Coupons/ Rebates/ Pricing

SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion continues to implement its new strategy of offering greater value on store brands and being competitive on national brands, while providing a convenient shopping experience. The company announced that it has launched the strategy in 268 stores in Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina. These markets are the first stores in 2012 to unveil the new strategy, the company said.

Target has its low price promise, 5% REDcard Rewards and this week, just in time for Easter, its circular is filled with 50% off deals on toys from Star Wars, Mega Bloks, Disney and Fisher-Price toys. And if those offers aren’t incentive enough to generate a visit to the local Target the company also featured eight free gift card offers ranging in denominations from $5 for any two Procter & Gamble brand products to $35 for a $179 B70 Platinum Edition Keurig brand coffee maker.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — April 17 is almost here, and Staples is making it easier for customers to meet the tax-filing deadline by offering free copies of tax returns and one-stop shopping on essentials such as tax-filing software and organizational products. Starting April 8 and continuing through tax-filing day on April 17, Staples Copy & Print Centers (with full service at all Staples locations) will provide savings to its customers by offering 30 pages of free tax return copies (15 double-sided sheets).

Dallas -- Alliance Data Systems Corp. has signed a multi-year renewal agreement to continue managing the private label credit card program for duty-free jewelry retailer Little Switzerland.

Evansville, Ind. -- Shoe Carnival reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Jan. 28 dipped to $3.3 million, from $4.4 million. Sales edged up 1.1% to $181.9 million in the quarter, and same-store sales dropped 3%.

President and CEO Mark Lemond told investors that heavy promotional activities to rid the chain of cold-weather footwear after an unseasonably warm winter had a negative impact on margins.

Target announced completion of a $10 billion share repurchase program this week and reminded investors of its commitment to more than double its annual dividend payment to $3 by 2017. Too bad Apple announced the same day it would begin paying its first ever quarterly dividend of $2.65 later this year.

Whiting, Ind. -- Survey results released Wednesday by CouponCabin.com found that 41% of U.S. adults who purchase apparel say that they only buy clothing when it’s on sale.

Nearly one-quarter (23%) of U.S. adults said their shopping strategy involves doing whatever they can to save money.

The Spring Shopping Survey, conducted online by Harris Interactive, contained the following highlights:

CHICAGO — While consumers will continue to define value based on price, other key trends, including new product development, technology, store layouts and shopping patterns will drive the market in 2012, according to SymphonyIRI research.

In its latest Times & Trends report, "CPG 2011 Year in Review: The Search for Footing in an Evolving Marketplace," SymphonyIRI said that in order to effectively compete in the market, consumer packaged goods manufacturers and retailers should take note of the following predictions:

New York -- The average gift card dollar volume growth on a year-over-year basis increased 10% during the last six months of 2011, with consumers shopping earlier in the holiday season for prepaid cards and adding more value to their purchases than in 2010, according to a study by First Data Corp.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Ross Stores continues to deliver on consumers' demands for value and delivered a profitable fourth quarter that met Wall Street expectations. The company reported that profit for the quarter ended Jan. 28 rose 19% to $192 million, from $161.8 million last year. 

Sales surged almost 12% to $2.4 billion, and same-store sales increased 7%.

For the full year, Ross reported a net income rise of 18% to $657.2 million. Sales increased 9% to $8.6 billion, with same-store sales up 5%.