Content about Retailing

LOS ANGELES — Back-to-school shopping likely will take place even later this year than in 2010, as consumers hope to score last-minute deals, the latest forecast from PriceGrabber revealed.

PriceGrabber, a part of Experian, found that 95% of consumers are planning to use some sort of money-saving technique when back-to-school shopping, and they plan to start shopping later in 2011 than they did in 2010.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. and WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — Costco Wholesale and BJ’s Wholesale reported strong sales growth and produced impressive comps even without the benefit of fuel sales.

Costco reported that net sales for the month of May increased 17% to $7.14 billion from $6.09 billion last year. This year’s May results period included sales from the company's Mexico joint venture. If these sales are excluded, Costco’s net sales increase would have been 14%.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Royal Ahold banner Giant-Carlisle has opened a new gas station near a store in Lancaster, Pa., the supermarket chain said.

The company opened the station on Thursday morning, within walking distance of the Giant Food Store on Centerville Road.

The gas station features a new, 1,000-sq.-ft. “grab and go” kiosk, which will offer products for motorists, such as chilled beverages, coffee, snacks, car products, a lottery machine, an ATM and Giant-brand milk and bread.

SAN FRANCISCO — A new bill introduced by a California assemblywoman aims to curb the sale of alcohol to minors by prohibiting sales at self-service checkouts.

Assembly Bill 183, introduced last month by Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco and San Mateo Counties, was passed by the assembly committee. Assemblywoman Ma said that self-service checkouts are susceptible to technological failures, allowing minors to purchase alcohol.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — PepsiCo is building on the social networking experience by providing consumers with a new kind of vending system.

The company announced plans to roll out an interactive vending machine, dubbed the Social Vending System, which features a full touchscreen that enables users to give a gift to a friend by selecting a beverage, entering the recipient's name, mobile number and a personalized text message. There's also the option to further personalize the gift with a short video recorded right at the machine.

Call it “the attack of the coupon-crazed shelf sweepers.” It’s the most aggressive form of bargain hunting by consumers willing to spend hours searching out coupon deals, to stock up with enough product to last their families for a year and to turn their homes into veritable warehouses.


After being hemmed in by recession, cash flow problems and costs, a venerable lion of West Coast food and drug retailing is roaring again. 


NEW YORK — About one month after launching a mobile application that syncs customers' loyalty cards to provide access to online accounts, Stop & Shop is forging ahead with new technology, according to published reports.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Profit grew by nearly 10% to $123.2 million and sales advanced 8.3% to nearly $2.3 billion as Family Dollar remained on a consistent growth trajectory during its second quarter, ended Feb. 27.

Earnings per share for the period increased 21% to 98 cents, compared with 81 cents in the prior-year's second quarter.

PALO ALTO, Calif. — Personalization of the in-store customer experience will be a key objective for retailers over the next two years, according to two new Aberdeen Group reports sponsored by HP.

According to the 100 senior retail executives surveyed from such industries as apparel, grocery and department stores, 76% do not possess the technology tools or the business processes for executing Web, catalog or special orders from stores. This challenge is being fueled by rising consumer expectations of rich, multimedia in-store shopping experiences.

CHICAGO — Walmart has succeeded in bringing its smaller-format store concept to Chicago, helping to make the case that the retailer can find success in more urban markets, including New York, which thus far has eluded the retailer.

The company announced that it has secured locations in West Englewood for Walmart Market and Walmart Express stores. According to the company, West Englewood is in the heart of a food desert and is one of Chicago’s most underserved communities.

FEASTERVILLE, Pa. — Giant Food Stores plans to open a new store near Philadelphia on March 16, the Carlisle, Pa.-based Royal Ahold banner said.

Giant-Carlisle acquired the 53,000-sq.-ft. former Genuardi’s store from Safeway in Feasterville, Pa., in November 2010 and said the renovated store will look more like a modern Giant prototype.