15 to 21, Co-op is joining other co-operatives, as well as credit unions, in recognizing Co-op Week.

The weeklong celebration acknowledges the contributions of all co-operatives across Canada to meeting the economic and social needs of their members and communities. Together, these community-based businesses and organizations support more than 600,000 jobs and contribute over $50 billion to the economy, according to the Measuring the Co-operative Difference Research Network. More information about Co-op Week, as well as the values and principles of co-operatives, is available at canada.coop.

Source: Co-op

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RILA comments on reports of Canada and Mexico’s rejection of proposals made during NAFTA renegotiations

Arlington , VA, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today (10/17/2017), the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), the trade association for America’s most recognized and innovative retail brands, issued the following statement reacting to reports of Canada and Mexico’s rejection of proposals made during the most recent round of NAFTA renegotiations:

“Simply put, we cannot afford for the United States to abandon free trade.  A collapse of the NAFTA trade agreement between the United States and our two largest trading partners would be an economic catastrophe, with massive disruptions in agriculture and manufacturing and increased costs for American consumers.  As retailers, we strongly urge all parties to preserve the parts of NAFTA that work for American businesses and to avoid proposals that would damage the U.S. economy and hurt American families,” said Hun Quach, vice president of international trade policy for RILA.

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

Contact:
Christin Fernandez
Vice President, Communications
Phone: 703-600-2039
Email: CHRISTIN.FERNANDEZ@RILA.ORG

Source: RILA

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Keep America Beautiful and NACS partner for a new guide on trash management

ALEXANDRIA, Va., and STAMFORD, Conn., 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Keep America Beautiful and the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) have partnered to produce the new resource, “Being a Good Neighbor: A Guide to Reducing Litter, Managing Trash and Encouraging Recycling.”

The guide provides quick and easy tips for convenience stores to improve their customers’ experience, help the environment and, ultimately, enhance their reputation and bottom line. It includes information from Keep America Beautiful’s landmark “Litter in America” research from 2009—comprised of the “National Visible Litter Survey” and “Litter Cost Study”—as well as from jointly developed consumer and retailer surveys and audits conducted this year by NACS and Keep America Beautiful.

The guide includes a checklist to examine litter management practices at convenience stores as well as practical tips to help retailers reduce and ultimately eliminate litter in and around their stores. It also provides recommendations for recycling bin and trash receptacle placements to help make proper disposal of packaging items easy and accessible. And retailers also share techniques to engage employees, customers and the greater community.

“With convenience stores comprising 34% of all retailer business, convenience store operators can play an instrumental role in providing customers with convenient trash and recycling containers to lessen litter and improve recycling at their locations,” said Brenda Pulley, Keep America Beautiful’s senior vice president, recycling. “Keep America Beautiful is pleased to team up with the NACS to provide best practices for managing trash and recycling with the new ‘Being a Good Neighbor’ guide.”

According to Keep America Beautiful research, the most people properly dispose of trash in receptacles. But nearly one in five disposals (17%) ends up as litter. Packaging, including fast food, snack, beverage and tobacco packaging, comprises nearly half (47%) of items in the “visible” litter stream, according to Keep America Beautiful research.

Meanwhile, NACS research shows that consumers overwhelmingly say that convenience store appearance is important: 84% of consumers fueling up say cleanliness of the store is an important factor when considering whether they will shop at a particular store. The new resource guide shares best practices that help retailers manage waste to keep their properties clean, including placement and design of trash receptacles.

“Litter impacts how people perceive your brand, even if they litter a cup with your logo on it somewhere else,” said Lisa Dell’Alba, one of the many retailers surveyed for the guide. Dell’Alba is president & CEO of Square One Markets (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) and a member of the NACS Board of Directors.

Convenience stores spend more than $600 per store per month for recycling and trash collection programs—or about $1.3 billion industry-wide on an annual basis. But the payoff is worth the expense: U.S. convenience stores continue to grow their foodservice sales, which climbed 12.9% to $49 billion in 2016, per NACS data.

“Keep America Beautiful has been the nation’s steward for litter prevention for nearly 65 years. We recognize that foodservice and product packaging is a significant part of the litter stream, and we’re pleased to partner on this guide to help convenience stores and their customers reduce litter. It’s good for the environment and good for the community, and ultimately good for business because consumers support businesses that support the communities they serve,” said NACS Vice President of Strategic Industry Initiatives Jeff Lenard.

To download a copy of “Being a Good Neighbor: A Guide to Reducing Litter, Managing Trash and Encouraging Recycling,” go to www.convenience.org/kab.

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

Source: NACS

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Tyson Foods and NACS team up to donate 36,060 pounds of protein to help fight hunger in the Chicagoland area

Chicago, Ill., 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Tyson Foods, Inc. and the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) partnered today (Oct. 16, 2017) to donate a truckload of protein totaling 36,060 pounds to the Greater Chicago Food Depository to help fight hunger in the Chicagoland area.

The Food Depository will distribute the donated food, which is equivalent to 144,240 meals,  through its network of partner agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters services across Chicago and Cook County.

“The Greater Chicago Food Depository is grateful to Tyson Foods for its longstanding partnership in the fight against hunger,” said Jill Zimmerman, vice president of development at the Food Depository. “Donations of protein are important to our work of providing nutritious food options for our neighbors in need. We thank Tyson for this generous contribution and its ongoing support of our mission.”

NACS is holding its annual NACS Show at McCormick Place in Chicago this week. More than 20,000 attendees from 50-plus countries are expected to attend the event, which is one of the largest tradeshows in the country. The show features four days of general sessions, more than 50 educational sessions and more than 1,200 exhibiting companies.

“We truly believe that c-store doesn’t just stand for convenience store – it also stands for community store, and we are proud to join Tyson Foods in supporting the Chicagoland community that we call home this week during the NACS Show in Chicago,” said Jeff Lenard, vice president of NACS’ strategic industry initiatives.

Tyson Foods’ “KNOW Hunger” campaign is focused on helping more people understand and join the effort to eliminate hunger in America. The company partners with Feeding America, Share Our Strength and Lift Up America to raise awareness and help feed the hungry across the nation. Since 2000, Tyson Foods has donated more than 100 million pounds of protein in the United States.

In 2015, Tyson Foods announced its renewed commitment to hunger relief by pledging $50 million in cash and in-kind donations by 2020 in the fight against hunger, with a special focus on innovative initiatives at the local level.

“Partnering with organizations like the Greater Chicago Food Depository and NACS is important to us in raising awareness about food insecurity in communities all around the U.S.,” said Mark Purvis, vice president, convenience sales for Tyson Foods. “In this community alone, the Food Depository serves an average 200,000 pounds of food every single day. We’re honored to support those extraordinary efforts.”

To learn more about the Greater Chicago Food Depository and its hunger relief efforts, visit https://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/

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

Source: NACS

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NGA Foundation’s first-ever Independence Day of Giving campaign raised 846,553 meals for Feeding America

CHICAGO, Ill., 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today (Oct 17, 2017), the NGA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the National Grocers Association (NGA), announced it raised $76,959.37, or 846,553 meals, for Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger-relief organization, as part of the first-ever Independence Day of Giving campaign. The donation was presented as a check to Nancy Curby, senior vice president of corporate partnerships and operations at Feeding America, during NGA’s Fall Leadership Meetings in Chicago, Ill.

The campaign, in partnership with Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates (ROFDA), encouraged shoppers at locally-owned supermarkets to add a $1, $3, or $5 donation to their grocery bills throughout the month of June, with a focus on June 21 as the Independents Day of Giving. The funds will be redistributed to local food pantries to help purchase, package, and transport food to Americans who are facing the nation’s hunger crisis through Feeding America’s nationwide network.

“Whether it’s restocking nearby food pantries in times of need or raising money to close the hunger gap, locally-owned independent supermarkets have a long history of giving back to the communities they serve,” said Peter J. Larkin, president and CEO of NGA. “It’s just another example of how independent grocers across the country stand apart.”

“No one should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from—especially children,” said Francis Cameron, president and CEO of ROFDA. “Independents Day of Giving is just one more example of how the independent supermarket industry is helping nourish kids and families in need throughout our nation.”

One in eight people struggles with hunger in the United States, according to Feeding America. As of 2016, 41.2 million Americans live in food-insecure households, including 28.3 million adults and 12.9 million children, according to the USDA.

The donations were collected by Making Change, a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit, and redistributed back into the local communities of each participating independent supermarket by Feeding America.

Contact:

Tel: (703) 516-0700
Fax: (703) 516-0115

Source: NGA

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Toys“R”Us® Children’s Fund donates $1 million to the Hamilton Education Program

WAYNE, NJ, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — As part of its ongoing commitment to support children and families – which includes serving as champions of play for kids of all ages – today (October 16, 2017) the Toys“R”Us® Children’s Fund, a public charity affiliated with Toys“R”Us, Inc., announced it has donated $1 million to the Hamilton Education Program (EduHam). The donation provides thousands of high school students with a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the hit musical HAMILTON through an innovative education program that focuses on history and the performing arts.

Over the course of several weeks, nearly 25,000 Title 1 high school students in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, will learn the past is far from boring. During the program, kids will see history through a new lens by studying Alexander Hamilton and nation’s Founding Fathers, and by creating their own performance, such as an original song, spoken word or rap piece. Toys“R”Us worked closely with the EduHam team – co-founded by Lin-Manuel Miranda and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History – to ensure its donation would give each student a show-stopping final curtain call in their HAMILTON journey: the opportunity to experience the musical first-hand, in their hometown.

“At Toys“R”Us, kids are our number one priority – whether they’re just a few weeks old, or in this case, walking the halls of high school,” said Dave Brandon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Toys“R”Us, Inc. “We’re honored to support this five-year program and the thousands of students and teachers involved because we believe in the power that HAMILTON and EduHam has to help students flourish – giving them a much-needed artistic and educational outlet, while making history fun.”

“I am grateful for Toys“R”Us and its very generous gift to allow thousands of students across the U.S. the opportunity to study the Founding Fathers of our country through the Hamilton Education Program,” said HAMILTON creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda. “Without support like this, we would not be able to share this impactful program with these students. #Eduham continues to be one of my greatest joys in creating HAMILTON. “

To read more about the program, please visit https://www.toysrusinc.com/blog/toysrus-eduham-musical-magic.

HAMILTON is the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON is the story of America then, as told by America now.

Charitable Giving at Toys“R”Us
Toys“R”Us, Inc. is a global partner in philanthropic programs that advocate for the safety and happiness of all children. The company places a strong focus on partners and programs that provide basic necessities and opportunities for children in-need. Together with its charitable arm, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund, Toys“R”Us has contributed more than $230 million to changing the lives of children around the globe.

ABOUT THE GILDER LEHRMAN INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN HISTORY
Founded in 1994 by philanthropists Richard Gilder and Lewis E. Lehrman, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is the leading American history nonprofit organization dedicated to K–12 education. With a focus on primary sources, the Gilder Lehrman Institute illuminates the stories, people and moments that inspire students of all ages and backgrounds to learn and understand more about history. Through a diverse portfolio of education programs, including the acclaimed Hamilton Education Program (#eduham), the Gilder Lehrman Institute provides opportunities for nearly two million students, 30,000 teachers and 14,000 schools worldwide.

For information on The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, visit www.gilderlehrman.org, www.Facebook.com/gilderlehrman, https://www.instagram.com/gilderlehrman and https://twitter.com/Gilder_Lehrman.

Source: Toys“R”Us, Inc.

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AHOLD DELHAIZE SHARE BUYBACK UPDATE: 1,024,644 COMMON SHARES REPURCHASED IN THE PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 9, 2017 UP TO AND INCLUDING OCTOBER 13, 2017

Zaandam, the Netherlands, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Ahold Delhaize has repurchased 1,024,644 of Ahold Delhaize common shares in the period from October 9, 2017 up to and including October 13, 2017. The shares were repurchased at an average price of €15.72 per share for a total consideration of €16.1 million. These repurchases were made as part of the €1 billion share buyback program announced on December 7, 2016.

The total number of shares repurchased under this program to date is 46,932,817 common shares for a total consideration of €857 million.

Download the share buyback transactions excel sheet for detailed individual transaction information under “Files to download” (on the right).

Visit www.aholddelhaize.com/en/investors/share-information/share-buy-back-programs for a complete overview of all Ahold Delhaize share buyback programs.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Ellen van Ginkel
Director External Communications
media.relations@aholddelhaize.com
+31 88 6595134

SOURCE: Ahold Delhaize

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Albert Heijn becomes the first Dutch retailer to link Siri with its own branded app

Albert Heijn becomes the first Dutch retailer to link Siri with its own branded app

 

Zaandam, the Netherlands, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Albert Heijn  is the first Dutch retailer to make it possible for customers to manage their shopping lists with the help of their trustworthy friend, Siri. As the personal assistant on the iPhone and iPad, Siri works using speech recognition. Albert Heijn customers can now ask Siri to add products to the shopping lists they create in the Albert Heijn “Appie” app. No other Dutch retailer has yet linked Siri with its own branded app.

With Siri’s help, customers can add and remove items and indicate the type, number and amount, or ask Siri to read their lists back to them, all using voice commands. They don’t even need to open the Appie app – they can just press their iPhone or iPad home button to start Siri and access this new functionality. After their lists are complete, customers can use them to shop in the stores or order their groceries for delivery or pickup at a Pick Up Point.

This is yet another way that Albert Heijn continues to innovate and make it easier for customers to grocery shop and eat well. It follows Albert Heijn innovations like the personal grocery list, pioneering delivery within two hours from the moment of ordering and the Allerhande Chatbot – giving customers delicious recipes based on their personal preferences, all in an instant.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Ellen van Ginkel
Director External Communications
media.relations@aholddelhaize.com
+31 88 6595134

SOURCE: Ahold Delhaize

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Whole Foods Market to celebrate the opening of its newly relocated Park City store on Wed., Oct. 18, 2017

New, larger location opens Oct. 18 with new features including the company’s first taproom in Utah

Utah, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Whole Foods Market officially opens the newly relocated Park City store on Wed., Oct. 18, 2017 at 9 a.m. with music, food and many more surprises for guests. The new 43,000-square foot store, opening at 6598 N. Landmark Drive, brings a culinary destination for food lovers of all stripes and will feature an expansive offering of organic, specialty, and healthfully decadent fast casual dining options for locals and tourists alike.

“Our amazing new store that is double in size, gives us the opportunity to better serve our loyal and new shoppers with enhanced features like nice wide aisles, over 100 seats and new food venues and products that we hope our new and loyal shoppers will love. We hope everyone can come celebrate this new gathering place where everyone can meet and share their love of food,” says Tyler Lay, Store Team Leader for Whole Foods Market Park City. “We are also very excited to have our first taproom in Utah, The Silver Mine Taproom, an inviting destination for the very best local brews.”

Whole Foods Market Park City features a variety of new, chef-driven offerings as well as classic Whole Foods Market fare for shoppers to choose from, including:

  • Silver Mine Taproom: A first for Whole Foods Market in Utah, the Silver Mine Taproom features a rotating tap of 24 local and hard-to-find beers, including an exclusive Beehive Blonde Ale batch from Park City Brewery and a Single Hop rotating IPA from Red Rock Brewery, a cellar selection of bottled beer, and wine by the glass. The taproom also serves made-to-order lunch and dinner options in a family friendly environment. Favorite dishes include artisan cheese boards, crispy smoked wings, Beyond Meat vegan burgers, grilled ratatouille crostini, braised local pork belly and farmer’s market salads.
  • Ritual Chocolate Drinking and Coffee Bar: Another first for Utah, Ritual Chocolate will offer its famous, handcrafted small-batch drinking chocolates inside Whole Foods Market Park City. This cozy café will feature bean-to-bar chocolate, sourced from some of the highest quality cacao; a chocolatier making truffles onsite; a full-service coffee bar with nitro brew coffee; a selection of artisan toasts featuring local ingredients; and a delicious seasonal rotating beverage menu to rejuvenate shoppers.
  • Genji Sushi: Freshly made sushi will offer a variety of specialty rolls including those made with brown or whole grain rice and is prepared fresh onsite. Launching for the first time in Utah, Genji will offer an expanded Karaage chicken menu choices just for Park City shoppers. Karrage is a lighter, crisper chicken on a bed of cabbage enjoyed as a snack or paired with a delicious Ramen bowl or fresh sushi.
  • In-house Ground Sausages: Sausages made in-house offer the highest quality and exciting flavors, including a special blend made with local ingredients with meat from Ballard Farms, and local spirits and brews from High West Distillery and Park City Brewing.
  • Dry-Aged Steaks: Whole Foods Market Park City butchers take the most prized cuts of beef, and age them in-house for up to 28 days in a humidity-and temperature-controlled environment until they reach prime flavor. The aging process reduces the moisture content and concentrates the robust, meaty flavor while the natural enzymes in the meat make for a very tender cut.
  • Ceviche and Poke Bar: Fresh, made in house ceviche and poke options for shoppers to create their own custom blend of this light and healthy treat for lunch or dinner. Traditional and seasonal flavors include shrimp, halibut and octopus ceviche, and Cali tuna, traditional and spicy salmon.
  • Neapolitan Style Self-Service Pizza: Slices of pie, including vegan options and made with unbleached and unbromated flour, are cooked in less than seven minutes on a Woodstone Stone Hearth Oven for a quick and easy lunch or dinner.
  • Sandwich Station: Signature, handcrafted sandwiches are piled with the best-tasting natural and organic offerings, including hot tortas made with local Vosen’s bread, chicken parmesan and meatball sandwiches to choose from on a chilly day.
  • Custom Salads and Comfort Foods: Freshly prepared dishes, build-your-own salads and seasonal hot entrees will add variety to shoppers’ breakfast, lunch and dinner choices.

The store will employ an additional 30-to 40-team members, bringing the total number of Whole Foods Market jobs in Park City to between 140 to 150.

Whole Foods Market’s new store in Park City will also empower Team Members and customers to support local causes. Several times a year, the store will hold Community Giving Day where 5 percent of a select day’s sales will be donated to a local nonprofit or educational organization. In celebration of the new location, the store will go toward Youth Sports Alliance.

The original Whole Foods Market Park City, 1748 West Redstone Center Drive, will close permanently on Sunday, Oct. 15.

Whole Foods Market currently has three additional locations in Utah in Salt Lake City at 6930 S. Highland Drive; 1131 E. Wilmington Ave.; and 544 South 700 East.

For additional news and information about the new store in Park City as well as the three Salt Lake City locations, follow WholeFoodsUT on Instagram.

Contact:

SOmedia@wholefoods.com

Source: Whole Foods Market

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Taubman to reopen The Mall of San Juan on Thursday, October 19

Program to begin with donations to five charities to help those in need in Puerto Rico

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Taubman Centers, Inc. (NYSE: TCO) today (10/17/2017) announced that The Mall of San Juan will reopen at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 19. The center has been closed since September 19 due to the impact of Hurricane Maria.

“Our hearts go out to all of the residents of Puerto Rico during this time of difficulty. We are so grateful that our mall management team and their families are healthy and safe,” said Taubman Chairman, President and CEO Robert Taubman. “We know there is a long road ahead for so many and we want to be of service and support.”

With the mall’s reopening, Taubman and The Mall of San Juan are kicking off a year-long community service program that will begin with donations to Unidos Por Puerto Rico, Cruz Roja Americana, ConPRmetidos, The Salvation Army and the Para la Naturaleza Community Fund. Other initiatives will be announced in the future. The collective efforts will result in more than $100,000 of cash and in-kind support for Puerto Rico.

“Our hope is that through our community outreach efforts, we can help serve those in need,” said The Mall of San Juan General Manager José Ayala Bonilla. “We want to do what we can to help restore our beloved community.”

As a result of Hurricane Maria, The Mall of San Juan incurred some interior water damage and exterior landscaping and signage damage, but the interior common area was relatively unharmed. Restoration efforts for the impacted areas are ongoing. The center has been ready to reopen since the beginning of October but the island’s unstable power has resulted in several delays. Taubman is installing large generators this week to allow the mall to operate autonomously if power continues to be intermittent.

When it opens its doors, The Mall of San Juan will have an estimated 50-60 tenants capable of serving customers, with additional tenants opening in time for the holidays. Of the anchor tenants, Nordstrom recently stated that the company is in the process of determining how to rebuild and reopen its store as quickly as possible. Saks Fifth Avenue has not yet provided publicly an update on the status of the repair and reopening of its store.

On Thursday, the community is welcome to visit to reunite with family and friends, relax and enjoy the climate-controlled environment and plug in. The center’s temporary hours will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day until normal business hours are resumed.

About Taubman

Taubman Centers is an S&P MidCap 400 Real Estate Investment Trust engaged in the ownership, management and/or leasing of 27 regional, super-regional and outlet shopping centers in the U.S. and Asia. Taubman’s U.S.-owned properties are the most productive in the publicly held U.S. regional mall industry. Founded in 1950, Taubman is headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Taubman Asia, founded in 2005, is headquartered in Hong Kong. www.taubman.com.

About The Mall of San Juan

The Mall of San Juan is a world-class shopping, dining and entertainment destination featuring many distinct, unique to market retailers. The shopping center is located at the south end of the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge, five minutes from the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport. For more information visit www.themallofsanjuan.com

Contact:

Maria Mainville
Taubman
Director
Strategic Communications
248-258-7469
mmainville@taubman.com

Nelly Cruz
Nelly Crusz & Associates
787-691-3210
nellycruzpr@yaoo.com

Ryan Hurren
Taubman
Director
Investor Relations
248-258-7232
rhurren@taubman.com

Source: Taubman Centers, Inc.

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7‑Eleven creates the Trojan Horse brand to expand its selection of quality wines

7‑Eleven creates the Trojan Horse brand to expand its selection of quality wines

 

IRVING, TEXAS, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — 7‑Eleven, Inc. is expanding its selection of private brand wines with the launch of two quality white wines – chardonnay and pinot grigio. The world’s largest convenience retailer created the Trojan Horsebrand for this new line of quality wines.

Suggested retail price for a 750 ml. bottle is $6.99, and they can be found chilled in the vault, at ambient temperature on store shelves or both. The Trojan Horse wines come with a Stelvin® closure, a type of screw top that is easy to open and preserves freshness.

Trojan Horse Chardonnay is described as having delicate aromas of ripe pear and stone fruit with balanced oak notes of vanilla; luscious fruit flavors are complemented with subtle hints of caramel and toasted oak.

Trojan Horse Pinot Grigio is bursting with bright citrus and green apple aromas, with the citrus fruit flavor leading to a crisp and clean finish.

The two whites are the first 7‑Eleven private brand wines to carry vintage dating and California appellations, designating that all the grapes were grown in California and harvested the same year.

“To create the flavor profile we wanted, the Trojan Horse wines were custom developed with grapes from different California valleys,” said Tim Cogil, 7‑Eleven director of private brands. “We benchmarked both the chardonnay and pinot grigio against some of the most popular brands, and in taste tests, they came out on top. As with all our private brand products, our goal is to exceed quality expectations when compared to national brands while offering a great value.”

“With Trojan Horse, 7‑Eleven customers can enjoy higher quality chardonnay and pinot grigio wines at an affordable price,” said Dennis Phelps, 7‑Eleven vice president of vault. “We believe these will be a hit with wine-loving millennial, and customers can still enjoy our Yosemite Road branded wines, which make up four of the top 10 selling wines at 7‑Eleven.”

First introduced in 2009, Yosemite Road-branded wines were four of the top 10-selling wines at 7‑Eleven stores in 2016. Five Yosemite Road brands are available – chardonnay, pinot grigio, moscato, pink moscato and cabernet sauvignon.

About 7‑Eleven, Inc.
7‑Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience-retailing industry. Based in Irving, Texas, 7‑Eleven® operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 63,000 stores in 18 countries, including 10,900 in North America. Known for its iconic brands such as Slurpee®, Big Bite® and Big Gulp®, 7‑Eleven has expanded into high-quality salads, side dishes, cut fruit and protein boxes, as well as pizza, chicken wings, cheeseburgers and hot chicken sandwiches. 7‑Eleven offers customers industry-leading private-brand products under the 7-Select® brand including healthy options, decadent treats and everyday favorites, at an outstanding value. Customers also count on 7‑Eleven for bill payments, self-service lockers and other convenient services. Find out more online at www.7‑Eleven.com, via the 7Rewards® customer-loyalty platform on the 7‑Eleven mobile app, or on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Contact:
Corporate Communications
media@7-11.com

Source: 7‑Eleven, Inc.

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NEW ZEALAND: Foodstuffs North Island relocates its Wellington Gilmours store to Bouverie Street, Petone

Auckland, New Zealand, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Work began on the fit-out of the 4750 sqm building in June and the store was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony today [October 17].

“Foodstuffs North Island has invested more than $1 million in the development of this leasehold property, which is located in a light industrial area handy to State Highway 2,” Foodstuffs North Island’s GM Property Development Lindsay Rowles says.

“The old store in McCormack Place, Ngauranga closed on October 12 and all 71 staff have moved to the new location with owner-operator Matt Humphrey,” Rowles says. “In this new location we’re able to offer our Gilmours customers a larger, more modern store and more parking,” he says.

Gilmours supplies food and beverages to all different types of New Zealand businesses including restaurants and cafes, catering institutions, event centres, schools and clubs. See gilmours.co.nz for more information on becoming a member.

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

Source: Foodstuffs NZ

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Chick-fil-A™ trials two new spicy entrees – Spicy Chick-n-Strips and a Grilled Spicy Chicken Deluxe Sandwich

Chick-fil-A™ trials two new spicy entrees – Spicy Chick-n-Strips and a Grilled Spicy Chicken Deluxe Sandwich

 

ATLANTA, 2017-Oct-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — In response to customers’ requests for more bold, spicy flavors, Chick-fil-A™ is testing two new spicy entrees – Spicy Chick-n-Strips and a Grilled Spicy Chicken Deluxe Sandwich – in select markets for a limited time. Starting today (Oct. 16, 2017), customers can visit participating restaurants in Philadelphia, Central Texas and South Texas to try the new Spicy Chick-n-Strips. Customers in Orlando, Fla., St. Louis, and Knoxville, Tenn. will be among the first to taste the new Grilled Spicy Deluxe Chicken Sandwich.

Research indicates that 48 percent of consumers are interested in trying chicken entrees with new or unique flavors, and preferences for spicy flavors are growing, particularly among millennials.1

“We’ve heard from our customers how much they love our current spicy menu offerings, so we’re really excited to give them even more spicy flavor options to enjoy,” said Kanika Patrick, manager of menu development at Chick-fil-A. “We hope our guests in the test cities will try the new Spicy Chick-n-Strips and Grilled Spicy Deluxe Chicken Sandwich and let us know what they think – their feedback will help us determine whether or not we will roll out the new entrees nationwide in the future.”

The new Spicy Chick-n-Strips combine two customer favorites – the Spicy Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich and the original Chick-n-Strips – with a bold new entrée that’s packed with flavor. The strips are seasoned with a spicy blend of peppers, hand-breaded and cooked in 100 percent refined peanut oil.

The new Grilled Spicy Chicken Deluxe Sandwich is perfect for guests who are looking for a lighter but spicy option. It features grilled chicken marinated in a spicy seasoning, and is served on a new, toasted multigrain brioche bun with Colby-Jack cheese, lettuce and tomato. It comes paired with a new Cilantro Lime Sauce.

The Spicy Chick-n-Strips are available in 3-count or 4-count entrees, and can also be ordered in catering trays. A 3-count order has 340 calories and 26 grams of protein, and starts at $3.85. The Grilled Spicy Chicken Deluxe Sandwich has 390 calories and 33 grams of protein and starts at $4.75.

For more information about Chick-fil-A and stories about the company’s food, people and customers across the country, visit thechickenwire.chick-fil-a.com.

1According to data from the 2017 Techonomic Center of the Plate Poultry report.

About Chick-fil-A, Inc. 

Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is a family owned and privately held restaurant company founded in 1967 by S. Truett Cathy. Devoted to serving the local communities in which its franchised restaurants operate, and known for its original chicken sandwich, Chick-fil-A serves freshly prepared food in more than 2,200 restaurants in 47 states and Washington, D.C.

Chick-fil-A system sales reached nearly $8 billion in 2016, which marks 49 consecutive years of sales growth. In 2017, Chick-fil-A received the top score among fast food brands and one of the top 10 scores overall for customer experience in the Temkin Experience Ratings survey, and the company’s internship program was ranked #13 in career website WayUp’s survey of the top 100 best summer internships.  In 2016, Chick-fil-A was named the Technomic Consumer’s Choice for “providing value through service,” named the “the most polite restaurant in the country” in QSR Magazine’s annual drive-thru report and was the only restaurant brand named to the Top 10 “Best Companies to Work For” by 24/7 Wall Street. More information on Chick-fil-A is available at www.chick-fil-a.com.

Media Hotline:

(800) 404-7196
Email: cfapressroom@chick-fil-a.com
Twitter: @ChickfilANews

Source: Chick-fil-A, Inc.

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