Category Archives: Management

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coop & spree launches a retail, business, and sports podcast called coop convos

The Retailer will interview CEOs, influencers, and professional athletes on a weekly basis

New York, New York, USA, 2022-Dec-23 — /EPR Network/ — coop & spree, the New York City based contemporary retailer, has launched a podcast called coop convos, which is all things business, retail, sports and wellness. Coop convos is hosted by coop & spree CEO and founder, Brooke S. Richman, who will interview various business leaders, tastemakers, and influencers in their aforementioned industries. Since Richman is an avid New York Knicks Fan (the Spree in coop & spree comes from her childhood pup’s name which paid homage to former Knick, Latrell Sprewell), she’s even interviewed and secured some former NBA stars.

The Podcast is available on over 10 platforms, and the first episode will likely air February 1st, 202 depending on the rifting process. To date, Richman has secured over 35 prestigious guests and has already recorded episodes with Stephanie Gottlieb, founder of Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry, Dale Stabler, wellness entrepreneur and co-founder of Sweats + The City, co-founder of the Orro + Theheard apps, and Allan Houston, the 2x NBA All-Star for the New York Knicks, Olympic Gold Medalist, and founder of FISLL,

Notable confirmed guests include Emily Faith Strauss, founder and designer of EF Collection, Helen Hall-Leland, CEO of Blender Bombs and Hustle Smoothie Bar, Alexa Leigh Meyer Mufson, founder and designer of Alexa Leigh, and John Wallace, former NBA star, current investor, philanthropist and New York Knick radio host.

During the start of the pandemic in March 2020, Richman moved temporarily from her NYC apartment to her childhood home in Greenwich, CT, where she learned how to code and created her e-comm website, coopandspreevip.com. Since her Elizabeth Street store in NYC was closed due to the pandemic, she had all her vendors ship her orders to her CT home where she fulfilled them. When she wasn’t opening new merchandise or packaging her clients’ orders, she would use Instagram live as a way to engage with her coop & spree audience, since she no longer could interact with them in person. She decided to start interviewing different designers and influencers, many of whom she knew and many of whom she had never met, and she absolutely loved it. So did her audience. It turned into a weekly tradition and the rest, as they say, is history. Not only did these weekly IG TV “interviews” create much needed connection at a time of unprecedented isolation, but also, they provided Richman, and coop & spree, with a new way of engaging with both customers and vendors.

Coop convos has the same format as Richman’s IG lives, where Richman focuses on each guest’s career path and personal story, in a relaxed format, that seems less like an interview and more like two old friends catching up. While the Podcast’s main goal is to provide valuable and informative insights and resources to those specifically interested in entrepreneurship, retail, sports, and wellness, Richman promises it’s also filled with lighthearted banter and just the right number of laughs.

WEBSITES:
coopandspreevip.com
coopconvos.com

FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM:
@coopandspree
@coop_convos

ABOUT COOP & SPREE
coop & spree, the brainchild of founder and CEO Brooke S. Richman, first opened in August 2014 in downtown New York City’s Nolita neighborhood as a multi-brand contemporary women’s apparel, accessory, and jewelry boutique. While it was solely brick-and-mortar by design when it opened, coop & spree had to pivot during the COVID-19 pandemic and is now a full-fledged omni-channel retailer with over 70 brands. It operates both a physical store in New York City’s NoHoc neighborhood, via appointment only, and has an e-commerce shopping site. In addition to selling women’s contemporary apparel, accessories, and jewelry, coop & spree has expanded its product offering to include an extensive assortment of children’s apparel and accessories, health and wellness products, paper goods, novelty items and more. coop & spree was just listed this month as a winner on the Inc. Magazine’s Best of Business 2022 list in the “Lean and Mean” category due to its unwavering commitment to philanthropy, specifically to NYC based non-profits which help underprivileged youths in NYC. It’s been featured in publications such as Women’s Wear Daily, The New York Times, US Weekly, Huffington Post, Business Insider and more.

For media inquires:

media@coopandspree.com

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New service helps European Impact Brands enter and sell on the US market

NEW JERSEY, United States, 2021-JUL-30 — /EPR RETAIL NEWS/ — Numerous European “impact brands” – or brands that have the potential to make a tremendous impact on American and other global markets – are struggling to find business entry strategies that work. Despite the quality or innovation of their products, they simply struggle to get noticed. Dispatch.d is a new company based in New Jersey that focuses on international market entry and exists to help European brands sell their products to an American market.

An impact brand is anything that has the potential to truly change the way consumers live at the global level. They may offer products that are cruelty free, plastic free, vegan or plant-based, sustainable and/or eco-friendly, fair trade, and numerous other attributes.

In today’s world, brand reputation is important, but as consumer awareness of climate change, fair trade practices, and healthy consumption increase, they continue to look for alternatives to even the biggest brand names. Dispatch.d exists to help European companies with amazing ideas get noticed in the American market, thereby giving them the opportunity to become that alternative and grow their reputations.

Dispatch.d is a full-service solution that handles every aspect of the market entrance strategy, including the logistics and the marketing. The company handles consolidation, freight, customs and duties on their clients’ behalf, and they even ensure that language barriers and compliance labeling are addressed. Dispatch.d works with European companies to build value-added bundles and kits that will improve their noticeability, then adds those bundles and kits to eCommerce channels across the region. It handles listings, inventory management, and fulfillment, too.

The best part is that Dispatch.d focuses on organic growth by using its expertise to supercharge demand for its clients’ offerings, thereby ensuring that sales are more than just fast fads. This unique service is accessible for everyone because Dispatch.d does not require payment until its clients’ products have started selling.

No matter how large or small a company might be, if the brand has the potential to make an impact on the world – whether through sustainability or fair trade – Dispatch.d can help it get noticed and grow. To learn more, visit the Dispatch.d website or fill out a short webform to get started.

About the Company: Dispatch.d is headquartered in New Jersey in the United States, and its sole purpose is to utilize technology to help impact brands of all sizes with all their international market entry needs. They provide end-to-end services that include logistics, marketing, and even inventory management and fulfillment, and their unique model means they don’t get paid until their clients get noticed.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

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Ecwid E-commerce integrated into Mono Platform

Ecwid E-commerce integrated into Mono Platform

COPENHAGEN, Denmark / SAN DIEGO, Calif., United States, 2020-Sep-8 — /EPR Retail News/ — Mono Solutions and Ecwid have partnered to seamlessly deliver websites with enhanced e-commerce capabilities for small businesses. Mono Solutions, a leading provider of websites for small businesses, and Ecwid, a leading global software-as-a-service (SaaS) e-commerce company, have integrated to bring Ecwid’s E-commerce platform to Mono’s more than 80+ partners globally. With this new integration, Mono partners can resell Ecwid’s E-commerce capabilities as part of their integrated website solutions or as a standalone service.

“We’re thrilled to announce our integration with Ecwid, and the opportunities that it brings to our partners and their small business clients. The past half year has shown the true importance of providing small businesses with digital solutions that empower them to run their day-to-day operations online using technology. The addition of Ecwid E-commerce to the Mono Platform will enable our partners’ small business clients to gain access to more advanced e-commerce capabilities.” says Kim Mortensen, Chief Commercial Officer at Mono Solutions.

Mono Partners can provision Ecwid E-commerce subscriptions directly in the Mono Platform. Additionally, Mono Partners can build and manage Ecwid E-commerce directly in the award-winning Mono Website Builder. At a time when small businesses worldwide are digitizing their storefronts in greater numbers than ever before, this partnership will bring new simplicity for small businesses around-the-world to manage their website and shop online— all in one centralized platform.

“It’s more important than ever for small businesses to maximize their online presence,” says Scott Varner, Vice President of Business Development at Ecwid. “We’re excited that our integration with Mono will help even more small businesses, as well as enable Mono’s network of partners to offer Ecwid’s robust and easy-to-use e-commerce capabilities to their clients worldwide.”

Ecwid E-commerce is available directly in the Mono Platform starting September 2020.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

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Touch Displays: InFocus JTouch solutions now available to order with first customer shipments planned for October 1st 2020

Touch Displays: InFocus JTouch solutions now available to order with first customer shipments planned for October 1st 2020

PORTLAND, OR, United States,  2020-Sep-2 — /EPR Retail News/ — InFocus Corporation and celexon Europe today announced an exclusive master distribution agreement to market, promote, sell and support the entire portfolio of Interactive and collaboration solutions, including the new JTouch 00 Series, JTouch 40 Series and Mondopad software solution to channel partners throughout Europe.

JTouch displays offer something for every space, including classrooms, boardrooms, or small huddle spaces, the new JTouch line includes features to make meetings and lessons more productive. The displays are based on new technology which provides 5th generation IR bonding, 20 points touch, anti-glare coating, and anti-fingerprint protection. Users can utilize the 4K business-grade touchscreen with embedded Android 8.0 and a suite of apps for casting, whiteboarding, viewing documents, and browsing the web.

Mondopad suite harnesses the requirements of modern meetings from video calls, presenting and content collaboration into a single platform optimized for touch displays. Mondopad software is also now available as a standalone package ready to install on most Windows 10 devices, expanding the solutions reach to mobile and home office users.

“We are extremely happy to sign this alliance which continues the InFocus’ distribution strategy and brings focus and commitment to the strategic relationship between the two industry leaders. Celexon is the perfect partner for our industry leading product offering and robust pipeline of exciting new products and technologies, in our strategic category of collaboration solutions,” said Daniel Gibson, Sales Director EMEA, InFocus.

InFocus and celexon have an extensive history of success and a shared focus on providing the latest technology solutions to customers. celexon’s geographic coverage and value-added services will work to improve InFocus’ already winning portfolio, increase our speed of business and allow InFocus to expand its reach throughout Europe.

“We are pleased to extend our long-standing partnership with InFocus through this strategic step. InFocus’ distributors and resellers throughout Europe can now access the strong celexon infrastructure to reach their customers quickly with solutions when needed”. said Jens Gehring, Director, celexon Europe.

This focused investment and return to display business in Europe supports our growth strategy in Europe and marks a turning point for InFocus’ business. “Together with celexon, we will bring greater business value and world class backing to our channel partners and customers across sales support, marketing and technical enablement. JTouch solutions are available to order from today and first customer shipments are planned for October 1st 2020” concluded Daniel Gibson.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

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RCH’s partnership with Jeunes Restaurateurs d’Europe (JRE) to help develop the cash desks of the future

TREVISO, Italy, 2020-Apr-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — RCH continues to champion the highest level of restaurateurism by forming an alliance with Jeunes Restaurateurs d’Europe (JRE), one of the world’s most prestigious culinary institutes. This alliance will see JRE integrating the RCH brand into their social media and press statements, along with presence on the website and JRE annual guide.

In return, and in recognition that the creativity of gastronomy needs to be supported by effective business practices, RCH will be engaging in a range of collaborative activities with JRE to help encourage and develop the next generation of chefs and restaurateurs, both in terms of the creative and commercial ambitions. This will include both event sponsorship and product support.

JRE, one of the most prestigious culinary organisations in the world, brings together young Restaurateurs and Chefs who share their talent and passion for food with likeminded people. Founded in 1974 in France, JRE is now active in 16 countries with 350 affiliated restaurants and is looking to expand on a global scale. With over 180 Michelin stars and 4,000 Gault&Millau points between them, members of JRE combine a love of creativity and innovation with a respect for local products and tradition.

The key slogan for JRE is the idea of ‘never-ending passion’, and this closely echoes the mentality that RCH seeks to embody within their product range. In developing cash register systems for a number of industries, RCH seeks to get deeply involved in the intricacies of their clients’ operations – understanding how the EPOS process impacts the full business model, and not merely the cash-taking elements of operation.

Resultantly, RCH have developed products – such as the ATOS range – which are perfectly positioned to augment restaurant operations on nearly every level. Not only are RCH systems deisgned to compliment the aesthetics of the dining environment, but they also provide levels of data analysis that can completely revolutionise the entire restaurant process; from menu design and purchase, to wastage control, to Customer Relationship Management (CRM), to full financial/taxation conformance, and beyond.

A key aspect of the partnership with JRE will be RCH’s endeavours to develop parts of their ATOS system to specifically compliment the needs of JRE. In this way, RCH is able to develop a long-lasting, committed relationship with JRE, providing mutual benefits: RCH gains knowledge not just of existing market trends that could be integrated into future product updates, but the progressive, creative innovations that JRE are at the forefront of. Similarly, JRE are able to integrate top-level commercial technologies into their operations – significantly improving the efficiency of their booking and reservations processes, along with a whole host of other benefits.

Fillipo Saporito, President JRE Italy, says of the partnership: “When my wife and I opened the ‘La Leggenda dei Frati’ restaurant in 2002, the first big goal was to be part of this big family. Today I am proud to be the leader of this family, and I do so with commitment and passion, giving my deepest thanks to all of the partners who join us, and echo our own sense of passion and dedication.”

Stefano de Pra, President & CEO of RCH Group SpA, adds his own insight, stating that “It would be tempting to draw from our Italian roots as reason for why we are so committed to the forwardance of the restaurant community through our partnership with JRE – the Italians of course being famed for their exceptional cuisine. But in reality RCH is an international operation, and JRE has an international reach”. De Pra continues: “A love of good food is the language of every culture, not just ours. This collaboration sees us not just supporting upcoming restaurateurs, but benefiting from their verve, determination, insight and creativity to help us develop the cash desks of the future.”

RCH looks forward to developing its first collaborative event with JRE. Until then, it wishes all operators within the restaurant trade the best of luck and keep being inspired by passion.

More information about RCH Group Spa is available at http://www.rch-group.com/

About JRE
Jeunes Restaurateurs (JRE) is an association of young chefs in Europe which has been breathing new and fresh life to the culinary arts since 1974, in keeping with their slogan “Never-ending passion.” In doing so, JRE combines cuisine of the very highest standard with the courage to introduce innovations to the culinary tradition of the respective region. Jeunes Restaurateurs has restaurants in 16 European countries – around 80 of them in Germany alone. These include establishments run by famous chefs known from TV, such as Alexander Herrmann and Cornelia Poletto. More info to be found here: https://www.jre.eu/

SOURCE: EuropaWire

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Virgin Demands Small Cosmetic Company VIRGINIC Closes and Opens Lawsuits Against its Main Employees

New York, NY, 2020-Apr-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — One of the greatest challenges currently facing the business world is the relentless pursuit of ownership of brand names, logos, typefaces, slogans and even colors! The judiciary are constantly inundated with cases regarding the alleged illegal or improper use of any, or any combination, of these.

But how much of this is a waste of the court’s time? How often is a case being brought simply because an in-house legal beagle needs to justify their salary? How many cases are brought that should simply, in any real world of common sense, never make it out of the split second of foolishness of that very thought’s creator?

Now, the idea that somebody really believed it necessary to protect their idea/investment/invention by receiving confirmation that it was indeed theirs, does, of course, make some sense. Invent the perfect diet in the form of a single daily dose tablet and you should be able to protect that invention and make as much money as the marketplace deems it to be worth until somebody comes up with a way of simply breathing in the perfect diet, and your invention becomes worthless.

And there is, in and of itself, the answer to many of our questions, whether or not we really knew that we had them. Money. Without this fiendish instrument of perceived wealth, where would we be? Would anybody, anywhere ever need to know who invented something of great use to the general populous? Would anybody give you the pats on the back and the “attaboys” that your genius deserved? Well, maybe, and, more likely the case, maybe not.

But would you care? I mean, let’s be honest, if you honestly did all this just for the kudos, you wouldn’t have needed the patent application form in the first place, right? You did it for the money, as is your absolute right to do, and you are simply protecting your investment and the value that your invention has.

Trademarks are, however, a whole different ball game. Take the example of Odysseas Papadimitriou’s company trademark application for his WalletHub brand, a brand that offered a website able to compare various offers such as insurance, loans, mortgages etc. The trademark application for his logo, a white “W” set in a green square, was disputed by, of all things, Major League Baseball! The claim was that the MLB had not one but TWO similar logos that would be infringed upon were the application allowed. One of these is a logo that has not been used in baseball since 1960, the year that the Washington Nationals became the Minnesota Twins whilst the other is a flag that the Chicago Cubs fly in their stadium if they win!

How are either of these “uses” threatened in any way, financial or otherwise, by a website that offers financial documentation organization services? Are WalletHub suddenly getting calls from angry customers, unable to get seats for the game? Are the MLB getting calls asking for financial advice?

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the key to this whole mess…IS THE CONSUMER CONFUSED ABOUT WHO OR WHAT THEY ARE ENGAGING WITH FOR GOODS OR SERVICES? That is the acid test. That is the reason the law uses to justify its very existence. That is the fly in the inhouse legal beagle’s ointment…Can they PROVE that this brand confusion would exist?

A perfect example of this is the case of Virgin Group PLC v VIRGINIC LLC (you already see where this is going, right?!). VIRGINIC is a young start-up specializing in all-natural, organic beauty products. Not trains. Not planes. Not telephones.

In fact, not any product that is even similar to anything that the Virgin group does or even has ever produced. Clearly there can be no confusion here. But what’s that, I hear you cry? The name is similar? Surely name similarity is not enough. For example, Ford once manufactured a car called the Capri. Now we have the Capri Sun brand all over the world. Is there an issue? Are people buying juice boxes worried that they are made in a car factory? Of course they are not. That would be silly, wouldn’t it?!

VIRGINIC was dismissed by a judge in the UK at the THIRD time of asking, having already beaten Virgin’s trademark infringement case on two previous occasions.The virtue of the freedom of speech that we protect so rigorously, is not an objective virtue any more in the common legal sense, apparently.

For as long as there exists a particular judge able to be swayed by vague and ridiculous arguments, such as those employed by the Virgin lawyers, on a particular day, in a particular place, we will carry on down this absurd legal rabbithole, wasting both the time and money of the taxpayer and of both businesses in question, meanwhile doing nothing for the consumer other than limit their access to the products that they may actually wish to purchase.

And are those not the people that these very laws were enacted to protect in the first place?

Trademark case numbers (UK00003283156)

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RCH Group to exhibit at EuroShop, February 16-20, 2020

RCH Group to exhibit at EuroShop, February 16-20, 2020

TREVISO, Italy, 2020-Jan-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — This February (16-20), RCH Group will be exhibiting at EuroShop, the world’s largest trade fair for retail investment requirements. On booth #G49 in Hall 6 the company will introduce a number of new POS solutions – responding to the future-oriented and dynamic trends of the retail industry and building upon the technological and aesthetic capabilities that sit at the core of RCH’s product development.

Improving the strategic abilities of small and medium operations with improved analytics and accountancy

A key element of RCH’s attendance at the show will be the international debut of the WALLE 8T – a product which aims to evolve the concept of Smart ECR and increase the ability of small and medium retail operations to engage in effective fiscal management and financial analytics.

WALLE 8T constitutes a POS unit that contains an 8″ TFT color video keyboard and capacitive touchscreen, with high brightness and 1024×600 resolution. It also includes a high quality graphic thermal printer. However, whilst the WALLE 8T contains all of the high-level physical specifications that are associated with RCH products standard, including a highly elegant design, what sets this new model apart is the high degree of interoperability that is facilitated by the use of Android-based software. This software provides exceptional usability by unifying interface and functionality, allowing businesses to create an adaptable, tailored, flexible solution to their money handling activities.

With intuitive front-end operability and highly flexible back-end analytics and accountancy features, even small retailers now have the opportunity to understand their business and make strategic decisions based on the data they generate.

In addition to the WALLE 8T, RCH will also be demonstrating a range of new product evolutions, with a focus on meeting the aesthetic needs of retail outlets.

Novelty with a Vintage look

Whilst RCH always prides itself on the technological developments that increase the functionality and usability of its products, there is also recognition that supporting the strategic goals of customers will not always spring exclusively from technological innovation alone. The aesthetics and atmosphere of retail venues are key strategic components for a business, and cash registers constitute an incredibly visible element within a store.

For this reason, RCH is proud to introduce the Cortina 59. With metal drawer and printer, the Cortina embodies a stylish, vintage design that fits well into retail environments that are seeking a more nostalgic aesthetic that reminds of past cash registers. Available in five different colours (white, black, blue, red, yellow), the Cortina 59 doesn’t just meet the functional needs of a commercial environment, but in itself becomes a beautiful centrepiece – actively contributing as a piece of decoration and functional furniture. Electronic based capabilities with all of the RCH functionality you expect, embodied in true mechanical charm.

NEW Robust POS product

For retail environments that do favour a modern and slick aesthetic, at the other end of the RCH design spectrum is the A-IRON. Part of the ATOS 15 range – and therefore embodying all of the usability, versatility and functionality expected from RCH’s signature line – the A-IRON combines aluminium and steel into the physical POS unit to enhance an image of modernity and elegance, with clean lines and a solid appearance.

President and CEO of RCH Stefano De Pra, stated: “Our path to innovation is a combination of creativity and market needs, elegant design and functional aspects. Technological innovation sits at the core of our products – as its beating heart, but a diverse range of beautiful external aesthetics makes them fit-for-purpose in a variety of retail contexts. The novel products we are introducing this year at EuroShop will meet the expectations of an international market that appreciates reliability, the use of resistant, robust materials and considered design that combines to create easy-to-use and decorative POS products.”

More information about RCH Group SpA and its products is available at http://www.rch-group.com/

SOURCE: EuropaWire

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RCH’s newly launched WALLE 8T POS meets complex fiscal reporting laws

RCH’s newly launched WALLE 8T POS meets complex fiscal reporting laws

TREVISO, Italy, 2019-Oct-14 — /EPR Retail News/ — RCH Group, provider of advanced point of sale systems for the retail, food and beverage, and public administration sector has introduced an all-in-one solution for retail businesses seeking to streamline their POS and fiscal operations. The WALLE 8T promises to significantly improve the ability of small and medium retail operations to efficiently perform, manage and monitor their financial and fiscal operations, and access data which can be key in strategic development of the firm.

“With the WALLE 8T we are seeking to evolve the concept of Smart ECR and present new solutions which are particularly relevant for small and medium sized retail operations, who until recently have been limited in their access to effective fiscal management and financial analytics” said Stefano Di Pra, CEO and President of RCH Europe. “The ease of use, high levels of configurability and accessible range of data outputs – which can all be accessed remotely – mean that even small retailers now have the opportunity to understand their business and make strategic decisions based on the data they generate.”

Software that maximises flexibility, hardware that maximises usability

The WALLE 8T constitutes a physical POS unit that contains an 8″ TFT color video keyboard and capacitive touchscreen, with high brightness and 1024×600 resolution. It also includes a high quality graphic thermal printer. However, whilst the WALLE 8T contains all of the high-level physical specifications that are associated with RCH products, including a highly elegant design, what sets this new model apart is the high degree of interoperability that is facilitated by the use of Android-based software. This software provides exceptional usability by unifying the interface and functionality allowing businesses to create an adaptable, tailored, flexible solution to their money handling activities.

Remote and real-time access to data with the Cloud RCH store

Moreover, the Android software deployed on the WALLE 8T unit allows for complete cloud-based management of all front and back end operations. This means that all processes can be managed remotely providing much greater flexibility in the way that fiscal affairs can be handled – especially in operations which maintain multiple sales sites. Details of financial operations are collated and presented in accessible and easy-to-read graphs and charts, and updated on a real-time basis to facilitate more reactive and dynamic analysis of sales activities. Additional elements such as disaster recovery allow users a much greater peace of mind in maintaining undisrupted monitoring and reporting of performance.

Streamlined front-end operations, comprehensive back-end analytics

Certainly, the WALLE 8T system integrates all of the front-end usability which is to be expected of RCH POS products.  With its high degree of intuitiveness which places important functions front and center, and significantly reduces the training time needed to use the systems. But it is not just this which sets the WALLE 8T apart. Instead, it is the back-end analytics and accountancy features which make the WALLE 8T and cloud-based Android operating system an important development in RCH’s range of solutions. Particularly important for countries which are introducing new and increasingly complex fiscal reporting laws, the WALLE 8T system has the flexibility to deliver data in a functional and easy-to-understand way, adaptable to the needs of the business and their operational context.

More information about the WALLE 8T and RCH Group is available at http://www.rch-group.com/, http://www.rch-europe.de/ and http://www.rch-europe.com/

SOURCE: EuropaWire

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DATA4 Product Highlights at Kiosk Summit 2018: Cash Desk K2 Slim; ATOS 15 ELEGANT; Open Standards-Based Hardware; Functional and Elegant Designs

DATA4 Brings Pioneering Payment Systems to Kiosk Summit 2018

TREVISO, Italy, 2018-Aug-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — DATA4, manufacturer of innovative self-service and automatic systems for the payment of goods and services in cash or electronically, will showcase its latest POS innovations at Kiosk Summit 2018 on stand 6. Kiosk Summit is Europe’s only dedicated event for organisations and individuals, who utilise self-service technology to interact with their clients, streamline their customer journey and gain increased efficiency by using cutting-edge interactivity. The event will take place on September 27h next in London.

This year, DATA4, RCH Group-member, will exhibit its innovative solutions integrated with RCH’s advanced point of sale systems for the retail, food and beverage, and the public administration sector:

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to return to Kiosk Summit this year and demonstrate to visitors how our revolutionary payment kiosks can be an additional Point of Sale,” said Michele Stecca, General Manager, DATA4 Srl. Cash Desk K2, in particular, is already proving its worth in helping to reduce queues and the need for people management in busy airport terminals, exhibitions, cinemas, museums and restaurants. In today’s rapid-paced world, the right tools and technology must be in place to streamline the customer journey and speed up the transactions process while at the same time ensuring the highest standard of service. DATA4’s state-of-the-art payment systems make this possible.”

Product Highlights at Kiosk Summit 2018

Cash Desk K2 Slim
Retaining all the features of a multi-payment kiosk for the issuance of receipts and/or tickets, Cash Desk K2 Slim is an automatic device specifically destined for electronic payments. Eliminating the task of handling cash transactions results in a product that’s thinner and smoother in the movements. The device boasts a fast and simple user interface, indicating each operation to be carried out step by step with the aid of visual indicators (LEDs). A multi-lingual and interactive menu allows customers to pay for their goods or services in three easy steps.

For the merchant, the self-service Cask Desk K2 Slim can significantly improve and streamline operations so that long queues are avoided, cash handling is eliminated, and staffing requirements and labour cost are reduced. For the catering industry, hygiene can be improved as the person responsible for preparing foods no longer needs to handle physical money.

ATOS 15 ELEGANT
ATOS 15 Elegant combines pure elegance with high-end technology and comes with a 16:9 fully adjustable monitor that is supported by the stability of a solid chrome-effect base. Efficient hardware coupled with intelligent software makes ATOS 15 Elegant the ideal tool for any Point of Sale. The unit comes with an optional rear customer display that completes its maximum expression of functional elegance. This customer display is available in two different sizes, allowing the merchant to either present the customer with a list of purchased items or alternatively to display its own graphics visualising the consumptions on sale. This back graphic display can be cleverly used as an advertising tool to broadcast the latest news and in-store promotions, giving added value to any POS.

Multiple connections including Ethernet, USB and Micro SD allowing the ATOS 15 Elegant to pair with printers, tablets and scanners are all standard. An NFC reader, an MFC magnetic card and an I-Button are additional options with this innovative and eye-catching POS system.

Open Standards-Based Hardware
All of DATA4’s and RCH’s innovative solutions are based on open source technology and can be easily integrated with various third-party applications and systems. Each system is designed in-house by the company’s Research and Development teams, delivering efficient and streamlined technical support so that the payment terminals fully communicate with third-party systems. The result is a secure, reliable product for every system requirement.

Functional and Elegant Designs
Highly intelligent on the inside, elegant and compact on the outside, each product has a distinguished and modern design made in Italy. A DATA4 and an RCH product is characterised by its perfect combination of elegance with the simplicity of functionality.

More information about DATA4 and its products is available at http://www.data4.it/?lang=en

SOURCE: EuropaWire

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Raley’s announces the promotion of Kevin Konkel to Chief Operations Officer and Paul Gianetto to SVP, Sales & Merchandising

Raley’s announces the promotion of Kevin Konkel to Chief Operations Officer and Paul Gianetto to SVP, Sales & Merchandising

Fair Oaks, CA, 2018-Mar-09 — /EPR Retail News/ — Raley’s announced the promotion of two key leaders within the organization; Kevin Konkel’s promotion to a newly created role as Chief Operations Officer and Paul Gianetto’s promotion to Senior Vice President, Sales & Merchandising.

“This is an exciting time for Raley’s – we have built a strong leadership team that will support the advancement of our vision and purpose,” said Mark Foley, Chief People Officer.

Kevin Konkel previously held the title Senior Vice President, Operations and in his new role will lead operations in all Raley’s banners and pharmacy operations. He will also lead store design and construction, operations administration, distribution and asset protection. Konkel is a proven industry leader with nearly 40 years of service to the Raley’s organization.

Paul Gianetto will serve as Senior Vice President, Sales & Merchandising. Gianetto is an industry leader with more than 35 years in the grocery business and a graduate of the USC Food Industry Management program. He joined Raley’s in 2008 and has held many roles in merchandising. In 2017, Gianetto was promoted to Vice President of Center Store. In his new role, he will manage strategic pricing, private label, sales & merchandising for both center store and perishable departments.

“We are fortunate to have such experienced and proven leaders in Kevin and Paul. Both epitomize servant leadership and Raley’s family values,” said Keith Knopf, Raley’s President. “I am confident, Kevin and Paul will continue to help guide the organization toward our vision of infusing life with health and happiness.”

Konkel and Gianetto will continue to report to Keith Knopf, President who, along with Michael Teel, Chairman & CEO, will continue to lead the strategic direction for Raley’s.

Learn more about Raley’s Leadership team.

Contact:
For information about our stores, please contact Chelsea Minor, Director of PR and Public Affairs at CMinor1@raleys.com.

Source: Raley’s

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CVS Health recognized with 2018 PBMI Excellence Award for Care Management Strategies

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2018-Mar-09 — /EPR Retail News/ — CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) announced today (March 7, 2018) that the Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute (PBMI) awarded the company the 2018 PBMI Excellence Award for Care Management Strategies. The award recognizes the ScriptPath Prescription Schedule, which was developed by CVS Health to help provide a consolidated view of a patient’s current CVS Pharmacy prescriptions with an easy-to-understand schedule showing how and when to take each medication.

“We are pleased to be recognized with this award for our industry-leading work to bring the ScriptPath Prescription Schedule to patients as we help them on their path to better health,” said Troyen A. Brennan, MD Chief Medical Officer, CVS Health. “For CVS Health, this award validates our efforts to develop innovative programs that improve patient engagement and medication adherence, better manage chronic diseases like diabetes and help clients keep their health care costs down.”

The average American adult fills nine prescriptions annually, with people older than 65 filling an average of 20 prescriptions a year. Unfortunately, approximately half of patients report being confused about how and when to take their medications, contributing to the 50 percent of patients with chronic conditions who stop taking their medications within the first year of diagnosis. Further, studies show a 5.7 percent to 6.8 percent decrease in adherence for each dose added to a medication regimen. For patients who are not optimally adherent to prescribed therapies, hospital readmission rates increase by as much as 69 percent, which can result in annual U.S. health care costs between $100 to $300 billion.

The ScriptPath Prescription Schedule offers patients with chronic conditions and complex regimens a personalized prescription schedule with easy-to-understand icons explaining which medication to take, when it should be taken and how much should be taken in each dose. It is designed to improve patient understanding and safety and help simplify how patients take their medications. The schedule is generated by our proprietary Clinical Engine, a robust scientific system created by CVS Pharmacy, which automatically reviews all of a patient’s current CVS Pharmacy prescription information and prescribers’ instructions. Using clinical data, the Clinical Engine slots a patient’s medications into up to four dosing times per day morning, midday, evening and bedtime and recommends dosing times for each medication based on the most effective times of day for the medications to be taken. Deborah Adler, a designer known for her past work on Target’s ClearRx prescription packaging system and the inventor and lead designer of the new ScriptPath system, worked with the CVS Health team to develop the easy-to-understand icons and an intuitive layout for each of the ScriptPath offerings.

In addition to the Prescription Schedule, CVS Pharmacy is in the process of rolling out the ScriptPath Prescription Label and Prescription Overview to all stores nationwide this spring. This will extend the use of the easy-to-understand design of the Prescription Schedule to the label on the prescription bottle as well as the prescription bag tag.

About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,800 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with more than 94 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the Company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contact: 
Christina Beckerman
CVS Health
401-770-8868

SOURCE: CVS Health

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Kroger EVP and CFO Mike Schlotman to present at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2018 Consumer & Retail Technology Conference

CINCINNATI, 2018-Mar-09 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today (March 7, 2018) announced that Mike Schlotman, Kroger’s executive vice president and CFO, will address investors at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2018 Consumer & Retail Technology Conference at 10:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, March 13, 2018.

The presentation will broadcast online at ir.kroger.com.  Click on “Events, Presentations & Webcasts” to access the event.  The presentation will be available in an archived format for one week following the conference.

At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit™. We are nearly half a million associates who serve nine million customers daily through a seamless digital shopping experience and 2,800 retail food stores under a variety of banner names, serving America through food inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site.

SOURCE: The Kroger Co.

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SSP America brings Liberty Diner at Newark Liberty International Airport

SSP America brings Liberty Diner at Newark Liberty International Airport

United States, 2018-Mar-09 — /EPR Retail News/ — SSP America, a division of SSP Group, a leading operator of food and beverage brands in travel locations worldwide, has opened an American diner at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). The units join two previously opened markets opened by SSP America in 2017.

Paul Loupakos, Vice President of Business Development commented, “Liberty Diner and our two markets have been tailored specifically for EWR and will result in quality passenger experience that draws higher throughput and ultimately maximizes revenue. The concept of Liberty Diner is on trend given a current focus on nostalgia and elevated comfort food, but it also is a classic concept with broad appeal.”

As the 16th busiest airport in North America, Newark Liberty International Airport welcomes over 40 million passengers per year, and employs approximately 21,000 people. The airport contributes an estimated $27.2 billion in economic activity to the New York-New Jersey metropolitan region, generating about 188,000 total jobs and $10 billion in annual wages and salaries.

“We’re excited to partner with SSP America to continue enhancing the traveler experience at Newark Liberty Terminal B,” said Iris Messina, Westfield Vice President, Leasing. “A tribute to a classic American diner, Liberty Diner will surely delight customers and put smiles on their faces.”

Brand Details

Gateside Fresh Market (two units—Terminal A):  Gateside Market is the traveler’s grab & go haven for healthy eating. At EWR Gateside Fresh Market delivers on the ever-present ethos of using the freshest foods possible to bring travelers a market laden with hand-picked, nutrition-packed, wholesome nourishment that today’s consumers seek. From artisan sandwiches packed with premium fillings, to whole fruits, top-shelf salads and a wide range of snacks and drinks, multiple grab & go options abound for hungry passengers with no time to waste.

Liberty Diner (Terminal B):  Created specifically for Newark Liberty International Airport, Liberty Diner offers a unique and inviting environment that pays full, glorious tribute to the iconic style of the traditional American diner.  Serving classic American dishes—from breakfast favorites of bacon, eggs, pancakes and waffles available all throughout the day, to double-fisted burgers, chocolate shakes, meatloaf sandwiches and expertly grilled sirloin steaks—Liberty Diner’s ample 3,853 square feet space, will sit proudly and majestically in Terminal B’s international, global showroom attracting all passenger demographics with its inviting atmosphere, abundant seating and guaranteed street pricing.  Liberty Diner serves as a gleaming star attraction—relaxed, receiving and retro— the way American casual dining began.

Source: SSP

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The Starbucks Foundation announces investment and partnership strategy with Malala Fund aimed at empowering women

The Starbucks Foundation announces investment and partnership strategy with Malala Fund aimed at empowering women
  • The Starbucks Foundation’s multi-year strategy will promote leadership and economic empowerment opportunities for women and families in coffee, tea and cocoa growing communities
  • Partnership with Malala Fund will expand the organization’s Gulmakai Network of education champions in India and Latin America
  • Malala Yousafzai curates an exclusive playlist for International Women’s Day to be played in 10,000 Starbucks® stores across the U.S. and Canada on March 8

SEATTLE, 2018-Mar-09 — /EPR Retail News/ — More than 130 million young women and girls around the world do not have the opportunity to go to primary or secondary school, representing a generation of young people with limited ability to access economic opportunities, create their own livelihoods, and become leaders in their communities[1]. In many rural, remote communities around the world, that challenge is made exponentially worse by poverty, conflict, and gender inequality. Recognizing this global crisis – and the opportunity to drive long-term impact and social change – The Starbucks Foundation announced today a multi-year investment and partnership strategy aimed at empowering at least 250,000 women and families in coffee, tea and cocoa growing communities globally by 2025.

To launch this effort, The Starbucks Foundation unveiled a new global partnership with Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai’s organization, Malala Fund, towards a shared vision that an investment in young women and families can have a transformative impact on communities. Through this partnership, Malala Fund will work with Starbucks to promote girls’ education and expand leadership opportunities for young women in coffee and tea growing communities in India and Latin America.

“I want to thank Starbucks for believing in my dream of a world where girls can choose their own future. With their support, Malala Fund will help educators and activists in developing countries get more girls in school,” Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Laureate and co-founder of Malala Fund.

The Starbucks Foundation’s partnership with Malala Fund will build on its ongoing investments in coffee, tea and cocoa growing communities worldwide with organizations like Mercy Corps, Eastern Congo Initiative, and Heifer International which since 2005 have collectively impacted more than 450,000 people. With a deeper focus on women and families, Starbucks will also be able to accelerate its broader goal to improve the lives of at least one million coffee farmers and workers by 2025.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Leaders

The Starbucks Foundation aims to promote leadership opportunities for women and families in coffee, tea and cocoa growing communities to break down barriers to education, clean water and sanitation, and economic opportunities. Through its multi-year strategic partnership with Starbucks, Malala Fund will expand its work in advocacy, investment, and amplifying young women and girls’ voices, including growing its Gulmakai Network of education champions to coffee and tea growing communities in India and Latin America. The partnership will help expand non-traditional educational opportunities in those communities and scale leadership opportunities for young women with a goal to inspire the next generation of civically engaged leaders. Starbucks also plans to connect partners (employees) with Malala Fund’s Gulmakai Network champions to create additional leadership and engagement opportunities.

“We believe women and families hold the key to long-term empowerment and social change,” said Virginia Tenpenny, executive director for The Starbucks Foundation and vice president, Global Social Impact at Starbucks. “Looking ahead, we want to ensure our partnerships connect women with education and leadership opportunities needed to create healthy homes and sustainable livelihoods – for themselves, their families, and future generations. We are proud to join with Malala Fund to invest in young women so they may become leaders in their communities and achieve their dreams and aspirations.”

Malala Yousafzai Creates Starbucks Playlist for International Women’s Day 

In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, Starbucks today announced Yousafzai will share a specially curated playlist of songs by female artists from 16 countries to be played in more than 10,000 participating stores across the U.S. and Canada. The playlist is also available on the Starbucks page on Spotify.

Towards a Shared Future in Sustainable Coffee  

Starbucks has a long history of working with coffee, tea and cocoa origin communities to address their most critical needs such as access to water, sanitation, health and education. With The Starbucks Foundation’s focus on advancing leadership and economic opportunities for 250,000 women and families by 2025, the organization will build upon this work and help ensure even more families benefit. Through its global partnerships, Starbucks and The Starbucks Foundation are helping to improve the lives of at least one million people in coffee communities with the following initiatives:

  • A commitment to 100% ethically sourced coffee – through partnerships with Conservational International and the Sustainable Coffee Challenge, Starbucks is championing a global effort to make coffee the world’s first sustainable agricultural commodity.
  • More than $20 million in Origin Grants from The Starbucks Foundation since 2005 to organizations like Mercy Corps, Eastern Congo Initiative, Heifer International and others to support smallholder farming families with vocational training, increased access to water and health services, and greater economic opportunity in coffee and tea-growing communities.
  • A commitment to invest $50 million in the Starbucks Global Farmer Fund to provide financing to coffee farmers. By providing access to capital, farmers have the ability to make strategic investments in their infrastructure, offering the stability they need to manage ongoing complexities so that there is a future for them and the industry. To date, the Fund has invested more than $22 million in loans impacting more than 40,000 farmers.
  • Farmer Support Centers in key coffee producing countries around the world, including Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico, China, Guatemala, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. There, farmers get free access to the latest findings of Starbucks top agronomists, including new varietals of disease-resistant trees, and advanced soil management techniques. Starbucks goal is to build upon traditional growing methods to help farmers continue to improve both the quality of their crops, and their profitability, ensuring the future of high quality coffees for everyone.

About The Starbucks Foundation

Established in 1997, The Starbucks Foundation has strengthened communities around the world by advancing opportunities for youth, veterans, refugees and coffee, tea and cocoa farmers and their families, supporting communities affected by disaster, and promoting civic engagement. The Starbucks Foundation is a U.S. 501 (c)(3) charitable organization under U.S. law, and receives funding primarily from Starbucks Corporation and private donations. Learn more at https://www.starbucks.com/responsibility/community/starbucks-foundation

About Malala Fund

Malala Fund is working for a world where all girls can learn and lead without fear. Learn more at www.malala.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Global
Phone: 206 318 7100
Email: press@starbucks.com

SOURCE: Starbucks Corporation

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Amazon to create more than 1,500 full-time jobs with its first Missouri fulfillment center

SEATTLE, 2018-Mar-09 — /EPR Retail News/ — Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today (Mar. 7, 2018) announced plans for the first Missouri fulfillment center to be located in St. Peters, creating more than 1,500 full-time jobs with benefits and opportunities to engage with Amazon Robotics in a highly technological workplace. Amazon currently operates a sortation center in Hazelwood, where it employs hundreds of associates.

“We’re excited to continue growing our team with our first, state-of-the-art fulfillment center in Missouri,” said Sanjay Shah, Amazon’s Vice President of North America Customer Fulfillment. “Our ability to expand in Missouri is the result of two things: incredible customers and an outstanding workforce. Amazon is committed to providing great opportunities for employment and creating a positive economic impact for the region.”

Amazon employees at the more than 800,000 square foot fulfillment center will pick, pack and ship small items to customers such as books, electronics and toys. The facility will feature innovative technology such as Amazon Robotics that will assist employees in fulfilling customer orders.

“Amazon’s choice to locate in Missouri speaks to our strength as North America’s logistics center,” Rob Dixon, Director of Missouri’s Department of Economic Development said. “Our central location, international airports and extensive highway, rail and river networks position Missouri as an ideal location for this new facility.”

“We are excited to congratulate Amazon for yet another investment in Missouri,” said Steve Johnson, CEO of Missouri Partnership. “Amazon is a great partner to Missouri and it was an honor to be a part of the Missouri team. We are thrilled they will be creating jobs and investing to improve the lives of Missouri citizens.”

Full-time employees at Amazon receive competitive hourly wages and a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, disability insurance, 401(k) and company stock awards starting on day one. The company also offers up to 20 weeks of maternal and parental paid leave and innovative benefits such as Leave Share and Ramp Back, which give new parents flexibility with their growing families.

“All of us in St. Peters are excited to welcome Amazon to ‘My Hometown’ and we’re looking forward to them joining the St. Peters family with 1,500 jobs for our region’s well-trained workforce,” said St. Peters Mayor Len Pagano. “With Amazon’s tremendous investment in our region and our commitment to facilitating quality economic development projects with our ‘FasTrac’ process we believe this will be one of their most successful projects – ever.”

“We are pleased that Amazon has chosen the City of St. Peters as the site for its new fulfillment center,” says County Executive Steve Ehlmann. “This is a major investment that reflects the growing shift to e-commerce and will add more than 1,500 new, full-time jobs in St. Charles County. Amazon’s decision is just one more indication that St. Charles County is being recognized as an exceptional place to live, work and do business.”

Amazon also offers full-time employees innovative programs like Career Choice, where the company will pre-pay up to 95 percent of tuition for courses related to in-demand fields, regardless of whether the skills are relevant to a career at Amazon. Since the program’s launch, over 12,000 employees have pursued degrees in game design and visual communications, nursing, IT programming and radiology, to name a few.

“We were thrilled to work with Amazon in partnership with the City of St. Peters, St. Charles County and Missouri state officials on the company’s new investment in our region that will bring more than 1,500 jobs,” said Tom Chulick, President & CEO of the St. Louis Regional Chamber. “Amazon’s decision to continue investing in the St. Louis region by locating their first fulfillment center in St. Peters highlights our region’s strategic national location, strong transportation infrastructure and superior quality workforce.”

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

About Amazon

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

Media Hotline:
Amazon-pr@amazon.com
www.amazon.com/pr

Source: Amazon.com, Inc.

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CVS Health installs 14 new medication disposal units inside CVS Pharmacy locations in Rhode Island

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2018-Mar-08 — /EPR Retail News/ — CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) announced today (March 6, 2018) that the company has expanded its safe medication disposal program inside select CVS Pharmacy locations in Rhode Island to help facilitate proper and timely disposal of opioids and other medications that could be diverted or misused if left in people’s homes. Attorney General Peter Kilmartin, U.S. Attorney Stephen Dambruch, and Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves joined representatives from CVS Health at a Pawtucket CVS Pharmacy store to launch the program today.

“With a presence in nearly 10,000 communities across the country, we witness the impact of the alarming and rapidly growing epidemic of opioid addiction and misuse,” said Tom Davis, Vice President of Professional Services for CVS Pharmacy. “Expanding our safe medication disposal efforts in Rhode Island is an extension of the initiatives in place across our company to fight the opioid abuse epidemic and fulfil our purpose of helping people on their path to better health.”

The 14 new medication disposal units that will be installed inside CVS Pharmacy locations in Rhode Island will supplement an additional 14 units CVS Health has donated to police departments across the state. Nationwide, CVS Health has donated more than 850 units to local law enforcement, collecting more than 140 metric tons, or more than 300,000 pounds of unwanted medication.

Attorney General Kilmartin said, “I applaud CVS Health for recognizing that to effectively tackle and defeat the opioid epidemic in this country, all stakeholders need to work together in a coordinated effort. Expanding the company’s prescription drug disposal kiosks to stores across Rhode Island will make it easier for customers to safely dispose of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription opioids and other prescription drugs before they can be abused or diverted for illicit purposes.”

The expansion of the safe medication disposal program to 750 CVS Pharmacy locations across the U.S. was included among the enhancements to the company’s strategy to address and prevent opioid abuse announced in September 2017. As part of that effort, the company also said it would align opioid utilization management with CDC Guideline for CVS Caremark clients and members, complementing measures already in place.

This work builds on ongoing company initiatives, including the Pharmacists Teach program, which brings CVS Pharmacists to local schools to talk to teens and parents about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs. More than 300,000 teens nationally including more than 3,600 in Rhode Island have already participated in the program. CVS Health has also worked to expand access to the opioid overdose-reversal drug naloxone in 46 states, including Rhode Island.

About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,800 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with more than 94 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the Company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contacts:

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

Amy Lanctot
Corporate Communications
(401) 770-2931
Amy.Lanctot@CVSHealth.com

SOURCE: CVS Health

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US Foods announces the appointment of Harvard Business School professor Sunil Gupta to the Board of Directors

ROSEMONT, Ill., 2018-Mar-08 — /EPR Retail News/ — US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE: USFD) announced today (March 06, 2018) that Sunil Gupta, the Edward W. Carter Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, has been appointed to the Board of Directors effective March 1, 2018.

“Sunil is among the most sought-after experts in how technology is shaping business strategies in the digital era,” said Pietro Satriano, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of US Foods. “His experience working with companies across a variety of industries, in addition to the breadth and depth of his marketing insight, will bring a unique expertise to our board.”

“We’re excited to welcome Sunil to the board as an independent director,” said Robert Dutkowsky, Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. “His leadership in digital strategy and marketing will be a tremendous asset.”

Gupta joined Harvard Business School in 2006. He has served as the Chair of the General Management Program for senior executives, Co-Chair of the Driving Digital Strategy executive program since 2013, and served as the Chair of the Marketing department from 2008 to 2013. He is the author of the forthcoming book, Driving Digital Strategy: A Guide to Reimagining Your Business.

Before joining Harvard Business School, Gupta held positions at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business, including serving as the Meyer Feldberg Professor of Business. He’s served on the advisory boards of several startups, as well as the board of the American Marketing Association.

He received his Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, a Master of Business Administration from the Indian Institute of Management, and holds a doctorate in marketing from Columbia University.

About US Foods

US Foods is one of America’s great food companies and a leading foodservice distributor, partnering with approximately 250,000 restaurants and foodservice operators to help their businesses succeed. With 25,000 employees and more than 60 locations, US Foods provides its customers with a broad and innovative food offering and a comprehensive suite of e-commerce, technology and business solutions. US Foods is headquartered in Rosemont, Ill. and generates approximately $24 billion in annual revenue. Visit usfoods.com to learn more.

Contact:
Sara Matheu
Director of Media Relations
(847) 720-2392
Sara.Matheu@usfoods.com

Source: US Foods Holding Corp.

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Hudson Pacific and Macerich to transform Westside Pavilion into state-of-the-art creative office space in a Prime Los Angeles Location

  • Hudson Pacific Brings Deep Expertise in Successfully Redeveloping and Repositioning Properties as Creative Offices to Attract Top-Tier Tenants in Technology, Entertainment, and Other High-Growth Industries
  • Redevelopment to Provide Approximately 500,000 Square Feet of Creative Office in a Prime Los Angeles Location Adjacent to Freeways and Public Transportation

LOS ANGELES, 2018-Mar-08 — /EPR Retail News/ — Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (NYSE: HPP) and Macerich (NYSE: MAC) today (03/05/18) announced the formation of a joint venture through which Hudson Pacific and Macerich will work together to transform the approximately 600,000 square-foot Westside Pavilion into approximately 500,000 square feet of state-of-the-art creative office space, while retaining the approximately 100,000 square feet of existing entertainment retail space. The joint venture will be held 75% by Hudson Pacific and 25% by Macerich.

The companies estimate total project costs, including the asset value at contribution, in the range of $425-475 million, with each partner contributing their pro rata share. The construction is expected to be completed by mid-2021. Hudson Pacific will serve as the joint venture’s Managing Member and the property’s day-to-day operator and developer.

Victor Coleman, Chairman and CEO of Hudson Pacific, said: “Westside Pavilion is a perfect opportunity for us to reposition a marquee asset in a premier location—this is what we do best. The project is poised to capture the strong demand from tenants for creative office space on the west side of Los Angeles. We look forward to working with Macerich and to making our signature improvements to the property, which we believe will greatly benefit the surrounding community.”

Art Coppola, Chairman and CEO of Macerich, said: “Our joint venture with Hudson Pacific will enable us to maximize the value of this incredibly well-situated real estate with dynamic new uses—something Macerich has always excelled at. Hudson Pacific brings great expertise in the creative office space segment, and we are pleased to partner with them on this exciting, high visibility project.”

Westside Pavilion is located proximate to the I-405 and I-10 freeways and steps from the Expo Line light rail’s Westwood/Rancho Park station. The property is immediately adjacent to the residential enclave of Cheviot Hills, and less than three miles from the business and residential communities of Century City, Westwood, Culver City, Mar Vista and Brentwood. The property’s proximity to these neighborhoods, excellent access to freeways and public transit, and its large footprint and parking areas make it ideal for redeveloping office space.

About Hudson Pacific Properties

Hudson Pacific Properties is a vertically integrated real estate company focused on acquiring, repositioning, developing and operating high quality office and state-of-the-art media and entertainment properties in select West Coast markets. Hudson Pacific invests across the risk-return spectrum, favoring opportunities where it can employ leasing, capital investment and management expertise to create additional value. Founded in 2006 as Hudson Capital, the company went public in 2010, electing to be taxed as a real estate investment trust. Through the years, Hudson Pacific has strategically assembled a portfolio totaling over 17 million square feet including land for development, in high growth, high-barrier-to-entry submarkets throughout Northern and Southern California and the Pacific Northwest. The company is a leading provider of design-forward, next-generation workspaces for a variety of tenants, with a focus on Fortune 500 and leading growth companies, many in the technology, media and entertainment sectors. As a long-term owner, Hudson Pacific prioritizes tenant satisfaction and retention, providing highly customized build-outs and working proactively to accommodate tenants’ growth. Hudson Pacific trades as a component of the Russell 2000® and the Russell 3000® indices. For more information visit HudsonPacificProperties.com.

About Macerich

Macerich, an S&P 500 company, is a fully integrated self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust, which focuses on the acquisition, leasing, management, development and redevelopment of regional malls throughout the United States. Macerich currently owns 53 million square feet of real estate consisting primarily of interests in 48 regional shopping centers. Macerich specializes in successful retail properties in many of the country’s most attractive, densely populated markets with significant presence in the Pacific Rim, Arizona, Chicago and the Metro New York to Washington, DC corridor. A recognized leader in sustainability, Macerich has earned NAREIT’s prestigious “Leader in the Light” award every year from 2014-2017. For the third straight year in 2017 Macerich achieved the #1 GRESB ranking in the North American Retail Sector, among many other environmental accomplishments. Additional information about Macerich can be obtained from the company’s website at www.macerich.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” or “potential” or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases that are predictions of or indicate future events, or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and contingencies, many of which are beyond the company’s control that may cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. All forward-looking statements reflect the company’s good faith beliefs, assumptions and expectations, but they are not guarantees of future performance. Furthermore, the company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, data or methods, future events or other changes. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause the company’s future results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements, see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on February 16, 2018, and other risks described in documents subsequently filed by the company from time to time with the SEC.

Contacts:

Investor/Media Contacts:
Hudson Pacific Properties
Laura Campbell
Vice President, Head of Investor Relations
310.622.1702
lcampbell@hudsonppi.com

Macerich
Karen Maurer
602.953.6471
karen.maurer@macerich.com

Source: Macerich

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Intershop client Alko named Digital Leader of Nordics brands in e-commerce

  • Finnish food retail sector still in beginner phase of digital maturity
  • Alko exceeds expectations with precise digital product information
  • Top positions in Finnish food retail, e-commerce and Nordics e-commerce

Jena, Helsinki, 2018-Mar-08 — /EPR Retail News/ — Finnish state owned monopoly for retailing alcoholic drinks, Alko, was announced Digital Leader of Nordics brands in  e-commerce. Additionally, the Intershop-based web shop was granted more top positions for the industry sectors “food retail” and “e-commerce” in Finland.

In comparison to other Finnish brands, Alko’s web shop offers dedicated product information, relevant pictures and adjoining data to the catalogs in the most appealing way. Basic but crisp e-commerce functionality resulted in superior customer satisfaction. A wish list, a detailed shopping basket, a real-time chat service and feedback form have proved to be beneficial to sell alcoholic products in a challenging environment of government regulations.

The shop was already awarded “IT project of the Year 2017” for its omnichannel initiative. Paula Kujansivu, Vice President, Online and Supply Chain at Alko Oy: “We see our customers appreciating our offering well in our daily business and we will improve the online shopping experience based on our customers’ feedback. Getting it acknowledged also by standards of sophisticated scale is additionally motivating for us in terms of exceeding those expectations.”

Axel Köhler, COO at Intershop, adds: “A state-of-the-art technology, combined with skilled implementation talents, resulted in a successful e-commerce business. Intershop´s software is built to deliver exactly this.”

About Intershop

Intershop Communications AG (founded in Germany 1992; Prime Standard: ISH2) is the leading independent provider of omni-channel commerce solutions. Intershop offers high-performance packaged software for internet sales, complemented by all necessary services. Intershop also acts as a business process outsourcing provider, covering all aspects of online retailing up to fulfillment. Around the globe more than 300 enterprise customers, including HP, BMW, Würth, and Deutsche Telekom run Intershop solutions. Intershop is headquartered in Jena, Germany, and has offices in the United States, Europe, Australia, and China. More information about Intershop can be found online at www.intershop.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial and operational performance of Intershop. Actual events or performance may differ materially from those contained or implied in such forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that could lead to such difference could include, among other things: Intershop’s limited operating history, the unpredictability of future revenues and expenses and potential fluctuations in revenues and operating results, significant dependence on large single customer deals, consumer trends, the level of competition, seasonality, risks related to electronic security, possible governmental regulation, and general economic conditions.

Contact:

Intershop Public Relations

HEIDE RAUSCH
Head of Corporate Communication
Phone: +49 3641 50-1000
Fax: +49 3641 50-1309
mailto:pr@intershop.de

Source: Intershop Communications AG

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ShopRite celebrates the grand opening of its newest supermarket in Philadelphia

ShopRite celebrates the grand opening of its newest supermarket in Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA, 2018-Mar-08 — /EPR Retail News/ — ShopRite today (March 05, 2018) announced the grand opening of its newest full-service supermarket in Philadelphia on Sunday, March 4. A special luncheon to introduce the new store to the community was held Feb. 28.

Located at 5597 Tulip St., the ShopRite of Bridge and Harbison will be operated by the Ammons family and their Ammons Supermarkets, LLC, which also owns the ShopRite of Aramingo Avenue and a ShopRite store in Mullica Hill, NJ. The family’s newest store offers a large selection of freshly prepared foods, organic products and popular store brands, along with a community room, café, and store dietitian. To mark the opening, the Ammons family presented a $10,000 donation to the Philabundance Food Bank during Wednesday’s community luncheon.

The store, which will serve as the anchor of the Shoppes at Wissinoming, will bring affordable fresh food and produce to an area with little access to full service supermarkets. Planning for the store began five years ago, before the city’s beverage tax was proposed by the mayor and enacted in January 2017. That tax has led to beverage sale losses of nearly 60 percent for grocery store and supermarket operators in the city.

“Despite the challenging business climate in the city since the beverage tax was implemented, our family made a decision to move forward with this new store and keep our commitment to the community. We are excited to open another great ShopRite and are confident that this new, full-service supermarket will become a destination location in the neighborhood,” said Peter Ammons, who works alongside his father, brother and sister in the family’s supermarkets.

Customers who visit the new store will see that commitment fulfilled. The state-of-the-art supermarket includes fresh bake and floral shops; a seafood department with fresh, daily deliveries; meat department with trained butchers, and a large selection of organic and popular store brands such as ShopRite’s Wholesome Pantry line. An on-site dietitian will also be available to offer free, one-on-one consultations, store tours and meal planning for customers.

The store itself is anchored with a large produce department and food court with grill, pizza station and custom bake shop. A conference room at the supermarket will also be available to civic groups for meetings.
ShopRite of Bridge & Harbison will employ close to 300 full- and part-time workers when it opens and the new shopping center and supermarket is expected to stimulate more investment in the community while giving local residents more healthy food options.

The store officially opened Sunday, March 4, at 6 a.m. and will operate seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

About ShopRite 
ShopRite is the registered trademark of Wakefern Food Corp., a retailer-owned cooperative based in Keasbey, NJ, and the largest supermarket cooperative in the United States. With more than 270 ShopRite supermarkets located throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland, ShopRite serves more than six million customers each week. Through its ShopRite Partners In Caring program, ShopRite is dedicated to fighting hunger in the communities it serves. Since the program began in 1999, ShopRite Partners In Caring has donated $43 million to food banks that support more than 2,200 worthy charities. As a title sponsor of the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer, ShopRite has donated $30 million to local organizations, hospitals and community groups. For more information, please visit www.shoprite.com.

Contact:
Karen O’Shea
Maureen Gillespie
Phone: 732-906-5295
Manager

Source: ShopRite

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Morrisons and FareShare partnership saved over 100,000 meals from waste and diverted to charities

Bradford, UK, 2018-Mar-08 — /EPR Retail News/ — Morrisons formalised a partnership between its food production sites and the food redistribution charity FareShare in April 2017, to use surplus food occurring at their manufacturing sites to benefit people in need. After nine months, the partnership has resulted in enough good quality food for over 100,000 meals being saved from waste and diverted to charities supporting vulnerable people across the UK.

Numerous Morrisons production sites have committed to work with FareShare, including the retailer’s fish processing plant in Grimsby which was the first to come on board, followed by their fruit packing house Cutler Heights and most recently, vegetable packing house Clayholes Farm in Carnoustie and the Gadbrook Regional Distribution Centre.

The recent addition of Clayholes Farm in December 2017 means that FareShare in Scotland now receives a regular supply of surplus potatoes. The Morrisons team recognised that potatoes used as quality samples could be collected and bagged up for donation to FareShare, rather than going to animal feed. The samples are now sent to FareShare Glasgow once a fortnight, where they are redistributed to local frontline charities.

The provision of off-cut grapes from the retailer’s fruit packing house Cutler Heights has grown from strength to strength since the project started in November 2017. FareShare now receives surplus grapes three times a week from the Bradford site, which are distributed nationwide to the charity’s network of Regional Centres. Three months since the project began, FareShare has received 40 tonnes of off-cut green grapes, which has directly benefited over 1,400 charities, including children’s breakfast clubs, day centres for older people and community centres in deprived areas. As of this week, the project has been expanded to include red surplus grapes, which is projected to significantly increase volumes donated.

Following the success of the partnership, Morrisons will work with Fareshare to embed the FareShare redistribution model further into their wider manufacturing network.

Lindsay Boswell, CEO of FareShare says: “We are incredibly proud of our partnership with Morrisons. Thanks to collaboration across multiple production sites, FareShare is able to access a range of fresh, nutritious food that is in such high demand by the thousands of frontline charities we support – items like fresh fish, potatoes and fruit. These types of surplus foods go a long way to helping local charities provide hot, nutritious meals for those who might otherwise go without. The fact that we have already reached a milestone of providing over 100,000 meals is testament to Morrisons commitment to putting their surplus food to the best possible use.”

Steven Butts, Head of Corporate Services at Morrisons says: “As a foodmaker that makes most of the fresh food we sell, our manufacturing sites represent the best opportunity to make a real difference by working with FareShare. We want more and more people to be able to eat well and that means ensuring as little as possible is wasted. Working with FareShare means we get surplus food made into wholesome meals where they are needed.”

For further information contact:

Morrisons Press Office
0845 611 5111

Source: Morrisons

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John Lewis Partners undergo theatrical training with National Theatre

LONDON, 2018-Mar-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Over 500 John Lewis Partners are being trained in theatrical skills by actors working for the National Theatre to help them deliver outstanding customer service at the retailer’s new shop at White City, Westfield which opens later this month.  The initiative forms part of the retailer’s plans to respond to growing customer expectation for its shops to be inspiring places where customers go for style advice, exciting events and beauty treatments, as well as to buy products.

Every Partner recruited to work at the new shop from those who work in the stockroom to the Head of Branch is undergoing the training, which is run by Theatreworks, the National Theatre’s training service. John Lewis has turned to theatrical training because actors are outstanding communicators, and skilled at being on show and using their voices for long periods of time as people in retail do.  The training covers voice and body language skills used by actors to communicate authentically with confidence.

Peter Cross, Customer Experience Director for John Lewis said: ‘Retailers have talked about ‘retail theatre’ but as shopping habits change this has never been more important.

‘We’re investing in this training with one of the world’s leading theatre companies because actors are outstanding communicators and that’s an important element in offering outstanding personal service.’

The training sessions are led by experienced actors including Sarah Thom who originally trained with Jacques Lecoq in Paris and regularly works for BBC Radio 4, playing the character of Joan in the long-running comedy, ‘Clare in the Community’ and has often appeared on TV and on stage. Her TV credits include ‘Taboo’, Home Fires’, ‘Not Going Out’, ‘Doctors’ and ‘Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle’.

Sheila Chawla from the National Theatre who manages the training, said: ‘Our training sessions focus on the idea that communication is made up of not just what you say but how you say it.  So body language, voice and expression are all as important as our words.  We all find it more engaging when someone brings some of their personality to a conversation, meeting or presentation – and our training is all about giving you the confidence and the tools to do that.  It’s all about being yourself just with a bit more skill. We’re excited to be working with John Lewis on this project and to be able to share skills from the theatre that can help John Lewis Partners engage with customers in a fresh and authentic way.’

John Lewis’s White City, Westfield shop is the anchor shop of the new £600m extension at Westfield London, which has built a reputation as a world-leading shopping experience and entertainment destination.

Over four floors, the shop will include features not offered in other John Lewis London shops, including Loved& Found – a stand-alone boutique for new and contemporary brands – and &Beauty, John Lewis’s spa concept. The fashion floor will also showcase a new look including a dedicated personal styling studio, which is just one of the 23 services customers will be able to book via the new Experience Desk, offering a  a ‘concierge style’ service to help them make the most of the shop and its services.

Notes to editors

John Lewis – John Lewis operates 49 John Lewis shops across the UK (35 department stores, 12 John Lewis at home and shops at St Pancras International and Heathrow Terminal 2) as well as johnlewis.com. John Lewis,  ‘Best In-Store Experience 2017’, ‘Best Furniture Retailer 2017,’ ‘Best Homewares Retailer 2017’1, stocks around 350,000 separate lines in its department stores and johnlewis.com across fashion, home and technology. Johnlewis.com is consistently ranked one of the top online shopping destinations in the UK.  John Lewis Finance offers a range of comprehensive financial services products – including Insurance, Foreign Currency, International Payments and the Partnership Card – delivering the values of expertise, trust and customer service expected from the John Lewis brand. www.johnlewisfinance.com

1Verdict Consumer Satisfaction Awards 2017

You can follow John Lewis on the following social media channels:
www.johnlewis.com/twitter 
www.johnlewis.com/facebook 
www.johnlewis.com/youtube.

Enquiries:

For further information, please contact:

Mandy Pursey
Communications Manager, Corporate
Telephone: 07889 230522
Email: mandy.pursey@johnlewis.co.uk

Source: John Lewis

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Whole Foods Market 365 to open its first store in Long Beach on Wednesday, April 25, 2018

LONG BEACH, Calif., 2018-Mar-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Whole Foods Market 365 will open its first store in Long Beach and eighth store nationwide on Wednesday, April 25, 2018. The 28,000 square foot store at 3881 Lakewood Boulevard will be the third Whole Foods Market 365 location in Southern California, joining Santa Monica and Silver Lake. Whole Foods Market 365 stores offer exceptional value, in a fun and convenient new format, all while maintaining Whole Foods Market’s rigorous quality standards.

That means all products sold in the store are free of artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, preservatives, hydrogenated fats and high-fructose corn syrup. The store will feature an array of organic products, GAP 5-Step Animal Welfare rated meat, sustainable seafood, freshly prepared grab-and-go items and a variety of products tailored for individuals with special diets.

“We are very excited to serve the Long Beach community with this new Whole Foods Market 365 store,” said Jeff Turnas, president of Whole Foods Market 365. “Customers will find a fun and modern take on the neighborhood grocery store, with great deals and convenient shopping options.”

The store will also include a dedicated restaurant by Yellow Fever and café by Groundwork Coffee as part of the Friends of 365 program. Through the program, the company partners with outside chefs, food and lifestyle brands and culinary influencers to bring shoppers innovative in-store experiences. These Friends share Whole Foods Market’s quality standards and have unique expertise in a cuisine, concept or product.

For more, visit the Whole Foods Market 365 website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Contact:

NCmedia@wholefoods.com

Source: Whole Foods Market

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Walgreens granted with URAC accreditation in Specialty Pharmacy

The designation demonstrates the highest level of commitment to quality healthcare

Deerfield, Ill., 2018-Mar-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Walgreens has earned URAC accreditation in Specialty Pharmacy at select Walgreens community-based specialty pharmacy sites across the United States. URAC is the independent leader in promoting healthcare quality through accreditation, certification and measurement. By achieving this status, Walgreens has demonstrated a comprehensive commitment to quality care, improved processes and better patient outcomes.

“We are honored to have been granted this prestigious and respected accreditation from URAC in communities from Honolulu and Sacramento to Wilmington, Boston, and New York, and other markets in between, covering a majority of the nation,” said Rina Shah, PharmD, vice president of pharmacy operations, Walgreens. “Receiving accreditation from URAC, the independent not-for-profit leader in healthcare quality, is a true symbol of excellence in specialty pharmacy.”

For a list of Walgreens specialty pharmacy locations that have been accredited by URAC for Specialty Pharmacy, please visit www.urac.org.

“It’s necessary for specialty pharmacies to provide a higher level of treatment for patients so desired outcomes are achieved,” said URAC President and CEO Kylanne Green. “Walgreens shows a dedication to patient education and safety through the recognition of quality it received with URAC’s independent accreditation. With URAC accreditation, people know that Walgreens strives to adhere to industry best practices.”

Walgreens community-based specialty sites on hospital campuses and in communities throughout the country are unique to the industry and offer unparalleled access to medications and personalized service.

About Walgreens
Walgreens (walgreens.com), a provider of trusted care in communities since 1901, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. Approximately 8 million customers interact with Walgreens in stores and online each day, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,100 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with its omnichannel business, Walgreens.com. Approximately 400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.

About URAC
Founded in 1990, URAC is the independent leader in promoting healthcare quality through accreditation, certification and measurement. URAC is a nonprofit organization developing evidence-based measures and standards through inclusive engagement with a range of stakeholders committed to improving the quality of healthcare. Our portfolio of accreditation and certification programs span the healthcare industry, addressing healthcare management, healthcare operations, health plans, pharmacies, telehealth providers, physician practices, and more. URAC accreditation is a symbol of excellence for organizations to showcase their validated commitment to quality and accountability.

Contact(s):
Scott Goldberg
Walgreens
(847) 315-7649

Source: Walgreens

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Shopify Inc. announces the appointment of Amy Shapero as Chief Financial Officer

Ottawa, Canada, 2018-Mar-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Shopify Inc. (NYSE:SHOP)(TSX:SHOP), the leading cloud-based, multi-channel commerce platform, today (Mar 5, 2018) announced the appointment of Amy Shapero as Chief Financial Officer, effective April 2, 2018.

Shapero joins Shopify from Betterment, an online wealth-management service, where she has served as Chief Financial Officer since 2016. Previously, Shapero was Chief Financial Officer at Sailthru, a SaaS marketing technology provider, and Senior Vice President of Strategy, Corporate Development and Corporate Communications at DigitalGlobe, a big data and analytics provider. Prior to that, she held Chief Financial Officer roles at Spot Holdings, a financial services company, and Standard & Poor’s, a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

Shapero began her career as a CPA at Ernst & Young, followed by positions at Credit Suisse and Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

“We’re excited to welcome Amy to Shopify as our new CFO,” said Shopify CEO, Tobi Lütke. “Amy brings extensive financial, operational, and strategic experience. This, combined with her deep knowledge of the technology industry and experience scaling high-growth companies, will be a huge asset to Shopify as we enter our next phase of growth and further our mission to make commerce better for everyone.”

Shapero will succeed Russ Jones, who has served as Shopify’s Chief Financial Officer since 2011. Jones will remain a strategic advisor to the company during a transition period.

“Russ was Shopify’s first CFO, and now he’s our first official retiree. He leaves behind an incredible legacy at Shopify, which includes taking us public. In the last seven years, Russ has been instrumental in growing Shopify from a 50 person company to a leading public SaaS company with over 3,000 employees. We’re very grateful to Russ for his valuable contributions and wish him all the best as he begins his well-deserved retirement,” said Lütke.

Shopify is also pleased to announce the recent addition of Jeff Weiser as Chief Marketing Officer. Prior to joining Shopify, Weiser served as Chief Marketing Officer at Shutterstock (NYSE), held multiple senior level positions with Beachbody (P90X and Shakeology), and performed strategy and analytics roles at SGN (Social Gaming Network), MySpace and Yahoo!. Weiser holds a Bachelors of Arts in English from Yale University and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School.

Craig Miller, Shopify’s former Chief Marketing Officer, will now focus exclusively on his role as Chief Product Officer.

About Shopify

Shopify is the leading cloud-based, multi-channel commerce platform. Merchants can use the software to design, set up, and manage their stores across multiple sales channels, including web, mobile, social media, marketplaces, brick-and-mortar locations, and pop-up shops. The platform also provides merchants with a powerful back-office and a single view of their business. The Shopify platform was engineered for reliability and scale, making enterprise-level technology available to businesses of all sizes. Shopify currently powers over 600,000 businesses in approximately 175 countries and is trusted by brands such as Nestle, Red Bull, Rebecca Minkoff, and Kylie Cosmetics.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding Shopify’s appointment of its new Chief Financial Officer. Words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “will”, and “intends” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent Shopify’s expectations as of the date of this news release, or as of the date they are otherwise stated to be made, and subsequent events may cause these expectations to change. Shopify undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Press Inquiries:
press@shopify.com

SOURCE: Shopify

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Nordstrom introduces Anthropologie Home collection in stores and online

Nordstrom introduces Anthropologie Home collection in stores and online

Anthropologie Home collection to be available in 15 Nordstrom stores and on Nordstrom.com, beginning March 19

SEATTLE, 2018-Mar-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) announced today (March 5, 2018) a partnership with Anthropologie (Nasdaq: URBN) to introduce more than 200 items from Anthropologie Home at select Nordstrom full-line stores and on Nordstrom.com, beginning March 19th. The Anthropologie Home collection will encompass categories including kitchen, dining and entertaining, bed and bath textiles, room décor, stationery and hardware.

“We are thrilled to be launching the best of Anthropologie Home into 15 Nordstrom stores and on Nordstrom.com. Home is a category we continue to evolve and being Anthropologie’s partner will allow us to introduce dynamic home product with a regular cadence,” said Gemma Lionello, executive vice president and general merchandise manager, Nordstrom. “We look forward to providing our customers with another way to shop one of their favorite home brands.”

Anthropologie Home at Nordstrom represents a mix of classic and iconic pieces, new seasonal designs and exclusive artist collaborations. Work from 20 artists, discovered around the world, is reflected in the wide range of techniques, mediums and styles in the collection. They include Massachusetts-based ceramicist Molly Hatch’s whimsical creations, painter and UK native Sally Muir’s dog portraiture, Los Angeles studio All Roads Design’s artisanal textiles and North Carolina’s Suite One Studio’s watercolor inspired designs.

“Anthropologie Home has evolved significantly over the past several years, becoming a sought-after design resource for every room of the home. We are thrilled to take this important next step with Nordstrom as our partner in the United States,” said Andrew Carnie, president of Anthropologie home, garden and Europe. “We look forward to sharing our unique voice in home with their customers in a meaningful and engaging way.”

Nordstrom store locations that will feature Anthropologie Home include:

Arden Fair (Sacramento, Calif.) NorthPark Center (Dallas, Texas)
Bellevue Square (Bellevue, Wash.) Park Meadows (Lone Tree, Colo.)
Brea Mall (Brea, Calif.) Perimeter Mall (Atlanta, Ga.)
Downtown Seattle (Seattle, Wash.) Scottsdale Fashion Square (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Fashion Valley (San Diego, Calif.) The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City (Arlington, Va.)
Garden State Plaza (Paramus, N.J.)
Mall of America (Bloomington, Minn.) The Galleria at Tyler (Riverside, Calif.)
Michigan Avenue (Chicago, Ill.) The Mall at Short Hills (Short Hills, N.J.)

ABOUT NORDSTROM:

Nordstrom, Inc. is a leading fashion retailer based in the U.S. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 366 stores in 40 states, including 122 full-line stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico; 232 Nordstrom Rack stores; two Jeffrey boutiques; two clearance stores; seven Trunk Club clubhouses; and its Nordstrom Local service concept. Additionally, customers are served online through Nordstrom.com, Nordstromrack.com, HauteLook and TrunkClub.com. Nordstrom, Inc.’scommon stock is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol JWN.

ABOUT ANTHROPOLOGIE:

Founded in 1992, Anthropologie is an omnichannel lifestyle brand that celebrates fashion, art, culture, design and discovery. Led by David W. McCreight, President of Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN) and CEO of the Anthropologie Group, Anthropologie currently maintains 226 stores in the U.S., Canada and Europe, as well as a popular catalog and website. The company is part of URBN’s portfolio of global consumer brands comprised of Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People, BHLDN, Terrain and the Vetri Family.

Media Contacts:
Nordstrom
Meliz Andiroglu
Meliz.Andiroglu@nordstrom.com
206.303.1255

Anthropologie
Sara Goodstein
Sgoodstein@anthropologie.com
646.728.2155

SOURCE: Nordstrom, Inc.

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Amazon surpasses the milestone of 10,000 full-time employees in Illinois

Between 2014 and 2016, Amazon’s investments contributed more than $200 million into Illinois’ economy, indirectly creating 7,000 additional jobs on top of the 10,000 the company employs directly

SEATTLE, 2018-Mar-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — This year, Amazon will celebrate its third year fulfilling customer orders out of Illinois and surpassing the milestone of 10,000 full-time employees in the state with job opportunities for people with all types of experience, education and skill levels—from human resources, engineers and facilities technicians, to those seeking entry-level positions and on-the-job training.

“We couldn’t be prouder to be part of the Illinois family. Our team in the Land of Lincoln has been instrumental in providing outstanding customer experiences, raising the bar on our operational excellence, and continuing to innovate on behalf of the customer. We feel fortunate to have been able to create more than 10,000 jobs in just three years and gratified by the amazing support we’ve received from the community,” said Sanjay Shah, Amazon’s Vice President of North America Customer Fulfillment.

Amazon’s first fulfillment center in Illinois, located at 205 Emerald Drive in Joliet, opened in 2015 with a team of 1,000 full-time employees. Since the initial building’s launch, Amazon has opened eight other fulfillment centers, two Prime Now hubs, an Amazon Fresh site, a sortation center, four delivery stations, an Amazon Books store, and a corporate office in the Prairie State.

This expansion has resulted in Amazon investing hundreds of millions of dollars into Illinois’s economy, both in fulfillment infrastructure and compensation to its 10,000 current employees. As a snapshot, according to a report by the company’s Economics team, Amazon’s investments in Illinois from 2014 through 2016 resulted in an additional $200 million to the state’s economy. Using Input-Output methodology and multipliers developed by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Amazon estimates its investments in the state have created an additional 7,000 indirect jobs on top of the company’s direct hires.

“We welcome Amazon’s growth and creation of more than 10,000 jobs, which speaks to the quality of our work force here in Illinois,” said Governor Bruce Rauner. “We’re proud of Amazon’s commitment and contributions to the local community and broader state economy. We congratulate Amazon on yet another enterprise milestone and look forward to working with the company to build on this momentum.”

“Illinois is full of people willing and wanting to work and grow,” said Intersect Illinois President and CEO Mark Peterson. “Amazon exceeding their projections is great news and a testament to our dedicated, skilled and extensive workforce.”

“As the world’s largest inland port, Will County is proud to be home to four Amazon fulfillment centers,” said Will County Executive Larry Walsh.

Amazon in Illinois by the numbers:

  • 9 fulfillment centers, 6 of which are located in Chicagoland
  • 3 locations in Chicago city proper: Prime Now hub, delivery station, and a corporate office
  • Amazon’s corporate office in Chicago has created jobs for 200 engineers and cloud infrastructure professionals, and is being expanded to host up to 400 people
  • 400+ restaurants leverage Amazon’s technological expertise to offer customers superfast delivery on hot food through Amazon Restaurants
  • 8,500+ full-time employees in the greater Chicago area
  • 7,000+ estimated indirect jobs created as a result of Amazon’s investment between 2014 and 2016
  • 95,000+ authors, sellers, and developers in Illinois growing their businesses and reaching new customers on Amazon products and services
  • $100,000+ donated to charities in Illinois through monetary and in-kind donations
  • $200 million added into Illinois’ economy between 2014 and 2016 due to Amazon’s investments
  • More than 6,000,000 sq. ft. footprint for the nine fulfillment centers

Amazon’s statewide impact can be seen in the local small businesses it empowers. For example, Kristin Rae is an Illinois resident and founder of Inspire International, an independent, woman-founded brand that sells modern clothing and travel accessories. Inspire International uses Fulfillment By Amazon, a service that enables small businesses to use Amazon’s resources to sell directly to customers.

“I truly wouldn’t be able to be in business without Amazon,” said Rae. “It’s not only the visibility that Amazon offers boutique brands like mine, but also the resources and support that are so valuable to small businesses. I am able to efficiently operate a global business from the heartland of Illinois, something that years ago wouldn’t have been possible for sellers like me who live in more rural areas of the country. Amazon is revolutionizing what it is to be a small business.”

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

To learn more about working at Amazon, visit www.amazon.jobs.

About Amazon

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

Media Hotline:
Amazon-pr@amazon.com
www.amazon.com/pr

Source: Amazon.com, Inc.

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Albertsons Companies welcomes Jim Donald as President and Chief Operating Officer

Boise, Idaho, 2018-Mar-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Albertsons Companies announced today (Mar 05, 2018) that Jim Donald, former President and Chief Executive Officer of Starbucks, has been appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of Albertsons Companies, effective immediately. Donald is an experienced retail operator with extensive knowledge of Albertsons Companies, having previously held senior leadership roles at both Albertson’s, Inc. and Safeway, Inc. Donald also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Rite Aid from 2008 to 2013.

As President and Chief Operating Officer, Donald will have responsibility for the operations of the retailers’ 2,300+ store portfolio and help with the acceleration of the company’s growing omnichannel platform. Following the close of the recently announced merger with Rite Aid, subject to customary regulatory approvals and approval by Rite Aid shareholders, Donald will continue in this role and work alongside the rest of the combined company’s leadership team. Donald replaces Wayne Denningham, who retired earlier this year. Susan Morris, who was named Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer in January 2018, will continue in her role.

“Jim Donald has built an exceptional career in retail. His knowledge of our company and industry is unmatched, and I know his contributions will be invaluable as we enter the next chapter of Albertsons Companies,” said Bob Miller, Albertsons Companies Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to tapping his expertise in leading large consumer brands as we work every day to meet our customers’ needs, both in-store and online.”

Most recently, Donald served as Chief Executive Officer of Extended Stay America, a large US-based hotel chain, from 2012 to 2015. From 2009 to 2011, Donald served as President and Chief Executive Officer of food and pharmacy retailer Haggen, Inc. Prior to that, he spent six years at Starbucks, leading the company through a period of strong growth and performance, working his way up from President of its North America Division to President and Chief Executive Officer of Starbucks Corporation. Earlier in his career, Donald led Pathmark Stores, Inc. and held a variety of senior management positions with Albertson’s, Inc., Safeway, Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Said Donald, “Having first worked at Albertsons 42 years ago, I have watched as an insider and from afar how their keen focus on customer service maintained a solid foundation for their team through the years. Their acquisitive nature combined with their recent innovation efforts and strong Own Brands portfolio have helped them to build an even stronger company today. I look forward to being a part of the team that takes this great company into the future and continues to serve the food, health, and wellness needs of today’s busy customers.”

About Albertsons Companies

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

Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

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

MEDIA CONTACT:

208-395-6200

Source: Albertsons Companies/globenewswire

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British Land: Eataly to open its first UK location at Broadgate’s 135 Bishopsgate in 2020

British Land: Eataly to open its first UK location at Broadgate’s 135 Bishopsgate in 2020

 

LONDON, 2018-Mar-06 — /EPR Retail News/ — British Land and Eataly, the Italian marketplace, announce that Eataly is to open its first UK location at Broadgate’s 135 Bishopsgate in 2020. Eataly has signed an agreement for lease for 42,000 sq ft on the ground and first floors of the building.

Eataly’s original idea is very simple: to gather all the high-quality Italian foods under one roof, where you can eat, shop and learn. With a selection of the best Italian products, restaurants, bars, quick services, exciting on-site production laboratories, and a cooking school, Eataly will add to the already popular restaurant and bar offering at Broadgate, bringing many opportunities to learn about Italian food and culture though courses, guided tastings, demonstrations and special events.

The letting marks yet another positive step in Broadgate’s evolution into a mixed-use neighbourhood for London, and sets the tone for the world class retail destination that British Land is delivering at the campus.

135 Bishopsgate’s refurbishment is part of British Land’s wider focus on enhancing the environment for Broadgate’s workers and visitors and attracting businesses from a range of sectors to the campus. The upgraded building will deliver high quality office space for occupiers, who will benefit from a roof terrace with views over London, as well as an in-house catering offer and a café, both provided by Eataly. British Land is making significant improvements to the public realm on Bishopsgate, one of London’s busiest streets.

Eataly’s marketplace will be accessible from both Bishopsgate and Broadgate’s Exchange Square which is due to be transformed into a new park for the campus. These additional entrances will significantly improve the campus’ permeability and its connections with the lively surrounding areas of Spitalfields and Shoreditch.

Claire Barber, Head of Central London Retail and Meadowhall, British Land said: “Eataly’s decision to take space at Broadgate is a fantastic endorsement of British Land’s strategy to create a vibrant, world class neighbourhood at the campus.

“Along with arrival of the Elizabeth Line at 100 Liverpool Street this year, and the high quality retail space due to open at 100 Liverpool Street in 2019, Eataly will really put Broadgate on the map as an exciting destination for Londoners to enjoy seven days a week.”

Luca Baffigo, CEO, Eataly said: “Visiting Borough Market before opening our first Eataly in Italy was a source of great inspiration for our concept. This is why opening a place in London where people can buy, eat and learn is a very important and exciting milestone for us. Being able to bring our model into a place that is so significant for us fills us with satisfaction and stimulates us to create in London a wonderful multifunctional experience.”

This letting is the most recent in a series of commitments from a range of occupiers at Broadgate, including cyber security and data management company Mimecast, which is taking 79,000 sq ft at 1FA (currently undergoing a major refurbishment), and Japanese bank SMBCE which is taking 161,000 sq ft at 100 Liverpool Street.

For further details on Broadgate, visit www.broadgate.co.uk.

About British Land

Our portfolio of high quality UK commercial property is focused on Retail around the UK and London Offices. We own or manage a portfolio valued at £18.1 billion (British Land share: £13.5 billion) as at 30 September 2017 making us one of Europe’s largest listed real estate investment companies.

Our strategy is to provide places which meet the needs of our customers and respond to changing lifestyles – Places People Prefer. We do this by creating great environments both inside and outside our buildings and use our scale and placemaking skills to enhance and enliven them. This expands their appeal to a broader range of occupiers, creating enduring demand and driving sustainable, long term performance.

Our Retail portfolio is focused on Regional and Local multi-let centres, and accounts for 49% of our portfolio. Our Offices portfolio comprises three office-led campuses in central London as well as high quality standalone buildings and accounts for 49% of our portfolio. Increasingly our focus is on providing a mix of uses and this is most evident at Canada Water, our 46 acre redevelopment opportunity where we have plans to create a new neighbourhood for London.

Sustainability is embedded throughout our business. Our places, which are designed to meet high sustainability standards, become part of local communities, provide opportunities for skills development and employment and promote wellbeing. Our industry-leading sustainability performance led to British Land being awarded a five star rating in the 2017 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark for the second year running.

In April 2016 British Land received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development, the UK’s highest accolade for business success for economic, social and environmental achievements over a period of five years.

Further details can be found on the British Land website at www.britishland.com.

About Eataly

Eataly, which in the last year generates sales of roughly EUR 400 million, has 40 shops in 12 countries, offering to more than 30 million of visitors the best cottage-industry products at sustainable prices, limiting the distribution chain to the utmost and creating direct contact between the producer and the final distributor, skipping the intermediate stages in the chain. The main goal is to increase the percentage of those who eat with awareness, choosing high-quality Italian products and paying special attention to the source and processing of raw materials.

The philosophy adopted by Eataly is twofold: on the one hand, it offers products, both for sale and used as ingredients in catering; on the other hand, it offers education, including cooking classes, tastings, encounters with great chefs, important wine or beer producers or craftsmen, free education for children and senior citizens. The latter aspect summarises the true originality of Eataly and represents the starting-point in leading consumers to perceive quality, which can encourage the sense of taste and enjoyment that makes a human being more satisfied and happier. More on www.eataly.com

Enquiries:
Investor Relations:
David Walker
British Land
020 7467 3418

Media:
Claire Turvey
FTI Consulting
020 3727 1000

Source: British Land

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Casino Group becomes RelevanC’s sole shareholder

Saint-Étienne, France, 2018-Mar-06 — /EPR Retail News/ — RelevanC, the start-up created on 11 October 2017 by the Casino Group and RedPill, offers mining and analytics services for high quality, relevant data, based on both consumers’ actual in-store purchases and their online behaviour.

Mining these data makes it possible not only to conduct in-depth consumer studies, but also to roll out targeted digital advertising campaigns and measure their impact on actual brick and mortar sales.

RelevanC’s initial launch phase, led by recently appointed Chief Executive Officer Adrien Vincent, has now been completed.

Specifically:

  • the web platform for interfacing with advertisers, media agencies and research institutes has been designed and is now fully up and running;
  • consumer data from the Casino Group’s banners (Cdiscount, Monoprix, Géant, Casino Supermarkets, Franprix, etc.) have been enriched, thanks to partnerships formed with premium media, including TF1, Aufeminin.com, France Télévisions and Amaury Media;
  • the performance measurement application, which determines the impact of a digital advertising campaign on actual in-store buying behaviour, has been developed and the initial outcomes with major food brands are promising.

After this successful incubation phase, Casino and RedPill decided to amend their agreements in order to launch the company’s growth phase.

The Casino Group has now become RelevanC’s sole shareholder and is reaffirming its goal of positioning itself in this new, fast-growing business by actively mining all the potential of its data.

PRESS CONTACT:
Agence IMAGE SEPT
Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 70 74 84
Karine Allouis – kallouis@image7.fr
Grégoire Lucas – gregoire.lucas@image7.fr

Source: Casino Group