Content about Retail

WASHINGTON — The retail industry added nearly 30,000 jobs last month amid a general uptick in hiring that brought unemployment down to 7.5%, according to the Department of Labor.

The department's monthly jobs report showed the economy added 165,000 jobs, including 29,000 in the retail industry, which accounts for the largest number of private sector jobs. In addition, the March jobs report, which initially showed that the economy added only 88,000 jobs, was revised upward to 138,000, while the February report was revised upward to 332,000.

MIAMI — A new line of tree-free, bamboo-based bath tissue from Green Hygienics, Inc. (GHI) is set to launch on retail shelves.

The exclusive license agreement will make this bath tissue the first ever tree-free, bamboo fiber-based toilet paper product available in North America, the company stated. The new products will be sold under GHI's Sensational brand.

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa. — Nutrisystem executives on Wednesday told analysts they were bullish around expanding their weight-loss meal delivery service into mass retail through its partnership with Walmart. Initially beginning with 500 Walmart doors in January, the company recently expanded the offering to 2,000 stores and climbing. 

BOSTON & ORRVILLE, Ohio — A collaboration between Life is good Co. and J.M. Smucker Co. will bring a line of coffee products to retail shelves throughout North America.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid has signed on as a platinum sponsor of the Entertainment Industry Foundation Revlon Run/Walk for Women, the retail pharmacy chain said Wednesday.

The company will sponsor the New York and Los Angeles events this month, fielding teams of runners and walkers, manning booths and bringing fitness expert Denise Austin to warm up participants, as well as partnering with Revlon to donate a combined $100,000 to the EIF in support of efforts against women's cancer.

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. — In conjunction with the Axe Apollo Space Academy, which will send 22 people from around the world to space, the Axe brand is launching a new retail-focused program that will allow seven people to attend Space Camp for a chance to participate in the trip of a lifetime.

CHICAGO — A new energy drink made from natural yerba mate is hitting retail shelves now.

Fuga is a healthy energy drink made from the natural energy resource yerba mate which is said to offer the strength of coffee, the health benefits of tea and the euphoria of chocolate. Fuga's array of herbal ingredients also includes prickly pear cactus, ginkgo biloba, guarana, milk thistle and acai, as well as essential vitamins and amino acids to support overall health and well-being.

Minong, Wis. — Jack Link's is bringing its latest innovation to retail shelves this April with the launch of Big Dippers, offering a combo pack of meat sticks with dipping sauces.

Big Dippers are available in three combinations: All American — beef sticks with cheese sauce; Barbecue — beef steak strips with barbecue sauce; and Buffalo Chicken — seasoned buffalo chicken strips with a buffalo and ranch sauce.

Cardinal Health announced the renewal of its pharmaceutical distribution agreement with CVS Caremark to supply pharmaceuticals to the company’s retail pharmacies and distribution centers, as McKesson, which generally serves the PBM side of the business, also announced the renewal of its current distribution agreement with the pharmacy retailer.

CLEVELAND — Max-Wellness on Wednesday announced that it will open the first of its new concept Mini-Max stores in The Center for Healthy Living situated on the 83-acre campus of Moorings Park, an upscale Naples, Fla., retirement community. The grand opening will be held May 7 and will feature a number of services for its 700-plus residents and visitors, including medical and exercise facilities, a spa and beauty center and a 75-seat movie theatre.

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. — The Foundation for Health Smart Consumers has announced a major expansion of its smoking cessation initiative through the Inspire Program, which will launch at the annual Retail Clinician Education Congress held in May in Las Vegas. The initial phase of Inspire will continue through 2014.

SAN ANTONIO — Today, at the Whataburger Family Convention, a biannual gathering of more than 2,000 Whataburger attendees, CEO Preston Atkinson announced Whataburger will launch into retail stores for the first time by bottling its line of condiments — Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard — making them available exclusively at all Texas and Mexico H-E-B stores this summer. H-E-B will also add a new product based on Whataburger’s iconic brand called Whatafries.