Tipsheet: Tribeca Target Gets Chobani Cafe | Macy’s -5.6% | Rona +3.1% | Jet.com + Milk & Eggs | ‘Pasta Comeback’
CUTTING GUIDANCE – Macy’s Q1 Comp Sales -5.6% “Terry J. Lundgren: “…we have an opportunity to make up some ground in the months ahead, and particularly in the fourth quarter. But as a result of these factors, we believe it is prudent to reduce our sales and earnings guidance for the 2016 fiscal year.” Read the release
Target to Add a Chobani Cafe at Its Newest Small Format Store by Brian Sozzi at The Street. “Target tells TheStreet it will open a Chobani cafe at its new two-level, 45,000 square foot Tribeca store set to debut in New York City in October. The menu at the roughly 1,100-square-foot cafe will feature made to order Mediterranean themed sandwiches, salads and Greek yogurt dishes.” Read more
Jet.com just started selling fresh groceries like milk and eggs by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “The pilot test is available to customers living in at least some parts of Manhattan and Hudson County, N.J., based on a quick Zip Code check I conducted. A Jet rep said the company is testing the service in 875 Zip Codes in total spread throughout New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. Most of the Zip Codes are concentrated in New Jersey and D.C., he said.” Read more
Walgreens Is Launching a New Mental Health Platform by Laura Lorenzetti at Fortune. “…new online portal dedicated to providing screenings and information on conditions as diverse as anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia. The site will connect to MHA’s free, scientifically-based screenings to allow people to anonymously rate their conditions.” Read more
STAPLES TO PAY OFFICE DEPOT $250M BREAK-UP FEE – Judge’s ruling is death knell for Staples-Office Depot deal by Deirdre Fernandes & Megan Woolhouse at Boston Globe. “Staples said it would consider “strategic alternatives” for its European business, cut an additional $300 million of costs by 2018, close more stores…” Read more
Chicago: Union alleges overwork and understaffing at CVS pharmacies by Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz at Chicago Tribune. “The union representing Chicago-area CVS pharmacists warned of safety risks Tuesday from “management’s mistreatment of overworked and understaffed pharmacists,” allegations that come as the parties negotiate a new contract. About 150 CVS pharmacists have been working without a contract since their last three-year agreement expired Saturday.” Read more
Rona posts loss, higher revenue, ahead of takeover by Lowe’s via The Globe & Mail. “Revenue was $819.2-million, up from $778.8-million a year earlier. Same-store sales grew 3.1 per cent with strong performance in Ontario, British Columbia and the Reno-Depot banner in Quebec.” Read more
**A message from PaintPincher – Never Waste Paint Again! The PaintPincher is an ingenious 8-in-1 paint can spatula that recovers paint, stain, adhesives and more from gallon and quart cans, leaving them 99.9% clean. The PaintPincher is great for Pro and DIY painters and can save up to a cup of paint per gallon! See the video | See the sell sheet | Packaging pic | paintpincher.com | Retailers request a sample at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net
Retailers pitch in to help Fort McMurray wildfire evacuees by Marina Strauss at Globe & Mail. “(Loblaw) has committed $300,000 in cash or merchandise donations to the Red Cross relief efforts, while giant discounter Wal-Mart Canada Corp., through the Wal-Mart Foundation, has committed $400,000 to the Red Cross and $100,00 to local employees. Sobeys Inc., the country’s second-largest grocer, is matching customers’ cash donations up to $100,00 and providing about $200,000 of products.” Read more
Walmart sues Visa over chip transactions with debit cards by Hadley Malcolm at USA Today. “The lawsuit says that because Visa allows a signature for debit card payments, it requires Walmart to route those payments through Visa’s network rather than a competitor that might be less costly.” Read more
Kroger plans to hire 14,000 nationwide by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer. Read more
THE “PASTA COMEBACK” – The bizarre way Americans are treating one of their favorite foods by Roberto A. Ferdman at Washingon Post. “Tucked inside of the 75 pages is a trend Google calls the “Pasta Comeback.” The gist is that online interest in pasta is growing —and fast. The rise of rigatoni is perhaps the best example. Search interest in the short, tube-shaped pasta was 26 percent higher this past January than the one before.” Read more
Amazon Prime Air opens Austrian outpost with focus on sense-and-avoid tech by Frederic Lardinois at TechCrunch. “Like smart animals, the drones must know when they are getting into trouble, and avoid colliding with things, without a human intervening,” Amazon’s VP for Global Innovation Policy and Communications Paul Misener writes today.” Read more
Lawsuit: Albertsons, Safeway hike prices during BOGO promotions by Angie Koehle at ABC 15 Arizona. “For example, the lawsuit states boneless pork chops were typically $4.49 per lb. Under the BOGO promotion, they pumped the price to $12.99 per lb.” Read more
COSTCO LAWSUIT DISMISSED – Labeling suit over Costco’s VitaRain drink goes down the drain at 9th Circuit by Jessica Dye at Reuters. Read more
Wegmans launches online coupons by Mary Chao at Democrat & Chronicle. “Wegmans will pilot Wegmans Shoppers Club digital coupons in its Rochester-area and Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, stores beginning in June, with a date to be determined, said spokeswoman Jo Natale.” Read more
Bringing Clutter to FedEx Could Fetch You $4,000 on EBay by Spencer Soper at Bloomberg. “Sellers can drop off items worth at least $25 at more than 1,600 FedEx stores around the country and get help listing them on EBay’s online marketplace under a new arrangement announced Tuesday. EBay and FedEx share a commission ranging from 20 percent to 40 percent on each sale, while sellers pay nothing up front.” Read more
H-E-B’s Central Market to offer online grocery shopping in Dallas through Shipt app by Maria Halkias at Dallas Morning News. “Shipt will launch online grocery shopping from H-E-B stores in its home town of San Antonio on May 25. Shipt is hiring 300 shoppers in San Antonio. The plan is to expand the 7-day-a-week service with Shipt to Dallas, Austin, Houston and more markets later this year, the companies said.” Read more
Tipsheet Extra Stories
Top 50 Co’s Most Beloved By Their Employees In 2016 (Costco #14, Publix #29)
Two are killed after man crashes his car into a Macy’s and goes on a stabbing rampage
Arizona pharmacist accused of stealing 3,000 doses of oxycodone, amphetamine salts
The New Fight Over Cabbage Patch Kids Has Sabotage, Choke Holds and Slurs
Amazon Echo VP Mike George talks Alexa security and simplifying search
‘Didn’t know if it was a fly or beetle’: family claims bug found on Walmart steak
QUICK-SUBSCRIBE to Eye on Retail Tipsheet here