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Retail Industry Newswire
March 28, 2011
North American News 

Best Buy's Fourth Quarter: Strong Earnings, Mixed Demand

Best Buy reported strong fourth quarter earnings, but many of its categories-consumer electronics, home office and entertainment hardware and software-are sucking wind. The one growth area: Services like repair, extended warranties and installation. The electronics retailer reported fourth quarter earnings of $651 million on revenue of $16.25 billion, down from $16.55 billion a year ago. For fiscal 2011, Best Buy reported earnings of $50.3 billion, up 1 percent from a year ago. Online revenue for fiscal 2011 was up 14 percent from a year ago to $2.5 billion.

Seeking Alpha



Fred's Fourth Quarter Profit Jumps 49%

Store upgrades, improved merchandise selection and stronger customer service boosted Fred's Inc. bottom line in its fiscal fourth quarter. The Memphis-based discount retailer's income shot up 49 percent to $8.6 million, compared with a profit of $5.8 million, in the year-ago quarter. Fourth quarter sales increased 3 percent to $485.6 million from $473.1 million in fourth quarter 2009. During 2010, Fred's opened 15 store and 21 pharmacy locations and closed seven store and 15 pharmacy locations. It also renovated 196 stores throughout the year.

Memphis Business Journal



Target P-Fresh Hits Conn., St. Louis

The expanded sections include a combination of national and stores brands, as well as pre-packed meats, baked goods and perishables in an open-market-style layout. The new store layouts are featured in the Connecticut towns of South Windsor, Enfield, Waterford, New Britain, North Haven, Orange, and Milford. In the St. Louis area, the remodeled stores are in Kirkwood, Mo.; South County, Mo.; and Shiloh, Ill. Target, which has remodeled about 400 stores to the new format so far, plans about 380 of the stores this year. 

Supermarket News



Supermarkets Ranked First in Tech Adoption

Empathica Inc. has issued a consumer ranking of industries on their adoption of technology to enhance the customer experience. On an industry level, at the top of the ranking, 78 percent of consumers believe the supermarket and grocery store industry currently uses technology that enhances their experience. Gas stations ranked second, with 60 percent of consumers. However, only 15 percent of consumers said convenience stores were successful in doing so. C-stores ranked 13th on the list, tied with home improvement stores.

Progressive Grocer



VideoMining Eyes Grocery Shoppers

A new program, implemented over a sampling of retail chains, launched by VideoMining Corp. will use video to study shopper behavior in 120 supermarkets across the U.S. beginning in August. Fifteen stores will be fitted with 100 cameras, while consumer audits and intercepts will supplement video collected by a fewer number of cameras in the remainder of stores. VideoMining would not disclose the names of retailer participants, but at least 10 banners are said to be in the study.  

Supermarket News



Supermarket Steps Up Cart Sanitation Efforts

Moving well beyond the free disinfectant wipes found at the entrances to most supermarkets, Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. announced this month that it is using a Pompano Beach company to "clean, sanitize and protect" shopping carts, hand baskets, handicap carts, food trays and other equipment at its 484 stores, including the 10 in Brevard County.

Florida Today




U.K. and Ireland News 

M&S Looks to Modernize Home Department with Conran

Marks & Spencer has unveiled a partnership with the founder of household furnisher Habitat as part of a move to modernise its Home department. Influential British designer Sir Terence Conran, who opened the first Habitat store in Chelsea, London in 1964, will oversee the design of furniture, bedding, lighting and kitchenware in the "contemporary" section. Sir Terence will work alongside an M&S team on the Conran Exclusive Design collection. The collection will be available in store and online from September.

Kam City

 


 

Australian, Asian and African News 

Tesco Lotus Going Greener: Zero-Carbon Store Chain's First in Asean

Tesco Lotus is preparing to open its first zero-carbon retail store in Southeast Asia in November. The store featuring breakthroughs in energy saving will be developed under the Talad Lotus format and is scheduled to open in Bang Phra, Chon Buri. It is expected to cost about one billion baht, compared with between 200 million and 300 million for a conventional Talad Lotus. Most of the additional cost represents energy saving equipment. Features of the new outlet will include a solar farm on the roof to produce energy to offset the carbon emissions generated by the store. 

Bangkok Post




Gatekeeper Systems' Loss Prevention and Cart Containment solutions utilize locking wheel technology to reduce shrink by putting an end to cart based shoplifting and shopping cart loss while Cart Management solutions increase safety and reduce labor costs. For over 12 years, Gatekeeper has been committed to quality products backed by expansive service and support capabilities. 19 of the top 20 global retailers that use shopping carts rely on Gatekeeper solutions.
  

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Pushout Theft of the Week
Store Employees Fight Food Thief, Two Arrested
 
Employees of a supermarket fought with two shoplifters who were trying to steal a grocery cart full of $200 worth of meat and beer. The shoplifter filled a cart full of steaks, hams, turkeys, ribs, snow crab, tilapia and beer, then employees watched as the man pushed the cart out the door to a car that was waiting under the outdoor foyer.  Three employees confronted the man and the fight was on.

 

Madison.com

 

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