Amid all the activity that promises to characterize mass market retailing this fall, one name stands out above the rest when it comes to innovation: Walmart. With the usual group of pundits and soothsayers once again predicting the demise or minimization of brick-and mortar retailing, and with online shopping threatening to crowd out the traditional
The Food Marketing Institute recently issued the 70th installment in its annual The Food Retailing Industry Speaks series. Based on responses from retailers that together operate more than 36,000 stores, the report provides a window on what the leaders of the nation’s grocery companies think about the challenges they currently face and prospects for the
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart this month said it would stop selling ammunition that can be used in military-style assault rifles and would call on Congress to increase background checks and consider a new assault rifle ban. It also said it would discourage its customers from openly carrying guns in its stores. Other retailers, including Walgreens
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. has appointed Heyward Donigan chief executive officer. Donigan was most recently president and CEO of Sapphire Digital (formerly Vitals), which designs and develops omnichannel platforms that help consumers choose their best-fit health care providers. At Rite Aid she succeeds John Standley, who had announced in March that he
BOISE, Idaho — Albertsons Cos. is looking for an executive to oversee merchandising and marketing for its stores and websites following Shane Sampson’s departure from the company earlier this month. Sampson, who has spent nearly four decades working in the grocery industry, returned to Albertsons Cos. in 2015 as executive vice president and marketing and
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart has been reconfiguring its marketing team following the August 30 departure of Barbara Messing, who returned to the San Francisco Bay Area after serving as the company’s chief marketing officer for a little over a year. Michael Francis, a former chief marketer at both Target Corp. and Dreamworks, is joining Walmart
CINCINNATI — Building on an exploratory pilot that kicked off last October, Kroger Co. and Walgreens recently announced a new test area for the retailers, featuring the expansion of Kroger Express and Kroger Pickup at selected Walgreens stores as well as the launch of Walgreens’ owned-brand health and beauty products in 17 Kroger stores in
BOSTON — Alleviating the opioid crisis and reforming direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees topped a list of priorities targeted by leaders of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores as the group confronts challenges its members face in meeting the needs of consumers. “Today’s retail pharmacies provide access to health and wellness products, nutritional
MINNEAPOLIS — Target Corp. will create Disney-themed sections in 25 of its stores in October — with 40 more slated for next year — offering merchandise from Walt Disney Co. franchises including Pixel, Marvel and Star Wars. Target will open a new store near the entrance of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., in 2021,
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) has named Francesco Tinto global chief information officer and senior vice president at the company. Tinto will oversee the global strategy for WBA’s IT operations across all of the company’s divisions, as well as the implementation of its technology and digital innovation. His role will include data analytics,
The term “clean label” has been bouncing around since at least 2010. Originally the term described foods and drinks that contained fewer — and “cleaner” — ingredients. This emphasis on clean ingredients has spilled over into beauty. Research by Linkage Research & Consulting shows 72% of skin care consumers agree their skin is just like
NEW YORK — The lights continue to go out at an alarming rate in stores across the United States, according to the latest report from Coresight Research. With 2019 nearly two-thirds over, the number of shuttered stores thus far is well in excess of 2018’s total, while the number of openings, which already nearly equal’s