November 12, 2018 by MMR
Check Out With Me, Geoffrey’s Toy Box, Kroger Co., Meijer, Walmart
2018, Issue 11-12-2018, Issues
NEW YORK — Although most preseason forecasters anticipate robust consumer spending during the year-end holidays, retailers are leaving little to chance. Walmart launched a mobile technology called Check Out With Me designed to allow employees to check out customers in the busiest areas of the store, such as the consumer electronics and toy departments. Walmart
November 12, 2018 by MMR
Jamie Iannone, Sam’s Club Now
2018, Issue 11-12-2018, Issues
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam’s Club Now, a new club set to open in Dallas, represents “the epicenter of innovation” for the membership club, chief executive officer Jamie Iannone said in a blog post last month on the Sam’s Club website. “There won’t be another club like it. It will be a mobile-first shopping experience powered
November 12, 2018 by MMR
Boston, CarePass, CVS Pharmacy
2018, Issue 11-12-2018, Issues
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Pharmacy announced last month that customers in the greater Boston area can now enroll in CarePass, a new pilot membership rewards program offering additional benefits to the company’s ExtraCare Rewards Program. CarePass provides card members in-store and online perks, including free delivery on most medications and purchases; access to a 24/7
November 12, 2018 by MMR
North Carolina, Wegmans
2018, Issue 11-12-2018, Issues
WAKE FOREST, N.C. — Wegmans Food Markets Inc. is boosting its planned presence in North Carolina with the confirmation of plans to open a fifth store in the state. The new store will be located on the Route 98 bypass in Wake Forest, N.C., which is approximately 11 miles northeast of the Raleigh site where
November 12, 2018 by MMR
Amazon, Grocery Delivery, Whole Foods
2018, Issue 11-12-2018, Issues
AUSTIN, Texas — Amazon continues to expand grocery delivery from its Whole Foods stores, a service now available in 63 cities across the United States. Amazon Prime members in Albuquerque, N.M.; Birmingham, Ala.; Boise, Idaho; Charleston, S.C.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Hartford, Conn.; Kansas City, Providence, R.I.; Salt Lake City; and Stamford, Conn. — as well
November 12, 2018 by MMR
Ahold Delhaize, New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, UN Environment
2018, Issue 11-12-2018, Issues
NEW YORK — Ahold Delhaize has signed on to a global commitment to eliminate plastic waste and pollution. The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, officially unveiled last month at a conference in Bali, was signed by nearly 300 packaging producers, retailers and recyclers, representing 20% of all plastic packaging produced globally. At the heart of
November 12, 2018 by MMR
Robots, Schnuck Markets
2018, Issue 11-12-2018, Issues
ST. LOUIS — Schnuck Markets Inc. says its cadre of shelf-scanning robots will double in size after the devices proved their worth in performing inventory checks and alerting employees when items need restocking or price tags are inaccurate. Another four of the grocer’s St. Louis-area stores are set to get robots as the grocer expands
November 12, 2018 by Jeffrey Woldt
CarePass, CVS Health, Jeffrey Woldt
2018, Issue 11-12-2018, Issues, Opinion

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
November 12, 2018 by Scot Meyer
Adobe Analytics, holiday, Scot Meyer
2018, Issue 11-12-2018, Issues
The upcoming holiday season is projected to be a good one for the retail industry. But much of the sales growth will be a result of additional traffic on retailers’ websites rather than in their stores. Online spending during the upcoming holiday shopping season is expected to grow 14.8%, to $124.1 billion, according to Adobe
November 12, 2018 by Alan Friel
Alan Friel, California Consumer Privacy Act, CCPA
2018, Issue 11-12-2018, Issues
California recently enacted the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), effective January 1, 2020, a privacy law unprecedented in the U.S. that grants California residents a broad range of European-like privacy rights. Amendments passed on August 31 and signed into law on September 23 extend the time for the California attorney general (CaAG) to promulgate regulations
November 12, 2018 by Heather Gouinlock
Heather Gouinlock, Holiday Retail Outlook
2018, Issue 11-12-2018, Issues
The retail industry is feeling positive as it heads into the 2018 holiday season. Last year was the strongest holiday period since 2011, the industry is forecasted to open 5,000 net new stores in 2018, and total retail spend is projected to increase by approximately 4% this year. Of course, these trends are coupled with