July 23, 2018 by Jeffrey Woldt
Dick Boer, Jeffrey Woldt, Royal Ahold
2018, Issue 07-23-2018, Issues
Seven years ago, as the newly appointed chief executive officer of Royal Ahold, Dick Boer was focused on implementation of Reshaping Retail, a strategy designed to enable the company to better meet consumers’ changing needs with supermarkets and small-format and specialty stores, as well as an emerging array of omnichannel capabilities. Reshaping Retail proved an
June 25, 2018 by Jeffrey Woldt
Jeffrey Woldt, Lidl
2018, Issue 06-25-2018, Issues, Opinion
A little over a year ago the supermarket sector was roiled by speculation about the impact that the arrival of Lidl would have on established players in the U.S. market. Based in Neckarsulm, Germany, the hard discount grocer has proven a disruptive force and fierce competitor with more than 10,000 stores in the 28 European
June 11, 2018 by Jeffrey Woldt
brick-and-mortar, Flipkart, Jeffrey Woldt, Walmart
2018, Issue 06-11-2018, Issues, Opinion
Anyone who questions whether the primary battleground for the world’s top retailers has shifted from brick-and-mortar stores to the omnichannel realm would do well to consider the series of significant developments that has unfolded in recent weeks. The lead story in the last edition of Mass Market Retailers was about Walmart’s $16 billion investment for
May 21, 2018 by Jeffrey Woldt
Amazon Web Services, Amazon.com, Jeffrey Woldt, opinion
2018, Issue 05-21-2018, Issues, Opinion
Amazon.com late last month reported extraordinarily robust financial results for the quarter ended March 31. Sales at the e-commerce and technology company jumped 43% to $51 billion, while net earnings more than doubled to $1.6 billion. With ad revenue and Amazon Web Services showing notable strength, the company generated gains across the board. Of particular
April 16, 2018 by Jeffrey Woldt
Jeffrey Woldt, Walgreens Boots Alliance
2018, Issue 04-16-2018, Issues, Opinion
Walgreens Boots Alliance, which bills itself as the first global pharmacy-led health and well-being enterprise, is intent on finding strength in the diversity inherent in its scope. Building on a foundation laid in 2007 when the company became a federal contractor in the United States, WBA is working hard to develop a workforce, supplier base
March 26, 2018 by Jeffrey Woldt
Aldi, Jeffrey Woldt, Kohl’s Corp.
2018, Issue 03-26-2018, Issues
One of the more intriguing developments in mass market retailing in recent weeks was the announcement by Kohl’s Corp. chairman, president and chief executive officer Kevin Mansell that the department store operator will team up with Aldi, the hard discount grocer, as part of a program designed to optimize its store base. During a conference
March 5, 2018 by Jeffrey Woldt
Albertsons, Jeffrey Woldt, Rite Aid
2018, Issue 03-05-2018, Issues, Opinion
The pending merger between Albertsons Cos. and Rite Aid, which was announced late last month after extensive negotiations, represents a major milestone for the companies involved and a potentially decisive turning point in the ongoing, if sometimes sporadic, effort by mass market retailers to more closely align nutrition, health and wellness in order to better
February 19, 2018 by Jeffrey Woldt
FMI, Food Marketing Institute, Jeffrey Woldt, Midwinter Executive Conference
2018, Issue 02-19-2018, Issues
MIAMI — A sense of urgency pervaded the Food Marketing Institute’s (FMI’s) Midwinter Executive Conference here last month. Faced with the tsunami of change sweeping over the industry, retailers and suppliers were eager, in private meetings and public sessions, to hear new ideas and talk about innovative strategies that will enable them to flourish in
February 19, 2018 by Jeffrey Woldt
health care, Jeffrey Woldt, retail pharmacy
2018, Issue 02-19-2018, Issues, Opinion
Retail pharmacy operators and other health care providers received a jolt last month when Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase unveiled plans to form a stand-alone company that will address health care for their employees in the U.S., where costs are notoriously high and patient outcomes often vary widely. While details of the venture remain
January 29, 2018 by Jeffrey Woldt
Jeffrey Woldt, National Retail Federation’s Big Show
2018, Issue 01-29-2018, Issues, Opinion
The mash-up of retailing and technology commanded the spotlight at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show in New York City earlier this month, giving attendees additional evidence, if any were needed, that in the future the intersection of those disciplines will have a decisive impact on how people shop for, purchase and receive consumer products.
January 8, 2018 by Jeffrey Woldt
Doug McMillon, Jeffrey Woldt, Retailer of the Year, Walmart
2018, Issue 01-08-2018, Issues, Leading Headlines
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — When Doug McMillon, who started his business career as an hourly worker at a Walmart distribution center in 1984, was selected to be president and chief executive officer of the company four years ago, industry observers expressed confidence that he would preserve the ethos established by Sam Walton, the retailer’s legendary founder.
January 8, 2018 by Jeffrey Woldt
holiday selling, Jeffrey Woldt, MasterCard SpendingPulse
2018, Issue 01-08-2018, Issues, Opinion
Results from the recently concluded holiday selling season give the nation’s merchants some reason to celebrate. Retail sales rose 4.9% from November 1 through Christmas Eve, the biggest yearly gain since 2011, according to “Mastercard SpendingPulse.” The report, which combines purchasing activity in the Mastercard network and survey-based estimates for other forms of payment, including