Daily Archives: November 2, 2017

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The 91st Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® is sure to delight millions of spectators and viewers nationwide

The 91st Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® is sure to delight millions of spectators and viewers nationwide

 

The Annual March Will Once Again Feature a Host of Surprises along with Its Signature Giant Character Balloons, Floats of Fantasy, the Nation’s Finest Marching Bands, Whimsical Performance Groups, Celebrity Appearances and the One-and-Only Santa Claus

NEW YORK, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — This Thanksgiving, a magical march returns to the streets of New York City and to homes across the United States as the 91st Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® kicks off the holiday season with its signature spectacle of wonder. On Thursday, Nov. 23, the streets of Manhattan will come alive at the sound of “Let’s Have A Parade!” Ready to spread holiday cheer, the annual procession is sure to delight more than 3.5 million spectators and more than 50 million viewers nationwide with its traditional merriment.

“For more than 90 years, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has signaled the start of the holiday season for millions of families. We are thrilled to once again come together as a nation to give this gift of joy and wonder to all,” said Susan Tercero, group vice-president of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She added, “Our incredible team has planned a fantastic spectacle featuring an amazing line-up of giant character balloons, floats of fantasy, the nation’s best marching bands and performance groups, a dazzling array of musical artists, all coming together to herald the arrival of the one-and-only Santa Claus.”

Since the first march in November of 1924, the Macy’s Parade has captivated audiences and become synonymous with the start of the holiday season. For the 91st edition, the line-up will feature 17 giant character balloons; 28 legacy balloons, balloonicles, balloonheads and trycaloons; 26 floats; 1,100 cheerleaders and dancers; more than 1,000 clowns; 12 marching bands and six performance groups.

STARS ON PARADE

The star power on Parade will once again feature some of the nation’s most riveting performers. Taking to the streets of New York City on board one of Macy’s signature floating stages, and thrilling the nation with their performances at Herald Square will be 98 Degrees, Lauren Alaina, Cam, Sabrina Carpenter, Andra Day & Common, Sara Evans, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Flo Rida, Goo Goo Dolls, Kat Graham, Andy Grammer, Angelica Hale, Olivia Holt, Nicky Jam, Wyclef Jean, Bravo’s Top Chef stars Padma Lakshmi & Tom Colicchio, Dustin Lynch, Miss America 2018 Cara Mund, Leslie Odom Jr. and the cast & Muppets ofSesame Street, Bebe Rexha, Smokey Robinson, Jojo Siwa, and more.

FLYING ICONS

Taking flight on Turkey Day will be the Parade’s signature giant character helium balloons. Since their introduction in 1927, these giants of the sky have featured some of the world’s most beloved characters. This year, four giant characters will debut including Disney Frozen’s Olaf, Illumination presents Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, PAW Patrol® andJett from Super Wings™.

The balloon line-up will also feature the return of Harold the Baseball Player, a legacy Macy’s character prominently featured in Twentieth Century Fox’s iconic holiday film classic, Miracle on 34th Street. In celebration of the film’s 70th anniversary, the Harold heritage balloon has been recreated for this year’s Parade, painted in hues of black, white and grey, to look exactly as it did on-screen during a memorable scene in the 1947 film. In addition to Harold, the famed spokesduck, The Aflac Duck, will debut as an all-new balloonicle (a Macy’s Parade innovation of hybrid cold-air balloon and vehicle) and is sure to have fans quacking with joy and laughter down the route.

Returning giant balloon characters include Angry Birds’ Red; Charlie Brown; Diary of A Wimpy Kid®; Sinclair’s Dino®; The Elf on the Shelf®; Hello Kitty®; Ice Age’s Scrat and His Acorn; Pikachu™; Pillsbury Doughboy™; Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger; Ronald McDonald®; SpongeBob SquarePants; and DreamWorks’ Trolls.

THE STAGE FOR ENTERTAINMENT

Floating down the route this Thanksgiving, the Parade’s signature floats transport spectators to worlds of wonder. Designed and created by the incredible artists of Macy’s Parade Studio, which include carpenters, painters, animators, sculptors, metal fabricators, scenic/costume designers and electricians, this year’s line-up of floats sets an unparalleled stage for entertainment. The painstaking process of creating a Macy’s Parade float is both a creative and technical endeavor. Macy’s Parade floats are often three stories tall and several lanes of traffic wide, but must collapse to no more than 12 ½-feet tall and 8-feet wide in order to travel safely from the New Jersey home of the Parade Studio to the Manhattan starting line via the Lincoln Tunnel each Thanksgiving eve. These creations are not only works of art, but also engineering marvels.

This year, five new floats will debut including Everyone’s Favorite Bake Shop by Entenmann’s® (Sara Evans), Harvest in the Valley by Green Giant® (Lauren Alaina), Parade Day Mischief by SOUR PATCH KIDS® Candy (Nicky Jam), Shimmer and Shine by Nickelodeon (Jojo Siwa) and Universal Playground by Sprout® (Angelica Hale). A special float by Delta Air Lines will also debut to commemorate the season of togetherness with the perfect gift of song, as more than 125 Macy’s employees gather to form a one-of-a-kind, cross-generational choir aboard the Macy’s Singing Christmas Tree.

The returning float roster includes 1-2-3 Sesame Street by Sesame Street (Leslie Odom Jr. and the cast and Muppets of Sesame Street); The Aloha Spirit by King’s Hawaiian (Goo Goo Dolls), Big Apple by NY Daily News (Bebe Rexha); Big City Cheer! by Spirit of America Productions (Miss America 2018 Cara Mund); Building A Better World by Girl Scouts of the USA (Andra Day and Common); The Colonel’s Road Trip to NYC by Kentucky Fried Chicken (Dustin Lynch); The Cranberry Cooperative by Ocean Spray®; Deck the Halls by Balsam Hill® (Olivia Holt); Discover Adventure! by Build-A-Bear (Sabrina Carpenter); Frozen Fall Fun by Discover®/NHL (Wyclef Jean, NHL Hockey Hall of Famers Ray Bourque & Bryan Trottier); Fun House by Krazy Glue® (Flo Rida); Heartwarming Holiday Countdownby Hallmark Channel (98 Degrees); It’s All Rock & Roll by Gibson Brands (Jimmy Fallon & The Roots); Mount Rushmore’s American Pride by South Dakota Department of Tourism (Smokey Robinson); On The Roll Again by Homewood Suites by Hilton® (Andy Grammer); Santa’s Sleigh; Snoopy’s Doghouse by Peanuts Worldwide; Stirrin’ Up Sweet Sensations by Domino® Sugar (Cam); Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Nickelodeon (Kat Graham); and Tom Turkey featuring Bravo’s Top Chef (Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio).

DRUM ROLL, PLEASE …

Marching bands are a central piece of the Thanksgiving delights, bringing national excitement and hometown pride to the streets of the Big Apple, not to mention the musical beat to the holiday revelry. Twelve performance ensembles will take up the call of the baton and march down the streets of Manhattan. This year’s bands include Colony High School (Palmer, Alaska); Davis High School (Kaysville, Utah); Rosemount High School (Rosemount, Minnesota); West Harrison High School (Gulfport, Mississippi); Rockford High School (Rockford, Michigan); Ohio University (Athens, Ohio); Nation Ford High School (Fort Mill, South Carolina); Trumbull High School (Trumbull, Connecticut); Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View, Texas); The United States Air Force Band and Honor Guard; Macy’s Great American Marching Band (United States); and the NYPD Marching Band (New York, NY).

Specialty Parade entertainment always promises a unique, exciting, and sometimes humorous look at the nation’s finest performance groups. Returning to the line-up this year are the dancers and cheerleaders of Spirit of America Dance Stars and Spirit of America Cheer. These groups combined feature more than 1,000 of the nation’s very best performers recruited from small towns and big cities. Days before Thanksgiving, they will gather for the first time in NYC, ahead of their once-in-a-lifetime national spotlight. Adding to the dance-floor revelry will be 34th & Phunk, a special group commissioned and produced by Macy’s with organizers from the United States Tournament of Dance. Choreographed by the legendary artist Willdabeast Adams and acclaimed dancer Janelle Ginestra, 34th & Phunk will be a one-of-a-kind hip-hop dance crew featuring performers of all ages and from all walks of life, who have a passion for dance and precision movement. Bringing a Broadway flair to the spectacle will be the talented kids of Camp Broadway, who this year have auditioned and selected dancers/singers from military bases around the nation, and who will pay tribute to America with their performance. Rounding out the performance group list are the zany Red Hot Mamas (Post Falls, Idaho), who will deliver their signature humorous take on the holiday season, along with the whimsical stars of the Big Apple Circus (New York, NY).

A GRAND TELEVISION SPECIAL EVENT

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the nation’s biggest and most anticipated holiday celebration. Broadcast nationally on NBC, with millions of families nationwide tuning in to watch the excitement unfold, the TODAY Show’s Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker will host the three-hour broadcast from 9 a.m. – noon (in all time zones). In addition, Telemundo will simulcast the Parade in Spanish with the event hosted by stars Carlos Ponce, Jessica Carrillo and Karim Mendiburu.

On 34th Street, Broadway’s best shows will take a star turn in front of Macy’s famed flagship with special performances from the casts of Anastasia, Dear Evan Hansen, Once On This Island and SpongeBob SquarePants – The Broadway Musical. In addition, the show-stopping Radio City Rockettes® will bring their signature high-kicking magic to Herald Square.

INTERACTIVE FUN

This year, the magic of Macy’s iconic balloons and Parade artistry will head south for the winter to give fans an up close and personal experience for the holidays. Starting on Saturday, Nov. 18, Universal Orlando Resort’s destination-wide Holidays celebration begins, featuring the all-new “Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s.” This one-of-a-kind experience is where merry and mayhem mesh to create a fantastic treat for park guests that features more than 15 incredibly-detailed floats, colorful stilt-walkers and characters, and a specially created cast of all new Macy’s balloons that you can’t see anywhere else. Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s will run daily from Nov. 18 through Jan. 6.

The Macy’s Parade is always a unique multi-level, magical march that provides spectators with different experiences, whether they watch it on television with friends and family or scout the perfect spot on the route to watch it unfold live. To give fans another unique viewing opportunity, Macy’s, along with NBCUniversal and Verizon will once again take viewers closer to the magic via up close and personal views of the event through a 360-degree livestream of the Parade on Verizon’s YouTube page. The stream, found at www.youtube.com/verizon, will be synced with the start of the Parade.

For an insider’s look at the holiday procession, fans nationwide should visit macys.com/parade for regular updates including behind the scenes previews, interactive historical information, and more.

The 91st Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will begin at 9 a.m. from 77th Street and Central Park West. The procession will march to Columbus Circle, turn onto Central Park South and march down 6th Avenue/Avenue of the Americas. At 34th Street, the Parade will make its final turn west and end at 7th Avenue in front of Macy’s Herald Square. “A Holiday Treat for Children Everywhere” has been the guiding motto of this annual tradition for more than nine decades and is the mandate that continues to this day. From the very first Parade to this year’s spectacle, Macy’s own employees, along with their friends and family, have gathered together to give the nation a perfect holiday gift, and now it’s time for another dazzling celebration. In 5,4,3,2,1 … Let’s Have A Parade!

For more information on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, please visit www.macys.com/parade or call the Parade hotline at 212-494-4495. Follow @macys on various social networks and join the conversation using #MacysParade.

Delta Air Lines, New York’s #1 airline, is the official airline of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
RAM Trucks is the official truck of the Macy’s Parade.
Remo is the official drumhead provider.
The Stewart is the official hotel partner of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Under Armour is the official outerwear provider.

PLEASE NOTE: All talent, performers, elements and information included are subject to change. Additional Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade media materials including images, video and archival content are available at macysparadepress.com.

Macy’s Media Relations:
Orlando Veras
646-429-7450
orlando.veras@macys.com

Source: Macy’s

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Amazon kicks off the holiday shopping season with the opening of its Black Friday Deals Store

  • Customers will find better deals than ever before on the hottest gifts in toys, electronics, home goods and more, the best in holiday entertaining essentials including kitchen items and decor, and even wardrobe must haves
  • All Amazon customers can choose from more than one hundred million items that are eligible for free shipping this holiday
  • Starting on November 8, Prime members will also have access to Amazon Key, the new service that will allow eligible packages to be securely delivered inside their homes without having to be there
  • Customers can shop when they want, where they want with the Amazon App, which now includes a brand new augmented reality feature, AR view, for customers to see how thousands of items look in their space before they buy
  • For customers in need of gifting inspiration, Amazon’s 2017 Holiday Gift Guides – including the new Business Gift Guide by Amazon Business, the Amazon Handmade Gift Shop, and Gift Finder offer suggestions for all holiday shopping needs
  • Customers can shop thousands of holiday deals from small businesses and entrepreneurs around the globe

SEATTLE, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — Amazon today (Nov. 1, 2017) announced the opening of its Black Friday Deals Store, officially marking the start of the holiday shopping season. The Black Friday Deals Store, available at www.amazon.com/blackfriday, offers deals across every category now through Black Friday. Customers can find deals on everything from toys and electronics to holiday entertaining essentials and wardrobe must haves – all in one convenient location. Today, customers can save up to 30% on favorite toys including Baby Alive Sweet Tears, Dropmix, Tickle Me Elmo and more. This holiday season, customers can also expect great deals on premium TVs from brands like LG, Samsung and Sony, as well as popular toys from LEGO, Melissa & Doug, Nerf, Paw Patrol, Star Wars and more.

“We’re excited to officially kickoff another holiday season, bringing customers better deals than ever before on everything they’ll need – from electronics and toys to clothing, home essentials and more,” said Doug Herrington, Senior Vice President of North American Retail at Amazon. “Customers shop Amazon year-round for our great prices, unbelievable selection, and free shipping on over 100 million products. During the holiday season, customers love to discover great deals and must-have holiday gifts for friends and family. Some of the most popular starting points for holiday shoppers are our Black Friday Deals Store, Amazon’s curated Home and Electronics Gift Guides, the Holiday Toy List, the newly redesigned Gift Finder, our Handmade Gift Shop, and Interesting Finds.”

More Ways to Shop than Ever Before:

Voice Shopping: Customers can voice shop with Alexa for tens of millions of Prime-eligible items, including many of the products available in the Black Friday Deals Store and featured in the 2017 Holiday Gift Guides. Available on the Alexa family of devices including Amazon Echo, Echo Plus, Echo Dot, Amazon Tap, and Amazon Dash Wand, as well as screened devices such as the all-new Amazon Fire TV, all-new Fire HD 10 Tablet, Echo Show and soon to be released Echo Spot, it’s as simple as saying, “Alexa, order [product]” and Alexa will find a top-rated product that ships with Prime. Just say, “yes” to buy it. Changed your mind? No problem, any physical product purchased with your voice is eligible for free returns. Customers must be Prime members with default payment and shipping information.

Amazon App: The Amazon App is designed to make your holiday shopping fast and easy. In fact, last holiday season, more than 70% of Amazon customers worldwide shopped using a mobile device. Customers can find where their holiday packages are in seconds, use camera search to quickly and easily find the items they want by pointing at an item or barcode, and never miss a deal by setting Watch-a-Deal alerts. Customers can also search and reorder with Alexa. Once Amazon boxes begin to arrive, customers can use the Amazon App’s Package X-Ray feature to scan the barcode and see what’s inside, allowing them to wrap gifts without ever opening the box or spoiling the surprise.

AR view: Amazon’s latest augmented reality offering within the Amazon App launched today for customers with iOS 11 installed on their iPhone 6S or later. Using Apple’s ARKit, AR view helps customers make better shopping decisions by allowing them to visualize the aesthetic and fit of products in their own living space. Customers simply open the Amazon App, click on the camera icon and choose AR view. They can then select from thousands of items – from living room, bedroom, kitchen and home office products to electronics, toys and games, home décor and more. Whether customers are buying a sofa or a kitchen appliance, they can overlay it onto their existing living space, move it and rotate it to get a full 360-degree peek in a live camera view to make sure it fits their style and aesthetic.

Amazon.com in Spanish: Since adding the option for customers to set their language preference earlier this year, millions of customers have chosen Spanish as their preferred language to shop on Amazon.com and in the Amazon App. Customers can shop, browse and search for millions of products, view their shopping cart, and place orders in Spanish. Customers can update their language settings in their Amazon App, as well as visit Amazon.com and click the ‘globe’ button – located in the navigation bar at the top of their Amazon home screen – to set and begin shopping in their preferred language. Preferred language settings will be saved for future site visits under ‘Your account’ settings.

Treasure Truck: Now available in 25 select cities, Treasure Truck is a new way for customers to shop this holiday season. Customers can opt-in to receive notifications from the Amazon App for special must-have offers from Treasure Truck, order the item, and pick-up at the truck all season long. Each time the truck rolls, one hand-picked offer will be available including gifts for the adventurer, foodie, hostess, kids and techie, as well as delicious seasonal food items, and more. Look for the truck at various locations this holiday season.

Amazon Books: Now open in Seattle, New York City (on 34th St and at Columbus Circle), Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston (Dedham and Lynnfield), San Diego, San Jose, Portland, Bellevue (Wash.) and Paramus (N.J.), Amazon Books integrates the benefits of offline and online shopping to help customers find books and devices that they’ll love. Whether customers want to discover a new book for the holidays or test-drive an Amazon device, Amazon Books offers gifts for everyone. Browse in-store deals and holiday features like Most-Wished-For-Gifts, Hidden Gem Gifts, the Holiday Toy List and customer favorites like Page Turners: Books Kindle Readers Finish in 3 Days or Less, Local Bestsellers, 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime.

Shop with Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs
Half of the items sold on Amazon worldwide are from small businesses and entrepreneurs, many of which will be offering deals on their products throughout the holiday season. Some of the small businesses and entrepreneurs offering deals include Sleepyheads, Furbo, Lightaccents, Owlee and TigerSecu.

Inspired Gifting for Everyone on Your List:

Curated Gift Guides: Thoughtfully curated and inspired by Amazon product experts and influencers, Amazon’s 2017 Holiday Toy List, Electronics Gift Guide and Home Gift Guide take the guesswork out of gifting and offer customers quick and easy access to the top gifts for everyone on their list.

◦  Customers can browse more than a thousand of the most sought-after products for kids of all ages and interests on the 2017 Amazon Holiday Toy List, available at amazon.com/holidaytoylist.

◦  Those who want to shop more than 500 of the season’s hottest technology products, from TVs to gaming systems, can do so while shopping the 2017 Amazon Electronics Gift Guide, available at amazon.com/electronicsgiftguide.

◦  And customers can browse the 2017 Amazon Home Gift Guide, available at amazon.com/homegiftguide for more than a thousand products for inside and outside the home.

◦  New this year, the 2017 Business Gift Guide by Amazon Business is a curated list of more than 200 items designed to make holiday gifting easier for office employees, company clients and colleagues. Available at amazon.com/businessgiftguide, Amazon.com and Amazon Business customers can shop from numerous categories, including Electronics, Grocery, Entertainment, Audio & Accessories, and more. Shoppers can also discover white elephant gift exchange and budget-friendly gift ideas in the Business Gift Guide.

Handmade Gift Shop: Support small businesses and entrepreneurs this holiday by shopping Amazon Handmade where all products are handcrafted by local Artisans from around the world. New this year, the Amazon Handmade Gift Shop, available at amazon.com/handmadegiftshop, allows customers to shop handcrafted products for every occasion.-  Gift Finder: For those in need of additional inspiration, the redesigned Gift Finder helps identify gift ideas when a customer doesn’t have a particular idea in mind. Gift Finder, available at amazon.com/giftfinder, offers a diverse collection of unique, but universally appealing gift ideas across categories. Shop gifts for men, women, teens, kids, toddlers, babies, pets or holiday fun.

Amazon Lists: Customers can find and shop friends and family’s Wish Lists at www.amazon.com/yourfriends to give them what they really want this holiday. To customize your own list, click ‘Add to List’ from any product detail page or go to www.amazon.com/yourlists to add multiple items in one convenient location. To save a gift idea in the Amazon App, customers can simply press down on any product image to fling it to the bottom of their screen.

Interesting Finds: Interesting Finds, available at amazon.com/stream, is an endless stream of beautiful products that inspires customers daily. There are a number of categories that customers can scroll through including “holiday toy list,” “gadgets,” “workspace” and even quirky customer-curated collections of products like “Nautical or Nice,” “Talk Nerdy To Me,” “Dog Gone Cute Dresses,” “Rock Your Socks Off” and “Happy Glamping.” Customers can ‘heart’ products they love and we’ll get better at showing them more items like those. Customers can access Interesting Finds via the banner above the search bar on Amazon.com and in the ‘Programs and Features’ section of the Amazon App.

Free Shipping + Convenient Delivery
All Amazon customers can choose from more than one hundred million items that are eligible for free shipping this holiday and all year long. This includes eligible orders of $25 or more shipped by Amazon, as well as free shipping offers from the millions of small business and entrepreneurs selling on Amazon. For customers who prefer to pick up their packages when it’s convenient for them, Amazon Locker is a safe and secure way to receive Amazon packages. Available in more than 50 cities across the U.S., Amazon Lockers are strategically located near offices, major convenience stores, grocery stores, apartment buildings and malls across the country. To learn more about Amazon Locker, visit amazon.com/locker or to find the nearest Locker visit amazon.com/findalocker.

Fast Shipping, Deals and More with Prime
Prime is designed to make your life better every day including the convenience of fast, free shipping and great entertainment. Prime members can shop thousands of Lightning Deals with 30-minute early access and, with the Amazon Prime credit card, members will earn even bigger rewards this holiday season. Members can also enjoy Free Two-Day Shipping with Amazon Prime, as well as Prime FREE One-Day Shipping and Prime FREE Same-Day Delivery on more than one million items in orders of $35 or more available to members in over 5,000 cities and towns. And, with Prime Now, Prime Members in more than 30 U.S. cities can benefit from one-and-two hour delivery. In addition, starting on November 8, Prime members in 37 cities and surrounding areas across the U.S. will have access to Amazon Key, the new service that radically improves the convenience of receiving deliveries. Amazon Key will allow Prime members to have eligible packages securely delivered inside their homes without having to be there.

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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Sainsbury’s launches two vinyl compilation albums from its new Own Label imprint

Sainsbury’s launches two vinyl compilation albums from its new Own Label imprint

 

London, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sainsbury’s customers can now pick up some exclusive, freshly pressed vinyl alongside their freshly pressed fruit juices.

Following Sainsbury’s huge success in the vinyl revival, with one in every 20 vinyl records sold in the UK now purchased in a Sainsbury’s store, from Friday 3rd November, the supermarket will launch two vinyl compilation albums from its new Own Label imprint, via Universal and Warner Music. The records will be available in over 160 Sainsbury’s superstores around the country.

The first supermarket offering of its kind, the exclusive records have been tailored specifically to the tastes of Sainsbury’s shoppers. The two 20 track double albums ‘Hi Fidelity – A Taste Of Stereo Sound’ and ‘Coming into Los Angeles – A Taste of West Coast’ capture the classic sounds of the 60s and 70s, lining up iconic vinyl favourites such as Fleetwood Mac, Cat Stevens and Elton John alongside some lesser discovered artists.

Despite the rise of online music streaming services, the UK vinyl revival has seen sales of the format jump 37.6 per cent in the first half of 2017 to £37.3m . Sainsbury’s began stocking vinyl in March 2016 for the first time since the 1980s and already accounts for almost 70 per cent of the total grocery vinyl market.

The two Own Label compilations have been curated by renowned music journalist and Saint Etienne musician Bob Stanley. The artwork was inspired by the most iconic product designs to come out of Sainsbury’s in-house design studio, led by Peter Dixon between 1962 and 1977.

Sainsbury’s Head of Music and Books, Pete Selby, said: “Our customers’ love of vinyl shows no sign of abating, so alongside the classics albums, we want to offer our shoppers something they won’t find anywhere else. Our exclusive Own Label records have been carefully tailored towards the inquisitive, cultured tastes of our customers so we’re confident that they’ll love the sound of our new releases and our ever increasing vinyl range.”

Sainsbury’s has sold almost 300,000 vinyl albums to date, from classic artists across the decades to current chart hits and new releases. The retailer’s best-selling album to date is Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’, with over 12,000 units sold.

Media contact:
press_office@sainsburys.co.uk
0207 695 7295

Source: Sainsbury’s

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The Waitrose Food & Drink Report 2017-18 reveals top food, drink and shopping trends

London, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Waitrose Food & Drink Report 2017-18 shows today’s consumer is firmly in the driving seat. Whether shopping or eating, we do what we want, when we want.

Three quarters of Brits say dining out alone is more socially acceptable than it was five years ago, with a third eating out alone in the last month. When it comes to diet a common-sense approach now rules; strict plans or cutting entire food groups has fallen out of favour and carbs are well and truly back on the menu.

Released today (1 November) the fifth annual report is based on a year’s worth of Waitrose sales, with comprehensive new consumer research and insight from its food and retail experts.

Says Managing Director Rob Collins: ‘Today’s shoppers exercise unprecedented control over when they shop, what they buy and how they consume it.

‘Our research found people have become more flexible in their shopping patterns, more price-savvy and more single-minded than ever before. For example a staggering 65% of Britons visit a supermarket more than once a day on a regular or occasional basis. Over half of us don’t decide what we’re having for dinner until lunchtime; one in 10 of us will decide just before we eat. The consumer is in charge of their domain.’

Highlights include

  • Could we see the end of the big supermarket trolley? Waitrose has seen a move to small, shallow trolleys, as many move away from doing one big weekly shop. With supermarket shopping habits continuing to shift in this way, could we see an end to the supersize trolley in years to come? (more predictions on p.8 – trends for 2018 and beyond)
  • Going up – what was in favour in 2017. This is the year that turmeric became the best-selling Waitrose spice, that blueberries finally knocked strawberries off the top berry slot, and more us of discovered a liking for brunch. (Other trends p.2 – barometer)
  • Dining solo. Three quarters of us say eating out alone is more acceptable than it was – with top reasons cited as changes in society and restaurants being more single-person friendly. More than a fifth of Brits say their smart phone provides the company – rising to 34% of 18-24 year olds. (p.4 –dining solo)
  • How the nation drinks. Which region drinks the most bag-in-a-box wine, where in the country are you most likely to be served a local beer, and who is most likely to enjoy a port or sherry? (Drinks map of Britain, p.7)
  • Pie charts. Which filling is Britain’s favourite, with which sauce and what on the side? A definitive guide to Britain’s love of pies and regional preferences (p.8 – pie charts).

Notes to editors

The Waitrose Food & Drink Report 2017-18 is released on Wednesday 1 November.

Research for the Report has been carried out throughout 2017. Focus group research and OnePoll consumer research supports Waitrose own retail and sales data.

Please contact us for high resolution images, more information or interviews.

Enquiries:
For further information please contact:
Waitrose Communications team
Telephone: 01344 825 080

Source: Waitrose

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Timothy Goodman to bring his signature hand-illustrated style to the labels of award-winning ALDI wines

Batavia, Ill., 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — ALDI has partnered with acclaimed artist, designer and illustrator Timothy Goodman for the upcoming release of a limited edition reserve wine collection. Known for his bold, text-based murals, Goodman traded walls for wine labels to bring his signature hand-illustrated style to a selection of award-winning ALDI wines. The reserve collection, which includes three varietals under the William Wright label, will be sold exclusively at ALDI stores and hit shelves just in time for the holidays.

Goodman’s label art lifts inspiration from the origin stories and flavor notes of each wine to bring striking color and playful iconography to the bottles. “As a visual person, shopping for wine begins with the label,” he says. “I gravitate toward bottles with interesting designs, so I was excited to create a series of labels that would really pop on shelf. Each bottle has a unique design, so you can collect all three to display on your bar or give as gifts over the holidays.”

Its impressive portfolio of award-winning wines makes ALDI a destination for wine enthusiasts looking for diversity of region and varietal at a great value. This limited edition reserve collection consists of a Chardonnay, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Red Wine Blend and comes highly recommended by experts at the Beverage Testing Institute. The collection will be available exclusively at ALDI stores nationwide on December 13 and will retail at $9.99 per bottle.

“The holidays are the perfect time for sharing or gifting a bottle of wine and we knew Timothy’s designs could elevate that tradition by pairing modern art with award-winning taste,” said ALDI spokeswoman Liz Ruggles.

For more information on Timothy Goodman and his art, check out TGoodman.com. For more on ALDI and the release of this exclusive wine collaboration, follow ALDI on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and the ALDI Simply Smarter Living Blog.

About ALDI Inc.
A leader in the grocery retailing industry since 1976, ALDI operates nearly 1,700 U.S. stores in 35 states. More than 40 million customers each month benefit from the ALDI simple and streamlined approach to retailing. ALDI sells the most frequently purchased grocery and household items, primarily under its exclusive brands, which are designed to meet or exceed the national name brands on taste and quality. ALDI is so confident in the quality of its products, the company offers a Double Guarantee: If for any reason a customer is not 100 percent satisfied with any ALDI food product, ALDI will gladly replace the product  and refund the purchase price. For the seventh year in a row, ALDI was recognized as a value leader among U.S. grocery stores by a Market Force Information ® survey of U.S. consumers. For more information about ALDI, visit aldi.us.

Contact:
Nisa Kiang
312-988-2266
nkiang@webershandwick.com

Melisa Yunlu
312-988-2427
myunlu@webershandwick.com

Source: ALDI Inc.

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RILA comments on House Hearings on data security and consumer privacy

House Hearings Address Consumer Privacy In The Digital Age

Arlington , VA, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — In response to hearings held today (11/1/2017) in the House Financial Services and Energy and Commerce Committees focusing on data security and consumer privacy, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) issued the following statement:

“Consumer privacy and data security are top priorities for America’s retailers,”said Nicholas Ahrens, vice president of privacy and cybersecurity for RILA. “As retail and technology converge, maintaining customer trust is the bedrock of the retail business model. That’s why retailers have long advocated for federal legislation that addresses federal data security standards and data breach notice requirements.

“Today’s hearings are an encouraging sign that Congress is taking these issues seriously and working towards a solution. Retailers embrace the careful stewardship of customer data not only because maintaining customer trust is a core business imperative, but because it is the right thing to do. RILA stands ready to work with Congress to find a solution that protects consumers while providing reasonable guide rails to help businesses maintain and deepen customer trust relationships.”

RILA is the trade association of the worlds 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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CarMax announces the opening of its third store in Las Vegas

Company announces contributions to local nonprofit

RICHMOND, Virginia, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, is celebrating the grand opening of the company’s third store in Las Vegas and fourth location in the state of Nevada. The store is located at 4900 North Rancho Drive and has the capacity to stock approximately 340 used vehicles of nearly every make and model. Customers can also request transfers to the Centennial CarMax of almost any vehicle from other CarMax locations throughout the country.

In celebration of the Centennial store opening, CarMax and The CarMax Foundation awarded $15,000 in donations and grants to the YMCA of Southern Nevada’s Centennial Hills Community Center. Support for this organization came at the recommendation of the Centennial CarMax associates.

“Like so many others in the Las Vegas community, CarMax associates are passionate about giving back and making a positive impact in our hometown,” said Theresia Redaelli, location general manager of the Centennial CarMax. “We’re honored to make this donation to the local YMCA and to serve more people at our new location with CarMax’s simple and seamless car-buying experience.”

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

About CarMax

CarMax is the nation’s largest retailer of used cars and operates more than 180 stores in 39 states nationwide. CarMax revolutionized the auto industry by delivering the honest, transparent and high-integrity car buying experience customers want and deserve. For more than 20 years, CarMax has made car buying more ethical, fair and stress-free by offering a no-haggle, no-hassle experience and an incredible selection of vehicles. CarMax makes selling your car easy too, by offering no-obligation appraisals good for seven days. At CarMax, we’ll buy your car even if you don’t buy ours®. CarMax has more than 24,000 associates nationwide and for 13 consecutive years has been named as one of the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For®. During the 12 months ending February 28, 2017, the company retailed 671,294 used cars and sold 391,686 wholesale vehicles at its in-store auctions. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com.

Media Contact:

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

Source: CarMax

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CarMax celebrates the opening of its fifth store location in the Bay Area

Company announces new store in Colma and contribution to benefit area children

RICHMOND, Virginia, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, is celebrating the grand opening of the company’s fifth store location in the Bay Area. The store is located at 401 Serramonte Blvd. in Colma and has the capacity to stock approximately 340 used vehicles of nearly every make and model. Customers can also request transfers to the Serramonte CarMax of almost any vehicle from other CarMax locations throughout the country.

CarMax opened its first Bay Area store in Pleasanton in 2016 and since that time has awarded more than $150,000 in community giving throughout the region. In celebration of the Serramonte store grand opening, CarMax and The CarMax Foundation awarded $16,000 in donations and grants to the Boys & Girls Clubs of North San Mateo County. Support for this organization came at the recommendation of the Serramonte CarMax associates.

In the past week, CarMax invested approximately $95,000 to build a playground in the Bay Area through a partnership with KaBOOM!, the national nonprofit ensuring that all kids get the balance of play they need to become healthy and successful adults. The playground was unveiled at Park Elementary School in the Hayward Unified School district. Park Elementary is a school where the majority of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch. CarMax associates in the Bay Area volunteered their time to help build the playground and The CarMax Foundation also presented Park Elementary School with a $10,000 grant.

“CarMax associates are passionate about community service and it was an honor partnering with KaBOOM! to build this playground that will transform the lives of children who attend Park Elementary,” said Davi Rodrigues, location general manager of the Serramonte CarMax. “We’re looking forward to serving the community further by continuing to grow in the Bay Area and serving more customers with CarMax’s honest and transparent car buying experience.”

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

About CarMax

CarMax is the nation’s largest retailer of used cars and operates more than 180 stores in 39 states nationwide. CarMax revolutionized the auto industry by delivering the honest, transparent and high-integrity car buying experience customers want and deserve. For more than 20 years, CarMax has made car buying more ethical, fair and stress-free by offering a no-haggle, no-hassle experience and an incredible selection of vehicles. CarMax makes selling your car easy too, by offering no-obligation appraisals good for seven days. At CarMax, we’ll buy your car even if you don’t buy ours®. CarMax has more than 24,000 associates nationwide and for 13 consecutive years has been named as one of the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For®. During the 12 months ending February 28, 2017, the company retailed 671,294 used cars and sold 391,686 wholesale vehicles at its in-store auctions. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com.

Media Contact:

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

Source: CarMax

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Weddington Way launches its new Tulle bridesmaid and special occasion dress collection

Weddington Way launches its new Tulle bridesmaid and special occasion dress collection

 

THE COLLECTION INTRODUCES NEW STYLE ELEMENTS, REIMAGINING TULLE FOR WEDDINGTON WAY’S MILLENNIAL CUSTOMER

San Francisco, CA, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — Weddington Way today (November 1, 2017) announced the launch of its new Tulle bridesmaid and special occasion dress collection. This launch marks a significant expansion of the Weddington Way dress offering and includes nine distinct dresses and separates, designed based on customer insights and trends.

The collection features design elements new to the brand including pearl overlay, flutter sleeves and two-tone colors. This is also the first time Weddington Way will offer separates, including a tulle skirt. Featured throughout are the brand’s signature pockets, a customer favorite, as well as other details to ensure comfort and fit. Dress colors include trending shades such as cabernet, blush and dusty blue, and a brand new champagne-ivory combo, with prices starting at $195.

“At Weddington Way we put the customer at the center of everything we do, especially as we’re developing a new collection,” says Martha Tinker, Head of Merchandising at Weddington Way. “For example, we were hearing from our customers that they wanted to see dresses with sleeves, so we took that feedback and designed a dress to meet that need. Each style is designed so that customers find something they are looking for, or are surprised by something they didn’t even know they wanted. ”

The Tulle collection is available now for pre-order online at www.weddingtonway.com, where bridal parties and friends can create a virtual showroom to browse and select styles and sizes. The collection will also be available at Weddington Way’s 10 shop locations on November 15. With the help of a stylist, customers can feel and try on the dresses in a personalized environment, while their virtual showroom and orders are updated in real-time.

“This year we opened Weddington Way shops across the country, and these shops have added an additional point of connection between our team and customers,” says Ilana Stern, Founder and General Manager of Weddington Way. “This connection has helped us continue to evolve the way we design for the needs and desires of our customers, making the Tulle collection a truly one-of-a-kind, trend-informed but customer-driven collection. We can’t wait to hear how our customers like it.”

About Weddington Way

Weddington Way is the new way to shop for bridesmaid and special occasion dresses. The San Francisco-based fashion brand pioneered the community-centric shopping experience that lets friends shop together in a virtual showroom, and now offers an extension of that experience with shops across the country. Weddington Way, which designs and manufactures fresh and modern dresses for millennial women, was founded in 2012 and joined Gap Inc. in 2016. For more information and shop locations, please visit www.weddingtonway.com.

Source: Gap Inc.

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Wegmans Food Market’s Medford store at Mystic Valley Parkway opens on Sunday, Nov. 5

MEDFORD, MA, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sunday can’t come soon enough for Wegmans’ Medford Store Manager Kevin Russell, the store’s 450 employees, and the eager residents who have called, emailed, and sent in social media comments since plans to bring Wegmans to Medford were announced in 2015.

“Wegmans coming to Medford, Ma?!,” wrote one resident in a tweet. “Don’t toy with my heart. Christmas might have come early this year!”

When the doors open, shoppers at the 120,000 sq. ft. store will be treated to everything they’ve come to love about Wegmans and then some, starting with the expansive produce department – a nod to the family-owned company’s humble beginnings as a produce pushcart in 1916. Customers will have a sense of visiting different shops as they move through the store, as one would in a European open-air market. What may be surprising to some is the consistent, low prices they’ll find and the choice of Family Pack sizes that can save 30% or more.

“Our Medford store also has two newer features that aren’t found in our other New England locations,” said Russell, a 31-year Wegmans employee. “The Burger Bar is a family-friendly in-store restaurant counter, serving burgers and sandwiches, salads, soup, sides, and beer and wine by the glass. The Pizza Shop here offers made-to-order pizzas baked in a custom rotating brick hearth oven, along with Sicilian-style pizza by the slice.”

Wegmans employees – those new to the company and seasoned veterans – have spent the last several months training and preparing for the opening. Why start so early? So they’re well prepared to provide incredible customer service right from the start.

“Customers want to learn where this food came from, how best to prepare it at home, and what else goes well with it,” said Medford Executive Chef Arlo Trainor. “The better we train our people, the better these conversations can be.”

Wegmans Food Market’s Medford store at 3850 Mystic Valley Parkway opens at 7 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5. Customers who arrive early on opening day, and are near the front of the line, can join employees in the Wegmans cheer at 6:55 a.m. Sound good? Take note: Daylight Saving Time ends on Nov 5.

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a 95-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The family-owned company, recognized as an industry leader and innovator, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016. Wegmans has been named one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ by FORTUNE magazine for 20 consecutive years, ranking #2 in 2017.

Press Contact:

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

Source: Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.

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Dollar General offers 11 percent discount to military community and their families on Saturday, November 11, 2017

Dollar General offers 11 percent discount to military community and their families on Saturday, November 11, 2017

 

Major discount retailer to provide 11 percent discount on November 11, 2017

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn., 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — To recognize and thank the military community for their service and sacrifice, Dollar General (NYSE: DG) is offering an 11 percent discount on qualifying purchases to veterans, active military and their immediate family members both in stores and online on Saturday, November 11, 2017.

“On behalf of more than 127,000 employees, Dollar General would like to honor, thank and pay tribute to our brave military community and their families,” said Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s chief executive officer. “Veterans Day is an annual time to pause, reflect on the exceptional sacrifices made to protect our country and show our deepest appreciation for those who serve and have served in the armed forces.”

Providing this discount is just one way Dollar General shows its continued support, gratitude and appreciation to those who have served and continue to serve the country. The Company is proud to be a longstanding supporter of the military community through initiatives including veteran discounts, its military employee resource group and the initiation of the Paychecks for Patriots hiring campaign that pairs veterans transitioning to civilian life with meaningful employment opportunities.

For additional information, photographs or items to supplement a story, please visit the DG Newsroom, contact the Media Relations Department at 1-877-944-DGPR (3477) or via email at dgpr@dg.com.

About Dollar General Corporation

Dollar General Corporation has been delivering value to shoppers for over 75 years. Dollar General helps shoppers Save time. Save money. Every day!® by offering products that are frequently used and replenished, such as food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, clothing for the family, housewares and seasonal items at low everyday prices in convenient neighborhood locations. Dollar General operated 14,000 stores in 44 states as of August 19, 2017. In addition to high quality private brands, Dollar General sells products from America’s most-trusted brands such as Procter & Gamble, Kimberly-Clark, Unilever, Kellogg’s, General Mills, Nabisco, Hanes, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola. Learn more about Dollar General at www.dollargeneral.com.

Follow Dollar General:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Contact(s):
Media Hotline:
Crystal Ghassemi
1-877-944-DGPR (3477)
dgpr@dollargeneral.com

Source: Dollar General Corporation

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Dollar General Corporation to release Q3 2017 financial results on Thursday, December 7, 2017

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn., 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — Dollar General Corporation (NYSE: DG) plans to report its financial results for its fiscal 2017 third quarter ended November 3, 2017, on Thursday, December 7, 2017. In connection with the announcement, Todd Vasos, chief executive officer, and John Garratt, chief financial officer, will host a conference call on Thursday, December 7, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. CT/10:00 a.m. ET.

If you wish to participate, please call (877) 868-1301 at least 10 minutes before the conference call is scheduled to begin. The conference ID is 1697694. The call will also be broadcast live online at www.dollargeneral.com under “Investor Information, News & Events, Events & Presentations.” A replay of the conference call will be available through Thursday, December 21, 2017, and will be accessible online or by calling (855) 859-2056. The conference ID for the replay is 1697694.

About Dollar General Corporation

Dollar General Corporation has been delivering value to shoppers for over 75 years. Dollar General helps shoppers Save time. Save money. Every day!® by offering products that are frequently used and replenished, such as food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, basic apparel, housewares and seasonal items at everyday low prices in convenient neighborhood locations. Dollar General operated 14,000 stores in 44 states as of August 19, 2017. In addition to high-quality private brands, Dollar General sells products from America’s most-trusted manufacturers such as Clorox, Energizer, Procter & Gamble, Hanes, Coca-Cola, Mars, Unilever, Nestle, Kimberly-Clark, Kellogg’s, General Mills, and PepsiCo. Learn more about Dollar General at www.dollargeneral.com.

Contact(s)
Investor Contacts:
Mary Winn Pilkington
615-855-5536
Kevin Walker, 615-855-4954

Media Contacts:
Crystal Ghassemi
615-855-5210

Source: Dollar General Corporation

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Big Lots Give Big for Kids fall fundraising campaign raised $3.1 million dollars for Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Columbus, Ohio, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — Big Lots announced today  (November 1, 2017) the completion of the company’s fourth Give Big for Kids point-of-sale fundraising campaign benefiting Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The four-and-a-half-week campaign collected donation in all 1,426 Big Lots stores, raising an impressive $3.1 million dollars.

“Raising more than 3 million dollars during our fall campaign shows just how much our customers and associates care about helping kids all over the country,” said David Campisi, President and CEO of Big Lots. “One hundred percent of those dollars go directly to important research and life-saving care.”

Nationwide Children’s is America’s largest not-for-profit freestanding pediatric healthcare system, delivering world-class care for more than 1.4 million patient visits each year. The hospital treats children all over the world and from across the nation, providing more than $114 million in charity care and community benefit services each year. Doctors and researchers are revolutionizing children’s healthcare and research at Nationwide Children’s.

“Big Lots, the Big Lots Foundation and their customers and associates continue to show their immense generosity and compassion for the patients and families we treat and on behalf of everyone at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, we could not be more grateful,” said Steve Allen, MD, CEO of Nationwide Children’s. “Big Lots is helping us fulfill our vision of delivering the best healthcare for children, as well as having a lasting impact on the long-term health of the children we treat across the globe.”

In addition to spearheading the Give Big for Kids campaign, on August 31, 2016, Big Lots together with the Big Lots Foundation announced a $50 million transformational gift to Nationwide Children’s Hospital to construct the largest behavioral health treatment and research center of it’s kind dedicated to children and adolescents on a pediatric medical campus in the U.S. This specific type of commitment by Big Lots represents the single largest corporate financial gift to support pediatric behavioral health. Slated to open in 2020, the Big Lots Behavioral Health Pavilion will be a 386,000 square-foot treatment and research pavilion that will care for children and teens with mental illness and behavioral health challenges. It will also house behavioral health researchers and will foster collaboration between community partners.

To learn more about Nationwide Children’s Hospital, visit Nationwidchildrens.org.

About Big Lots, Inc.
Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) is a community retailer operating 1,426 BIG LOTS stores in 47 states, dedicated to friendly service, trustworthy value, and affordable solutions in every season and category – furniture, food, décor, and more. We exist to serve everyone like family, providing a better shopping experience for our customers, valuing and developing our associates, and creating growth for our shareholders. Big Lots supports the communities it serves through the Big Lots Foundation, a charitable organization focused on four areas of need: hunger, housing,
healthcare, and education. For more information about the Company, visit www.biglots.com.

About Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Named to the Top 10 Honor Roll on U.S. News & World Report’s 2017-18 list of “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals,” Nationwide Children’s Hospital is America’ largest not-for-profit freestanding pediatric healthcare system providing wellness, preventive, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitative care for infants, children and adolescents, as well as adult patients with congenital disease. Nationwide Children’s has a staff of more than 13,000 providing state-of-the-art pediatric care during more than 1.4 million patient visits annually. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of the Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s physicians train the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health–funded freestanding pediatric research facilities. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org.

Media Contact:

Andrew Regrut
(614) 278-6622
Investor_relations@biglots.com

Source: Big Lots, Inc.

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PetSmart shares reasons people may want to consider adopting a senior pet during National Adoption Weekend

  • Pets of all ages, types, sizes and personalities will be up for adoption during PetSmart Charities’
  • National Adoption Weekend, Nov. 10 – 12 in nearly every PetSmart store across North America.

PHOENIX, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — There is no question that puppies and kittens are super cute, but if you have ever brought one home, you know they can require a lot of time, attention and most of all, patience. Between midnight meowing and watching your favorite shoes turn into chew toys, there are countless reasons to consider the benefits of adopting a senior pet.

“Since November is National Adopt a Senior Pet Month, we wanted to celebrate by teaming up with five of our in-store adoption partners to share a few reasons people may want to consider adopting a senior pet during National Adoption Weekend,” said Eran Cohen, Chief Customer Experience Officer at PetSmart.

1. Senior Pets are Often Overlooked
When looking for a pet, adopters usually turn their attention to puppies and kittens first. Although it may be unintentional, adult and senior pets are often overlooked due to the cuteness-factor of their younger counterparts. Senior pets have often lived with a family for many years and have trouble adapting to life in a shelter, so it’s important not to forget about them as they make really great pets! Karen Reichheld, Animal Care Manager at the Hamilton-Burlington SPCA. Adoption partner to the PetSmart in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada.

2. Senior Pets Can be Super Loving and Loyal

Due to their age, senior pets have had more life experience and may have had their share of broken   hearts and broken homes. When provided with a cozy and stable home environment, many senior pets are fiercely loyal and will love their new adopters unconditionally. Paula Stude, CEO and Executive Director of the Wild Cat Foundation. Adoption partner to the PetSmart stores in Lafayette, LA.

3. Adult Pets are Often Already Litter Trained/House Broken

Most senior pets come with training – they know not to climb up on curtains, steal your food, chew on your shoes, and most likely are already potty trained. Adult or senior pets can be super easy-going and may have a calmer disposition than kittens or puppies. Most love to snuggle and cuddle with their pet parents! Dawn Kavanaugh, CEO and President of All About Animals Rescue. Adoption partner to four PetSmart stores in the Phoenix metro area.

4. Old Dogs (and Other Pets!) Can Learn New Tricks

The adage that an old dog can’t learn new tricks simply isn’t true! Senior pets don’t ask for much and are often very easily trained. They might have to get acclimated to your household routine, but once they do, you may be surprised how easy they are to care for and how willing they are to learn from their new pet parents. Jackie Meyers, CEO/Executive Director of Peaceful Passings Senior Animal Rescue. Adoption partner to a PetSmart in Charlottesville, VA.

5. Senior Pets Need Second Chances

Every shelter pet is looking for their second chance at a forever home, but senior pets may need second chances even more than most. As senior pets are more likely to have pre-existing medical conditions or dental issues, they may need a little extra TLC, but the love they show you in return will be well worth it. In our experience, senior pets are even more loveable thanks to the lives they’ve lived and the experiences they’ve had. Angela McLaren, Executive Director, Prince George Humane Society. Adoption partner to the PetSmart store in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.

“At PetSmart Charities, our mission is to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets—and that includes pets that aren’t always top-of-mind for some adopters,” said David Haworth, DVM, Ph.D. and President of PetSmart Charities. “For homes with very young children or families seeking a more calm and mature companion, adopting a senior pet may be a great way to go. But, the very best way you can find the pet that’s right for you is by visiting one of the thousands of adoption events taking place during PetSmart Charities’ National Adoption Weekend, and meeting the furry, friendly pets of all ages, types and sizes that are waiting to find their forever home and family.”

Pets of All Ages, Types and Sizes Deserve a Lifelong, Loving Home

Pets of all ages, types and sizes will be looking to find their forever home at PetSmart Charities’ November National Adoption Weekend. From Nov. 10 – 12, more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations will bring adoptable pets into nearly all of PetSmart’s 1,500-plus stores in the U.S. and Canada with the goal of finding homes for more than 25,000 pets during this weekend adoption event.

Date:                     Friday, Nov. 10 – Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017
Time:                    Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (local times)
Location:             Nearly every PetSmart store across North America. Visit www.petsmart.com to find a store near you.

A Free Gift for Those Who Adopt:

Regardless of the age of the four-legged friend you or your family choose to adopt, or where you adopted from, PetSmart offers a free Adoption Kit* that provides important content that helps to integrate a new pet into the family. Click here for more information about PetSmart’s Free Adoption Kit. *Adoption papers required.

About PetSmart®

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

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

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

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

About PetSmart Charities®

PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. In addition to finding homes for almost 500,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities provides funding to non-profits aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support.Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 90 cents of every dollar donated and has become the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, donating about $300 million to date. PetSmart Charities, a 501(c)(3) organization, has received the Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator, an independent organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 14 years in a row — placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org

Follow PetSmart Charities on Twitter: @PetSmartChariTs
Find PetSmart Charities on Facebook: Facebook.com/PetSmartCharities
See PetSmart Charities on YouTube: YouTube.com/PetSmartCharitiesInc

About PetSmart Charities® of Canada:

PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered Canadian charity with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. In addition to finding homes for more than 25,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores, PetSmart Charities of Canada provides funding to registered charities aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support.Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities of Canada using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 89 cents of every dollar donated and has become a leading funder of animal welfare in Canada, donating nearly $12 million to date. PetSmart Charities of Canada is a member of Imagine Canada and is independent from PetSmart, Inc. To learn more, visit www.petsmartcharities.ca

Follow PetSmart Charities on Twitter: @PetSmartChariTs
Find PetSmart Charities on Facebook: Facebook.com/PetSmartCanada
See PetSmart Charities on YouTube: YouTube.com/PetSmart CharitiesInc

Source: Pet Smart Inc.

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PetSmart Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program reaches 50 million meals of pet food

  • So Far This Year, PetSmart Achieves More Than 80 Percent of its Goal to Donate 60 Million Meals
  • Thanks Shoppers for Participating and Buying Pet Food Bags

PHOENIX, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — PetSmart announced today ( Nov. 1, 2017) that so far this year it has generated 50 million meals of pet food to be donated to pets in need across North America through its historic Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program, where for every bag of dog or cat food purchased online or in its 1,500-plus stores through Dec. 31, 2017, the retailer will donate a meal to a pet in need. Through this historic program, PetSmart expects to donate 60 million meals* to pets in need at hundreds of shelters and rescues across North America, as well as human food banks, pantries and meal programs, where pet food is a rare offering.

To get the massive amount of donated pet food to those that need it most, the retailer is working with nonprofit partner, PetSmart Charities, which is teaming up with GreaterGood.org’s Rescue Bank program and Feeding America®, two renowned national nonprofit organizations that will deliver the pet food to pets in need across the U.S., as well as animal welfare agencies in Canada.

To date, PetSmart and its partners have scheduled 227 semi truck deliveries to hundreds of points across North America totaling more than 35 million meals and 3,683 tons of pet food. PetSmart expects to meet its goal of 60 million meals generated by Dec. 31, 2017, and two additional truck delivery waves totaling 150 53-foot semi trucks are scheduled for the first half of next year.

As a point of reference, using a standard six-inch pet food bowl, 60 million meals lined up beside each other would span from New York City to Los Angeles and back again – covering more than 5,500 miles.  Sixty million meals equates to 6,384 tons, about the same weight as more than 800 elephants or 2,654 cars.

“This simple program has generated impactful results to help pets in need across North America,” said Eran Cohen, chief customer experience officer, PetSmart. “Thanks to our shoppers, so far this year, we have generated 50 million meals, attaining more than 80 percent of our goal. We are confident that over the next two months we’ll hit our goal of 60 million meals. While the program ends in stores and online Dec. 31, its impact will live on as we look forward to distributing the donated pet food well into 2018.”

PetSmart launched the Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program in celebration of its 30th anniversary and with the expected 60 million meals donated under this program, it is the biggest philanthropic campaign in its 30-year history.

About PetSmart®

PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate more than 1,500 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart® Doggie Day Camp® and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, invite more than 3,000 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.4 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, PetSmart launched its Buy a Bag, Give a Meal™ program in March 2017. For every bag of cat or dog food purchased March 1 – Dec. 31, 2017, PetSmart will donate a meal to pets in need and expects to donate more than 60 million meals in 2017*.  In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

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

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

About PetSmart Charities®

PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. In addition to finding homes for almost 500,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities provides funding to non-profits aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 90 cents of every dollar donated and has become the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, donating about $300 million to date. PetSmart Charities, a 501(c)(3) organization, has received the Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator, an independent organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 14 years in a row — placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.

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

About PetSmart Charities™ of Canada

PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered Canadian charity with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together.  In addition to finding homes for more than 25,000 shelter pets each year through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores, PetSmart Charities of Canada provides funding to registered charities aligned with its mission through four key areas of grant support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets; and Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities of Canada using the pin pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses 89 cents of every dollar donated and has become a leading funder of animal welfare in Canada, donating nearly $12 million to date. PetSmart Charities of Canada is a member of Imagine Canada, and a registered Canadian charity independent from PetSmart, Inc. To learn more, visit www.petsmartcharities.ca.

About Rescue Bank

Rescue Bank, a Signature Program of GreaterGood.org, operates on the national food bank model to community-based animal welfare groups that typically lack access to resources. Rescue Bank recognizes that these smaller, less-visible groups represent a substantial portion of America’s animal rescue resource.

Rescue Bank works with name-brand suppliers to deliver donated pet food for both the ongoing needs of more than 1,900 animal welfare organizations and the immediate needs of communities after disasters such as hurricanes, floods and fires. Since establishing its national network in 2011, Rescue Bank has delivered over 200 million meals of nutritious, wholesome pet food.

For more information visit http://rescuebank.org or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/RescueBank.

About Feeding America

Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry.

Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate.

Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org,
find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Contacts:
Virginia Hock
Golin for PetSmart
469-680-2611
vhock@golin.com

PetSmart Media Line:
623-587-2177

Source: Pet Smart Inc.

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Barnes & Noble announces the new NOOK GlowLight 3

  • NOOK GlowLight 3® with Enhanced Front Light Technology Helps Users Read with the Perfect Light Day or Night
  • Now Available for Pre-order Online, On Sale at Barnes & Noble Stores on November 8

New York, New York, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world’s largest bookseller and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today (November 1, 2017) announced the new NOOK GlowLight 3, the Company’s first device with enhanced front light technology. This innovation allows users to read with a cool white light during the day, then manually or automatically switch to an “Auto Night Mode,” providing a warmer orange tone for perfect bedtime reading. The beautifully designed and lightweight new eReader is available now for pre-order at BN.com/NOOK and will be on sale at Barnes & Noble stores starting Wednesday, November 8, for just $119.99

“We’re so excited to launch this new NOOK for the holiday season because it’s designed with the Barnes & Noble reader in mind. We listened to our customers and incorporated their most requested features including night mode and page turn buttons,” said Fred Argir, Chief Digital Officer at Barnes & Noble. “NOOK GlowLight 3 offers our best ever reading experience and we invite customers to visit their local Barnes & Noble store or BN.com/NOOK to learn more about this beautifully designed device that makes the perfect gift for themselves or anyone who loves to read.”

The First NOOK to Feature Night Mode Control

NOOK GlowLight 3 has enhanced front light technology that makes it the perfect eReader from day-to-night. The lighting technology offers two ways to activate the color change on screen: manually and automatically. The automatic setting mimics the sun’s natural progression throughout the day, gradually changing the color on the screen from a cool white during the day to a warmer orange tone – perfect for bedtime reading. Readers will notice and appreciate the reduced amounts of blue light emitted by the LED used in the front light when reading at night.

Comfortable Soft Touch Design and Additional Features

The new soft touch finishes on the NOOK GlowLight 3 offer a comfortable paper-like experience that’s easy to grip and hold for long periods of time, while page turning buttons featured on both sides of the device accommodate left- and right-handed customers. Readers will enjoy being able to jump from chapter to chapter with a few clicks or a fast flip. Customizing the screen display to fit any reading style is made easy by adjusting the font size. Whether large or small, the NOOK GlowLight 3 has the perfect-sized text, enabling readers to breeze through their favorite books.

Our Highest Resolution E-Ink Display

Reading in dim light, total darkness, or outdoors in the bright sun is more immersive than ever on the NOOK GlowLight 3. Crisp text, no full-page flashing while reading, a no-glare screen, and screen warmth control features make this NOOK the most comfortable eReader to date.

Barnes & Noble at Your Fingertips

Customers who purchase NOOK GlowLight 3 will have twice as much storage* space when choosing from our vast library of eBooks, including more than a million titles under $4.99. NOOK GlowLight 3 is also compatible with Adobe Digital Editions, allowing customers who have an account with their local library to easily transfer their public library eBooks directly to their eReader with a few clicks. They can check out a few of their favorite titles and when they are ready to purchase, they can buy directly from BN.com.

Free Content with Purchase

Barnes & Noble is offering all customers who purchase a new NOOK GlowLight 3 a complimentary current issue from our newsstand of The New Yorker, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, or USA Today.

Free In-Store Barnes & Noble Personalized Service

All NOOK devices come with complimentary in-store support. NOOK customers can visit any of Barnes & Noble’s 632 stores across the country for free, personal support, including help setting up their NOOK device and organizing their library. While in-store, customers can speak with any of the Company’s expert booksellers, access free Wi-Fi and enjoy the popular Read In Store® program, which allows guests to read any book free for up to one hour per day.

The NOOK GlowLight 3 is available for pre-order now at BN.com/NOOK and will be available in stores starting Wednesday, November 8. It joins our great lineup of NOOK devices for the holiday season, which includes the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2, Samsung Galaxy Tab A NOOK, Samsung Galaxy Tab E NOOK and the NOOK Tablet 7″, all available at great prices. For more details, customers can visit BN.com/NOOK or speak with a bookseller at their local Barnes & Noble.

* As compared to NOOK GlowLight Plus.

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

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

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

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

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

Alan McNamara
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
(212) 633-3379
amcnamara@bn.com

Source: Barnes & Noble, Inc.

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Barnes & Noble unveils its exclusive assortment of books, toys & games, gifts for the holiday season

  • Barnes & Noble Stores Nationwide Gearing up for the Holiday Season with Exclusive Assortment of Books, Toys & Games, Gifts and More
  • The Company Makes Gifting Effortless with Its Holiday Gift Guide and Unique Online Tools Including SmartGift and Book Graph™
  • Barnes & Noble Once Again Encourages Customers to Join in the Holiday Book Drive to Help Kids in Need This Holiday Season

New York, NY, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world’s largest bookseller and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today (November 1, 2017) unveiled its exclusive assortment of books, toys & games, gifts and other merchandise for the holiday season. The Company also announced that it is making the shopping experience easier this year for customers, whether they are shopping in store or online at BN.com, with its Holiday Gift Guide and a suite of smart tools including SmartGift and Book Graph From the season’s biggest books to the top toys to dedicated trend shops for major properties such as Harry Potter, Star Wars and FAO Schwarz, shoppers will find what they’re looking for at Barnes & Noble this holiday season.

“We know the holiday season is a busy and challenging time for shoppers trying to find perfect gifts to inspire their loved ones,” said Demos Parneros, CEO at Barnes & Noble. “Our goal this year was to curate an assortment of exclusive books and other products to make shopping easier and gifting more meaningful.”

Mr. Parneros added, “The Company will engage customers in a social media campaign throughout the holiday season around the theme #ALLIWANT, as part of an effort to highlight the great assortment of gifts that can be found at Barnes & Noble.

Holiday Exclusives

Barnes & Noble has exclusive editions of some of the most anticipated and biggest books of the season that can’t be found anywhere else. For the Star Wars super fan who wants to make the enjoyment of The Force a family tradition, there’s the Star Wars Beginning Reader Collectible Box Sets, exclusive to Barnes & Noble. For the aspiring chef, Barnes & Noble offers exclusive cookbooks, such as The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It!,  by Food Network star Ree Drummond including an additional 16 pages of recipes, photos and more. For the friend who loves thrillers, customers can gift the exclusive hardcover edition of Michael Connelly’s new title Two Kinds of Truth, featuring an exclusive personal essay from the author on the real-life crime that led him to become a writer of crime fiction. Other big exclusives available this holiday season include:

Books

  • Art of Harry Potter, book exclusive featuring rare and unpublished works of art, available November 21
  • Atlas Obscura with a stunning pull-out travel poster
  • Shea Serrano’s Basketball (and Other Things), with exclusive basketball cards featuring the greatest fictional characters to ever play
  • David Baldacci’s End Game, with an exclusive behind-the-scenes interview, available November 14
  • Guinness World Records 2018, with an exclusive poster of the record-breaking, gadget-filled Batman suit
  • James Patterson’s People vs. Alex Cross, including the bonus Alex Cross Novella Cross Kill, available November 20
  • Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter’s Hamilton: The Revolution, exclusive deluxe edition including a bonus CD featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda, artifact reproductions, portraits and more, available November 14
  • Walking Dead: Here’s Negan, with an exclusive variant cover and Walking Dead issue #100 with variant cover
  • Lemony Snicket’s The Bad Beginning: Book the First, exclusive and beautifully designed edition featuring author notes

Toys & Games

  • Barnsie® & Noble® – Our customer-favorite bear and puppy are only $9.95 each, with the purchase of any item.

Specialty and Gift

  • Earth Luxe Purifying Ultrasonic Diffuser – Crafted to purify the air by attracting known allergens while offering an addition to your home’s décor.
  • Peace Collection – Featuring a cotton knit throw, a selection of festive reading socks and a felt tote, all designed to highlight messages of mindfulness.

Entertainment

  • Exclusive Turntable and Bluetooth speaker bundle from Crosley
  • Exclusive vinyl editions including:
    • Picture disc of the perennial holiday favorite A Charlie Brown Christmas
    • Cover and colored white vinyl edition of Colors from Beck
    • Color edition of Charlotte’s Web pink pig vinyl with black webbing orange
  • Barnes & Noble is the exclusive retailer for the vinyl soundtracks of The Sound Of Musicand Into The Woods
  • An exclusive 3-disc collection of the Pentatonix holiday CDs

Holiday Gift Guide

This year, Barnes & Noble has enhanced its online Holiday Gift Guide by segmenting it into smartly, curated lists that reflect the common questions customers ask booksellers in-store, making gift-giving a more seamless experience. Gift Guide users can browse topics like “Enchanting Gifts for Harry Potter Fans,” “Gift Ideas for Collectors,” and “Captivating Books for the History Buff” to tailor gifts to the hobbies and interests of any and every gift recipient. Customers shopping for little ones can browse lists like “Best Gifts for Pre-Schoolers,” which includes classic books such as Women Who Changed the World: 50 Amazing Americans – or quirky renditions of the classic tale, like Goodnight Football. Barnes & Noble Gift Guide users can also find this season’s hottest toys and games, like the Town Santa’s Winter Holiday LEGO® set, and much more.

Smart Tools

Barnes & Noble has unveiled a brand-new suite of Smart Tools to help customers find meaningful gifts online at BN.com through fun interactions rooted in the bookstore experience of browsing, discovery and bookseller knowledge. The tools available this holiday season are:

  • Book Graph – Those unsure of what to give loved ones this season can turn to Barnes & Noble’s new interactive discovery tool, Book Graph. It’s simple: from any desktop computer, shoppers click on a title and Book Graph displays a matrix of titles, allowing them to discover unexpected connections between one book and the next. That’s the magic of Book Graph at work – the discoverability of new book titles allows customers to browse an array of perfect gift options for everyone on their list.
  • SmartGift – Available on desktop and mobile, SmartGift allows a customer to send a meaningful gift without worrying if it’s exactly right, because the recipient has the freedom to exchange for a similarly priced item to make it their perfect gift.

“We are excited about the unveiling of our new suite of Smart Tools that emulate the bookstore experience of browsing, discovery and bookseller knowledge, and will help online shoppers find meaningful, smartly curated gifts to give this holiday season,” said Fred Argir, Chief Digital Officer at Barnes & Noble. “From gifts by age or profession to interests running the gamut from anime, food, fantasy, puzzles, pets and more, our specially curated Holiday Gift Guide will offer inspiration and ideas for every customer’s shopping list.”

Holiday Book Drive Program

Barnes & Noble is bringing back their annual Holiday Book Drive program at stores nationwide, a favorite with both customers and booksellers. From now until January 1, 2018,  customers can come into their local Barnes & Noble and purchase books for donation, benefitting organizations that support children in need. This year, Instagram sensation Hot Dudes Reading has partnered with the Company on behalf of their holiday campaign, stating “Barnes & Noble is a brand that has always been influential and close to our hearts. This year, we’re proud to be partnering with Barnes & Noble in the hope of encouraging our followers to not only shop at B&N, but to gift a book to the Holiday Book Drive that supports local charities across the country that provide services to disadvantaged children.”

Local recipients from the Holiday Book Drive include: Toys for Tots; Children’s Aid Society; Big Brothers Big Sisters; the YMCA; Salvation Army; First Book; children’s hospitals from around the country; Reach Out & Read; Ronald McDonald House; Head Start; United Way; various school districts, schools and public libraries; and hundreds of other deserving organizations.

Customers are invited to Barnes & Noble’s 632 stores nationwide and browse the online Holiday Gift Guide at BN.com to discover the hottest books and other great gift items available this holiday season. And for even greater value, customers are invited to join the Barnes & Noble Member program. Designed for Barnes & Noble’s most loyal customers, the Barnes & Noble Membership program gives Members 40 off all hardcover bestsellers and 10 off virtually everything else in Barnes & Noble stores throughout the year. Join the conversation on your favorite social channel by using #ALLIWANT.

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

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

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

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

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

Alan McNamara
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
(212) 633-3379
amcnamara@bn.com

Source: Barnes & Noble, Inc.

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Barnes & Noble announces lineup of star-studded events for November

Fans Can Visit Barnes & Noble and Meet the Celebrities They Love Including Bestselling Authors, Well-Known Actors and Actresses, Famous Politicians, Popular Chefs and More

New York, New York, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world’s largest retail bookseller, today (October 31, 2017) announced November’s lineup of star-studded events, featuring bestselling authors, well-known actors and actresses, famous politicians, popular chefs and more, just in time for the start of the holiday season. Throughout the month of November, fans are encouraged to stop by Barnes & Noble to meet the celebrities they love including David Baldacci, Alec Baldwin, Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Kate Hudson and many more big names. Customers should visit the Barnes & Noble Store Locator for more details on each event.

Below is a list of some of the major events taking place at Barnes & Noble stores nationwide this November:

  • Isabel Allende, In the Midst of Winter, Barnes & Noble Union Square in New York City, November 6 at 7 PM.
  • David Baldacci, End Game, Barnes & Noble Creeks at Virginia Center in Glen Allen, VA, November 18 at 1 PM.
  • Alec Baldwin and Kurt Andersen, You Can’t Spell America Without Me: The Really Tremendous Inside Story of My Fantastic First Year as President Donald J. Trump (A So-Called Parody, Barnes & Noble Fifth Avenue in New York City, November 8 at 12 PM; Barnes & Noble Market Fair in Princeton, NJ, November 10 at 1 PM.
  • Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, Lidia’s Celebrate Like an Italian: 220 Foolproof Recipes That Make Every Meal a Party, Barnes & Noble Country Glen Center in Carle Place, NY, November 5 at 2 PM; Barnes & Noble Eastchester in Scarsdale, NY, November 6 at 7 PM.
  • Lee Child, The Midnight Line, Barnes & Noble Union Square in New York City, November 7 at 7 PM.
  • Hillary Rodham Clinton, What Happened, Barnes & Noble Seven Corners in Falls Church, VA, November 3 at 1 PM.
  • Michael Connelly, Two Kinds of Truth: A Bosch Novel, Barnes & Noble Tysons Corner Mall in McLean, VA, November 5 at 7 PM; Barnes & Noble The Grove in Los Angeles (with Ivy Pochoda), November 9 at 7 PM.
  • Flo Groberg¸ 8 Seconds of Courage: A Soldier’s Story from Immigrant to the Medal of Honor, Barnes & Noble Upper West Side in New York City, November 6 at 7 PM.
  • Kate Hudson, Pretty Fun: Creating and Celebrating a Lifetime of Tradition, Barnes & Noble Lincoln Park in Dallas, TX, November 7 at 7 PM.
  • Diane Keaton, The House that Pinterest Built, Barnes & Noble in Paramus, NJ, November 4 at 2 PM.
  • Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid #12: The Getaway, Barnes & Noble Tribeca in New York City, November 7 at 5 PM; Barnes & Noble The Grove in Los Angeles, November 15 at 5 PM.
  • Katy Tur, Unbelievable: My Front-Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History, Barnes & Noble Upper West Side in New York City, November 2 at 7 PM.

Barnes & Noble hosts over 100,000 events annually at its stores across the country. Customers should visit the Barnes & Noble Store Locator for a full list, and stay tuned for the next announcement unveiling the exciting events lineup for December.

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

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

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

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

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

Alan McNamara
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
(212) 633-3379
amcnamara@bn.com

Source: Barnes & Noble, Inc.

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Costa Coffee unveils its best ever Christmas menu

London, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — The nation’s favourite coffee shop, Costa Coffee, today (Nov 01, 2017) unveils its new festive menu, due to land in stores across the UK from 2 November 2017.

Costa’s best ever Christmas menu is set to bring festive cheer to Christmas shoppers all over the country as the food and drink innovation team have been working harder than Santa’s elves to create the most mouthwatering festive menu to date.

Headlining the drinks menu this year is the Billionaire’s Hot Chocolate, as voted for by Costa Coffee Club members, which includes layers of caramel sauce, a freshly whipped cream topping and shortbread crumbs. Costa was so impressed with the customer’s choice that they decided to expand the Billionaire’s range, including the Billionaire’s Latte which combines Belgian chocolate sauce and caramel sauce with Costa’s signature Mocha Italia Blend.

For the first time ever, Costa will serve its famous Frostinos during the festive season. A decadently creamy cup of frosted deliciousness will be sure to keep fraught festive shoppers cool as they sprint from store to store ticking off their shopping lists. The Billionaire’s Latte Frostino is the perfect chance to be a little bit naughty this Christmas.

It’s not Christmas at Costa without the Black Forest Hot Chocolate, and it is back by popular demand. Joining the family this year is the Black Forest Frostino, a frosty new take on the fan favourite.

Other returning festive favourites include the Gingerbread and Cream Latte, Honeycombe Latte, Mint Hot Chocolate and the bigger and better than last year, rich and creamy Lindt Hot Chocolate.

From winter warmers to tasty Christmas edibles, Costa’s savoury choices are set to get the sleigh bells ringing. Customers can refuel from their Christmas shopping sessions with a Festive Pigs in Blanket Panini or the Creamy Brie, Smoked Bacon & Cranberry Panini.

Christmas sandwich aficionados won’t be disappointed either. The British Turkey Feast, a returning favourite, will be gobbled up in no time, while the Christmas Club Sandwich is packed with festive favourites turkey, sausage, bacon, stuffing and cranberry sauce.

Santa might want Brits to be nice at Christmas but Costa doesn’t mind a bit of naughtiness. This is evident in the delicious new range of sweet treats on offer. This year’s shimmer offering is the Chocolate & Hazelnut Shimmer Cake combining two different sponges and decorated with caramel and gianduja frostings for that touch of seasonal sparkle.

Why should kids get to have all the fun at Christmas? The Rudolph Mini Cake, a sticky toffee sponge filled with salted caramel frosting, is a light-hearted option for parents. Costa also introduces two new loaf cakes to tide customers over at Christmas. The Black Forest Loaf Cake brings the famous hot chocolate to life in edible form, while the Clementine Cream Drizzles’ citrus flavour will remind customers of opening their stockings on Christmas morning.

No one will be left out this year as the vegan Christmas Cake Slice returns, while the new vegan Mince Tart is also gluten-free.

The Costa Christmas range arrives in stores nationwide from 2 November.

Full list of Christmas food menu products includes:

Drinks Menu

  • •Billionaires Hot Chocolate NEW!
  • •Billionaires LatteNEW!
  • •Billionaires Latte Frostino NEW!
  • •Black Forest Hot Chocolate
  • •Black Forest Frostino NEW!
  • •Gingerbread Latte
  • •Honeycomb Latte
  • •Salted Caramel Cappuccino
  • •Mint Hot Chocolate
  • •Lindt Hot Chocolate
  • •Hot Spiced Apple

Sweet Food Menu

  • •Chocolate& Hazelnut Rocher Cake NEW!
  • •Rudolph Cake NEW!
  • •Black Forest Loaf Cake NEW!
  • •Clementine Cream Drizzle NEW!
  • •Nuts About Christmas NEW!
  • Amassador’s Truffle NEW!
  • •Dark Chocolate & Raspberry Decadence NEW!
  • •Christmas Cake Slice (v)
  • •Mince Tart (v) (gf) NEW!

Savoury Food Menu

  • •British Turkey Feast NEW!
  • •Creamy Brie, Smoked Bacon & Cranberry Panini NEW!
  • •Festive Pigs in Blankets Panini NEW!
  • •British Turkey, Cranberry & Bacon Toastie NEW!
  • •British Tukey & Bacon Club NEW!

Founded in London by Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa in 1971, Costa is now part of Whitbread PLC, which this year celebrates its 275th Anniversary as a great British business.

With over 2,200 coffee shops in the UK and more than 1,200 in 29 international markets we are the fastest growing coffee shop business in the UK and are proud to be the UK’s favourite coffee shop, having been awarded “Best Branded Coffee Shop Chain in the UK and Ireland” by Allegra Strategies for seven years running (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015 and 2016).

Looking after coffee growers is extremely important to us, which is why we established The Costa Foundation, a registered charity with the aim to relieve poverty, advance education and the health and environment of coffee-growing communities around the world. So far, The Costa Foundation has funded the building of 72 schools and improved the social and economic welfare of coffee-growing communities.

Source: Costa Coffee

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Baskin-Robbins’ November Flavor of the Month is Tiramisu!

Baskin-Robbins’ November Flavor of the Month is Tiramisu!

 

CANTON, Mass., 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — The secret’s out! Baskin-Robbins’ November Flavor of the Month is Tiramisu. So naturally, Kelly German, Research & Development Senior Technologist for Baskin-Robbins, has created a Tiramisu recipe using the Tiramisu Flavor of the Month, and it is drool worthy.

Our indulgent November Flavor of The Month features Tiramisu-flavored ice cream filled with real pound cake pieces, chocolate flakes, and a decadent chocolate coffee ribbon. The chocolate flakes come from a fifth-generation family-owned business that has been around for nearly 150 years. To get that coffee taste, the flavor’s base and ribbon feature brewed coffee made from Colombian beans. Delicious!

You may be familiar with this ice cream flavor as it was inspired by the popular Italian dessert that was invented in Treviso, Italy. Now, we hope you enjoy this new spin on the classic dessert, featuring our Tiramisu ice cream!

Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Tiramisu

Ingredients:

  • 4 large shots (approximately 12 ounces) of espresso (I used espresso from a local Dunkin’ Donuts!)
  • 4 ounces of Kahlua or a coffee liquor of your choice (optional)
  • 24 ladyfingers
  • A regular size of Baskin-Robbins fresh- packed Tiramisu ice cream
  • Chocolate shell ice cream topping

Instructions:

  1. Line a rectangular 5×9 inch pan with either waxed paper or parchment paper.
  2. Combine the shots of espresso with Kahlua (if using).
  3. Dipping your ladyfingers in the coffee and Kahlua mixture first line the bottom of the lined pan with 8 dipped ladyfingers.
  4. Add a layer (about an inch think) of Tiramisu ice cream.
  5. Repeat steps (3) and (4) twice more, creating two layers each of ice cream and three layers of dipped ladyfingers, ending with the ladyfingers on the bottom.
  6. Freeze for three hours.
  7. To remove from the pan, place a piece of wax paper on the top, place hand on the wax paper covered ladyfinger layer, flip the pan upside down and run the bottom of the pan under warm water. The parchment should easily slide out at this point.
  8. To finish, top with chocolate shell ice cream topping and refreeze for about 30 minutes.
  9. Cut into slices, serve and enjoy!

How are you enjoying our Tiramisu Flavor of The Month? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

To stay up to date on all things Baskin-Robbins, sign up for our email news alerts at news.baskinrobbins.com/alerts.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Dunkin’ Brands Media Relations
Email: press@dunkinbrands.com

Source: Baskin-Robbins

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Baskin-Robbins brings back its popular Ice Cream Turkey Cake to kick off the holiday season

Baskin-Robbins brings back its popular Ice Cream Turkey Cake to kick off the holiday season

 

Baskin-Robbins celebrates the spirit of the holiday season with festive lineup of ice cream treats

CANTON, Mass., 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — Baskin-Robbins, the world’s largest chain of specialty ice cream shops, is excited to kick off the holiday season with a product lineup stuffed with all the trimmings needed for the perfect holiday treats, including the return of its popular Ice Cream Turkey Cake. No matter how you carve it, this unique all-ice cream cake made with sugar cone “legs” is sure to be quickly gobbled up. It can be customized with any Baskin-Robbins ice cream flavor, including seasonal favorites like Egg Nog or Peppermint, and is available for pre-order both in-store or online at www.baskinrobbins.com/onlineordering.

In addition, Tiramisu returns as Baskin-Robbins’ November Flavor of the Month. The flavor is made with Tiramisu-flavored ice cream swirled with cake pieces, chocolate flakes and a decadent chocolate coffee ribbon. Inspired by the classic Italian dessert, this flavor is packed with delicious, high-quality ingredients, including chocolate flakes from a fifth-generation family-owned business, coffee brewed from Colombian beans and pieces of real pound cake. By transporting guests straight to Italy with every bite, Tiramisu is the perfect flavor to make every day feel like a holiday.

“The holiday season is a very special time of the year for our guests, and we’re excited to offer them a lineup of ice cream treats that they can enjoy when getting together with family and friends,” said Carol Austin, Vice President of Marketing for Baskin-Robbins. “We are thrilled to bring our classic Turkey Cake back just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, as well as one of our most beloved flavors, Tiramisu, as our Flavor of the Month.”

Additionally, continuing this month, guests can enjoy ice cream cakes starting at $12.99. Ice cream cake varieties starting at $12.99 include the ½ roll Celebration Party Cake, which is a festive cake featuring colorful streamers, and the ½ roll Rosette Cake, which is an elegant cake enrobed with either pink or blue rosettes. These two cakes serve 2-4 people and are perfect for everyday occasions.

For more information about Baskin-Robbins’ wide variety of premium ice cream flavors and frozen desserts, visit www.BaskinRobbins.com or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BaskinRobbins), Twitter (www.twitter.com/BaskinRobbins) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/BaskinRobbins).

About Baskin-Robbins

Named a top ice cream and frozen dessert franchise in the United States by Entrepreneur magazine’s 38th annual Franchise 500® ranking in 2017, Baskin-Robbins is the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops. Baskin-Robbins creates and markets innovative, premium hard scoop ice cream, a full range of beverages, and a delicious lineup of desserts including custom ice cream cakes, the Polar Pizza® Ice Cream Treat and take-home ice cream quarts and pints, providing quality and value to consumers at more than 7,900 retail shops in 52 countries worldwide. Baskin-Robbins was founded in 1945 by two ice cream enthusiasts whose passion led to the creation of more than 1,300 ice cream flavors and a wide variety of delicious treats. Headquartered in Canton, Mass., Baskin-Robbins is part of the Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN) family of companies. For more information, visit www.BaskinRobbins.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Justin Drake
Phone: 781-737-5200
Email: press@dunkinbrands.com

Source: Baskin-Robbins

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RBR research: NCR remains the leading POS software provider for the retail and hospitality industries

New RBR “Global POS Software 2017” report identifies NCR as leading point-of-sale software provider in the retail and hospitality industries for the second consecutive year

Duluth, Ga., 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR), a global leader in omni-channel solutions, remains the leading point-of-sale (POS) software provider for the retail and hospitality industries according to a study published by the strategic research and consulting firm RBR.

RBR’s research “Global POS Software 2017” is an in-depth international study of this dynamic market, analyzing more than 1,400 projects, by more than 60 vendors. The report shows that major retailers and hospitality operators account for 7 million POS installations worldwide, with NCR as the market leader for the 2nd consecutive year.

Additionally, nearly 300,000 new POS installations occurred from June 2016 to June 2017, and NCR led this growth with 14% global share.

“Retail and hospitality businesses are increasingly turning to our Omni Channel Decision Support Solutions and capabilities as NCR delivers proven value to our customers as a critical partner in shaping the customer experience,” said Dirk Izzo, senior vice president and general manager Industry Solution Group, NCR Corporation. “Our point-of-sale software delivers a consistent consumer experience across all touchpoints.”

The NCR software portfolio is leading transformational change across the entire retail and hospitality ecosystem, as these markets will increasingly rely on omni-channel platforms that can capture and provide actionable customer insights. NCR’s cloud-based infrastructure and APIs, combined with NCR point-of-sale software, will enable integration of third party applications and various types of data analysis to drive smarter, faster business decisions.  This enables businesses to select and easily integrate different types of technology with their current systems, ultimately helping to save them money, time to market and helping them future-proof their business and transform at their own pace.

About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a leader in omni-channel solutions, turning everyday interactions with businesses into exceptional experiences. With its software, hardware, and portfolio of services, NCR enables nearly 700 million transactions daily across the financial, retail, hospitality, travel, telecom and technology industries. NCR solutions run the everyday transactions that make your life easier. NCR is headquartered in Duluth, Ga., with about 30,000 employees and does business in 180 countries. NCR is a trademark of NCR Corporation in the United States and other countries. NCR encourages investors to visit its website which is updated regularly with financial and other important information about NCR.

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

News Media Contacts:
Ortrud Wenzel
NCR Public Relations
+49 821 405 8191
ortrud.wenzel@ncr.com

Source: NCR Corporation

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HotSchedules’ workforce management platforms to be integrated to the NCR Aloha restaurant POS solution

Integration of HotSchedules’ labor management and inventory solution with the NCR Aloha POS Solution helps guide better management decisions for smoother operations

AUSTIN, Texas, and DULUTH, Ga., 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — HotSchedules®, the leading provider of workforce and back office solutions for the restaurant and retail industries, and NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR), a global leader in omni-channel solutions, today (October 31, 2017) announced a strategic integration that adds the power of HotSchedules’ world-class workforce management platforms to the NCR Aloha restaurant point-of-sale (POS) solution. This relationship creates a more powerful solution for restaurant operators by uniting HotSchedules’ labor management and scheduling solutions with NCR’s leading restaurant POS platform, allowing staffing and inventory management to be influenced by critical sales trend information, through analysis of historical sales trends and forecasting data.

Restaurant chains will enjoy several enhanced benefits from the integration including a heightened level of support from both companies to help operators achieve greater value and solve their problems faster. Further, product and engineering teams at both companies will regularly share product updates with the goal of continued innovation, as well as ensuring their systems work seamlessly together.

HotSchedules joins a growing number of industry leaders who are working to “future-proof” their own solutions and the value they bring to their customers.  As part of this new relationship, HotSchedules can leverage NCR’s next generation cloud integration platform.

“HotSchedules and NCR already share thousands of customers that integrate our labor solutions with the NCR Aloha point-of-sale solution,” said Tammy Troutman, senior director of channels at HotSchedules. “Through this strategic integration, HotSchedules will leverage information captured in the restaurant’s POS to help managers make smarter, more informed decisions that are based on historical data and actionable intelligence – mapping staffing and inventory solutions against sales spikes, traffic patterns and menu item performance.”

With this agreement, HotSchedules will become a certified third-party provider of NCR, and NCR will become a part of the HotSchedules’ Global Partner Program. HotSchedules and NCR will also work together on co-marketing opportunities.

“The restaurant industry is undergoing the rapid digitization of all business processes and it’s important that restaurant brands align themselves with platform-based technology providers who can enable and integrate best-of-breed solutions,” said Don Zimmerman, general manager and vice president of hospitality solutions, NCR Corporation. “Integrating HotSchedules with the NCR Aloha platform brings together two market-leading solutions and offers our mutual customers the simplicity and visibility they need to manage their entire restaurant operations.”

About HotSchedules
With a continual focus on innovation, HotSchedules provides the first cloud-based intelligent operating platform, solutions and services for the restaurant, retail and hospitality industries. Designed for independents, multi-unit franchise operators and international enterprise brands, HotSchedules serves over 2 million users across 130,000 locations in 26 countries helping them control costs, maintain compliance, improve visibility, increase profitability and drive operational consistency. For more information visit: https://www.hotschedules.com.

About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a leader in omni-channel solutions, turning everyday interactions with businesses into exceptional experiences. With its software, hardware, and portfolio of services, NCR enables nearly 700 million transactions daily across the financial, retail, hospitality, travel, telecom and technology industries. NCR solutions run the everyday transactions that make your life easier. NCR is headquartered in Duluth, Ga., with about 30,000 employees and does business in 180 countries. NCR is a trademark of NCR Corporation in the United States and other countries. NCR encourages investors to visit its website which is updated regularly with financial and other important information about NCR.

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

Media Contact:
Christine Beggan
ICR for HotSchedules
203.682.8329
Christine.Beggan@icrinc.com

Tim Henschel
NCR
770.299.5100
Tim.Henschel@ncr.com

Source: NCR Corporation

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USDA FSIS issues public health alert for Ghiringhelli Specialty Foods’ salads with chicken meat products that may be contaminated with Listeria

WASHINGTON, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns that salads with chicken meat products produced by Ghiringhelli Specialty Foods, a Vallejo, Calif. establishment, may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. A recall was not requested because it is believed that all products are no longer in commerce and are past their “Use by” dates.

The ready-to-eat (RTE) broccoli slaw and kale salads with chicken meat items were produced from Oct. 3, 2017 through Oct. 6, 2017. The following product is subject to the public health alert: 

  • 9.3-oz. plastic container with “TRADER JOE’S Broccoli Slaw & Kale Salad with White Chicken Meat” with use by dates of: 10/10/2017, 10/11/2017, 10/12/2017 and 10/13/2017 and lot codes of: 70327610, 70427710, 70527810 and 70627910, respectively.

The products bear establishment number “EST. P-17156” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah.

The problem was discovered on Oct. 20, 2017 when the firm received notification from their supplier that the broccoli products used in the chicken salads were included in a U.S. Food & Drug Administration recall due to potential contamination with L. monocytogenes. The firm notified FSIS on Oct. 21, 2017. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections can occur in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.

Recommendations for people at risk for Listeriosis
Wash hands with warm, soapy water before and after handling raw meat and poultry for at least 20 seconds. Wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot, soapy water. Immediately clean spills.

Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry and egg products and cooked foods.

Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, bologna or other deli meats unless reheated until steaming hot.

Do not eat refrigerated pate, meat spreads from a meat counter or smoked seafood found in the refrigerated section of the store. Foods that don’t need refrigeration, like canned tuna and canned salmon, are safe to eat. Refrigerate after opening.

Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk and do not eat foods that have unpasteurized milk in them.

Do not eat salads made in the store, such as ham salad, chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad or seafood salad.

Do not eat soft cheeses such as Feta, queso blanco, queso fresco, Brie, Camembert cheeses, blue-veined cheeses and Panela unless it is labeled as made with pasteurized milk.

Use precooked or ready-to-eat food as soon as you can. Listeria can grow in the refrigerator. The refrigerator should be 40º F or lower and the freezer 0º F or lower. Use an appliance thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator.

Contact:
Congressional and Public Affairs
Maria Machuca
(202) 720-9113
Press@fsis.usda.gov

Source: USDA

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SPAR UK launches Zapper all-in-one mobile payment, loyalty and voucher app instore

United Kingdom, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — SPAR UK now offers shoppers the option to use the Zapper all-in-one mobile payment, loyalty and voucher app instore.

A selection of Appleby Westward’s Gillett’s SPAR stores around Plymouth and Exeter were the first to launch with Zapper’s smart loyalty app while further development expansion across the SPAR UK network is taking place.

Quick and easy to use, shoppers simply open the app, scan a QR code at the till and payment, including voucher redemption and loyalty card updates, are seamlessly processed in just a few seconds. With 46% of Zapper customers completing a loyalty card in convenience stores around the UK since launch in December 2016, it is apparent Zapper is already becoming habitual for many shoppers.

Ian Taylor, SPAR UK Retail Director, said: “We are focused on offering excellent customer service. Working with Zapper means that customers are motivated to shop at SPAR rather than at a competitor store. Our customers have many great reasons to shop with us and there are enormous benefits to retaining and rewarding them. We continue to develop exciting modern and relevant convenience stores and Zapper mobile payment rewards loyalty and enables our customers to pay for their goods faster which in turn will encourage repeat use instore.”

Zapper’s smart solution is affordable, versatile and easy to use; once installed stores can be live and transacting within hours. Zapper’s universal solution delivers instant mobile payments and seamless rewards, helping retailers understand shoppers to build a more efficient and profitable business.

Not only is Zapper a game-changing tool for convenience retailers but tech-savvy FMCG brands can also gain personal insights and contact their customers directly via Zapper. Brand specific digital vouchers can be sent in seconds via the Zapper app to consumers directing them into SPAR UK and other convenience retail stores to automatically redeem their vouchers. No paper, no cards, no hassle.

Contact:

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

Source: Spar International

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Lowe’s Canada to fill up more than 130 permanent positions for its new store in Winnipeg, Manitoba

Job Fair slated for November 9th and 10th in anticipation of new Lowe’s store opening in early 2018

Boucherville, QC, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — As part of its ongoing growth in Canada, Lowe’s Canada has announced hiring plans for its new Lowe’s store in Winnipeg, Manitoba, slated to open in early 2018. Located at 1799 Kenaston Boulevard, at the intersection of Scurfield Boulevard, this new Lowe’s store will create more than 130 permanent positions including full time, part time and seasonal roles.

Lowe’s will be holding a Job Fair on Thursday November 9, from 10 am to 7 pm, and Friday November 10, from 10 am to 5 pm, at the Canad Inns Destination Centre Fort Garry located at 1824 Pembina Hwy, in Winnipeg. The store will employ a total of more than 130 permanent roles, with about 60 of those roles being full time. Most roles will start in late November and December of 2017. Available positions include Department Managers, Sales Specialists, Customer Service Associates, a Plumbing Pro, an Electrical Pro, Head Cashiers, Cashier/Returns Associates, Night Crew, a Receiving Clerk, and Janitorial/Maintenance.

In addition, 30 to 40 seasonal contract positions will be opened in the spring and summer seasons.

Interested candidates are invited to bring their resume and attend the Lowe’s Job Fair to learn more about available employment opportunities and apply in person. The store’s management team will be onsite ready to accept applications and conduct on-the-spot interviews. Those unable to apply in person can go to www.lowes.ca/careers at any time to submit their application.

“We are excited to be joining the Winnipeg community and have a lot of great employment opportunities available,” said Fred Pagotto, Market Director, Lowe’s Canada Big Box Retail. “The new Lowe’s will create many new jobs in Winnipeg and we are committed to filling as many positions as possible locally. We are looking for passionate people who are ready to help our customers love where they live, and achieve their project goals and dreams.”

“We are excited to be joining the Winnipeg community and have a lot of great employment opportunities available,” said Fred Pagotto, Market Director, Lowe’s Canada Big Box Retail. “The new Lowe’s will create many new jobs in Winnipeg and we are committed to filling as many positions as possible locally. We are looking for passionate people who are ready to help our customers love where they live, and achieve their project goals and dreams.”

Highlights of Reno-Depot’s Click-Buy-Renovate program

What: Lowe’s Job Fair to support hiring in anticipation of the opening of the new Lowe’s store in Winnipeg, creating more than 130 permanent positions. Interested candidates can apply in person and Lowe’s management team will be onsite to conduct on-the-spot interviews.

When: Thursday, November 9 – 10 am to 7 pm Friday, November 10 – 10 am to 5 pm

Where: Canad Inns Destination Centre Fort Garry 1824 Pembina Hwy Winnipeg

Interested candidates can visit www.lowes.ca/careers for more information and are encouraged to visit the site often for details on employment opportunities.

About Lowe’s Canada

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving more than 17 million customers a week in the United States, Canada and Mexico. With fiscal year 2016 sales of $65.0 billion, Lowe’s and its related businesses operate or service more than 2,370 home improvement and hardware stores and employ over 290,000 people. Based in Boucherville, Quebec, Lowe’s Canadian business, together with its wholly owned subsidiary, RONA inc., operates or services more than 600 corporate and independent affiliate dealer stores in a number of complementary formats under different banners. These include Lowe’s, RONA, Réno-Dépôt, Marcil, Dick’s Lumber and Ace. In Canada, the companies have more than 25,000 employees, in addition to nearly 5,000 employees in the stores of RONA’s independent affiliate dealers. For more information, visit Lowes.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Valérie Gonzalo
Media Relations
Lowe’s Canada – RONA
Tel 514.626.6976
media@rona.ca

Source: Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

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Smart & Final Stores to report Q3 2017 financial results on Wednesday, November 15, 2017

COMMERCE, Calif., 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — Smart & Final Stores, Inc. (NYSE: SFS), the value-oriented food and everyday staples retailer, today (Nov. 1, 2017) announced that it will report its financial results for the third quarter ended October 8, 2017, on Wednesday, November 15, 2017, after the close of market. David Hirz, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Richard Phegley, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call to discuss the results at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time / 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time the same day.

The call will also be broadcast live over the Internet, accessible through the Investors section of Smart & Final’s website at www.smartandfinal-investor.com.

Smart & Final Stores Third Quarter 2017 Conference Call Details

Date: Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Time: 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time)

Dial-In: 1-877-407-0784 (domestic), 1-201-689-8560 (international)

Conference ID: 13671853

A telephonic replay of the call will be available beginning Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time through Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. To access the replay, dial 1-844-512-2921 (domestic) or 1-412-317-6671 (international) and enter the replay pin number: 13671853. A replay of the webcast will also be available for 60 days upon completion of the conference call, accessible through the Investors section of Smart & Final’s website at www.smartandfinal-investor.com.

About Smart & Final

Smart & Final Stores, Inc. (NYSE: SFS), is a value-oriented food and everyday staples retailer, headquartered in Commerce (near Los Angeles), California. The Company offers quality products in a variety of sizes, saving household, nonprofit and business customers time and money. As of October 8, 2017, the Company operated 316 grocery and foodservice stores under the “Smart & Final,” “Smart & Final Extra!” and “Cash & Carry Smart Foodservice” banners in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, and Utah, with an additional 15 stores in Northwestern Mexico operated through a joint venture. In business for over 145 years, the Company remains committed to giving back to local communities through employee volunteer opportunities and Company donations to local nonprofits.

SOURCE: Smart & Final Stores, Inc.

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Central Valley Farm Land Trust continues its Kids to Farm program in partnership with Raley’s

Fair Oaks, CA, 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — Central Valley Farm Land Trust (CVFT) is excited to announce the continuation of our pilot program, Kids to Farm.  Although we are surrounded by farmland, most students have no understanding of how their food grows.  In partnership with Raley’s, and with assistance from California Ag in the Classroom and Steamboat Acres organic farm, CVFT is working to close this learning gap.

“Helping kids understand and appreciate where their food comes from is important for the future of our food supply.  Our goal is to educate children about agriculture, to help them gain an appreciation for the precious, limited land resources we have in the Central Valley,” said Charlotte Mitchell, CVFT Executive Director. “We plan to do many more tours and in more locations in 2018.”

Most recently, as a part of the pilot program, fifty 4th graders from Lodi Unified School District attended field trips on October 17 and 18 visiting a working farm. The field trips kick off at Steamboat Acres organic farm in Courtland, with an educational tour led by farmers Michael and Tara Neuharth.  On their tour, students discovered the differences between conventional and organic farming, how male and female flowers and pollination work, the importance of soil care and crop rotation, and how long it takes to grow pears versus pumpkins. The tour culminated at a local Raley’s grocery store where managers showed students how produce is delivered to the store, is organized, and then readied for purchase. The students finished off with a nutritious lunch provided by Raley’s – bringing the farm to fork concept full circle for them.

Part of the mission of the Central Valley Farmland Trust is to educate the next generation about where their food comes from so they more intimately understand the preciousness of the farmland that grows it – and the necessity to protect it.

“Raley’s is committed to growing the next generation of healthy eaters and in that vein, we need farmers who are focused on sustaining our farm land,” said Becca Whitman, Raley’s Community Relations Manager & Executive Director, Food for Families. “Our partnership with Central Valley Farmland Trust allows us to show youth how their food is grown and at the same time, emphasize the importance of preserving agricultural lands.  It’s a great combination of nutrition education, sustainability education and workforce development.”

Students and teachers alike appreciate the access to a high-quality learning environment, “This was a great trip for my class. Our kids could see and touch their food growing in the field and then come to the store where they can buy it and take it home – it was awesome!” said an attending 4th grade teacher.

The next field trips will be held November 1 and 2, 2017, at Steamboat Acres in Courtland. Media interested in attending may contact CVFT for more information.  We invite you to come see for yourself the light in these kids eyes as they learn about their food, touch and taste on the farm, and make the full circle connection at the grocery store.

For more information, please contact:
Melanee Cottrill
mcottrill@valleyfarmland.org
(916) 667-2217

SOURCE: Raley’s Family of Fine Stores

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CVS Health Foundation supports the expansion of smoking cessation programs of eight cancer centers with $1 million in grants

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — The CVS Health Foundation today (November 1, 2017) announced it has awarded $1 million dollars in grants to eight Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) member cancer centers to build new smoking cessation programs or expand existing ones across the country, enabling each cancer institute to reach more at-risk patient populations.

Research from a 2014 American Cancer Society report demonstrates the seriousness of tobacco cravings among cancer patients and the need for better long-term cessation support. The study finds even nine years after being diagnosed with cancer, nearly 10 percent of survivors still smoke cigarettes and more than 80 percent smoke daily.

“AACI thanks the CVS Health Foundation for its important commitment to promoting tobacco cessation and improving cancer treatment outcomes,” said AACI Executive Director Barbara Duffy Stewart, MPH. “While all of AACI’s 97 cancer centers champion prevention efforts as they work to reduce the burden of cancer, the new grants targeting tobacco use will extend and expand the vital educational, screening and outreach efforts undertaken by the eight AACI member cancer centers that have been awarded funding.”

The eight cancer centers, which received funding between $100,000 and $130,000each, include: Abramson Cancer Center (Philadelphia); Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Cleveland); Hollings Cancer Center (Charleston, SC); Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center (Seattle); Mayo Clinic Cancer Center (Scottsdale); Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York); Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center (Dallas); and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center (Los Angeles).

The support will be used in a variety of ways including developing educational videos, enhancing screening protocols, hiring wellness coaches and tobacco treatment specialists and developing smoking cessation apps. Through the additional support, patients have already begun to see results in their attempts to quit smoking.

“I got diagnosed in August with cancer and was referred to Dr. Hooper who told me that if I quit smoking the chances of the cancer not coming back would be better, but if I continued to smoke there was a greater chance of the cancer returning, which I had no idea about,” said Cynthia Anderson, a Cleveland-area patient of Monica Webb Hooper, PhD, Director of the Office of Cancer Disparities Research at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and professor of oncology, psychological sciences, family medicine and community health at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. “So, that’s how I got started [in the program] and I actually got my husband on board as well. I do feel better, and I’m grateful that CVS Health is willing to give [smoking cessation] patches and gum to help us in our quest to stop smoking.”

“Addressing smoking among at-risk populations, including cancer patients, is a priority for us,” said Eileen Howard Boone, president of the CVS Health Foundation. “We’re proud to support these world-class centers as they bring innovative smoking cessation offerings that will improve cancer treatment outcomes for patients, and bring us one step closer to the first tobacco-free generation.”

Support for smoking cessation programs at cancer centers is part of CVS Health’s Be The First initiative, a five year, $50 million commitment to help people lead tobacco-free lives and in turn, help deliver the nation’s first tobacco-free generation. Through propriety programs and partnerships, the company’s initiative delivers anti-smoking education, research and tobacco-control advocacy and healthy behavior programming. For more information, please visit CVSHealth.com/BeTheFirst.

About the CVS Health Foundation

The CVS Health Foundation is a private charitable organization created by CVS Health that works to build healthier communities, enabling people of all ages to lead healthy, productive lives. The Foundation provides strategic investments to nonprofit partners throughout the U.S. who help increase community-based access to health care for underserved populations, create innovative approaches to chronic disease management and provide tobacco cessation and youth prevention programming. We also invest in scholarship programs that open the pathways to careers in pharmacy to support the academic aspirations of the best and brightest talent in the industry. Our philanthropy also extends to supporting our colleagues’ spirit of volunteerism through Volunteer Challenge grants to nonprofits where they donate their time and fundraising efforts. To learn more about the CVS Health Foundation and its giving, visit www.cvshealth.com/social-responsibility.

Media Contact:

Mary Gattuso
Mary.Gattuso@CVSHealth.com
401-770-9811

SOURCE: CVS Health Foundation

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BJ’s Restaurants to treat Members of the Armed Forces with cold brew and free meal on Veterans Day

Members of the Armed Forces are invited to enjoy a complimentary entree on Nov. 10-11, plus a handcrafted BJ’s beer or soda generously contributed by a member of the community

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., 2017-Nov-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — This Veterans Day, BJ’s Restaurants Inc. (NASDAQ:BJRI) invites all former and active duty military to stop in for a cold brew and free meal as a “thank you” for their service.

On Friday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 11, all service members can enjoy a complimentary entree up to $12.95 by presenting a military ID or proof of service at any BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse® location nationwide.

In addition, starting on Nov. 1 and throughout the month, former and active duty military can reserve a pint of BJ’s handcrafted beer (or BJ’s handcrafted soda) as part of the restaurant’s Buy a Hero a BeerSM program. Guests over the age of 21 may contribute $6 toward a pint of beer or soda for a military hero. There are three ways to contribute: online at http://www.bjsrestaurants.com/hero, on the BJ’s mobile app, or directly on their restaurant bill.

“We look forward to welcoming our nation’s heroes into our restaurants and serving them a free meal this Veterans Day,” said Greg Trojan, President and CEO of BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. “We are also proud to partner with our guests, whose generous contributions will ensure that the heroes in our communities have a cold drink waiting for them at their local BJ’s. While we can never repay these courageous men and women for their service, we can do our small part to honor their bravery and sacrifice.”

The Veterans Day complimentary meal offer is valid for dine-in guests only at all BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse® locations and is limited to one entree per person. Buy a Hero a BeerSM contributions are not tax deductible. You must be 21 or older to contribute, reserve or redeem a promo code for a beer. Promo codes expire in 48 hours. Heroes may reserve one promo code a day and may redeem beers and sodas subject to availability.

For a complete list of BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse® locations and additional information regarding the Veterans Day deals, visit http://www.bjsrestaurants.com.

About BJ’s Restaurants, Inc.
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, its two brewpubs in Texas and by independent third party craft brewers.

The Company’s restaurants are located in the 25 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 locations and additional information.

Media Contact: 
Lauren Hendeles
lauren@hendelcontent.com
602-750-5934

Source: BJ’s Restaurants, Inc./globenewswire