As 2017 is about to begin, the mass market retailing community confronts many more questions than answers and faces many difficult decisions in the months ahead. New faces, new formats, new merchandising approaches — all appear in short supply as the industry attempts to cope with a disappointing year and move on to a new
Amazon is once again jolting the status quo in mass market retailing. The e-commerce pioneer, which has done more than any other company to transform consumer expectations and the way people shop, early this month took the wraps off an experimental brick-and-mortar store format with the potential to revolutionize the grocery shopping experience. Amazon Go,
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Southeastern Grocers LLC unveiled its new Harveys Supermarket store format at 73 locations in four states, repositioning the stores with a new look and lower prices. Grand openings were held at each of the stores on November 16. Each new Harveys Supermarket is focused on delivering many ways to save, according to
NEW YORK — Retailers expect the Republican Party takeover of the executive and legislative branches of government on January 20 to impact several issues important to the industry, including health care, trade and taxes. As the nation’s second-largest private-sector employer, retailers have closely tracked implementation of the Affordable Care Act over the past six years
WASHINGTON — U.S. retail sales rose 0.8% in October from the previous month and were up 4.3% from a year earlier, the Commerce Department reported earlier this month. September retail sales were revised higher to show a 1% increase instead of the previously reported 0.6% increase. The combined September and October sales gain was the
MINNEAPOLIS — Target Corp. believes that its smaller stores represent a big opportunity. The retailer’s flexible format — which allows for stores that range in size from 20,000 square feet to more than 100,000 square feet — is allowing the retailer to expand into urban neighborhoods and college towns, as well into densely populated suburban
NASHVILLE — Dollar General Corp. will pilot small-format stores early next year, here and in Raleigh, N.C. The 3,400-square-foot stores will target time-pressed urban shoppers with everyday-low prices on staples. The outlets will also have a soda fountain, coffee brewing station and sandwiches. The coffee station, a new offering for Dollar General, will be called
Who are the outstanding retail executives of the year? In years past, this determination would be a difficult task, because so many capable executives would be in contention. This year, not so much — not, at least, if individual success is measured by the success of the company. As we’ve pointed out, 2016 will not
For retail pharmacy operators, the election of Donald Trump as the next president of the United States ushers in a period of uncertainty. Health care was a focal point during the closing days of his unorthodox campaign, when he repeatedly vowed that one of his top priorities after taking office would be to repeal and
AUSTIN, Texas — Whole Foods Market Inc. announced on November 2 that cofounder John Mackey will take the helm as sole chief executive officer, ending a six-year experiment with a dual-CEO structure. The announcement came as Whole Foods reported its first annual decline in comparable-store sales since 2009. As part of the streamlining, Walter Robb
SEATTLE — A top Amazon.com Inc. executive has characterized reports that the company will open brick-and-mortar food stores as “rumors and speculation.” But chief financial officer Brian Olsavsky said consumables were an integral Amazon offering, and that it was looking at new methods of getting products to consumers. Olsavsky acknowledged during an earnings conference call
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart president and chief executive officer Doug McMillon has outlined a road map intended to steer the company’s role on issues critical to society over the next several years. The road map points to “a new era of trust and transparency,” McMillon commented early this month in a presentation at the Net