Cabela’s Q2 Comp Sales +1.5% “This marks the first quarter of positive comparable store sales since the third quarter of 2013. This increase was attributable to strength in firearms and shooting related categories as well as the camping, powersports, and fishing categories. Internet and catalog sales increased 3.3% in the quarter.” Press release

 

Dollar General buys 41 former Wal-Mart Express stores by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “The sale to Dollar General is somewhat ironic given that Walmart built the smaller Express format as way to better compete with Dollar General in rural markets.” List of store locations | Press release

 

Target – IndyCar’s longest-running primary team sponsor — to leave series by Curt Cavin at Indy Star. “Target will continue to sponsor Kyle Larson’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series program.” Read more

 

Kmart’s retail experiment is freaking out employees by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “…has started moving Kmart stockroom merchandise onto the sales floor…But the cost-cutting maneuver had at least one immediate, unforeseen side effect: Employees thought the chain was going out of business.” Read more

 

Macy’s top Cincinnati exec named one of nation’s best by Andy Brownfield at Cincinnati Business Courier. “Macy’s Chief Financial Officer Karen Hoguet was ranked No. 16 in a list of the top 25 chief financial officers published by ExecRank.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart offers new mobile cross-channel features for Chinese shopper by Frank Tong at Internet Retailer. “Beginning this month, millions of Chinese shoppers have been able to check out in more than 100 Wal-Mart stores in China by using WeChat Pay…A consumer shows a bar code within the WeChat app to a cashier, and the cashier scans the code to verify the payment.” Read more

 

**A message from Man Dip – Sour cream is for sissies – Eat like a man! Sour cream is something you slap on a baked potato – it is not a dip! Man Dip uses real cream cheese loaded with chunks of meat and peppers to create dips that are rich and savory with just the right amount of kick. Protein rich – Gluten free – Served hot. See the website & five new flavors | Named a Top 5 new product | Retailers request a sample pack at info@shiftmarketinggroup.net

 

Whole Foods’ earnings misses on analyst forecast, shares fall by Claudia Grisales at American-Statesman. “Whole Foods executives said the earnings report was dragged down by the retailer’s new lower pricing strategy, higher healthcare costs and depreciation as well as marketing and technology expenses.” Read more

 

Overstock founder Patrick Byrne returns as CEO by April Berthene at Internet Retailer. “(Patrick) Byrne left…in April due to “stage IV Hepatitis C,” or advanced hepatitis with liver damage…Byrne is completely healthy for this first time in 31 years, he said in a statement Tuesday announcing his return to Overstock.” Read more

 

Claire’s banking on back-to-school sales to avoid bankruptcy by Josh Kosman & James Covert at NY Post. “The situation depends on the real cash flow in the next couple of months,” a source with direct knowledge of the situation said. “You have to think more likely than not it will result in bankruptcy.” Read more

 

Lower food prices add to challenges at Supervalu by John Ewoldt at Star Tribune. “We expect Supervalu will continue to cede share within the retail food category,” Morgan Stanley analyst Vincent Sinisi wrote after the company’s results announcement.” Read more

 

Publix Heiress Donates $800,000 to Fight Medical Marijuana Legalization in Florida by Jerry Iannelli at Miami New Times. “It appears Jenkins Barnett, who stepped down from her role with the chain last month as she fights early-onset Alzheimer’s at age 59, really doesn’t like medical marijuana. She reportedly gave more than $500,000 to Drug Free Florida in 2014.” Read more

 

Nordstrom Expands Madewell Partnership To 20 Additional Stores This Fall Press release

 

Australia: Aldi’s grows at more than five times the rate of Coles and Woolworths by Harry Pearl at Daily Mail. Read more

 

Amazon Has Launched a New Showcase for Kickstarter Products by David Meyer at Fortune. “Amazon also said Wednesday that Launchpad now includes products from over 1,000 startups, a year into its operation.” Read more

 

State officials ‘stand ready to help’ if Cabela’s asks, but analysts say there’s only so much government can do by Paige Yowell at Omaha World-Herald. Read more

 

Target touts new farm-to-cup coffee improvements at A Bullseye View. “To perfect our flavors, we engaged hundreds of guests and Target team members, asking them to test and rate the cups of coffee for texture, aroma and flavor…” See the packaging pics / Read more

 

Forrest E. Mars Jr., scion of a candy empire, dies at 84 via CNBC. “Scarred by years of criticism that was spurred by Forrest Sr.’s fear that he would raise spoiled children and by his refusal to let them eat candy, his sons forbid Mars executives from mentioning their father’s name in their presence…” Read more

 

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Kroger Names IRI as Preferred Market Measurement Partner

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