Consumer Affairs & Relations

New York -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) urged the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance to reach a contract agreement well in advance of the Sept. 30 deadline in order to prevent a disruption to the flow of goods.

The ongoing labor negotiations affect 14 East and Gulf Coast ports, which together account for 95% of all containerized shipments to the Eastern seaboard.

New York – A study released Tuesday by Accenture found that, in the grocery arena, store brands continue to steal sales from brand-name products.

According to Accenture’s poll of 500 U.S. consumers, 64% said their grocery carts were at least half full of store-brand products, and 39% said they have increased their purchase of store-brands in recent years as a result of the tough economic times.

PLANO, Texas — JCPenney is cutting approximately 350 positions at its headquarters as part of its plan to restructure the company.

Dallas – The Container Store said Tuesday it will open three Florida locations in 2013 – in Orlando, Tampa and Boca Raton – joining its two existing Sunshine State stores in Hallandale Beach and Miami.

The Orlando store is slated to open spring 2013 and occupy 25,000 sq. ft. in the Mall at Millenia. The Tampa store, also 25,000 sq. ft., will be located one block south of International Plaza Mall. An opening date is still to be determined.

STRATHAM, N.H. — Premium Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprungli USA announces a partnership with The Culinary Institute of America (CIA). Through the partnership, Lindt will collaborate with the next generation of culinary experts in a student contest searching for innovative dark chocolate bar recipes, sponsor CIA Boot Camp sessions, including several lectures and demonstrations with a Lindt Master Chocolatier, and donate premium chocolate products for use in CIA classrooms. 

New York – Best Buy is cutting 2,400 employees, including 1,800 store employees and 600 Geek Squad technical support associates, employees, as it seeks to restructure operations, the Associated Press reported.

The layoffs amount to about 1.4% of the company’s total staff of 167,000. A Best Buy spokesman, Bruce Hight, said the cuts were part of the company’s “ongoing turnaround plan,” according to the report.

The rhetoric over allowing foreign direct investment in India is reminiscent of the rhetoric that would have occurred in the United States 30 years ago had Walmart’s critics knew then what they profess to know now.

EMERYVILLE, Calif. — Educational toy manufacturer LeapFrog Enterprises announced that chief financial officer Mark Etnyre has resigned from the company in order to spend more time with his family and pursue personal interests. The resignation will be effective as of Oct. 1.