“Day 1 of Walmart’s New Pickup Grocery Format in Bentonville” by Kim Souza at The City Wire. “The City Wire registered online to try the new grocery buying experience. The registration was easy, requiring only an email address and password, home address and phone number – very similar to the registration for the Savings Catcher program or a typical online purchase…The City Wire purposely ordered fresh produce to see the quality the pickers would deliver. Two Gala Apples were in the order, the color was nice, but one of them had a small blemish that would not have met the buyer’s approval had they seen the product.” Read more

 

“Costco Looted in Cabo Could be Closed Until November” by Angel Gonzalez at Seattle Times. “Costco has been able to reach 80 percent of the 235 people working at that store and “fortunately we haven’t recorded any human loss,” according to the statement. The warehouse will be operating again “in a few months,” a statement from the company’s Mexico unit said.” Read more

 

USA Today: “Walmart blames Tracy Morgan for not wearing seatbelt” by Maria Puente. “In court papers on Monday the company asserted, among other defenses, that Morgan’s injuries “were caused, in whole or in part, by plaintiffs’ failure to properly wear an appropriate available seatbelt restraint device,” according to The Hollywood Reporter and TMZ. Therefore, the company says, the plaintiffs aren’t entitled to damages because they “failed to mitigate their losses.” Read more

 

“Another card system hack at Supervalu, Albertsons” at San Jose Mercury News. “Card data of Supervalu and Albertsons shoppers may be at risk in another hack, the two supermarket companies said Monday.” Read more

 

“EBay and PayPal to split into two separately traded companies” by David Faber at CNBC. “CEO John Donahoe will step down as CEO of eBay once the split takes effect in 2015.” Read more

 

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“Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom Joins Walmart’s Board of Directors” “Systrom became the 15th member of the Board and will also serve as a member of the company’s Technology and eCommerce Committee and its Compensation, Nominating and Governance Committee.” Read the release

 

“Family Dollar kicks off price-matching initiative Tuesday” by Jennifer Thomas at Charlotte Bus. Journal. “With this new program, our customers will no longer have to search all over town for the best deal. Simply bring in any local competitor’s printed advertisement, and we’ll match it item for item; plain and simple,” says Jason Reiser, chief merchandising officer.” Read more

 

“Hibbett Announces Promotion of Jared Briskin to Senior Vice President and Chief Merchant” Read the release

 

“Interview with Costco’s Annette Alvarez-Peters (Assistant General Manager Alcohol)” at Shanken News Daily. “Large-format beers and ciders are doing well. Vodka and whiskies also continue to do well. Our top spirits sellers are (Costco private label) Kirkland Signature American vodka ($13.99 a 1.75-liter), and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey ($29.99-$43.99 a 1.75-liter). High-end spirits, notably Johnnie Walker, are also doing well.” Read more

 

“Saks Fifth Avenue to Open New Store in Puerto Rico” Read the release

 

“October 10th: Field & Stream to Open Stores in NY/OH/PA/NY” Altoona, PA  Horseheads, NY  Miamisburg, OH  Rochester, NY

 

“Sears store dealers denounce changes that leave them ‘doomed to financial ruin’ “ by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “David Halsey didn’t envision spending his retirement years working as a sales associate at Canadian Tire. But it’s where the former Sears Hometown store dealer has ended up after walking away from his unprofitable Lindsay, Ont. store a year and a half ago. “At 67 I’m working for $11 an hour,” Mr. Halsey chuckles.” Read more

 

“State patrol: Woman caught driving with Costco bear ‘passenger’ in HOV lane” by Jamie Skorheim at My Northwest. “As she rolls that window down, she sees it is a bear sitting in the front passenger seat,” says Francis. The 19-year-old driver from Everett told authorities the bear wasn’t in the front seat to appear as a passenger…”She had a grand total of an $818 citation for speeding, no insurance and the HOV violation,” says Francis.” Read more

 

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