Today’s Tipsheet: WHO Links Red Meat to Cancer | Wmart Removes 15% of Displays | Target Free Shipping?
By Jason Long: jlong@eyeonretail.net
WHO to reveal red meat cancer scare via Yahoo News. “Eating processed meat can cause bowel cancer in humans while red meat is a likely cause of the disease, World Health Organization (WHO) experts said on Monday…The France-based International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the WHO, put processed meat like hot dogs and ham in its group 1 list, which already includes tobacco, asbestos and diesel fumes, for which there is “sufficient evidence” of cancer links.” Read more
…Industry set to reject WHO’s processed meat carcinogens ruling by Clive Cookson at Financial Times via CNBC. “This time around the meat industry is getting its retaliation in first.”IARC says you can enjoy your yoga class, but do not breathe air (class I carcinogen), sit near a sun-filled window (class I), drink wine or coffee (class I and class 2A,), eat grilled food (class 2A) or apply aloe vera (class 2B),” said Nami’s Mr Carpenter.” Read more
Wall Street Journal: Wal-Mart Shrinks the Big Box, Vexing Vendors by Sarah Nassauer. “It’s the same brand, exactly the same item, but it just comes in six different sizes,” says Mr. Foran, who snapped a picture of the redundant display to send to the company’s grocer managers. “I look at that and I say to our team, ‘Do you really need six?’ The answer is we probably don’t.” At the U.S. chief’s direction, the retail behemoth has already removed about 15% of store displays over the past year, and the average Wal-Mart supercenter—home to around 120,000 products—has about 2,500 fewer items than a year ago.” Read more (Subscription)
Report: Target Will Also Offer Free Shipping On All Online Orders Throughout The Holiday Season by Mary Beth Quirk at Consumerist. “BestBlackFriday.com spotted the promotion in Target’s toy catalog today, which notes that the offer is valid from Nov. 1 through Dec. 25. There are no minimum price restrictions, though it may exclude oversized items.” Read more
A new look for fresh merchandising at Walmart by Mike Troy at Chain Store Age. “The new wood grain RPCs are more visually appealing than the current black RPCs the retailer uses.” Read more
Target tests international expansion through online portals by Kavita Kumar at Star Tribune. “We’re not going to open up 100-some stores in a market to go after the next international opportunity,” Casey Carl, Target’s chief innovation officer, told the Star Tribune in a recent interview. “But we will step into it through digital first … We’ll walk into it smartly.” Read more
Mom was a Kroger shopper, now she runs half the stores by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer. “Sukanya Madlinger…was born in Mumbai, India, her parents brought her to the U.S. at age 2 and she grew up in Springboro. After nearly three decades with Kroger, Madlinger has helped implement major changes revolutionizing the supermarket chain…” Read the Q&A
Walgreens halts expansion of Theranos centers by Phil Wahba at Fortune. “Walgreens will not open any additional Theranos blood-testing centers in its pharmacies until it gets answers to questions surrounding the start-up’s technology, a Walgreens official told The Wall Street Journal.” Read more
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Seinfeld’s ‘Soup Nazi’ serves up soup at Kroger HQ by Brian Wiechert at WLWT 5 NBC. “He’s helping launch a new line of soup in conjunction with Kroger.” Read more
Reese Witherspoon plans to bring her 2nd store to Dallas by Maria Halkias at Dallas News. “Reese Witherspoon opened her first Draper James store in Nashville…” Read more
CEO of American Egg Board steps down after she tried to stop the sale of a vegan mayonnaise at Whole Foods by Candice Choi at AP via Pioneer Press. “The Associated Press reported on emails in which Ivy told a consultant that she would “like to accept your offer to make that phone call to keep Just Mayo off Whole Foods shelves.” The request, made in 2013, was not successful, as Just Mayo is still sold at Whole Foods.” Read more
Milwaukee: More than 1,500 storm Nordstrom on day one by Alison Bauter at Milwaukee Business Journal. “…music befitting a nightclub pulsed and shoppers scrambled to try out shoes, makeup and jewelry. Hundreds of employees chanted a deafening countdown inside the Mayfair store Friday morning, cheering, applauding and high-fiving as more than 1,500 people surged through the doors.” See the video / Read more
Another Ben Franklin store is going out of business – only 125 left by John Enger at Pioneer Press. “The five-and-dime empire that once stood 2,500 stores strong has fallen to just 125…” Read more
Thomas Stemberg, Founder of Staples Retail Chain, Dies at 66 by Stephen Miller at Bloomberg. Read more
Jack Link’s enjoys ride as industry leader while keeping its family roots by Mike Hughlett at Star Tribune. “Jack Link’s growing marketing and sales department is now largely based in Minneapolis’ North Loop, where Jack Link’s employs about 130 people. Troy Link shuttles back and forth from Florida, where he lives, to Minneapolis and Minong, where he also has a residence.” Read more
First Lady Michelle Obama shares personal message with the produce industry Read the release
LA Designers and Makers: Target’s Looking for Local Products at A Bullseye View. “We’re looking to invite a handful of vendors and makers to meet with the Target team in LA on Nov. 6. If chosen, you’ll work closely with Target to bring your designs to life in our LA-area stores as early as March 2016.” Read more
Tipsheet Extra
Bentonville Film Festival to expand in 2016, connect more to the region
Russian Ships Near Undersea Cables Carrying Global Internet Are Too Close for U.S. Comfort
Lowe’s and media group backing fee-for-service agent marketplace
Clay Christensen explains, defends ‘disruptive innovation’
Ten Food Trends That Will Transform Restaurants In 2016
Eye on Retail Tipsheet is created early every weekday morning and read by retail merchants and executives worldwide. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s really happening in the world of retail. See the website at www.eyeonretail.net