Marketing

As retailers continue to benefit from surging sales in the candy aisle, Ikea is expanding its grocery offerings with European sweets.

The retailer announced it is venturing into the candy business by bringing over treats from Europe and installing in-store candy shops, which will offer Lördagsgodis "pick and mix sweets" at select stores across the country.

A new study by Staples shows that many Americans are burnt out and working more than ever thanks to the always on mentality of the connected economy. So why are we so happy?

New research from the Staple Advantage business-to-business division of Staples looked at the work behaviors of 2,602 employees in the U.S. and Canada to create the inaugural Workplace Index. The key takeaway is that more than half of employees report feeling overworked and burnt out (53%), but the overwhelming majority (86%) are still happy at work and motivated to rise in their organization.

Warren, Mich. -- At least one retailer is bucking the current smaller store trend by opening its biggest location to date.

Art Van Furniture will open a two-story, 112,000-sq.-ft. store showroom in Downers Grove, Ill., on July 30. It will not only be the largest Art Van Furniture store among the company's 90 Midwest locations, but also and the largest furniture store in Chicagoland.

Cincinnati – The Kroger Co. is responding to explosive financial performance with a two-for-one stock split, dividend increase and share buyback program. Kroger has delivered double-digit compound growth in its dividend since it was reinstated in 2006, and expects further growth.

Nielsen knows what makes brand marketing effective and now the company is applying its consumer communications expertise to the world of packaging.

Nielsen Design Navigator is the name of a new creative enablement tool the company contends helps marketers improve the in-market effectiveness of package design.

Nielsen is known as a leader in marketing effectiveness, innovation forecasting and in-market success but the introduction of the Design Navigator is new territory. Why the company has made the move is understandable.

New York -- Put your dukes up: Everlast Worldwide is going to open physical stores.

Everlast Worldwide, a global leader in the design, manufacturing, licensing and marketing of authentic boxing equipment and apparel, will open its first-ever U.S. stores this summer. The company, whose roots date back to 1910, will open three locations in Florida, at Westfield Broward Mall in Plantation, Pembroke Lakes Mall in Pembroke Pines, according to Licensemag.com.

The Consumer Goods Forum has elected two new board members with broad packaged goods and retail experience.

Denise Morrison, president and CEO of Campbell Soup Company, and Gareth Ackerman, chairman of Pick n Pay, are joining the board. Morrison will chair the Manufacturer College of the board while Ackerman will chair the Retailer College. The pair will lead the CGF Board for two years, and replace outgoing co-chairs Dick Boer of Royal Ahold and Paul Bulcke of Nestlé. 

GameStop is kicking off summer in a big way with a five-week Twitter contest aimed at increasing customer engagement.

The contest, called #SummerAtGameStop, is a five-week contest series designed for gamers to share their personal stories on how video gaming brings fans together to create unique friendships and lifelong relationships. The program encompasses five themed weeks: Never Met, Romance, Reunited, Game Night, and Rematch.