Convenience Stores

WHITING, Ind. — An online consumer survey shows that nearly half of consumers go into brick-and-mortar stores with their smartphones to research items without buying them and then looked for the same item at a lower price online.

The 2,361-adult survey, conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of CouponCabin.com between Sept. 18 and 20, found that 43% of smartphone and tablet owners have engaged in the practice, known as "showrooming."

Whiting, Ind. — An online consumer survey shows that nearly half of consumers go into brick-and-mortar stores with their smartphones to research items without buying them and then looked for the same item at a lower price online.

The 2,361-adult survey, conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of CouponCabin.com between Sept. 18 and 20, found that 43% of smartphone and tablet owners have engaged in the practice, known as "showrooming."

No wonder Walmart comps are increasing. Check out the latest monthly report from the ad tracking provider Market Track.

The month saw drop in the number of circulars released to the market by the majority of retailers. However, interestingly we saw flyers increasing pages compared with last year for most of the retailers in the year over year comparison.

Walmart had a significant increase in both the number of circulars as well as number of pages when compared with same time last year.

Minneapolis -- Supervalu Inc. on Thursday reported a loss of $111 for its second quarter, compared with net income of $60 million in the year-earlier quarter.

Revenue fell 4.6% to $8.04 billion in the quarter ended Sept. 8, from $8.43 billion in the year-earlier quarter. The decrease in net sales was blamed on both a decline in identical store sales and the sale of a majority of the company’s gas stations, which had contributed $158 million in revenue in the second quarter last year.

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu reported a loss of $111 for its second quarter, compared with net income of $60 million in the year-earlier quarter.

Revenue fell 4.6% to $8.04 billion in the quarter ended Sept. 8, from $8.43 billion in the year-earlier quarter. The decrease in net sales was blamed on both a decline in identical-store sales and the sale of a majority of the company’s gas stations, which had contributed $158 million in revenue in the second quarter last year.

CANTON, Mass. -- Dunkin' Donuts has signed a multi-unit store development agreement with existing franchisee Sizzling Donuts, LLC for 16 new restaurants in Salt Lake City, Utah.
 
The first restaurant is planned to open in 2013 and the remainder by 2018.
In February 2012, Sizzling Platter, LLC formed the subsidiary Sizzling Donuts, LLC and signed their first multi-unit agreement with Dunkin' Donuts to develop 11 new restaurants in Denver, Colorado, and eight new restaurants in El Paso, Texas, over the next several years.

New York -- Murphy Oil is splitting in two in order to better focus on the separate tasks of exploration and production, and the sale of gasoline and other goods through its retail locations, the Associated Press reported.

Murphy USA will become a separate company focused on selling fuels. Murphy USA operates retail gasoline stations in 23 states. Murphy USA will also operate seven fuel distribution terminals and ethanol production facilities in North Dakota and Texas.

Dallas -- PeopleAnswers has extended its software licensing agreement for Foot Locker to use the PeopleAnswers HR solution in its 2,500 stores across the United States.