Daily Archives: October 27, 2017

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Amazon Web Services announces the next generation of Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud GPU instances

Next generation GPU instances, optimized for machine learning and high performance computing, are the most powerful in the cloud

SEATTLE, 2017-Oct-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today (Oct. 26, 2017), Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com company (NASDAQ: AMZN), announced P3 instances, the next generation of Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) GPU instances designed for compute-intensive applications that require massive parallel floating point performance, including machine learning, computational fluid dynamics, computational finance, seismic analysis, molecular modeling, genomics, and autonomous vehicle systems. The first instances to include NVIDIA Tesla V100 GPUs, P3 instances are the most powerful GPU instances available in the cloud. To get started with P3 instances, visit https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/instance-types/p3/.

P3 instances allow customers to build and deploy advanced applications with up to 14 times better performance than previous-generation Amazon EC2 GPU compute instances, and reduce training of machine learning applications from days to hours. With up to eight NVIDIA Tesla V100 GPUs, P3 instances provide up to one petaflop of mixed-precision, 125 teraflops of single-precision, and 62 teraflops of double-precision floating point performance, as well as a 300 GB/s second-generation NVIDIA NVLink interconnect that enables high-speed, low-latency GPU-to-GPU communication. P3 instances also feature up to 64 vCPUs based on custom Intel Xeon E5 (Broadwell) processors, 488 GB of DRAM, and 25 Gbps of dedicated aggregate network bandwidth using the Elastic Network Adapter (ENA).

“When we launched our P2 instances last year, we couldn’t believe how quickly people adopted them,” said Matt Garman, Vice President of Amazon EC2. “Most of the machine learning in the cloud today is done on P2 instances, yet customers continue to be hungry for more powerful instances. By offering up to 14 times better performance than P2 instances, P3 instances will significantly reduce the time involved in training machine learning models, providing agility for developers to experiment, and optimizing machine learning without requiring large investments in on-premises GPU clusters. In addition, high performance computing applications will benefit from up to 2.7 times improvement in double-precision floating point performance.”

Airbnb’s community marketplace provides access to millions of unique accommodations and local experiences in more than 65,000 cities and 191 countries. “At Airbnb, we’re using machine learning to optimize search recommendations and improve dynamic pricing guidance for hosts, both of which translate to increased booking conversions. These use-cases are highly specific to our industry and require machine learning models that use several different types of data sources, such as guest and host preferences, listing location and condition, seasonality, and price,” said Nick Handel at Airbnb. “With Amazon EC2 P3 instances, we have the ability to run training workloads faster, enabling us to iterate more, build better machine learning models and reduce cost.”

Schrödinger’s mission is to improve human health and quality of life by developing advanced computational methods that transform the way scientists design therapeutics and materials. “Our industry has a pressing need for performant, accurate, and predictive models to extend the scale of discovery and optimization, complementing and going beyond the traditional experimental approach,” said Robert Abel, Senior Vice President of Science at Schrödinger. “Amazon EC2 P3 instances with their high performance GPUs allow us to perform four times as many simulations in a day as we could with P2 instances. This performance increase, coupled with the ability to quickly scale in response to new compound ideas, gives our customers the ability to bring lifesaving drugs to market more quickly.”

AWS Deep Learning Machine Images (AMIs) are available in AWS Marketplace to help customers get started within minutes. The Deep Learning AMI comes preinstalled with the latest releases of Apache MXNet, Caffe2 and TensorFlow with support for Tesla V100 GPUs, and will be updated to support P3 instances with other machine learning frameworks such as Microsoft Cognitive Toolkit and PyTorch as soon as these frameworks release support for Tesla V100 GPUs. Customers can also use the NVIDIA Volta Deep Learning AMI that integrates deep learning framework containers from NVIDIA GPU Cloud, or start with AMIs for Amazon Linux, Ubuntu 16.04, Windows Server 2012 R2, or Windows Server 2016.

With P3 instances, customers have the freedom to choose the optimal framework for their application. “We are excited to support Caffe2 on the new Amazon EC2 P3 instances. The unparalleled power and capability of P3 instances allow developers to train and run models very efficiently at high scale,” said Yangqing Jia, Research Scientist Manager at Facebook. “It will help new innovations get to customers in hours instead of days by taking advantage of the speed with P3 and our modular, scalable deep learning framework with Caffe2.”

Customers can launch P3 instances using the AWS Management Console, AWS Command Line Interface (CLI), and AWS SDKs. Amazon EC2 P3 Instances are generally available in the US East (N. Virginia), US West (Oregon), EU West (Ireland), and Asia Pacific (Tokyo) regions with support for additional regions coming soon. They are available in three sizes, with one, four, and eight GPUs, and can be purchased On-demand, Reserved or Spot instances.

About Amazon Web Services
For 11 years, Amazon Web Services has been the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. AWS offers over 90 fully featured services for compute, storage, networking, database, analytics, application services, deployment, management, developer, mobile, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), security, hybrid and enterprise applications, from 44 Availability Zones (AZs) across 16 geographic regions in the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and the UK. AWS services are trusted by millions of active customers around the world — including the fastest-growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies — to power their infrastructure, make them more agile, and lower costs. To learn more about AWS, visit https://aws.amazon.com.

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.

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Amazon Cloud Cam: Amazon introduces an intelligent indoor security camera

he all-new Amazon Cloud Cam, available for pre-order today at amazon.com/cloudcam. (Photo: Business Wire)

  • Cloud Cam features crisp and clear visuals in 1080p Full HD resolution, night vision, two-way audio, 24/7 livestream, and advanced computer vision algorithms that detect motion and are always getting smarter
  • Alexa lets you easily view Cloud Cam’s livestream on your Echo Show, Echo Spot, Amazon Fire TV, or Fire tablet—just ask
  • Cloud Cam works with Amazon Key, an innovative new service exclusively for Prime members that enables unattended in-home delivery and secure home access for guests and service appointments

SEATTLE, 2017-Oct-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — (NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon today (Oct. 25, 2017) introduced Amazon Cloud Cam, an intelligent indoor security camera that lets you keep track of your home at an affordable price—check on the pets from work, monitor the front door while traveling, or look in on the kids’ room from the kitchen. Cloud Cam features 1080p Full HD resolution video, night vision, two-way audio, a wide viewing angle, and activity clips from the last 24 hours via the Amazon Cloud Cam App—all for only $119.99. Cloud Cam also is available for under $100 each via a two-pack for $199.99 or a three-pack for $289.99, making it easy to outfit your entire home. Cloud Cam is available for pre-order at www.amazon.com/CloudCam and will begin shipping to U.S. customers on November 8.

Cloud Cam is also the first security camera to support Amazon Key, a new service that enables in-home delivery and secure home access for guests and service appointments, without anyone having to be home. Using Cloud Cam and the free Amazon Key App, you can track each delivery with notifications, watch the entry happen live or view a recorded video after delivery is complete. You can also get notifications when your guests unlock your door. The Amazon Key In-Home Kit, which includes Cloud Cam (Key Edition) and a compatible smart lock, is available exclusively to Prime members—learn more at www.amazon.com/key.

“Cloud Cam has all the features you need to monitor your home, including a 1080p Full HD camera, night vision, two-way audio, and free storage for clips—and with the secure AWS cloud powering Cloud Cam’s advanced computer algorithms and intelligent alerts, the service is always getting smarter,” said Charlie Tritschler, Vice President, Amazon Devices. “All of this is just $119.99—Cloud Cam is a premium product at a non-premium price.”

Cloud Cam works seamlessly with Alexa on Echo Show, Echo Spot, Amazon Fire TV devices, and Fire tablets. Just say, “Alexa, show me the [camera name]” to easily see the feed from anywhere in the house. Or use the free iOS or Android app to see your Cloud Cam on the go. The advanced motion detection and computer vision technology provides customizable notifications in the Cloud Cam App, so you only get the alerts that matter to you. When activity is detected, Cloud Cam sends a mobile notification and stores the clip securely to review. With intelligence that lives in the AWS cloud, over time you will see more advanced detection, alerts, and other new features become available in the service and on the camera itself, such as advanced audio alerts or pet detection, without having to purchase a new device.

Cloud Cam comes with the essentials for keeping an eye on your home, including access to the last 24 hours of clips, which are stored securely in the AWS cloud and support for up to three cameras. With a subscription, you can support up to 10 cameras, get additional storage for video, and have unlimited downloads and shares of video clips. Each subscription also offers Person Detection, which flags human activity instead of general motion (like a pet walking), and Zones, which lets you indicate certain areas of your home with motion that you want ignored (like a ceiling fan). Customers can try any subscription free for 30 days.

  • Basic ($6.99/mo, $69/yr) offers access to the last 7 days of motion detection clips for up to 3 cameras
  • Extended ($9.99/mo, $99/yr) offers access to the last 14 days of motion detection clips for up to 5 cameras
  • Pro ($19.99/mo, $199/yr) offers access to the last 30 days of motion detection clips for up to 10 cameras

Cloud Cam also features two-way audio—using the Cloud Cam App and the device’s built-in microphone, tell your dog at home to stop barking or let your family know you’re leaving work. You can also use two-way audio on your Echo Show or Echo Spot. Cloud Cam’s night vision automatically activates when needed and features eight infrared LEDs so the whole scene is clearly visible, even in the dark. Cloud Cam is designed to fit in any part of your house—freestanding or mounted, just plug it in, download the free Cloud Cam App for iOS, Android or Fire OS, and get started. When the green LED light is on, you know your camera and microphone are on. When you turn the camera off, the green light goes off as well to let you know that the camera and microphone are both electrically disconnected.

Pricing and Availability

You can pre-order Amazon Cloud Cam for $119.99, a two-pack for $199.99, or a three-pack for $289.99 starting today; it will begin shipping to U.S. customers on November 8. You can also order a bundle of Echo Show plus Cloud Cam for $299.98. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/CloudCam.

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.

Source: Amazon.com, Inc.

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Amazon introduces new service that improves the convenience of receiving deliveries for Prime members

  • Available initially in 37 cities across the United States, Amazon’s innovative new service enables in-home delivery at no extra cost
  • Amazon Key also allows customers to grant secure home access for guests and, coming soon, tens of thousands of service providers, such as Merry Maids, Rover and professional services from Amazon Home Services
  • Amazon Key includes the Amazon Key app, a smart lock and the company’s newest device, Amazon Cloud Cam, an intelligent indoor security camera

SEATTLE, 2017-Oct-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — (NASDAQ:AMZN) – Amazon today announced Amazon Key, a new service exclusively for Prime members that radically improves the convenience of receiving deliveries. Amazon Key enables in-home delivery and secure home access for guests and service appointments.

Amazon Key will be available on November 8 in 37 cities and surrounding areas across the U.S., with more locations rolling out over time. Delivery is available on tens of millions of items sold on Amazon.com and the delivery is available at no extra cost for Prime members. AmazonKey works with Same-Day, One-Day, Two-Day and Standard Shipping. Once set-up is complete, receiving in-home delivery is as simple as a click: customers select “in-home” while shopping and Amazon handles the rest. No passcodes, no fuss.

“Amazon Key gives customers peace of mind knowing their orders have been safely delivered to their homes and are waiting for them when they walk through their doors,” said Peter Larsen, Vice President of Delivery Technology, Amazon. “Now, Prime members can select in-home delivery and conveniently see their packages being delivered right from their mobile phones.”

Amazon Key allows customers to have their packages securely delivered inside their home without having to be there. Using the Amazon Key app, customers stay in control and can track their delivery with real-time notifications, watch the delivery happening live or review a video of the delivery after it is complete.

This state-of-the-art technology doesn’t simply replace a key with a digital passcode. Each time a delivery driver requests access to a customer’s home, Amazon verifies that the correct driver is at the right address, at the intended time, through an encrypted authentication process. Once this process is successfully completed, Amazon Cloud Cam starts recording and the door is then unlocked. No access codes or keys are ever provided to delivery drivers. And, for added peace of mind, in-home delivery is backed by Amazon’s Happiness Guarantee.

Prime members can pre-order the Amazon Key In-Home Kit, which includes Amazon Cloud Cam and one of several compatible smart locks by leading lock manufacturers Yale and Kwikset. Customers can install the In-Home Kit themselves or take advantage of free professional installation. Amazon Key In-Home Kit starts at $249.99.

Amazon Key will make customers’ lives easier in many ways—not just through delivery. The service offers keyless access for family and friends. Customers can set the frequency and length of time a person has access, and add or remove contacts as they see fit. And, in the coming months, Amazon Key will provide customers with easy and convenient professional service scheduling with thousands of providers. This includes integrations with some of the leading service brands, including home cleaning experts from Merry Maids and pet sitters and dog walkers on Rover.com, as well as over 1,200 services from providers across 60 professions via Amazon Home Services.

“Amazon Key will make it even easier to cross a major chore off your to-do list by letting the professionals at Merry Maids take care of the house cleaning while you’re not home,” said Nik Varty, CEO of ServiceMaster, the parent company of Merry Maids. “We are thrilled to be teaming up with Amazon so that their customers in need of professional home cleaning services can take advantage of this innovative, convenient and secure service.”

Customers can visit www.amazon.com/key to check eligibility, pre-order the Amazon Key In-Home Kit and schedule free professional installation.

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.

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Amazon Web Services announces general availability for Amazon Aurora with PostgreSQL compatibility

  • Amazon Aurora, the fastest growing service in AWS history, is now fully compatible with both MySQL and PostgreSQL, delivering the performance and availability of high-end commercial databases at one-tenth the cost
  • Over a thousand customers, including Verizon, Capital One, FINRA, Fannie Mae, C3 IOT, Urban Airship, FantasyDraft, BMC, Blackboard, and Nielsen, participated in the preview, battle-testing PostgreSQL compatibility for Amazon Aurora and running millions of hours against their real-world application workloads

SEATTLE, 2017-Oct-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today (Oct. 24, 2017), Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com company (NASDAQ: AMZN), announced general availability for Amazon Aurora with PostgreSQL compatibility. Amazon Aurora is a cloud-optimized relational database that combines the speed and availability of high-end commercial databases with the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of open source databases. Now, customers who use PostgreSQL databases can get up to several times better performance with scalability, durability, availability, and security as good as or better than commercial databases—all at one-tenth the cost. With no upfront costs or commitments required, customers pay a simple hourly charge for each Amazon Aurora database instance they use, and can automatically scale storage capacity with no downtime or performance degradation. AWS also announced that customers migrating to Amazon Aurora from another database can use the AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) free of charge for the next six months. To get started with Amazon Aurora, visit https://aws.amazon.com/aurora

Historically, customers have had to choose between performance and price when evaluating database solutions. Commercial databases offer high performance and advanced availability features, but are expensive, complex to manage, have high lock-in, and come with punitive licensing terms. Open source databases such as PostgreSQL and MySQL require less capital expense, but customers often find they cannot achieve the performance or availability of commercial databases. Amazon Aurora offers the best of both worlds—the performance and availability of the highest-grade commercial databases at a cost more commonly associated with open source. And, with more and more enterprises embracing PostgreSQL for its user-defined functions and data types, complex SQL support, NoSQL and JSON support, broad application language support, and closer semantics to some of the old guard databases, Amazon Aurora’s PostgreSQL launch comes at a great time for customers looking to break free of the cost and complexity of traditional commercial databases.

“When we made Amazon Aurora available in 2015, for the first time, customers had a cost-effective and high performance alternative to commercial databases like Oracle and SQL Server—and this is a big part of why Amazon Aurora is the fastest-growing service in the history of AWS,” said Raju Gulabani, Vice President, Databases, Analytics, and Machine Learning, AWS. “While we’ve been amazed at the growth of Amazon Aurora’s MySQL-compatible edition, many of our enterprise customers anxious to move on from their old world database providers have been waiting for Amazon Aurora’s PostgreSQL-compatible edition to launch into general availability. We’re excited to help these customers take another step toward database freedom.”

Amazon Aurora delivers up to several times better performance compared to standard MySQL and PostgreSQL by using a variety of software and hardware techniques to ensure the database is able to fully leverage available compute, memory, and networking resources. Amazon Aurora storage scales automatically, growing and rebalancing Input and Outputs (I/O) across the fleet to provide consistent performance. For example, a customer can start with a database of 10GB and have it automatically grow up to 64TB, without requiring any downtime. Amazon Aurora is highly available and durable, automatically replicating data across multiple Availability Zones and continuously backing up data to Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), which is designed for 99.999999999 percent durability. Amazon Aurora is designed to offer greater than 99.99 percent availability and to automatically detect and recover from most database failures in less than 30 seconds, without crashing or the need to rebuild database caches. Amazon Aurora continually monitors instance health and, if there is a failure, it will automatically failover to a read replica without loss of data.

Capital One, a leading information-based technology company and digital banking innovator, has taken a cloud-first approach to software development. “At Capital One, our cloud-first approach led us to start testing the preview of Amazon Aurora’s PostgreSQL compatibility in November 2016,” said John Andrukonis, Chief Architect, Capital One. “We anticipated performance benefits, as well as the high availability and fast failover capabilities ideal for serving our customers. In our testing during the preview, we’ve been impressed with the performance and high availability offered by Amazon Aurora.”

FINRA regulates a critical part of the securities industry – brokerage firms doing business with the public in the United States. FINRA takes in up to 75 billion market events per day that are tracked, aggregated, and analyzed for the purpose of protecting investors. “FINRA is in the process of migrating most of our relational databases to AWS,” said Saman Michael Far, Senior Vice President & CTO, FINRA. “We have evaluated Amazon Aurora with PostgreSQL compatibility, and we look forward to increasing our usage, because PostgreSQL is the best destination for our relational database workloads.”

INRIX is the global leader in connected car services and transportation analytics, a new approach that leverages big data and the cloud to help manage urban mobility. “From raw GPS points, INRIX generates large-scale vehicle movement data and ingests the data into sharded AmazonRelational Database Service for PostgreSQL instances. We are hitting the storage and performance limits per shard and looking for a more scalable solution,” said Trang Nguyen, Senior Software Engineer, INRIX. “With Amazon Aurora’s compatibility with PostgreSQL, we’ve seen three times performance improvements in our benchmarks. We love Amazon Aurora’s ability to scale storage independently of computing resources at better price points.”

Nielsen is a global data management company providing a comprehensive understanding of consumer behaviors. “In our testing of Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL in the preview, we have seen very good performance upwards of 7-11 times that of RDS PostgreSQL, for both write and read/write workloads,” said Todd Lightbody, Watch Architecture Leader, Nielson. “We are also excited about the expected scalability and reliability, giving us great confidence that Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL will meet our requirements as we move some of our core database workloads to AWS.”

Verizon is a global leader delivering innovative communications and technology solutions. “Verizon is helping our customers build a better, more connected life. As part of this journey, we are undergoing a major transformation in our database management approach, moving away from expensive, legacy commercial database solutions to more efficient and cost-effective options,” said Shashidhar Sureban, Associate Director, Database Engineering, Verizon. “Testing of Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL showed better performance over standard PostgreSQL residing on Amazon EC2 instances, and the AWS Database Migration Service and Schema Conversion Tool were found effective at identifying areas for data-conversion that required special attention during migration.”

FantasyDraft is a daily fantasy sports site offering fantasy play across multiple sports and contest formats including leagues, head-to-head contests and tournaments. “We’ve been extensively testing the preview of the new Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL engine, and have been very impressed with overall compatibility with standard PostgreSQL, along with the ease of migrating our data and applications to Amazon Aurora’s new engine to obtain improved performance, scalability and resiliency,” said Tim Weisbrod, FantasyDraft Co-Founder and President. “We are most excited about improved performance under high concurrency workloads to ensure our users have the best experience possible in the final minutes leading up to when contests start. We’re also looking forward to the rapid crash recovery and fast failover capabilities of Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL to ensure any potential disruptions to our customers are minimized, and to Amazon Aurora read replica scale-out and dynamic auto-scaling storage to help us dynamically add resources to cover the busiest times and reduce costs when they aren’t needed.”

OpenSCG is one of the leading solutions partners in the PostgreSQL community. “We have been testing the preview of Amazon Aurora’s PostgreSQL compatibility as part of our goal of helping enterprises successfully move from expensive on-premises commercial relational databases to PostgreSQL,” said Denis Lussier, CEO of OpenSCG. “We are impressed with the PostgreSQL compatibility, the performance, and the high availability, and we are working with multiple customers to give them all the assistance they need to move their Oracle database workloads to Amazon Aurora. It is truly amazing how quickly people are moving past the Oracle RAC objection that I’ve seen for the last 15 years when they hear how Amazon Aurora works. It’s a game changer for sure.”

SRA OSS is part of SRA Inc., one of Japan’s oldest and largest systems integration companies. “In our performance testing of Amazon Aurora’s PostgreSQL compatibility, we found that the performance was three times better than standard PostgreSQL,” said Tatsuo Ishii, SRA OSS, Inc.Japan President. “Our testing also showed that Amazon Aurora is fully compatible with PostgreSQL 9.6, and we believe customers will be able to move large enterprise workloads from on-premises commercial databases to Amazon Aurora because of its high performance, high availability, and PostgreSQL compatibility. SRA OSS will add support for Amazon Aurora to the next version of pgpool-II, which provides clustering management middleware for PostgreSQL.”

PostgreSQL compatibility for Amazon Aurora is available as a database engine for Amazon RDS in the US East (N. Virginia), US East (Ohio), US West (Oregon), and EU (Ireland) Regions, and will expand to additional Regions in the coming months.

About Amazon Web Services
For 11 years, Amazon Web Services has been the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. AWS offers over 90 fully featured services for compute, storage, networking, database, analytics, application services, deployment, management, developer, mobile, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), security, hybrid, and enterprise applications, from 44 Availability Zones (AZs) across 16 geographic regions in the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and the UK. AWS services are trusted by millions of active customers around the world – including the fastest growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies – to power their infrastructure, make them more agile, and lower costs. To learn more about AWS, visit https://aws.amazon.com.

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.

Source: Amazon Web Services, Inc.

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Business Prime Shipping: Amazon Business launches a paid annual membership program in the United States and Germany

Amazon Business customers can now sign up for Business Prime Shipping to enjoy unlimited fast, free shipping on tens of millions of items for all users on their business account

SEATTLE, 2017-Oct-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — (NASDAQ: AMZN) – Amazon Business today announced the launch of Business Prime Shipping, a paid annual membership program for registered multi-user business customers in the United States and Germany. In the United States, Business Prime Shipping offers unlimited FREE Two-Day Shipping on eligible items for all users on an Amazon Business account. Customers can sign up for a free 30-day trial at www.amazon.com/businessprimeshipping.

“Business Prime Shipping combines the wide selection of products available to Amazon Business customers, with the speed and convenience that customers have come to know and love from Amazon Prime,” said Greg Greeley, Vice President of Amazon Prime. “We are excited to introduce a shipping program designed to meet the needs of businesses and will continue to innovate on behalf of customers to make business purchasing even easier.”

“Business Prime Shipping enables businesses with multiple users to further simplify their procurement procedures and increasingly rely on Amazon Business to deliver,” said Prentis Wilson, Vice President of Amazon Business. “Customers can now get unlimited fast delivery across their organization on a vast selection of products while maintaining increased visibility on their business purchases.”

Amazon Business customers can sign up for an annual Business Prime Shipping membership based on the number of users on their business account: $499 for up to 10 users, $1,299 for up to 100 users, and $10,099 for over 100 users. Once the customer selects the appropriate membership, all users on the account will receive an email notifying them that Business Prime Shipping has been enabled. Any new user added to an existing Amazon Business account with Business Prime Shipping will be automatically enrolled in this membership.

Customers can learn more or sign up for a 30-day trial at www.amazon.com/businessprimeshipping.

About Amazon Business
Amazon Business is a marketplace that combines the selection, convenience and value customers have come to know and love from Amazon, with new features and unique benefits tailored to the needs of businesses. Amazon Business provides easy access to hundreds of millions of products – everything from IT and lab equipment to education and food-service supplies. Amazon Business customers also enjoy a variety of benefits, including business-only pricing and selection, a multi-seller marketplace, single- or multi-user business accounts, Business Prime Shipping, approval workflow, purchasing system integrations, payment solutions, tax exemptions, dedicated customer support and more. To register for a free Amazon Business account, visit www.amazon.com/business. More information about Amazon Business is available at www.amazonbusinessblog.com.

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.

Source: Amazon.com, Inc.

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Amazon opens new facility and unveils newly renovated site to mark its 10th year anniversary in Arizona

  • Between 2011 and 2016, Amazon’s investments contributed more than $900 million into the state’s economy, indirectly creating 18,000 additional jobs on top of the 6,000 the company employs directly
  • Amazon will create more than 1,000 jobs at a new facility and renovated existing site

SEATTLE, 2017-Oct-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — (NASDAQ: AMZN)—This fall, Amazon will celebrate its ten year anniversary of fulfilling customer orders from the Phoenix-area by opening a new center supporting customer fulfillment and unveiling an overhaul of its original Valley facility. Together, the two facilities will create more than 1,000 new full-time positions for Phoenix’s economy. These new jobs are on top of the 6,000 full-time workers Amazon now employs at four fulfillment centers and other locations throughout the Copper State.

“Arizona has played an important role in Amazon’s history,” said Sanjay Shah, Amazon’s Vice President of North America Customer Fulfillment. “Our team in Arizona has been instrumental in providing outstanding customer experiences, raising the bar on our operational excellence, and continuing to innovate on behalf of the customer. Since our first day at the Buckeye Road facility, we’ve received amazing support from the community and we couldn’t be prouder to be part of the Arizona family.”

Amazon’s first fulfillment center in the Valley, located at 6835 West Buckeye Road, opened in the fall of 2007 with a team of 300 full-time employees. (To see the original press release, click here.) Since that building’s launch a decade ago, Amazon has opened three other fulfillment centers, a Prime Now hub, a sortation center, a customer/seller support center, and corporate offices in the Copper State. This fall, renovations were completed at the Buckeye Road facility and the building is now dedicated solely to handling apparel and shoes.

Over the past decade, Amazon has invested billions of dollars into its local fulfillment center infrastructure and through compensation to thousands of employees in the Copper State. Between 2011 and 2016, Amazon’s investments in the state contributed an additional $900 millioninto Arizona’s economy and using methodology developed by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Amazon estimates its investments in the state have created an additional 18,000 indirect jobs on top of the company’s direct hires.

“Amazon’s contribution to the Arizona economy over the last 10 years has been a positive and notable force,” said Governor Doug Ducey. “From its creation of thousands of jobs to hiring military veterans to providing funding and opportunities for employees to go back to school to develop their career skills, we are excited to see Amazon grow and thrive in Arizona, because we are thriving too. Congratulations to Amazon for the last ten years and we look forward to many more to come.”

“Amazon’s commitment to innovation and customer service has made them the go-to choice for online shopping,” said Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton. “We appreciate Amazon’s investment in Phoenix, which has created thousands of jobs and opportunities for our residents.”

Amazon in Arizona by the numbers:

  • 4 fulfillment centers, three of which are located in Phoenix city limits
  • 1 sortation center and 1 Prime Now hub
  • 3 locations in Tempe: customer/seller service, a corporate office, and a development center
  • 250+ restaurants leverage Amazon’s technological expertise to offer customers superfast delivery on hot food through Amazon Restaurants
  • Amazon associates have dedicated hundreds of volunteer hours to charities such as Ohana Animal Rescue, St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, Packages From Home, Central Arizona Shelter Services, UMOM New Day Centers, the Pat Tillman Foundation, New Pathways for Youth, and STAR Academy
  • 6,000+ full-time employees in the greater Phoenix area
  • 8,500+ visitors have toured one of the local Amazon fulfillment centers since the tour program launched in 2014
  • 18,000+ estimated indirect jobs created as a result of Amazon’s investment between 2011 and 2016
  • 40,000+ authors, sellers, and developers in Arizona growing their businesses and reaching new customers on Amazon products and services
  • 145,000 pounds of food to Arizona Feeding America affiliates in 2016 and 2017
  • 460,000 square feet for the new facility located at 5333 W. Lower Buckeye Road
  • $725,000+ donated to charities in Arizona through monetary and in-kind donations since 2012
  • 4,300,000 sq. ft. footprint of the four fulfillment centers
  • $900 million added into Arizona’s economy between 2011 and 2016 due to Amazon’s investments

Amazon’s statewide impact can be seen in the local small businesses it empowers. For example, Jim and Maggie Umlauf are Phoenix residents and co-founders of 4Knines, LLC, a company that sells bespoke seat covers to protect car seats from dog fur. 4Knines uses Fulfillment By Amazon, a service that enables small businesses to use Amazon’s resources to sell directly to customers. “We launched 4Knines Seat Covers in 2013 on Amazon and have seen exponential growth year over year because Amazon gives small businesses the tools and support to succeed. Amazon has given us the opportunity to reach customers not only across the US but internationally as well.”

Full-time employees at Amazon receive competitive hourly wages and a comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare, 401(k) and company stock awards starting on day one. Amazon also offers regular full-time employees maternity and parental leave benefits and access to innovative programs like Career Choice, where it will pre-pay up to 95 percent of tuition for courses related to in-demand fields, regardless of whether the skills are relevant to a career at Amazon. Since the program’s launch, more than 10,000 employees have pursued degrees in game design and visual communications, nursing, IT programming and radiology, to name a few.

To learn more about working at an Amazon fulfillment center, visit www.amazondelivers.jobs.

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.

Source: Amazon.com, Inc.

Amazon.com, Inc.
Media Hotline
Amazon-pr@amazon.com
www.amazon.com/pr

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Amazon announces new Kindle app designed for book lovers

  • All-new Kindle app turns your phone or tablet into a book—read anytime, anywhere
  • An app built for book lovers—with everything you need all in one place, seamlessly move between the pages of your book, your library, your personal bookstore, and more
  • Be part of a community of readers—with Goodreads built into Kindle for iOS you can now discover and discuss books with friends, authors, and more

SEATTLE, 2017-Oct-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — (NASDAQ: AMZN) — Today, Amazon announced an all-new Kindle app that makes it easier than ever to turn your phone or tablet into a book—so you can read anytime, anywhere. The Kindle app is designed for book lovers and provides easy access to the most popular Kindle features—you can effortlessly move between the pages of your book, your library, your personalized bookstore and more. Also, with the Goodreads community built into Kindle for iOS, you can easily discover and discuss books with friends. The all-new Kindle app is available now in the App Store and Google Play, and will be delivered as part of a free, over-the-air update starting this week.

“We’ve built the new Kindle app from the ground up for book lovers, giving readers easy access to everything they might want to do with their books, all in one place,” said Chuck Moore, Vice President, Kindle. “It’s now easier than ever to turn your phone or tablet into a book and immerse yourself in an author’s world at any time.”

All-New Design

With the new Kindle app, it is easier to get to what you want. Whether it’s starting the next chapter in the book you’re reading or a quick search through your library, the all-new design makes switching back and forth seamless. Key updates include:

  • All-New Look—The Kindle app features a new look and feel inspired by books. Details include larger book covers, new fonts, a new app icon, and new light and dark background themes to choose from.
  • One-Tap Access—New bottom bar navigation automatically shows an icon of the book you’re currently reading, making it easier than ever to get back to reading at any moment. The bottom bar also provides quick access to Kindle’s most popular features allowing you to switch between the pages of your book, your library, your personal bookstore, and more.
  • Easy Search—The search bar is now always available throughout the app, so whether a book is in your library or among the millions of titles in the Kindle Store, it’s easier than ever to find it.

Discover and Discuss Books with Friends and the Goodreads Community on Kindle for iOS

The new Kindle for iOS app also helps customers discuss and get book recommendations from their friends, authors, and other readers with the Goodreads community now built right into the app. Goodreads, an Amazon subsidiary, is the world’s largest community of readers, with more than 65 million members.

“For as long as there have been books, people have discussed them with friends,” said Otis Chandler, CEO and co-founder of Goodreads. “When you finish an amazing book, you can’t wait to find out if other readers feel the same way. Readers trust their friends for recommendations, with around half of them saying they discover books through word-of-mouth. With the new features on Kindle, connecting with your friends and similar readers in the Goodreads community is now built into the app.”

Reading is better when you can discuss it with friends. In Kindle for iOS you can now:

  • Find New Books to Read—Browse the new Community tab to keep up-to-date with what friends and readers you follow are reading. When you find a book you are interested in, you can add it to your Want to Read list for quick reference when you are ready to start your next book.
  • Connect with Readers Who Like Similar Books—To help you get recommendations from readers who like the same books, Goodreads also suggests people to follow, including authors and popular Goodreads reviewers.
  • Share Your Thoughts About Books You’ve Read—Post notes and highlights from your book for friends to see and comment on. Easily share when you start reading a book, as well as your rating/review when you’ve finished a book.

Starting today, the Community tab featuring Goodreads discovery and discussion features are available on Kindle for iOS (in the US only), and will be coming to Kindle for Android in a future release. To learn more about how Kindle helps you read anytime, anywhere visit www.amazon.com/kindleapps.

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.

Source: Amazon.com, Inc.

Amazon.com, Inc.
Media Hotline
Amazon-pr@amazon.com
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Walgreens is now stocking Narcan® nasal spray as part of its commitment to combat drug abuse

Narcan® Nasal Spray

DEERFIELD, Ill., 2017-Oct-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — As part of its comprehensive national plan to combat drug abuse, Walgreens is now stocking Narcan®, an FDA-approved nasal form of naloxone, in all of its more than 8,000 pharmacies nationwide.

The medication, administered by nasal spray, can be used in the event of an overdose to reverse the effects of opioid drugs, which include some prescription painkillers and heroin.

“By stocking Narcan in all our pharmacies, we are making it easier for families and caregivers to help their loved ones by having it on hand in case it is needed,” said Rick Gates, Walgreens group vice president of pharmacy. “As a pharmacy we are committed to making Narcan more accessible in the communities we serve.”

In addition, Walgreens is adopting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations by educating patients about Narcan when they are dispensed a controlled substance greater than 50 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) and may be at risk of accidental overdose.

“This action is an important milestone and we applaud Walgreens initiatives to improve access to Narcan Nasal Spray in communities across the U.S.,” said Seamus Mulligan, Chief Executive Officer of Adapt Pharma, the manufacturer of Narcan Nasal Spray. “This effort, combined with the opportunity for patients and caregivers to obtain Narcan Nasal Spray without an individual prescription in 45 states, is critical in combating this crisis.”

In an effort to educate the public on use of naloxone, pharmaceutical wholesaler AmerisourceBergen has distributed Narcan demo devices at no cost to Walgreens pharmacists for use in instructing patients on how to administer the medication. Additional instructions include calling 911, as Narcan is not a substitute for medical care. Anyone who is administered the medication should seek immediate medical attention.

“At AmerisourceBergen, we strive to provide our customers the highest quality care and support so they can ultimately enhance the lives of patients in their communities,” said Robert Mauch, Executive Vice President & Group President, Pharmaceutical Distribution & Strategic Global Sourcing for AmerisourceBergen. “We recognize the important role we play in addressing the opioid epidemic, and our collaboration with Walgreens is another key milestone to supply our customers with access to lifesaving initiatives and emergency medications that can help keep individuals safe across the country.”

Last year Walgreens announced an effort to make naloxone available without requiring a prescription in states where regulations allow. The company now offers naloxone without requiring a prescription in 45 states and is eager and willing to work with the remaining states to make naloxone easier to obtain.

Walgreens has also collected more than 155 tons of unwanted medications through its safe medication disposal kiosks in 600 pharmacies across 45 states and Washington D.C. The kiosks allow individuals to safely and conveniently dispose of unwanted prescriptions, including controlled substances and over-the-counter medications, year-round at no cost.

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(s)

Walgreens
Phil Caruso, 847-315-2936
philip.caruso@walgreens.com
http://news.walgreens.com
@WalgreensNews
facebook.com/Walgreens

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Nordstrom to host hiring day events to fill 13,650 positions

SEATTLE, 2017-Oct-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — Nordstrom, Inc. is planning to hire approximately 13,650 employees before the holidays. The retailer is looking to fill positions at its Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores, HauteLook and Trunk Club businesses, fulfillment and distribution centers. Those interested in a position should apply online at the Nordstrom Careers page, careers.nordstrom.com, or attend one of the retailer’s hiring day events listed below.

“Our focus is always on our customers and we’re looking for great people to help us better serve them during one of our busiest times of the year,” said Jamie Nordstrom, president of stores at Nordstrom. “We have many positions available and this is a great opportunity to gain experience and potentially start a career at Nordstrom.”

Specifically, the company is looking to fill approximately:

  • 8,200 positions at its 122 Nordstrom stores in the U.S. and Canada
  • 3,200 positions at its 227 Nordstrom Rack stores
  • 2,000 positions to support the company’s stores and ecommerce business at its fulfillment centers located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Elizabethtown, Pa.; and San Bernardino, Calif.; and its distribution centers located in Portland, Ore.; Dubuque, Iowa; Ontario, Calif.; Newark, Calif.; Gainesville, Fla.; and Upper Marlboro, Md.
  • 150 positions at its seven Trunk Club clubhouses
  • 100 positions in the photo studio and customer care to support Nordstromrack.com and HauteLook

Part-time and full-time seasonal and permanent positions are available. Benefits include a merchandise discount at Nordstrom, Nordstrom.com, Nordstrom Rack and HauteLook.

Additionally, Nordstrom will host hiring day events in the following stores where interviews and job offers will be given on the spot.

October 27 from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

  • Nordstrom Natick (Natick, Mass.)
  • Nordstrom South Shore Plaza (Braintree, Mass.)
  • Nordstrom Burlington (Burlington, Mass.)
  • Nordstrom Northshore (Peabody, Mass.)
  • Nordstrom Garden State Plaza (Paramus, N.J.)
  • Nordstrom Menlo Park (Edison, N.J.)
  • Nordstrom Freehold Raceway (Freehold, N.J.)
  • Nordstrom The Westchester (White Plains, N.Y.)
  • Nordstrom Roosevelt Field (Garden City, N.Y.)
  • Nordstrom Westfarms (Farmington, Conn.)
  • Nordstrom Short Hills (Short Hills, N.J.)
  • Nordstrom Providence Place (Providence, R.I.)

October 30 from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

  • Nordstrom Stoneridge (Pleasanton, Calif.)
  • Nordstrom Valley Fair (San Jose, Calif.)
  • Nordstrom Palo Alto (Palo Alto, Calif.)
  • Nordstrom San Francisco Centre (San Francisco, Calif.)
  • Nordstrom Stonestown (San Francisco, Calif.)
  • Nordstrom Hillsdale Mall (San Mateo, Calif.)
  • Nordstrom Corte Madera (Corte Madera, Calif.)
  • Nordstrom Walnut Creek (Walnut Creek, Calif.)
  • Nordstrom Rack Serramonte Center (Daly City, Calif.)
  • Nordstrom Rack San Leandro (San Leandro, Calif.)
  • Nordstrom Rack Westgate Mall (San Jose, Calif.)
  • Nordstrom Rack East Bay Bridge Center (Emeryville, Calif.)
  • Nordstrom Rack Ravenswood (East Palo Alto, Calif.)
  • Nordstrom Rack Downtown San Francisco (San Francisco, Calif.)
  • Nordstrom Rack Persimmon Place (Dublin, Calif.)
  • Nordstrom Rack Pacific Commons (Fremont, Calif.)
  • Nordstrom Rack Vintage Oaks (Novato, Calif.)
  • Nordstrom Rack Coddington Mall (Santa Rosa, Calif.)
  • Nordstrom Rack Market Street (San Francisco, Calif.)
  • Nordstrom Rack Oakridge (San Jose, Calif.)
  • Nordstrom Rack Sun Valley Mall (Pleasant Hill, Calif.)

November 3 from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

  • Nordstrom Bellevue (Bellevue, Wash.)
  • Nordstrom Rack Factoria Square (Bellevue, Wash.)
  • Nordstrom Rack Lincoln Square (Bellevue, Wash.)
  • Nordstrom Rack Totem Lake (Kirkland, Wash.)

About Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is a leading fashion retailer based in the U.S. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 360 stores in 40 states, including 122 full-line stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico; 227 Nordstrom Rack stores; two Jeffrey boutiques; and two clearance stores. Additionally, customers are served online through Nordstrom.com, Nordstromrack.com and HauteLook. The company also owns Trunk Club, a personalized clothing service serving customers online at TrunkClub.com and its seven clubhouses. Nordstrom, Inc.’s common stock is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol JWN.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jennifer Tice Walker
Nordstrom, Inc.
Jennifer.ticewalker@nordstrom.com

SOURCE Nordstrom, Inc.

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Tesco signs up to the National Farmers’ Union Fruit & Veg Pledge and supports The Food Foundation’s Peas Please pledge

Tesco signs up to the National Farmers’ Union Fruit & Veg Pledge and supports The Food Foundation’s Peas Please pledge

Welwyn Garden City, UK, 2017-Oct-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — Tesco has today underlined its commitment to British agriculture by signing up to the National Farmers’ Union Fruit & Veg Pledge – as well as increasing the amount of vegetables in people’s diets by supporting The Food Foundation’s Peas Please pledge.

Designed to nurture long-lasting relationships between retailers and growers, the Fruit & Veg pledge highlights the importance of treating suppliers fairly, reducing food waste and buying more British fruit and veg when it’s in season. Tesco is the first of the Big 4 supermarkets to become a signatory.

The move further cements Tesco’s long-term support for British farmers, growers and producers. Significantly, it also builds on a range of steps taken to redefine its relationship with suppliers over the last three years to be named the most improved retailer in the Groceries Code Adjudicator’s most recent annual survey. Last year, Tesco was also ranked top in the independently run supplier Advantage survey.

This comes on the same day that Tesco has also committed to support The Food Foundation’s Peas Please initiative, focused on making it easier for more people to eat more vegetables. As part of this, Tesco has pledged to prioritise increasing the amount of vegetables when developing recipes and introducing new products, and ensure more vegetable options are included in evening meal deals. In addition, the retailer will continue to work with its supplier partners to develop new products to increase overall consumption of vegetables, as it works to help customers make healthier food choices.

Tesco’s Chief Product Officer Jason Tarry said:

“We’re proud to celebrate our partnerships with British farmers and growers by signing the NFU’s Fruit & Veg Pledge, which highlights both our commitment to British agriculture and healthy products. British farmers and growers produce fantastic quality food and we believe if we invest in them for the long-term, our customers will enjoy better quality, affordable food today and tomorrow.

“Signing The Food Foundation’s Peas Please pledge also underlines our commitment to help our customers make healthier choices by making it easier to eat more vegetables, which in turn helps support our British farmers and growers too.”

NFU President Meurig Raymond said:

“It is excellent news that Tesco has signed the NFU’s Fruit and Veg pledge. British farmers produce the food which helps to feed the nation and it is positive to see Tesco recognise that fact, committing to values that ensure fairness for the farmer and the supply chain.

“By offering this vital certainty and commitment, Tesco’s suppliers of fruit and veg will be in a stronger position to invest in their business, plan for the future, boost productivity and compete in a global marketplace. By signing up to the pledge, Tesco is telling suppliers it has started the journey of delivering ever higher standards of business integrity, which we are very proud of.

“With surveys showing that 90% of the public think farming is important to the UK economy and that 89% think it is important to have a productive farming industry, it is timely for Tesco to publicly show their support for British farmers.”

Taken together, the announcements reflect significant work undertaken by Tesco to improve relationships with British farmers and growers, including:

  • Creating long term partnerships to help British farmers grow their businesses – including supporting British agriculture through a range of Tesco Sustainable Farming Groups, with our Fair For Farmers Guarantee meaning every pint of Tesco milk is 100% British, farmers are paid fairly, and every cow is well cared for.
  • Partnering with suppliers to use combined expertise and reach to reduce food waste – for example, agreeing bumper crop promotions that benefit suppliers and customers, and innovating together to use ‘wonky’ produce in ready meals and soups.
  • Buying more fruit and veg from British growers – working together to bring our customers the best quality, fresh British produce, including increased amounts of British cherries and apples.
  • Helping customers make healthier choices – working closely with our growers to provide great quality, fresh and affordable fruit and veg to make healthy choices a little bit easier.

 

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Tesco’s commitment to the NFU’s Fruit & Veg Pledge:

  • Treat all of our suppliers fairly, at all times and in accordance with the Groceries Supply Code of Practice.
  • Build long term relationships with growers that offer greater certainty and stability.
  • Offer production programmes as far in advance as possible of the crop being required (ideally one year) with a commitment to purchase a proportion of the crop at a previously agreed price when it is ready to harvest.
  • Offer greater price certainty to growers – either for a season, or on a specified volume of product, with no unexpected, unilaterally imposed changes.
  • Pay all of our suppliers on time, in full and always consult with suppliers in advance of any changes to payment terms and conditions.
  • Seek to plan promotional activity in advance with growers and seek to adopt a flexible, production led approach to the timing of promotions as much as possible to help manage supply and demand.
  • Reduce wastage, eliminate costs and add more value to the supply chain by seeking out opportunities to utilise the whole crop and adopting realistic product specifications.
  • Communicate directly with our grower suppliers so that:
    • They can better understand consumers’ needs and therefore make informed production decisions and;
    • We can better understand the production challenges that growers’ face and be flexible to changes in supply.
  • Seek to adopt a joined up business plan across all aspects of our business and throughout our supply chain so that retail buyers, intermediaries and growers are working together towards common goals for the fresh produce category.
  • Seek to innovate jointly and improve customer proposition in a collaborative manner.
  • When in season, commit to increasing the proportion of British fruit and vegetables that are available for consumers to buy.
  • Contribute to investment in horticultural research, development and product innovation that benefits consumers.

Tesco’s Peas Please Pledge:

We pledge that when we develop our recipes and introduce new products we will aim to increase the amount of vegetables and ensure more vegetable options are included in evening meals deals. For example, our finest* evening Meal Deal will always include two vegetable side dish options. We will continue to work with our supplier partners to develop new vegetable-based products to increase the overall consumption of vegetables.

SOURCE: Tesco PLC

For more information please contact the Tesco Press Office on 01707 918 701     
We are a team of 480,000 in 11 markets dedicated to serving shoppers a little better every day.

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Sears reinvents its Wish Book for 2017

Sears Wish Book Front Cover (PRNewsfoto/Sears, Roebuck and Co.)

Reinvented for 2017, the definitive holiday gift source is back with mobile, online and classic print editions featuring top quality products across every category

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., 2017-Oct-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — Just in time for the start of the holiday season, Sears has announced the return of the brand’s iconic Wish Book, bringing members all of their favorite gifts in one place. Sears reinvented the Wish Book for 2017 – reclaiming its place as the definitive source for hundreds of gift options for every family member, and offering convenient access via mobile, online and the classic print editions to help shoppers easily find quality gifts.

“The new ‘genie in the bottle’ is our Sears Wish Book. From drains to drills to dresses…from tools to TVs to tablets, we’ve got your back! We know the holiday hustle is on! And we’ve got you covered with the Wish Book,” said Kelly Cook, chief marketing officer for Sears and Kmart. “Our members told us they missed the Wish Book, so we had to bring it back, but in a special way that lets you share more joy wherever you are. There’s gifting inspiration on every page to help you live life now – during the holiday season and throughout the year.”

The 120-page Wish Book, last available in 2011, showcases Sears’ breadth of quality products including holiday decorations, home furnishings, kitchen essentials, games and toys, sleepwear and intimates, workshop and outdoor living items, top selling appliances and fashion favorites, home gym, and more. The digital Wish Book is now accessible online or via any mobile device at sears.com/wishbook, as well as through the Sears app.

The interactive digital Wish Book provides shopping convenience this holiday season, letting members shop wherever, whenever and however they choose. Members can easily navigate through pages, hover over items to see pricing and descriptions, and click on the heart icon to add to their Shop Your Way member Wish List, making it simple to pick out holiday gifts for family and friends. Pricing is dynamically updated, so members can return to the digital Wish Book throughout the holiday season and ensure they’re getting the best deal.

Sears’ best members will receive a limited edition printed 2017 Wish Book in the mail, and select other Shop Your Way members will receive an email inviting them to pick up a copy of the collectible keepsake at their local Sears store, while supplies last.

The first Sears Wish Book, known as the Sears Christmas Book catalog, came out in 1933. Featured items in the first catalog included the “Miss Pigtails” doll, a battery powered toy automobile, a Mickey Mouse watch, fruitcakes, Lionel electric trains, a five pound box of chocolates, and live singing canaries.

Join Sears on social media to hear more about the Wish Book and the latest Sears news – “Like” Sears on Facebook, and “Follow” Sears on Twitter and Instagram.

About Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is a leading integrated retailer providing merchandise and related services and is part of Shop Your Way, a social shopping experience where members have the ability to earn points and receive benefits across a wide variety of physical and digital formats through shopyourway.com. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through Sears-branded and affiliated full-line and specialty retail stores. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, and DieHard — among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the nation’s largest provider of home services, with more than 6,000 expert technicians who make nearly 11 million service calls annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at www.sears.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Brian Hanover Chloe Zuanich
Sears PR Havas Formula for Sears
847-286-6080 312.229.0605
Brian.Hanover@searshc.com sears@havasformula.com

SOURCE Sears, Roebuck and Co.

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K Group announces changes to the organisation of its building and technical trade division

Helsinki, Finland, 2017-Oct-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — K Group is the market leader in Finland and a leading operator in Northern Europe in building and technical trade. K Group is making changes to the organisation of its building and technical trade division in an effort to strengthen the division’s profitability and to accelerate international growth. The division operates in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Belarus.

Under the new organisation, local country organizations are responsible for the sales and profit and their management will report directly to the President of the division. Finland will also become a separate country organization and profit unit. Local country organisations will be supported by common supporting functions. At the core of it all are the customer-centric B2B and B2C operations and the commerce organisation, which improves the efficiency of sourcing and the competitiveness of the division.

As of 25 October, Timo Pesonen is appointed country director for Finland while the other country directors continue in their positions: Knut Strand Jacobsen, Norway, Yvonne Magnusson, Sweden, Endre Espeseth, Poland and Artem Taraev, Russia.

In division’s common supporting functions Tommi Kasurinen is appointed as Senior Vice President responsible for finance and strategy and Timo Heimo as a Senior Vice President responsible for eCommerce, digital services and ICT. The other executives continue in their positions: Mikko Pasanen, Senior Vice President, B2B business, Virpi Viinikainen, Senior Vice President, B2C business, Petteri Niemi, Senior Vice President, commerce, supply chain management and logistics, Jonna Nummela, Senior Vice President, marketing and communications and Jennie Stenbom, Senior Vice President, people and culture, HR.

Terho Kalliokoski also acts as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kesko Senukai. The President of Kesko Senukai, Arturas Rakauskas, reports to Kalliokoski.

For further information: 
Jessica Diktonius, Communications Director, K Group’s building and technical trade, +358 40 709 9176, jessica.diktonius@kesko.fi

Kesko Corporation

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www.kesko.fi

Kesko and K-retailers form the K Group, whose sales total over €13 billion. K Group is the third largest retail operator in Northern Europe and it employs approximately 45,000 people. Kesko operates in the grocery trade, the building and technical trade and the car trade. Its divisions and chains act in close cooperation with retailer entrepreneurs and other partners. Kesko’s net sales are €10 billion and it employs approximately 28,000 people. Kesko has nearly 2,000 stores engaged in chain operations in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Belarus and Poland. Kesko is a listed company and its shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. The company’s domicile and main business premises are in Helsinki. Kesko is the world’s most responsible trading sector company (The Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World) www.kesko.fi

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Kesko appoints Karoliina Partanen SVP Communications and Identity and Eeva Salmenpohja VP Public Affairs

20171023 HELSINKI Kesko, henkilökuvaus Eeva Salmenpohja KUVA ©Riitta Supperi

20171023 HELSINKI Kesko, henkilökuvaus Karoliina Partanen KUVA ©Riitta Supperi

Karoliina Partanen appointed Senior Vice President, Communications and Identity and Eeva Salmenpohja Vice President, Public Affairs under the President and CEO at Kesko

Helsinki, Finland, 2017-Oct-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — Karoliina Partanen, M.Sc. (Soc.), (40), has been appointed Senior Vice President, Communications and Identity at Kesko Group as of 1 November 2017. Partanen has previously worked as Kesko’s grocery trade division’s Vice President of Communications and a member of the Management Board. Before joining Kesko, Partanen held various executive positions in global communications, marketing and brand management at Metso Corporation, and worked for the management consultancy Pohjoisranta Burson-Marsteller as Senior Advisor.

Eeva Salmenpohja, M.Sc. (Soc.), (38), has been appointed Vice President, Public Affairs at Kesko Group as of 1 November 2017. Salmenpohja joined Kesko on 1 February 2017, having previously worked as Special Adviser for the Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services and in various labour and education policy expert positions at Akava and the Finnish Association of Business School Graduates.

Both Partanen and Salmenpohja will report to President and CEO Mikko Helander.

“These appointments reflect the efforts by K Group and Kesko to engage in more active and interactive communications and management of stakeholder relations and K Group’s role as an active member of society. I am happy to have Karoliina Partanen and Eeva Salmenpohja join my core team. Their experience and background represent the kind of expertise the transforming K Group will need in the multifaceted communications landscape of the future,” says Mikko Helander, President and CEO.

Further information: Matti Mettälä, Executive Vice President, HR, tel. +358 10 532 2200

DISTRIBUTION
Main news media
www.kesko.fi

Kesko and K-retailers form the K Group, whose sales total over €13 billion. K Group is the third largest retail operator in Northern Europe and it employs approximately 45,000 people. Kesko operates in the grocery trade, the building and technical trade and the car trade. Its divisions and chains act in close cooperation with retailer entrepreneurs and other partners. Kesko’s net sales are €10 billion and it employs approximately 28,000 people. Kesko has nearly 2,000 stores engaged in chain operations in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Belarus and Poland. Kesko is a listed company and its shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. The company’s domicile and main business premises are in Helsinki. Kesko is the world’s most responsible trading sector company (The Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World) www.kesko.fi

SOURCE: Kesko Corporation

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Walgreens Boots Alliance declares regular quarterly dividend of 40 cents per share

DEERFIELD, Ill., 2017-Oct-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA) today announced that its board of directors has declared a regular quarterly dividend of 40 cents per share, an increase of 6.7 percent over the year-ago period. The dividend is payable 12 December 2017 to stockholders of record 13 November 2017.

Walgreens Boots Alliance and its predecessor company, Walgreen Co., have paid a dividend in 340 straight quarters (or 85 years) and have raised the dividend for 42 consecutive years.

Notes to Editors:

About Walgreens Boots Alliance
Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) is the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise.

The company was created through the combination of Walgreens and Alliance Boots in December 2014, bringing together two leading companies with iconic brands, complementary geographic footprints, shared values and a heritage of trusted health care services through pharmaceutical wholesaling and community pharmacy care, dating back more than 100 years.

Walgreens Boots Alliance is the largest retail pharmacy, health and daily living destination across the USA and Europe. Walgreens Boots Alliance and the companies in which it has equity method investments together have a presence in more than 25* countries and employ more than 400,000* people. The company is a global leader in pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing retail and, together with the companies in which it has equity method investments, has over 13,200* stores in 11* countries as well as one of the largest global pharmaceutical wholesale and distribution networks, with over 390* distribution centers delivering to more than 230,000** pharmacies, doctors, health centers and hospitals each year in more than 20* countries. In addition, Walgreens Boots Alliance is one of the world’s largest purchasers of prescription drugs and many other health and wellbeing products.

The company’s portfolio of retail and business brands includes Walgreens, Duane Reade, Boots and Alliance Healthcare, as well as increasingly global health and beauty product brands, such as No7, Botanics, Liz Earle and Soap & Glory.

In October 2016 Walgreens Boots Alliance received the United Nations Foundation Global Leadership Award for its commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The company also ranks No. 1 in the Food and Drug Stores industry of Fortune magazine’s 2017 list of the World’s Most Admired Companies.

More company information is available at www.walgreensbootsalliance.com.

* As of 31 August 2016, using publicly available information for AmerisourceBergen.

** For 12 months ending 31 August 2016, using publicly available information for AmerisourceBergen

(WBA-DIV)

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: All statements in this release that are not historical are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including those described in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending 31 August 2016 and our Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended 31 May 2017, each of which is incorporated herein by reference, and in other documents that we file or furnish with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Except to the extent required by law, we do not undertake, and expressly disclaim, any duty or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement after the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

Contact(s)

Walgreens Boots Alliance
Media Relations
USA / Michael Polzin
+1 847 315 2935
or
International / Laura Vergani
+44 (0)207 980 8585
or
Investor Relations
Gerald Gradwell and Ashish Kohli
+1 847 315 2922

SOURCE: Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

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Bulgari redesigns its flagship store on Fifth Avenue

©Bulgari

NEW YORK, NY, 2017-Oct-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — Forty years after opening its first store in New York, Bulgari reaffirms its love for the city with a redesign of its flagship store on Fifth Avenue. Conceived by architect Peter Marino, the store’s architectural concept fuses Rome and New York, two iconic and strikingly contrasting cities. 

In the 1970s Bulgari opened its first store in New York. With its distinctive avant-garde spirit, the Roman Maison brought the essence of Roman lifestyle across the Atlantic to celebrate the city that never sleeps, becoming the jeweler of the modern woman.

Forty years after opening its first store, at the end of 2017 Bulgari has reimagined its flagship, which boasts one of Manhattan’s most strategic locations, on the corner of 5th Avenue and 57th Street. Created by Peter Marino, the store’s design concept draws inspiration from architectural elements of the mythic Bulgari flagship store on Via Condotti in Rome, proposing a timeless yet contemporary vision of the Eternal City.

Combining classic and contemporary, tradition and innovation, the space becomes an invitation to travel through the Roman Maison’s 130-year history. Roman inspiration is omnipresent, referencing the Pantheon in Rome and the geometric circle and square motifs that grace the building’s precious floor. The best of Italian craftsmanship is showcased in more than 30 meticulously selected traditional noble materials, including marble, different tones of marmorino, precious walnut, iron, brass, silk and velvet.

To fete the redesign of the store the Maison has also created the Bulgari New York Collection, featuring Roman sophistication and joie de vivre, along with a tribute to America’s famous Stars and Stripes flag. Among the most magnificent pieces in the collection is a necklace made of a blue, red and white cascade, with alternating tanzanite, rubelite and diamonds. There is also a Serpenti bracelet in white gold set with pavé diamonds, lapis and coral.

SOURCE: LVMH

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LVMH leads crowdfunding campaign for the acquisition and return to France of a national treasure, the Book of Hours of King François I

LVMH leads crowdfunding campaign for the acquisition and return to France of a national treasure, the Book of Hours of King François I

PARIS, 2017-Oct-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — LVMH is leading a “Tous Mécènes!” crowdfunding campaign this fall to enable the acquisition and return to France of a national treasure, the Book of Hours of King François I. With this exceptional philanthropy initiative, LVMH is supporting an important addition to the collections of the Louvre Museum. 

Launched in 2010, the “Tous Mécènes!” crowdfunding program encourages everyone, individuals and businesses, to become patrons of the arts to enrich the collections of the Louvre Museum by making donations. The campaigns raise funds needed to acquire exceptional works while strengthening ties between the public and the famous museum. 

Following a call for donations by Louvre President Jean-Luc Martinez, LVMH announced that it would fund 50 percent of the acquisition budget needed to add the Book of Hours of King François I to the museum’s collections. A unique depiction of life in the royal court during the Renaissance, this extraordinary illuminated manuscript and the binding – with two large carnelian intaglios, turquoise and ruby insets and arabesques against a black background – represent an intricate period in French art. 

With this latest initiative, LVMH continues 25 years of active support for preserving, enriching and promoting France’s unique cultural and artistic heritage.

Click here to participate in this new crowdfunding campaign and make a donation to the Louvre.

SOURCE: LVMH

 

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Trace One Network Will Fuel Efficiency for Success

BOSTON, 2017-Oct-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — To help retailers and suppliers succeed in a highly competitive industry, private label collaboration experts Trace One today launched the Trace One Network. This global retail business network promotes efficient, accurate communication so companies create innovative products, boost agility and delight consumers. To drive critical mass adoption of the network, Trace One will leverage its global network of 20,000 retail companies – the largest private label community in the world.

Amid this period of retail reinvention, Trace One Network focuses on enhancing communication by creating a single online hub for retail partners to serve shoppers better. Market trends disrupting grocery private label include the rise of grocery e-commerce, hard discounters and direct-to consumer rivals. Addressing these factors means companies must collaborate, as competition now takes place between supply chains – not just individual companies.

“Collaboration helps retail companies differentiate themselves from the competition and win with private label by adapting to consumers’ expectations of speed, agility and responsiveness,” says Trace One CEO, Christophe Vanackere. Trace One Network saves retail professionals time and effort by helping them gather relevant market knowledge, build relationships, and share company and product data using one integrated solution. The network will continuously evolve and add valuable functionality to serve retail users’ needs over the long term.

Retail companies benefit from Trace One Network, as retailers and suppliers can identify reliable trading partners, source and promote private label products, and stay informed of industry trends. This online collaboration network will help retail companies improve their speed to market, cost management, and mitigate key business risks.

“Given today’s retail disruption, Trace One Network is exactly what retail trading partners need to deliver a superior customer experience. We can no longer afford to work in silos,” says Shaun Bossons, CRO, of Trace One. “The network represents an evolution of Trace One’s proven strengths in connecting global retail supply chain partners for efficient collaboration, while addressing companies’ need for business efficiency, differentiation and confidence in their private label brands.”

About Trace One

Founded in 2001, Trace One powers the world’s largest collaborative network for private label development with more than 20,000 companies in 100 countries developing over $300B in products annually. Our globally proven platform enables our customers to develop and manage private label products, ensure conformity to industry and government legislation and drive consumer trust.