Haggen Family Sells Majority Ownership of Grocery Chain to Florida Firm

After 78 years as one of the Northwest's best-known family-owned businesses, the grocery chain Haggen has changed owners.  Comvest, a private investment firm from Florida, will receive majority ownership for injecting an undisclosed sum into the chain, which includes 30 Haggen Food and Top Food supermarkets in Washington and Oregon.

The Seattle Times

Redbox Parent Trialling 'Gizmo' eBay-in-a-Kiosk Concept

Coinstar, which operates the Redbox video kiosks, is trialing several concept kiosks, including "Gizmo, an "eBay-in-a-kiosk" concept, where discounted, refurbished electronic devices will be sold directly to customers. "Gizmo," would essentially compete with the Best Buy-branded kiosks that have appeared in airports and other locations, selling high-value electronic merchandise that doesn't take much physical space. Coinstar's target is what the company estimates to be a $150 billion consumer electronic market. Coinstar launched three kiosks in grocery stores before Christmas, and the design team will put eight to ten more in stores during 2011.

PC Mag

Social Media Bags £1.5m Sales for Tesco

Tesco made its first foray into social media in March last year with the launch of Twitter and Facebook accounts for Clothing at Tesco. Customers using the social media sites can buy Tesco product by clicking through to Clothingattesco.com using links sent out on tweets and Facebook updates.

Drapers

How to... Shoplift! University Newspaper's Guide to STEALING Without Being Caught

A guide produced by student activists on the 'art of shoplifting' has outraged retailers who say it could cause them financial costs. The document funded by the taxpayer urges cash-strapped students to ignore any moral concerns and follow its step-by-step stealing techniques. It coaches would-be thieves on how to swipe goods without being spotted by staff or CCTV.

Mail Online

Costco Wheels Out Aggressive Expansion Plans

US discount retailer Costco's store in Melbourne's Docklands, is generating more sales than the average North American Costco. The Australian arm has been handed a further $40 million by its parent to fund aggressive growth. And the new kid on Australia's supermarket block hasn't been put off by the fresh price war being fought between Coles and Woolworths, claiming shoppers viewed differently its discount and bulk model, compared with the cheap offers of main rivals. Costco's US parent has ambitious plans for the retailer in Australia and the region, recently discovering it could reap faster growth rates from its offshore supermarkets than in the US.

The Sydney Morning Herald

METRO Cash & Carry Announces its Market Entry in Ludhiana

METRO Cash & Carry, the international leader in business-to-business wholesale on Friday formally announced the market entry with its first wholesale Centre at Ludhiana in Punjab.

Punjab Newsline

China Jo-Jo Drugstores, Inc. Reports Fiscal 2011 Third Quarter

China Jo-Jo Drugstores, Inc., which operates retail pharmacies in the People's Republic of China, reported financial results for the third quarter and nine-month period of fiscal 2011 ended December 31, 2010.  Third quarter revenue increased 20.9% to $18.0 million compared to $14.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2010.

Business Wire

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