Archive for year: 2013

“Shareholders show Costco CEO the love as profit rises 17%” by Amy Martinez at The Seattle Times.  “Jelinek, who took over as CEO last year from co-founder Jim Sinegal, kept with tradition and went through a series of highlights from 2012. Among them:

• Costco had 92 warehouses that each reported more than $200 million in annual sales.

• The chain’s Honolulu store boasted the most million-dollar days during the holiday sales season, with 32. Locally, the Issaquah store led with 13 million-dollar days.

• It sold 113,000 carats of jewelry, including a $103,000 diamond ring in Gaithersburg, Md.

• Customers bought 1.5 million pumpkin pies at $5.99 each over Thanksgiving.

• E-commerce sales in the U.S. and Canada reached $2.5 billion. The company recently began selling online in the U.K., and Mexico and Korea may be next.

Read more:  https://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020208680_costcoannualmeetingxml.html

“Green Is The New Thin”  “One hundred million dieters are spending approximately $20 billion a year on weight loss efforts, yet a new survey reveals women actually feel more pressure to beautify the Earth than their own bodies. A survey of 600 women conducted by the makers of Green Works® products learned that women say it’s being green that causes more pressure than being skinny (39% vs. 29% respectively).  For some, the pressure to be environmentally conscious even outweighs the pressure to have a great relationship, or have children who are successful in school or extracurricular activities. Along with feeling the pressure, women also feel it’s trendy to be environmentally conscious. Fifty-one percent of respondents said “green is the new black.” And when they do commit a green faux pas, throwing recyclables into the regular trash container is when they feel the most judgment.”  Read more:  https://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=6183415&access=EH

“Lowe’s Names Michael A. Jones as Chief Merchandising Officer” at Fox Business.  “Lowe’s Cos. has named Michael A. Jones, who most recently served as North and Latin America executive vice president and president of lawn and garden equipment company Husqvarna, as its new chief merchandising officer.  Prior to joining Husqvarna, Jones spent 15 years with General Electric Co.  “Mike has extensive experience with consumer products in categories relevant to the home improvement business, with both Husqvarna and GE including appliances, outdoor power equipment and lighting categories,” Chief Customer Officer Gregory M. Bridgeford said. “His experience in leading businesses, identifying and pursuing marketing opportunities, and discipline around value creation throughout the chain, from supplier to consumer, make him an outstanding fit for this position.”  Read more:  https://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2013/01/24/lowe-names-michael-jones-as-chief-merchandising-officer/

“Amazon buys text-to-speech software company Ivona” at Reuters.  “Amazon.com Inc said on Thursday it acquired text-to-speech technology company Ivona Software, a sign that the world’s largest Internet retailer may be looking to develop more services similar to Apple Inc’s Siri voice-based search product…”The Ivona acquisition could provide some technology on the Kindle to compete with Siri, although I would argue that Siri has not been all that was expected of it so far,” said Kerry Rice, an analyst at Needham & Co.”  Read more:  https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/24/us-amazon-ivona-idUSBRE90N0T020130124

“Wanelo: Social Commerce Site Is Big With Young Shoppers” by Jenna Wortham at NY Times.  “Fashion Tumblrs, Pinterest and Lookbook.nu, a street photography site, are certainly adept at displaying dreamy and sumptuous pictures of items you might want to buy. But more often than not, there is no information about how to purchase an item — or even where it is from.  Enter Wanelo a start-up based in San Francisco that has the same aesthetic as those sites, and one important difference: clicking on an image takes you directly to the place where it’s available for sale — not another blog, image site or Pinterest post.”  Read more:  https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/24/a-look-at-wanelo-a-social-commerce-site-for-younger-shoppers/?src=rechp

“India Assures Wal-Mart on FDI Policy” by Prasanta Sahu at WSJ.  “India’s Trade Minister Anand Sharma met the chief of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s WMT international operations during the World Economic Forum in Davos Thursday and said his government will provide further clarity on its policy on foreign investment in the retail sector.  Wal-Mart International Chief Executive Doug McMillon told Mr. Sharma the retail giant was “excited about India” and that they were studying the conditions in India’s policy related to multi-brand retail before making a final announcement on its India strategy, according to an official Indian government statement.  Read more:  https://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323539804578261522732301016.html

“Walmart, Tesco may not rush in with stores (in India)” at The Times of India.  “Foreign retailers Walmart and Tesco on Thursday indicated that they will not rush into opening stores in India despite the government aggressively courting them to set up multi-brand outlets.  During a meeting with commerce & industry minister Anand Sharma in Davos on Thursday, British retail giant Tesco sought clarifications on sourcing from small scale units and rolling out of back-end infrastructure for foreign players entering the retail space. The move is seen as a precursor to the supermarket chain deciding on entering the Indian market after the government allowed 51% foreign direct investment in the multi-brand retail segment.  Similarly, Doug McMillon, president and chief executive of the international operations of Walmart told the minister that the global giant is studying the conditions before making a final announcement on its India plans, an official statement said.  Read more:  https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Walmart-Tesco-may-not-rush-in-with-stores/articleshow/18176828.cms

“Target’s ‘Live Tweet-to-Runway Show’ Was…Strange” by Patrick Coffee at PRNewser.  “Here’s the deal: Target encouraged fans to log on to the “Everyday Show” page via Twitter and post messages concerning some product sold in the “Everyday” line. Target describes Everyday as “the most intensely sensible grocery and essentials collection of the season”, which could apply to pretty much anything. Someone in the marketing/PR department chose the “best” tweets, which were then read aloud by models as they paraded down the runway carrying the products in question with the requisite techno beats in the background.”  Read more:  https://www.mediabistro.com/prnewser/targets-live-tweet-to-runway-show-was-strange_b55611

“Better Homes And Gardens Best New Product Awards Announces 2013 Winners As Voted By 77,500+ Americans”  “Better Homes and Gardens along with leading market research firm BrandSpark International, today announced the winners of the 2013 Better Homes and Gardens Best New Product Awards (BNPAs). The BNPAs are the leading consumer-voted awards program in North America, honoring consumer products in the categories of Beauty, Food & Beverage, Health & Personal Care and Household. See the 63 winning products here:  https://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=6184925&access=EH

“Global Retail Branding And Sourcing Expert Daymon Worldwide Releases 2013 And Beyond Global Retail Trend Predictions”  “Daymon Worldwide, the only end-to-end global retail branding and sourcing company, released its Global Retail Trend Predictions for 2013 and beyond, offering insider intelligence gleaned from its international team of retail and insights experts.  See the 13 trends here:  https://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=6184977&access=EH

“Walmart Canada announces expansion plans”  “Walmart Canada announced that it plans to complete at least 37 supercentre projects in the company’s next fiscal year, which runs from February 1, 2013 to January 31, 2014. The company also announced it will be expanding its distribution network to support its ongoing store growth and expansion plans.  The distribution centre projects, construction of new stores, and expansion, remodelling or relocation of existing stores represents an investment of more than $450 million in the Canadian economy. These expansion plans are expected to generate more than 7,000 store, trade and construction jobs.”  Read more:  https://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=6165738&access=EH

“Wal-Mart Readies Fresh-Food Fight With Target” by Greg Quinn at Bloomberg.  “Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to expand its fresh-food offerings to every store in Canada from about 50 percent now as it takes on grocer Loblaw Cos. and girds for Target Corp. arrival in the country this year.  Wal-Mart will add food sections to stores in Canada’s Maritime provinces this year and plans to increase its food line to as many stores as possible, Shelley Broader, 48, chief executive officer and president of Wal-Mart’s Canadian unit said in an interview today at Bloomberg’s Toronto office.  “The addition of fresh food through supercenters a few years ago has really not only driven our growth trajectory in Canada, but it is really meeting the needs of the consumer base that was under-served,” Broader said. “I would like to put fresh food in every facility that I can.”  Read more:  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-23/wal-mart-readies-fresh-food-fight-with-target.html

“Deloitte Study: Consumer Products Industry Expects Sales in Warehouse Club Stores to Outpace Other Retail Channels”  “Consumer products executives expect their highest growth to come from the warehouse club channel compared with any other retail sales channel over the next three years, including mass merchandise, grocery, and e-commerce, according to new research from Deloitte.  Nine out of 10 (89 percent) of consumer package goods (CPG) executives Deloitte surveyed expect their company’s sales through the warehouse club channel to increase during that time. This channel is outpacing grocery in CPG companies’ focus, as less than half (49 percent) expect grocery sales to increase during that three-year period, while one in six (18 percent) expect sales in the grocery channel to decline.”  Read more:  https://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=6167127&access=EH

“ACE Hardware hammers zombie film shot at store” by Carla Caldwell at Atlanta Business Journal.  “A short film shot by college students at a Lawrenceville ACE Hardware store has earned a spot at Sundance – but is being panned by the company and could cost an employee his job, reports Atlanta Business Chronicle broadcast partner WXIA-TV.  The 9-minute film titled “When Zombies Come” beat out more than 8,000 entries for a showing at Sundance Film Festival. It was filmed as part of a Georgia State University class project.  ACE says the film was shot on company property without consent and features an employee, Alex Warner, who was not given permission to participate.”  Read more:  https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/morning_call/2013/01/ace-hammers-zombie-film-shot-at-store.html

“Amazon fails to collect new Georgia tax” by Arielle Kass at Atlanta Journal Constitution.  “Georgia shoppers at Amazon still aren’t paying sales tax, three weeks after the start of a state law designed to snag the money from the world’s biggest online retailer.  Whether or when Amazon’s tax collection will begin is unclear. State officials are aware Amazon isn’t collecting the money, but they aren’t disclosing what they will do about it. “Our expectation is that the law would be abided by,” said Ryan Teague, executive counsel to Gov. Nathan Deal.”  Read more:  https://www.ajc.com/news/news/amazon-fails-to-collect-new-georgia-tax/nT4wm/

“Lowe’s Boosts Seasonal Hiring, Plans to Add Permanent Part-Timers” at Fox Business.  “Lowe’s Cos. increased its temporary-worker hiring plan for the spring season from last year and said it also would bring on permanent part-time workers, adding 54,000 positions in all as its turnaround shows traction.  The retailer said Tuesday it planned to hire 45,000 seasonal employees, temporary positions like cashiers and stockers that supplement its ranks during a home-improvement demand spike in spring and summer. A year earlier, the merchant aimed for more than 40,000 seasonal hires. Read more: https://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2013/01/22/lowe-boosts-seasonal-hiring-plans-to-add-permanent-part-timers/#ixzz2Io0hHPYy

“Dollar General plans further expansion” by Jaquetta White in the Tennessean via USA Today.  “Dollar General Corp. plans to hire another 6,000 employees in 2013 on its way to opening more than 600 new stores across the country. The latest announcement reflects the brisk pace at which the discount retailer has grown in a half decade. Based on current projections, Dollar General will have added 2,800 stores and 30,000 employees since 2004 when its upcoming fiscal year ends in January 2014. The additions will bring the Goodlettsville, Tenn., company, which already has more locations than any other retailer in America, to 11,000 stores by the end of the year.”  Read more:  https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/01/22/dollar-general-plans-expansion/1856877/

“What happens when Walmart comes to Nicaragua?” by Hope Michelson at Oxford University Press.  “When a supermarket chain like Walmart moves into a developing country it requires a steady supply of fresh fruits and vegetables largely sourced domestically. In developing countries where the majority of the poor rely on agriculture for their livelihood, this means that poor farmers are increasingly selling produce to and contracting directly with large corporations. In precisely this way, Walmart has begun to transform the domestic agricultural markets in Nicaragua over the past decade. This profound change has been met with both excitement and trepidation by governments and development organizations because the likely effects on poverty and inequality are not known.”  Read more:  https://blog.oup.com/2013/01/what-happens-when-walmart-comes-to-nicaragua/

“Delhaize Group 2012 revenues and preliminary results” in International Supermarket News. 

Full Year 2012 Results (at identical exchange rates)

» Group revenue growth of 2.9%; organic revenue growth of 2.1%

» Preliminary unaudited underlying operating profit decline of approximately 17.5% compared to 2011

» Free cash flow generation in excess of €600 million

Read more:  https://www.internationalsupermarketnews.com/news/9740

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“Michelle Obama and Walmart: A Match Made in PR Heaven” by Matt Brownell at Daily Finance.  “The First Lady was effusive in her praise for the retailer, calling the commitment “historic” and saying that Walmart (WMT) was “setting a groundbreaking example for the private sector to follow.”  Anthony Bianco, a critic of Walmart and the author of “The Bully of Bentonville: How the High Cost of Everyday Low Prices Is Hurting America,” says it’s unlikely that the retailer is wooing Michelle Obama as a means of getting in the administration’s good graces. But the First Lady’s seal of approval does help Walmart with what Bianco sees as its main goal: Good PR.  “I see [the veteran initiative] almost purely as a PR play, and I think [Michelle] Obama’s comments gave them the PR bonanza they were looking for,” he says. “I don’t see anything too nefarious here, but they got good PR by linking up with Michelle Obama, who’s a very popular figure.”  Read more:  https://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/01/19/walmart-veterans-michelle-obama-pr/

“Target Skips Super Bowl Commercial in Favor of Mobile Game” by Lauren Indvik at Mashable.  “On Feb. 3, big brands and their agencies will line up to compete for what they hope will be remembered as the best TV commercial for Super Bowl XLVII, spending tens of millions of dollars in the process. One major retailer, Target, will be sitting on the sidelines, having developed a more modest (and budget-friendly) mobile game instead.  Snack Bowl, which can be played on mobile web browsers as well as downloadable apps for iPhone and Android devices, is pretty basic. You’re awarded points for tossing a carousel of branded snacks, including DiGiorno pizza and Coke Zero, to your jersey-wearing guests, who are inexplicably running across your living room one by one. Your guests move faster and faster, making the game increasingly difficult. Fail to feed three of your guests and it’s game over.”  Read more:  https://mashable.com/2013/01/20/target-super-bowl-mobile-game/

“Lowe’s magazine goes social, interactive” at Amarillo Globe News.  In February, Lowe’s Creative Ideas magazine will celebrate 15 years of redefining home improvement.  The magazine launched in 1998 now has a top-rated free iPad app at the iTunes Newsstand, a robust Pinterest following and more than 1,000 how-to videos available online at YouTube.com/Lowes.  Read more:  https://amarillo.com/blog-post/bizstream/2013-01-17/lowe%E2%80%99s-magazine-goes-social-interactive

“Wegman, Smucker Honored for Achievements” by David Orgel at Supermarket News.  “Call them the dynamic duo.  Danny Wegman, CEO, Wegmans Food Markets, and Tim Smucker, chairman, The J.M. Smucker Co., received Hall of Achievement Awards here during the 2013 GMA Chairman’s Lecture.  These executives, who have a history of working together, took the stage in front of some 400 industry leaders to accept their awards, which represent the highest honor given by GMA.  Read More: https://supermarketnews.com/2013-fmi-midwinter-executive-conference/wegman-smucker-honored-achievements#ixzz2IcHFx5Cb

“Walgreens Begins Review of $240 Million Media Account” by Maureen Morrison at Ad Age.  “For the first time in a decade, national pharmacy chain Walgreens is launching a formal review for its $240 million media-planning and -buying account.  “The reason we are inviting agencies for a review is that it has been 10 years since we’ve formally gone through this process for media planning and buying,” a spokeswoman told Ad Age in a statement. She added that the incumbent on the business, Publicis Groupe’s Starcom, has been invited to participate in the pitch process, which will be handled by consultancy R3:JLB.  The move comes as the company, which has about 8,000 locations in the U.S., is expanding its offerings, adding: services at its pharmacies and clinics, grocery items and fresh food in stores, enhanced beauty departments and more investment in private label.  Read more:  https://adage.com/article/agency-news/walgreens-begins-review-240-million-media-account/239287/

“Shopko Announces Promotion Of Jill Soltau To Company President.”  “Shopko announced today that Jill Soltau has been promoted to the position of President and Chief Merchandising Officer.  Soltau has more than 25 years of experience in the retail industry and joined Shopko in 2007 as Senior Vice President and GMM Apparel and Accessories.  n her expanded role, Soltau will continue to oversee Shopko’s merchandising and product development, while assuming responsibility for marketing, e-commerce, inventory management and supply chain departments.”  Read more:  https://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=6155194&access=EH

“Uncut: Whole Foods Co-CEO John Mackey ‘On the Record'”(Fox News — Video).  “Co-CEO gives Greta tour of Whole Foods, dishes on new book, on whether he regrets calling ObamaCare ‘fascism’ and more”  See more:  https://video.foxnews.com/v/2101957143001/uncut-whole-foods-co-ceo-john-mackey-on-the-record/

“Target to Launch Evening Wear Line With Top Hollywood Stylist” by Lauren Torrisi at ABC News.  “Starting this spring, you’ll have the opportunity to get your housewares and evening wear in the same place. Target announced its newest designer collaboration today with top Hollywood stylist Kate Young. “I’ve been working with Target for a number of years as a stylist, so having the chance to design my own collection with a brand I already know and love is like a dream come true,” said Young in a statement. Young’s celebrity clients include Natalie Portman, Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz. She consults for designers Jason Wu and Derek Lam and was named the most powerful stylist last year by The Hollywood Reporter.  Read more:  https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2013/01/target-to-launch-evening-wear-line-with-top-hollywood-stylist/

“Trader Joe’s Raises Price Of ‘Two Buck Chuck'” in laist.  “Attention cheap wine fans: the price is going up on Trader Joe’s famous “Two Buck Chuck” for the first time since it debuted over a decade ago.  Until now, Californians have only had to fork over $1.99 to pay for a bottle of the wine whose low price was made possible in part by a glut of California grapes. Trader Joe’s told the Los Angeles Business Journal this week that the wine would now cost a whopping extra 50 cents, making it Two-And-Half Buck Chuck.”  Read more: https://laist.com/2013/01/20/two_buck_chuck_raises_its_price.php

 “Will Wal-Mart Sell Your Small Business Health Insurance?” by Bill Tozzi at Bloomberg Businessweek.  “Will Wal-Mart Stores soon be selling health insurance to small businesses? A report published Friday in the Orlando Business Journal quoted a Wal-Mart vice president saying the world’s largest retailer was exploring plans to work with insurers to sell low-cost coverage to small businesses: “It would allow small employers to piggyback [on] Wal-Mart,” Marcus Osborne, vice president for health and wellness payer relations at Wal-Mart Stores] said. “We haven’t got it all figured out, but it’s one of the things we’re looking at.”  Read more: https://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-01-16/will-wal-mart-sell-your-small-business-health-insurance

“Amazon holiday results to show sales tax impact” at Reuters.  “Acting as a tax collector may have hurt Amazon.com, Inc’s holiday sales analysts and industry executives said, but they expect to know more when the internet retailer reports its fourth-quarter results on January 29. Best Buy Co., an archrival of Amazon in consumer electronics, saw holiday online sales increase in three states where Amazon started collecting sales tax ahead of the period. “There was a little softness in states where Amazon is now collecting sales tax,” said R.J. Hottovy, an equity analyst at Morningstar. “That isn’t surprising to me. It levels the playing field for brick-and-mortar retailers.”  Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/17/us-amazon-salestax-idUSBRE90G0JZ20130117

“What I learned from Sam’s Club CEO Rosalind Brewer (via Leadership Atlanta)”  by Jeff Hilimire at Begin the Begin.

“Rosalind talked about the six points of her leadership philosophy, which are:

* Create a clear vision for your team and inspire them to march toward it

* Live the values you want to instill in your organization. For her, these values are: Trust, Candor (frank conversations), Integrity and Respect.

* Be ready to lead. Be prepared to lead when you’re not the leader. She said that you can pick a leader out as soon as they walk into a room, even if they aren’t technically the leader. This is a point I agree with wholeheartedly.

* Lead for change. Things will always change and as a leader, you should be a catalyst for that change rather than a roadblock. “Always challenge the status quo”.

* Keep it simple and consistent. Your team should clearly understand their goals and what’s expected of them. Strive for simplicity as a leader.

* Own your mistakes. Communicate a lot, early and often, and have a plan for how to correct your mistake. Again, admitting mistakes is something I try to live by as well.”

Read more:  https://jeffhilimire.com/2013/01/what-i-learned-from-sam%E2%80%99s-club-ceo-rosalind-brewer-via-leadership-atlanta/

“Amazon’s Same-Day Delivery Will Shake Up Retail” by Theodore di Stefano at E-Commerce Times.  “The hard fact is that we are now pretty far down the road to an online economy. More and more people realize that Amazon’s prices are hard to beat. When they can couple Amazon’s prices with same-day delivery, would you be willing to pay a little more for that same-day delivery and stay in the comfort of your home and, with just a few clicks, order merchandise to be delivered that very day?”  Read more:  https://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/Amazons-Same-Day-Delivery-Will-Shake-Up-Retail-76955.html

“Whole Foods CEO: Obamacare Is ‘Like Fascism’” by SyMukherjee at Think Progress Health.  “In an interview with NPR, Whole Foods CEO and self-professed libertarian John Mackey revived his previous criticism of Obamacare — but this time, with a new twist:  “Technically speaking, it’s more like fascism. Socialism is where the government owns the means of production. In fascism, the government doesn’t own the means of production, but they do control it, and that’s what’s happening with our healthcare programs and these reforms.”  Read more:  https://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/01/16/1456571/whole-foods-obamacare-fascism/?mobile=nc

“Businesses Cashing in on Flu Season” by Josh Haskel at ABC News.  “As Americans cope with flu symptoms, the onslaught of germaphobia and the debate over whether to get the vaccine, U.S. businesses are cashing in.We’re not just talking about medical businesses that produce the vaccine and treat the flu: everything from tissues to hand sanitizers to orange juice are flying off the shelves. Walgreens Pharmacy tells ABCNews.com that they increase their store inventories of flu-related products every flu season. “We’re seeing an increase in demand for facial tissues, sports drinks, and thermometers among other items,” said Jim Graham, senior manager of corporate communications for Walgreens.”  Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/Flu/businesses-cashing-flu-season/story?id=18229802

“Cramer’s Mad Money – The Dollar Store Debacle” at Seeking Alpha.  “The rising payroll taxes should hit low income shoppers at these stores especially hard, and they are likely to keep tightening their belts. The dollar stores are facing increasing competition from Wal-Mart, Target and CVS Caremark. As a result, the dollar stores may have to enact dramatic discounts to compete, a strategy that will further cut into gross margins. While multiples for the sector are low, there are no catalysts to drive these companies. For those who want to invest in the discount space, Cramer recommends Five Below which has doubled since its IPO in July. Given the amount the stock has jumped, Cramer would wait for a pullback in FIVE before buying.”  Read more:  https://seekingalpha.com/article/1116581-cramer-s-mad-money-the-dollar-store-debacle-1-16-13

“Winter is Most Popular Season for Retail Therapy, Finds New CouponCabin.com Survey.”  “26 percent of U.S. adults agree that bad weather, like cloudy, cold, and gray skies has prompted them to shop in pursuit of a better mood… Regardless of the time of year, the number of people who shop in hunt of a mood enhancement has increased. Nearly half (45 percent) of U.S. adults have shopped for retail therapy, i.e. gone shopping or purchased something solely because they were in a bad mood. This is up from 24 percent who said the same in a 2011 CouponCabin.com retail therapy survey.  More women shop in search of retail therapy than men, at 53 percent and 36 percent, respectively. Women ages 18-34 were the most likely to hit the mall to improve their mood, at 63 percent.  Read more:  https://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=6136624&access=EH

“Ahold 4Q Sales Up 7.7% Due To New Store Openings” at Automated Trader.  “Dutch food retailer Royal Ahold NV said Thursday its fourth quarter sales were up 7.5% compared to a year earlier, mainly due to opening of new stores.  Ahold consolidated net sales of EUR7.8 billion for the fourth quarter of 2012, an increase of 7.5% compared to the fourth quarter of 2011. At constant exchange rates net sales were up 5.1%.”  Read more:  https://www.automatedtrader.net/real-time-dow-jones/123765/ahold-4q-sales-up-77-due-to-new-store-openings

“People Want To Get Personal With Brands — When A “Like” Is Make Or Break For A Brand’s Bottom Line.”  “The initial findings from the study have shown that 80% of shoppers are digitally engaged with brands in some way. However, some consumers, termed ‘Brand Connected Consumers’ (BCCs), are more connected than others, and can have a great impact on the public opinion and the potential sales of a brand…Although the majority of posts are positive, when BCCs do post a negative comment, it goes unanswered by brands more than half (56%) of the time. Seven in ten shoppers report that they stop buying the brand in these cases.”  Read more:  https://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=6138795&access=EH

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