Convenience Stores

The purchasing power of Walmart shoppers is on the rise as gas prices come down and the improved spending outlook has the company’s share price setting new highs. What’s there to worry about?

Plenty, according to a survey of top executives conducted by the Business Roundtable, an organization that represents companies who combined employ more than 14 million people and generate $6 trillion in annual sales. Member companies include the likes of Walmart, General Electric, AT&T, ExxonMobil and American Express.

By Andrew Wren, Wren Solutions

It’s no secret in the loss prevention industry that sweethearting, the practice of giving customers unauthorized discounts or free merchandise or services, is a major source of loss in retail. In fact, it has long been recognized as the most common type of employee theft and the largest contributor to loss in the industry. It is also a unique challenge to loss prevention efforts. Unlike other forms of employee theft, both the customer and the employee are aware of sweethearting.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Sheets, makers of dissolvable energy strips, has partnered with Walmart and Pitbull to launch a local Facebook page contest among local Walmart stores, to offer customers the chance to win a visit by Mr. Worldwide.

Unilever president of customer development, Joe Cavaliere, is the newest addition to the board of the Retail Industry Leaders Association.

The trade group’s board held its semi-annual meeting earlier this week and elected Cavaliere and re-elected PetSmart president and CEO Bob Moran and IBM’s general manager for the retail industry Karen Lowe.

New York -- Starbucks Coffee Co. keeps branching out. After opening its first juice store (Evolution Fresh), the company plans to open a tea store under its Tazo brand in Seattle this fall, Bloomberg reported.

The shop will sell more than 80 varieties of loose-leaf tea, which will be priced by the ounce, the report said. It will also offer pastries, baked goods and packaged chocolates.
 

Garden City, N.Y. -- Starbucks Coffee Co. has appointed Sabre Real Estate Group LLC as its exclusive broker for northern New Jersey.

Sabre’s Scott Sher and Russel Helbling will spearhead the cafe chain’s site search in Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Union and Hudson Counties, where the chain currently has 52 locations.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer recently joined the U.S. Environment Protection Agency's GreenChill Partnership. Created as a voluntary partnership, GreenChill members focus on reducing refrigerant emissions and decreasing their impact on the environment and ultimately people's health. By joining GreenChill, Meijer is pledging to meet higher standards that go beyond the regulatory requirements to protect the ozone layer and combat climate change.

New York -- Dunkin’ Donuts said Tuesday that New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning will partner with the retailer on a series of advertisements and promotions in the New York metro area over the next three years.
 
To kick off the partnership, Manning will star in a series of Dunkin' Donuts advertisements that will launch during the upcoming football season.
 

Chicago -- Harbor Freight Tools recently signed a lease for 20,000 sq. ft. of space at Bricktown Square in Chicago, according to Mid-America Asset Management, which represents the center.

The tool retailer held the grand opening of its first urban Chicago store on June 13.

The 277,489-sq.-ft Bricktown Square is anchored by Babies ‘R’ Us, Sports Authority and XSport Fitness, with area tenants including Target, Loews, Jewel/Osco and Office Depot.
 

New York -- Walgreen Co. said Tuesday it will pay $6.7 billion for a 45% stake in European health and beauty retailer Alliance Boots, which is based Nottingham, England, with an option to buy the rest of the company in about three years. It is the first international venture and biggest deal ever for the U.S. chain.