Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet 2/6/13: Home Depot adds 80,000 workers; Target REDcard now in Canada

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“Home Depot Plans 14% Increase in Seasonal Hiring” by Chris Burritt at Bloomberg.  “Home Depot Inc. plans to add more than 80,000 temporary workers ahead of its busiest season, about 14 percent more than a year ago, as a housing rebound spurs spending on remodeling and landscaping.  The largest U.S. home-improvement retailer is hiring mostly seasonal workers, though some will be offered full-time work, said Tim Crow, Home Depot’s executive vice president of human resources. Last year more than half of 70,000 temporary employees were given permanent jobs, he said.”  Read more:  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-06/home-depot-plans-14-increase-in-seasonal-hiring.html

 

“Target® REDcard® Products Now Available Online for Canadian Guests”  “Target is pleased to announce that applications for its REDcard products – the Target Debit Card and the Target RBC‡ MasterCard® – are now available online at Target.ca/redcard . Guests planning to shop at Target stores in Canada with a REDcard will receive an additional 5% off Target’s already low prices, applied instantly at the time of purchase.  The Target Debit Card, a proprietary card issued by Target Canada, will link to the cardholder’s existing chequing account and can be used only at Target stores in Canada.”  Read more:  https://pressroom.target.ca/pr/tgt-en/target-redcard-products-now-available-243165.aspx

 

“Amazon rolls out its own ‘coins'” by Aubrey Cohen at Seattle PI.  “Not content, apparently, with taking over the retail universe, Amazon announced Tuesday that it was creating its own currency.  Starting in May, users will be able to spend “Amazon Coins” to buy apps, games and in-app items on Kindle Fire. Seattle-based Amazon plans to give tens of millions of dollars’ worth of free Amazon Coins and “make it quick and easy for customers to buy additional Amazon Coins using their Amazon accounts.”  The idea is to give customers a quick and easy way to spend more money. Amazon takes a 30 percent cut from app transactions.  Read more: https://www.seattlepi.com/business/tech/article/Amazon-rolls-out-its-own-coins-4252771.php#ixzz2K7QTu2Ln

 

“Why Amazon Created Its New Virtual Currency, Amazon Coin” by Elbert Chu at Popular Science.  “Amazon mostly soaks up cash for real world stuff, but as they move further into the Kindle and Android worlds, the company is getting more and more digital. Now the retail giant wants users to buy their Android virtual stuff with a new currency–“Amazon Coins.” The currency, if successful, could allow Amazon to build loyalty in their Android ecosystem.  In May, Amazon will give “tens of millions” of free Amazon Coins to Kindle Fire customers in the US for apps and in-app purchases, which include stuff like Farmville chicken coops.”  Read more:  https://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2013-02/why-amazon-created-its-new-virtual-currency-amazon-coin

 

“Apple Apparently Moving Ahead with Online Store in Russia” by Ben Love joy at Mac Rumors.  “Rumors that Apple plans to open an online store in Russia have been given additional credence by a report on TechCrunch noting that the company has begun recruiting staff for the operation…The ad is for a Russian Chat Team Manager responsible for managing between 12 and 15 advisors. Although aimed at the Russian market, the role is actually based in Cork, Ireland. Apple is also advertising other roles in the region, including a Market Manager for Russia, CIS and Turkey.”  Read more:  https://www.macrumors.com/2013/02/05/apple-apparently-moving-ahead-with-online-store-in-russia/

 

“Walgreens January Sales Increase 6.3 Percent”  “Walgreens had January sales of $6.15 billion, an increase of 6.3 percent from $5.78 billion for the same month in fiscal 2012.  Total front-end sales increased 1.3 percent compared with the same month in fiscal 2012, while comparable store front-end sales decreased 0.4 percent. Customer traffic in comparable stores decreased 2.8 percent while basket size increased 2.4 percent.”  Read more:  https://news.walgreens.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5705

 

“SymphonyIRI Examines Current and Emerging Merchandising Trends”  “During the past couple of years, more than one-third of CPG categories sold considerable volume—30 to 50 percent—with merchandising support. Still, on the whole, the past year has seen mixed trends. Merchandising, defined as display, feature ad, feature and display combined and price-only actions, increased across just more than half of CPG categories and declined in 47 percent of categories.  Trends in grocery and convenience channels closely mirror the industry average, but the drug channel has a different story to tell. During the past few years, merchandising support has been declining within the drug store channel. In 2012, support declined in 60 percent of the categories within the channel.”  Read more:  https://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsLang=en&newsId=20130205006416&div=-1245645151

 

“What’s next for Meijer’s mPerks after hitting 1 million subscribers” by Shandra Martinez at M Live.  “Here’s a sign that Meijer’s mPerks program resonates with shoppers. In less than 2 years, the digital couponing program has garnered 1 million subscribers.  The subscription base grew by more than 10 percent in December alone when 101,000 members joined.  That record-setting month also generated more than 13.7 million clipped offers and more than $5 million in savings collectively for mPerks members.”  Read more:  https://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2013/02/whats_next_for_meijers_mperks.html

 

“Tulsa Young Professionals Still Trying to Attract Trader Joe’s” by Kyle Arnold at Hispanic Business News.  “Tulsans have two days left to put in orders to Trader Joe’s as the Tulsa Young Professionals group makes a grassroot effort to attract one of the country’s trendiest retailers.  TyPros executive director Brian Paschal said the group has nearly 200 orders so far for the California-based chain’s assortment of foods, ranging from coffee to trail mix.  “Already this has gotten a lot more attention that I would have ever expected,” he said.  The group is trying to show Trader Joe’s, a small grocery store model with nearly 370 stores nationwide, that Tulsa would be a great location to expand.”  Read more:  https://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2013/2/5/tulsa_young_professionals_still_trying_to.htm

 

“Food Lion owner cuts 500 jobs” by Ely Portillo at Charlotte Observer.  “Delhaize America, which owns Food Lion and other supermarkets, is laying off 350 corporate workers, including an unspecified number at the company’s Salisbury headquarters.  The company is also closing 150 open positions, for a total of 500 job cuts. Delhaize America is a subsidiary of Delhaize Group, a Belgian grocery company.  The jobs being cut are all above the store manager level.  Read more: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/02/06/3835480/food-lion-owner-delhaize-america.html#storylink=cpy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet 2/5/13: “Underwater Bowling” at Bass Pro; Dollar Stores “Dime a Dozen”

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“Dime a Dozen: Dollar Stores Pinched by Rapid Expansion” by Ann Zimmerman at WSJ.  “While dollar stores were Wall Street darlings during the recession, some retail experts say their proliferation could now become a problem.  Dollar General said last week it will open 635 new stores this year, including its 11,000th location. Another chain, Family Dollar Stores Inc. added almost 500 stores in 2012, up from 300 a year before, and is expected to do the same this year. Family Dollar currently has more than 7,000 stores.”  Read more:  https://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323644904578270211975829422.html

 

“New wave bowling at Bass Pro” by Johnny Campos at The Journal Star (Peoria).  “…Westbay said that the underwater bowling theme was the brainchild of Bass Pro Shops owner Johnny Morris. Bowling was a natural tie-in with the outdoors, because of the long-standing relationship between Morris and Brunswick, which supplies all of the Mercury marine engines that are used on the boats sold at Bass Pro Shops.  “There were talks for years between Johnny and Brunswick to try and tie in bowling with the stores,” Westbay said. “It’s hard enough to think about doing something like this, but Johnny and his team made it happen.”  Read more:  https://www.pjstar.com/sports/x1522316522/New-wave-bowling-at-Bass-Pro?zc_p=0

 

“Tiny Upstart biffle Finds Consumer Niche – Should Amazon and Walmart Take Notice?” by Aaron Perlut at Forbes.  “…Fusz’s latest, biffle (with a lowercase “b”), looks pretty promising, and it may prove to be the best friend of consumers looking to save money, as well as an important new ally to online retailers looking to increase sales and market share.  “What consumers need is something they don’t easily get today – instant access to the best price in a safe and secure environment,” Fusz says. “Until now, when consumers search for the best price, they have to choose between the lowest price found – often from an unfamiliar vendor – and buying from a vendor they know and trust, like an Amazon. With biffle, consumers don’t have to make that choice – because the lowest price is now available from a trusted source.”  Read more:  https://www.forbes.com/sites/marketshare/2013/02/04/tiny-upstart-biffle-finds-consumer-niche-should-amazon-and-walmart-take-notice/

 

“Whole Foods Eyes E-commerce: Analyst” at Supermarket News.  “Whole Foods Market here could be eying an e-commerce launch, according to an analyst report on Friday.  Kate Wendt, a San Francisco -based analyst with Wells Fargo Securities, said in the report that the natural and organic specialist had filed several trademarks in January “that point to a potential move toward mobile, e-commerce, store pickup and delivery.”  She said she believes Whole Foods could launch the service in nonfood areas such as vitamins/supplements and natural HBC, before expanding into grocery product.  Read More: https://supermarketnews.com/retail-amp-financial/whole-foods-eyes-e-commerce-analyst#ixzz2K2J6Jzcp

 

“Amazon Patents Reselling Used Digital Goods” by Ray Willington at Hot Hardware.  “Much like it’s possible to sue for anything these days, it’s apparently not all that difficult to patent anything. While that’s something of a stretch, Amazon has just nailed a surprisingly broad patent that could have an impact on the consumer electronics economy as a whole. At its most basic level, the patent — which was awarded in the United States — details a “secondary market for digital objects.” Specifically, the verbiage makes reference to an “electronic marketplace for used digital objects,” which would include things like e-books, audio, video, computer applications, etc.”  Read more:  https://hothardware.com/News/-Amazon-Patents-Reselling-Used-Digital-Goods/

 

“Safeway taps JPMorgan executive as CFO” at Reuters.  “Safeway Inc, the second-largest U.S. supermarket chain, said Peter Bocian will replace Robert Edwards as its chief financial officer, effective February 19.  The company in April promoted Edwards, who had been the CFO since 2004, to the post of president and said he would continue in the finance chief’s role until his successor is named.”  Read more:  https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/04/us-safeway-cfo-idUSBRE91310520130204

 

“Best Buy, Sears, Barnes & Noble among retailers that will close the most stores in 2013” at Detroit Free Press.  “For many retailers, the sales situation is so bad that it is not a question of whether they will cut stores, but when and how many. Most recently, Barnes & Noble  decided it had too many stores to maintain profits. Its CEO recently said he plans to close as many as a third of the company’s locations.  Several of America’s largest retailers have been battered for years. Most have been undermined by a combination of e-commerce competition, often from Amazon.com and more successful retailers in the same areas.”  Read list of eight that will close the most stores:  https://www.freep.com/article/20130203/BUSINESS07/130203010/Retailers-that-will-close-the-most-stores  

 

“Amazon to collect Conn. sales tax, ending dispute” at Seattle Times via Stephen Singer at AP.  “Amazon announced on Monday that it has agreed to collect Connecticut’s sales tax, ending a two-year dispute over the tax that the online retailer had previously refused to charge its customers.  The retailer also promised to spend $50 million to build an order-fulfillment center at an unspecified site and create hundreds of jobs.  Read more:  https://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020285933_amazonconnxml.html

 

“Walgreens Promotes Magnacca to Executive Vice President” at CSP Net.  “Walgreens has announced the promotion of Joseph Magnacca from senior vice president to executive vice president, effective Feb. 1. Magnacca also retains his title as president of daily living products and solutions.  Magnacca oversees Walgreens merchandising and inventory strategy, private brands, insights and analytics, and the New York-based Duane Reade drugstore chain, which Walgreens acquired in 2010.”  Read more: https://www.cspnet.com/news/general-merchandise/articles/walgreens-promotes-magnacca-executive-vice-president

 

“Aldi increases market share by 29.5% (in Ireland)” at Irish Times.  “Discount German retailer Aldi enjoyed the strongest level of growth, up 30 per cent in the 12 weeks to January 22, compared to same period the previous year. The retailer grew its market share from 4.6 per cent to 5.9 per cent as shoppers continued to feel the squeeze of reduced incomes.  Meanwhile, Tesco’s share of the grocery market fell by half a percentage point, moving from 28.1 per cent to 27.6 per cent. Its sales growth also declined by 1 per cent.”  Read more:  https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2013/0204/breaking31.html

 

Thanks for reading…

 

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Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet 2/4/13: Super Bowl Ads – Bud wins Ad Meter; Ram Trucks wins Hulu

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“Budweiser’s Clydesdale wins Ad Meter by a nose” by Bruce Horovitz at USA Today.  “Anheuser-Busch climbed back into the saddle with the Super Bowl’s top commercial — a heart-tugging tale of the bond between a trainer and the Budweiser Clydesdale he raised.But it was a horse race.  This was the Super Bowl when ads with heart got all the love in USA TODAY’S Ad Meter, which, for its 25th anniversary, vastly expanded in scope by going online to 7,619 pre-registered panelists.”  Read more:  https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/02/04/clydesdale-ad-wins-by-a-nose/1889693/

 

“Hulu Announces the Top Ads from Super Bowl XLVII”:

OVERALL MOST LIKED ADS

Top ranked by fan votes.

1. Ram Trucks: Farmer

2. Budweiser: Brotherhood

3. Taco Bell: Viva Young

4. Volkswagen: Get In. Get Happy.

5. Universal Pictures: “Fast & Furious 6” Game Day Trailer

6. Jeep: America Will Be Whole Again

7. Paramount Pictures: “World War Z” Big Game Spot

8. Skechers: GOrun 2 – Man vs Cheetah Big Game Commercial

9. GoDaddy.com: Perfect Match – Bar Refaeli’s Big Kiss!

10. MilkPEP: The Rock in Morning Run

Read more:  https://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsLang=en&newsId=20130203005068&div=-1245645151

 

“Forbes.com: No more Super Bowls for New Orleans until ‘outdated’ Superdome is replaced” by Mark Lorando at NOLA.  “The Super Bowl 2013 Blackout Backlash is officially underway, with Forbes.com suggesting New Orleans and the Superdome may not play host to another championship game “unless they replace this outdated facility.”  In a piece headlined “Superdome Shutdown: Super Bowl XLVII Blackout Hurts New Orleans’ Chances to Host Future Super Bowls,” Webster University economics professor and Forbes.com contributor Patrick Rishe unleashes a scathing attack on city, Superdome and NFL officials for the electrical snafu that caused a 34-minute third-quarter delay in the big game.  “No matter how many times the city has hosted the big game before, this cannot happen,” Rishe wrote Sunday night on the influential business news bible’s website. “It is an embarrassment for the facility operators, and quite frankly, it is a black-eye for NFL operations.”  Read more:  https://www.nola.com/superbowl/index.ssf/2013/02/forbescom_no_more_super_bowls.html

 

“Amazon.com reminds Tennesseans they may owe taxes” by Shelly Bradbury at Times Free Press.  “East Ridge resident Jillian Alexander was sure the email from Amazon was a scam when she first saw it on her phone.  “You may owe use tax on purchases you made from Amazon.com LLC during the previous calendar year,” the notice from the online retailer read. It listed the money she had spent on the site last year — $87 and some change — and included a link to Tennessee’s state website where she could pay the tax she apparently owed.  “I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?'” she said.  But it’s not a scam. Online shoppers across the state are receiving the email notice this week, part of a law Gov. Bill Haslam signed early last year in which the state agreed Amazon doesn’t have to collect state sales tax until 2014.”  Read more:  https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/feb/01/retailer-reminds-tennesseans-they-may-owe/

 

“The Home Depot Canada Prepared For Penny Phase Out”  “In 2012, the Federal Government announced that the penny would be phased out of circulation. The Home Depot Canada carefully reviewed the phase out requirements based on its values, associate input and consumer needs.  According to a recent poll commissioned by The Home Depot Canada, 88 per cent of Canadians don’t know that the penny is being phased out of circulation on February 4, 2013 and 41 per cent don’t know what retailers are doing to manage this change.  The Home Depot Canada wants its customers to know that after this date, anyone shopping at its stores using cash, will have their total rounded down to the nearest nickel. In addition, if a customer makes a cash return to the store, it will always round up to the nearest nickel. The Home Depot feels it’s vital to continually meet the needs of its customers.”  Read more:  https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-home-depot-canada-prepared-for-penny-phase-out-189376511.html

 

“Supervalu bets big on its wholesale business” by Mike Huglett at Star-Tribune.  “Supervalu is going back to its wholesale roots, for better or worse.  When the struggling Eden Prairie-based firm unloads its four largest grocery chains in a pending $3.3 billion deal, the company will again rely on wholesaling for almost half of its business. Wholesaling has accounted for only about 23 percent of total sales in recent years.  The problem: Food distribution is a shrinking industry, as Supervalu can attest. Its own wholesale revenue has fallen 17 percent in the past four years, to $8.2 billion in fiscal 2012. A good part of the decline stems from the gradual loss of a big customer, Target.”  Read more:  https://www.startribune.com/business/189436511.html

 

“Kroger Launches New “Low Price ” Campaign” at WKRC in Cincinnati (Video & Text).  “Cincinnati based grocery store chain Kroger today announced the launch of a new price campaign. The stores promise to lower prices on thousands of items in grocery, produce, organics, natural foods, and general merchandise beginning on Monday, February 4th…Kroger says that as part of the price lowering, the price on Kroger 24 pack water will drop 71 cents, the cost of a 3 lb. bag of onions will go down $1.00 and the retail on Soy Milk has been reduced by $1.40.  But at the same time, the company plans to discontinue their popular double coupon program. This program will end within 30 day.”  Read more:  https://www.local12.com/mostpopular/story/Kroger-Launches-New-Low-Price-Campaign/UZFg7rVTJk2Q43ZQPS7Lyg.cspx

 

“Amazon Outage Could Cost a Lot More Than 400,000 Pairs of Unsold Underwear” by Marcus Wohlsen at Wired.  “Imagine the front doors suddenly locked on every Walmart in the country simultaneously right in the middle of the business day — and for nearly an hour, no one could find the keys.  That’s basically what happened to Amazon when, in an incredibly rare hiccup, its homepage went down for nearly an hour Thursday afternoon.”   Read more:  https://www.wired.com/business/2013/02/amazon-crash-unsold-underwear/

 

“J.C. Penney Is Bringing Back Sales” at CNBC.  “The struggling department store chain this week is rolling out some of the hundreds of sales it ditched last year in hopes of luring back shoppers who were turned off when the discounts disappeared.  Penney also plans to add new price tags or signs for more than half of its merchandise to show customers how much they’re saving by shopping at the mid-priced chain — a strategy that a few other retailers such as home decor chain Crate and Barrel and TJX Companies.  Read more:  https://www.cnbc.com/id/100413301

 

 

Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet 2/1/13: Union backs off Wmart protests; Costco loves Pepsi and GM

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“Lowe’s exec: Mobile represents 20% of Web traffic” by Lauren Johnson at Mobile  Commerce Daily.  “A Lowe’s executive at the 2013 Mobile Marketing Association Forum San Francisco said that mobile represents 20 percent of the company’s Web traffic, showing how the medium is increasingly becoming a bigger priority.  During the “Mobile and retail: How Lowe’s develops and leverages a complete view of the consumer” session, an executives from Lowe’s spoke about how the brand has steadily been growing its mobile footprint. The panel was moderated by Jeff Hasen, chief marketing officer at Hipcricket, New York.”  Read more:  https://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/lowe%E2%80%99s-exec-mobile-represents-20pc-of-traffic

 

“Union agrees to back off Wal-Mart protests” by Ann D’Innocenzio at AP.  “Labor groups say they will end most of their picketing of Wal-Mart stores as part of a settlement with the National Labor Relations Board.  The agreement, announced by Wal-Mart, comes after the retailer filed a complaint in late November with the National Labor Relations Board against the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. It said demonstrations organized by union-backed OUR Walmart that culminated on the day after Thanksgiving threatened to disrupt its business and intimidate customers and other store workers.”  Read more:  https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/01/31/ufcw-wal-mart-protests/1881053/

 

“PepsiCo’s In The Club… Store, that is, Capturing Costco Food Service Account” by Jeffrey Klineman at Bevnet.  “The Brooklyn-born son of a deli owner, a former sandwich courier in New York’s Garment District, Alan Bubitz knows a deal on food when he sees it.  Now, as the vice president of food services for Costco, Bubitz’s bailiwick includes one of the most popular deals in the world: his company’s famous ¼ lb. hot dog and a 20 oz. Coke for $1.50 – plus tax, where applicable.  But the fountain nozzles, they are a changin’ — at least in the Costco food court.  Bubitz confirmed yesterday that all Costco foodservice locations will be switching from Coke to Pepsi products. The change, which will begin at the massive club retailer’s 400-plus U.S. locations in April, will be carried out globally over the next few years as vending contracts expire.”  Read more:  https://www.bevnet.com/news/2013/pepsicos-in-the-club-store-that-is-capturing-costco-food-service-account

 

“Robert Reich says unionization of Walmart will get the economy growing” at Current.  “The Keynesians have really brought flawed theories to the forefront during the past month by two of their preeminent thinkers…He later takes jabs at America’s favorite punching bag, Walmart, for not being unionized saying, “The average pay of a Walmart worker is $8.81 an hour. A third of Walmart’s employees work less than 28 hours per week and don’t qualify for benefits…He continues saying, “Walmart should be unionized. So should McDonalds. So should every major big-box retailer and fast-food outlet in the nation. So should every hospital in America.”  Read more:  https://current.com/community/94036915_robert-reich-says-unionization-of-walmart-will-get-the-economy-growing.htm

 

“Menards employee who flies to Minot weekly shares story” by Kevin Hurd at WEAU in Wisconsin (Video & Text).  “”You’re pretty nervous the first day, but the people out there are nice like in Wisconsin, and the hours just seem to fly by,” said Brett Miller, who flies to Menards in Minot, ND weekly for work.  He does not have a typical 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. gig at Menards. He is part of a group of 50 people that flies each week from Eau Claire to Minot. Once a week they start their day early, making the hour and a half flight to work.”  Read more:  https://www.weau.com/home/headlines/Menards-employee-who-flies-to-Minot-weekly-shares-story-189318211.html

 

“Costco Auto Program and GM Offer: Sales Nearly Triple Previous Promotion”  “The Costco Auto Program today announced the outcome of its most-recent offer with General Motors. Preliminary sales results for the Chevrolet, Buick and GMC Special Offer indicate the number of eligible vehicles sold is more than 15,000 – nearly triple the final sales results of last winter’s promotional offer from the Costco Auto Program and GM.  The Chevrolet, Buick and GMC Special Offer took place Oct. 2, 2012, through Jan. 2, 2013. During the promotional period, Costco members were able to purchase select 2012 and 2013 Chevrolet, Buick and GMC models at GM Preferred Pricing, in addition to receiving all publicly available rebates and incentives. Moreover, Costco members who made an eligible purchase qualified to receive a $500 Costco Cash Card after completing a Costco Auto Program member satisfaction survey.”  Read more:  https://www.prweb.com/releases/CostcoAutoProgram/GM/prweb10381809.htm

 

“Kroger Announces Retirement of Kroger Central Division President Bob Moeder” at Herald Online.  “The Kroger Co. announced today the retirement of Central Division President Robert “Bob” Moeder.  “During his 42-year career, Bob has consistently demonstrated his passion for and commitment to our associates, our customers and our local communities,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s president and chief operating officer. “His improvement of our convenience store division and support on launching supermarket fuel has contributed to Kroger’s connection with customers and increased value for shareholders.”  Read more: https://www.heraldonline.com/2013/01/31/4584725/kroger-announces-retirement-of.html#storylink=cpy

 

“Lewis: Whole Foods CEO concerned about whole economy”  by Al Lewis at The Denver Post.  “As CEOs go, John Mackey at Whole Foods Market Inc. is a pretty good guy.  He works for $1 a year. He doesn’t loot his company with excessive perks and bonuses. His flies Southwest Airlines. He wears Patagonia. Forbes has ranked his company on its “Best Places To Work” list for 15 years. His stock has skyrocketed back from the last recession, from about $8 to about $96 a share, proving his critics wrong. And along the way, he’s made lasting changes to the way Americans think about food.  So why does he get such a hard time?  “Occasionally somebody asks me a question, and before I can think about it, I just blurt out the truth from my perspective,” he told me.”  Read more:  https://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22490029/lewis-whole-foods-ceo-concerned-about-whole-economy

 

“Wal-Mart: The $200 billion grocer” by Emily Jane Fox at CNN.  “When you think “locally sourced,” Wal-Mart probably isn’t the first store that comes to mind. And yet the retailer recently announced that two-thirds of its products are made here in the United States.So what gives? The answer lies in groceries.  Ten years ago, groceries made up a little more than 20% of Wal-Mart’s (WMT, Fortune 500)net sales, or about $48 billion. In 2012, groceries accounted for 55%, or roughly $244 billion. And most of your groceries — from produce, to pancake mix, to paper towels — are made right here in the U.S.”  Read more:  https://money.cnn.com/2013/01/31/news/companies/walmart-grocery/

 

“Amazon added 32K employees in 2012”  at Portland Business Journal.  “Amazon.com Inc. said it grew its number of total number of employees to 88,400 at the end of the latest quarter from 56,200 at the end of last year; an increase of 57 percent.”  Read more:  https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/morning_call/2013/01/amazon-added-32k-employees-in-2012.html