ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Customer satisfaction with retail is relatively stable, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index’s 2021-2022 ranking. The Retail Trade sector as a whole saw its score dip just 0.5% to 75.1 (out of 100). “Cool stability,” says ACSI managing director David VanAmburg. “That’s the best way to describe the retail sector
MINNEAPOLIS — Target had another good year in 2021. The company delivered $106 billion in total revenue for the year, having grown nearly $28 billion, or more than 35%, over the past two years. Comparable sales grew 12.7%, on top of a 19.3% increase in 2020. Target also said that earnings per share in the
BOISE, Idaho — Albertsons Cos.’ board of directors said Monday that it is leading a review of “potential strategic alternatives aimed at enhancing Albertsons’ growth and maximizing shareholder value.” The review will include the consideration of possible financial transactions, potential deals, and strategic initiatives that could complement the grocery retailer’s existing businesses. Albertsons, which went
NEW ORLEANS — Sydney Johnson Besthoff, who had led the seven-state Katz & Besthoff drugstore chain until he sold the business in 1997, died Saturday at his New Orleans home of heart failure, the family said. He was 94 years old. He was the third generation to run Katz & Besthoff, which his grandfather, Sydney
CHICAGO — U.S. consumers are now more worried about rising food prices, the economy, and their own personal finances than they are about getting COVID, according to the latest study from the customer data science company dunnhumby. And consumers perceive food inflation as being much higher than it actually is. American consumers surveyed for the
PHILADELPHIA – Shopping and fulfilling prescriptions at Rite Aid has become more rewarding. Rite Aid announced Monday the launch of Rite Aid Rewards, a new customer loyalty program that makes it easier for more customers to engage and save. The new program allows members to earn points through everyday purchases, prescription pickups, personalized challenges
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart has reportedly named Creighton Kiper its newest vice president of merchandising, beauty. The announcement comes weeks after Kiper’s predecessor, Musab Balbale, departed the company. Kiper previously held the role of merchandising vice president of wellness at Walmart, with responsibility for merchandising in stores and online for the U.S. market. He also
MINNEAPOLIS — Target, which in 2017 announced a path to a starting wage of $15 an hour for all employees, now plans to set a new starting wage range and expand access to health care benefits for its team members and their families. The retailer said Monday that it is setting a new starting wage
CINCINNATI — Kroger Co. is expanding the reach of its grocery delivery service into Oklahoma, a state where it does not have physical stores. Earlier this month Kroger said it was adding an automated “spoke” order fulfillment center in Oklahoma City, powered by the Ocado Group. When the 50,000-square-foot facility becomes operational later this year,
NEW YORK — Musab Balbale has left his position as vice president and general manager of Walmart beauty to take the top merchant role at CVS Health. Starting at the end of the month, he will fill the post that has been vacant since senior vice president and chief merchant George Coleman left in July.
WASHINGTON — Omicron, inflation and bad weather in much of the country were not enough to stop consumers from shopping in January, according to figures from the Census Bureau and the National Retail Federation (NRF). Retail sales posted strong gains in January despite those and other challenges. “January’s numbers show that 2022 is starting very
ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp. has named Ron Vachris president and chief operating officer. Vachris, 56, previously served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of merchandising, a position he was named to in June 2016. Vachris succeeds Craig Jelinek in the role of president, while Jelinek remains chief executive officer and a