Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet for 12/6/12: Lowe’s “yearns” for Canada; Amazon in Brazil

 

“Lowe’s still yearns for larger market share in Canada” by Ken Elkins in Charlotte Business Journal.  “On Wednesday, Robert Niblock, Lowe’s chief executive, told analyst and investors he would like to have at least 100 Lowe’s stores in Canada.  “There are other ways to attain scale in Canada,” he says. The company dropped its $1.8 billion offer for Rona when Rona’s board of directors rebuffed the proposal.”  https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/outside_the_loop/2012/12/lowes-still-yearns-for-larger-market.html

 

“Rogers and Wal-Mart to launch magazine (in Canada)” by Susan Krashinksy in The Globe and Mail.  “In April, Rogers will launch Walmart Live Better, a new 100-page glossy magazine that will be published six times a year, in collaboration with Wal-Mart Canada Corp.  The magazine will have a circulation of one million copies, distributed in Wal-Mart’s Supercentres across English Canada (French-language distribution is planned within the year.)”  https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/rogers-and-wal-mart-to-launch-magazine/article6012912/?cmpid=rss1

 

“Big Lots CEO to Leave Amid Report of Stock Sale SEC Probe” by Matt Townend and Lauren Coleman-Lochner in Business Week.  “Sales at U.S. stores open at least 15 months fell 4.6 percent in the quarter ended Oct. 27, the company said. Big Lots reported a third-quarter loss of $6 million, or 10 cents a share, from continuing operations, compared with a profit of $4.2 million, or 6 cents, a year ago.  The company operated more than 1,482 U.S. stores at the end of the period.”  https://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-12-05/big-lots-ceo-to-leave-amid-report-of-stock-sale-sec-probe

 

“Amazon launches its Kindle Store in Brazil, announces $150 Kindle will be available in the “coming weeks”” by Anna Heim at The Next Web.  “In this context, it will now be interesting whether (and when) Amazon will start selling more than book-related items in Brazil, amid rumors that it is considering acquiring local e-commerce companies to enter the online retail space with a bang. All we know for sure is that its first non-digital product to go on sale will be the Kindle. As you can see below, Brazilian users can already register their email to get notified when it becomes available.”  https://thenextweb.com/media/2012/12/06/amazon-has-quietly-launched-in-brazil-now-selling-e-books-and-announces-a-150-kindle/

 

“Dick’s Sporting Goods makes a move on Central Florida” by Sandra Pedicini at The Orlando Sentinel.  “Already the nation’s largest sporting goods retailing company — with more than $5 billion in annual sales and 500 stores — Dick’s eventually plans to have 900 outlets throughout the United States. In Central Florida, Dick’s opened two more stores last month, in Sanford and Waterford Lakes. They had already been operating a store near Mall at Millenia.”  https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-dicks-sporting-goods-orlando-20121205,0,2129494.story 

 

“Walgreens November Sales Decrease 3.9%” by Paul Quintaro at Benzinga.  “Total front-end sales decreased 0.3 percent compared with the same month in fiscal 2012, while comparable store front-end sales decreased 1.7 percent. Customer traffic in comparable stores decreased 4.9 percent while basket size increased 3.2 percent.”  https://www.benzinga.com/news/12/12/3146720/walgreens-november-sales-decrease-3-9

 

“Whole Foods, whole business: Walter Robb (co-CEO) talks conscious capitalism” by Robert Grattan in Austin Business Journal.  “In addition to groceries, the company is pioneering a $30 million venture capital fund. Much of the money is available, Robb said, and Whole Foods is looking for companies with similar goals or products it may be interested in buying later.” https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2012/12/06/whole-foods-whole-business-walter.html

 

“Staples and LinkedIn Launch New Small Business Group on the LinkedIn Platform” at Market Watch.  “In SUCCEED, Staples and LinkedIn are creating an online community that enables small businesses to connect and collaborate. The group gives small business professionals the opportunity to network and discuss important issues, as well as share success stories and professional hurdles in an online forum created especially for them.”  https://www.marketwatch.com/story/staples-and-linkedin-launch-new-small-business-group-on-the-linkedin-platform-2012-12-04

 

“Supervalu stock surges on reports of talks with Cerberus” by Emily Bryson Your at The Chicago Tribune.  “Should Supervalu sell Albertsons and Save A Lot to Cerberus Capital Management, a private investment firm, it would be losing a traditional grocery chain that has been the source of layoffs and store closures, as well as its primary growth vehicle.  Save A Lot, a hard discounter, has more than 1,300 locations nationwide. The chain’s franchised business model and small footprint has allowed for rapid growth while low prices have been particularly attractive in food deserts.”  https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-cerberus-reportedly-in-talks-for-2-supervalu-chains-20121205,0,5515593.story

 

“Ahold USA names new vice president of produce and floral”  in The Produce News.  “In his new role, Mr. (David) Lessard, who will be based in Carlisle, PA, where Ahold USA is headquartered, will be responsible for strategically leading, directing, designing and approving category-management business plans and portfolio plans for the produce and floral teams.”  https://www.producenews.com/index.php/people/9222-ahold-usa-names-new-vice-president-of-produce-and-floral