MIAMI — It has been 10 years since Leslie Sarasin became president and chief executive officer of the Food Marketing Institute, and during her tenure the level of confidence among the association’s members has never been higher. Speaking at the FMI Midwinter Executive Conference late last month, she cited the newfound assurance among supermarket operators
Giant Eagle Inc. is one of the nation’s premier regional grocers. With 216 Giant Eagle and Market District supermarkets and 258 GetGo convenience stores, the company is a leader in its operating area, which includes western Pennsylvania, where it is headquartered; north central Ohio; northern West Virginia; central Indiana; and Maryland. The stores generate some
Chris Baldwin kicked off the National Retail Federation’s Big Show in New York City earlier this month by assuring attendees at the event’s first Main Stage presentation that rumors of the industry’s “demise were greatly exaggerated.” The chairman, president and chief executive officer of BJ’s Wholesale Club and current NRF chairman then elaborated on his
BOISE, Idaho — Bob Miller brought another chapter in his storied retailing career to a close last September when he stepped down as chief executive officer of Albertsons Cos. Asked how closely Jim Donald, his successor at the food, health and wellness retail store operator, would follow his example, Miller said, “He’s got to have
The just concluded holiday selling season was a good one for most retailers. Ample anecdotal evidence of strong consumer demand was confirmed shortly after Christmas in a report issued by Mastercard. Based on tracking of retail activity within the credit card company’s network, supplemented with survey-based projections for such forms of payment as cash and
The retail industry is in the midst of a golden age of experimentation and innovation. Triggered by intensified competition, changing consumer dynamics, and the revolutionary impact of digital technology and e-commerce, merchants have had no choice but to rethink the way they do business or risk obsolescence, a process that took Sears Holdings down a
In an industry where mergers and acquisitions frequently fail to live up to their promise, it is refreshing to see instances where things go according to plan. Almost two and a half years after Royal Ahold and the Delhaize Group came together, the combined company has all but completed the assimilation process, forged a common
CVS Health is clear that its primary mission is health care, an orientation that will only become more pronounced when its $77 billion acquisition of Aetna is finalized in the coming weeks. As the company continues to ramp up its already formidable array of capabilities in the field, there is a danger that some observers
When J.D. Power released the results of its annual “U.S. Pharmacy Study” back in August, Good Neighbor Pharmacy ranked highest among drug chains in customer satisfaction with a score of 903, well above the 846 average in a segment whose stock-in-trade is taking care of the patient. It was the seventh time in the last
Amid all the turmoil in retailing, health care and government, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores continues to distinguish itself through steadfast advocacy of community pharmacy. By exercising patience and persistence, while at the same time possessing the readiness to seize opportunities whenever and wherever they arise, NACDS delivers meaningful results for its member
Retailers’ thoughts are more closely attuned to the needs of students in late summer than at any other time during the year. Back-to-school season represents one of biggest selling opportunities on the industry calendar, as young people prepare for a new school year during which they will need to be equipped with everything from notebooks,
The eleventh-hour collapse of the merger between Albertsons Cos. and Rite Aid Corp. in the face of opposition from the latter’s shareholders raises a host of questions for the two companies and the people who run them. The plug was pulled earlier this month, less than a day before Rite Aid stockholders were to have