Research Topic

Those who believe the world is on the brink of collapse may want to head over to Sam’s Club.com where the retailer is offering a one-year emergency food supply kit for $949. The manufacturer, Augason Farms, notes in the product description that large numbers of Americans all over the country are becoming more aware of their need of emergency food storage. The pitch continues, “storing food for your family is one of the most prudent actions you will ever take to protect your loved ones.

The retail consulting and research firm Customer Growth Partners is out with a new report highlighting the fact that department stores gained market share last year for the first time in nearly three decades. According to CGP’s study, department stores’ share of the U.S. retail market rose for the first time since the 1980’s, fueled both by innovation and superior mall anchor execution combined with top-line weakness at the granddaddy of off-mall big-boxes, Walmart’s U.S. division, which is now suffering through almost two years of lagging sales.

A lack of visibility into Walmart’s sales performance coupled with concerns about the pace of a U.S. sales recovery is contributing to some apprehension on Wall Street regarding the company’s fourth-quarter performance.

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. -- M&M's brand Pretzel Chocolate Candies were honored with the 2011 Product of the Year in the candy and snacks category by Product of the Year USA, Mars Chocolate North America announced.  

"This award is especially gratifying because it was decided by consumers," said Debra Sandler, chief consumer officer of Mars Chocolate North America.  "We felt confident that the delicious combination of salty and sweet was a winner, but this award solidifies that M&M'S Pretzel are truly irresistible."

In the Jan. 27 edition of SiteTalk, we asked our readers to comment on the recent announcement that Cordish Cos. would build an upscale outlet center and entertainment district near Omaha, Neb., and if that development signaled the beginning of more ground-up projects. This is what one reader had to say:

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.  -- Stater Bros. reported that supermarket sales declined 2.31% in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 compared with the same period of the prior year.  Like-store sales decreased 2.31% or $21.3 million for the thirteen weeks ended Dec. 26, 2010 compared with the thirteen weeks ended Dec. 27, 2009.  Consolidated sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 were $899 million compared with $923.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2010, an overall decline of $24.8 million.

New York City -- The Jones Group reported Wednesday that revenues for the fourth quarter rose 12.5% to $874 million, from $777 million in the year-ago period.

The company attributed the fourth quarter performance to the June 2010 acquisition of the Stuart Weitzman business, as well as increases in various business segments.

Jones Group closed 44 retail locations in the fourth quarter to end the year with 803 locations (which includes acquired Stuart Weitzman locations). The company closed 194 locations in 2010.

Atlanta -- A report released Wednesday by First Data Corp., which tracks same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations, found that more consumers opted to pay with credit cards in January.

According to the First Data SpendTrend report for January 2011, transaction growth on credit cards was at a 13-month high in January and year-over-year credit dollar volume growth was the second highest in over a year.