Supermarket/Grocery

Advancing the Wounded Warrior cause
A powerful alliance formed by News American Marketing, Acosta Sales & Marketing and dozens of leading brands and retailers have stepped up again this veterans day to remind Americans to Believe in Heroes.

Believe in Heroes is an innovative cause marketing campaign created by Acosta Sales & Marketing in 2010 to generate awareness of the Wounded Warrior Project and raise funds for the critical services the group provides to veterans. News America, publisher of the SmartSource Magazine coupon insert, signed on to the Believe in Heroes program in 2011.
Retailers at fault for making America fat
While hunger relief organizations are quick to point out that one in six American’s suffer from “food insecurity,” the Center for Science in the Public Interest is deriding retailers’ for contributing to the nation’s obesity epidemic.

Weis Markets grows Q3 net income

Sunbury, Penn. –- Weis Markets Inc. reported net income of $13.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, a 17% increase from $11.7 million in the same period a year earlier. The elimination of a one-time severance charge and impairment charge from the loss of four properties helped boost net income for the quarter. Net sales increased 3% to $683.9 million from $661.4 million, while its same-store sales increased 2.6%.
Chase: Book spending rose in Q3

Waterbury, Conn. –- Likely spurred by back-to-school needs, consumers increased their spending on books 13% in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the same quarter the prior year. According to the quarterly Chase Freedom Lifestyle Index quarterly barometer of consumer trends based on aggregated Chase Freedom cardholder spending data, spending at craft stores (up 7%) also rose significantly in the quarter.
Rent-a-Center volunteers for #RetailFightsEbola effort

Nashville, Tenn. –- Rent-A-Center has offered to pay for the shipping of the first container of relief supplies as part of the #RetailFightsEbola campaign. RetailFightsEbola is a campaign to combat the spread of Ebola in Liberia launched by Retail Orphan Initiative (RetailROI). The campaign is rallying retailers, manufacturers and individuals to provide much needed medical and hygienic supplies to Liberia.
Englewood Construction announces eight new retail and restaurant projects

Chicago -- Englewood Construction’s restaurant and retail groups have recently broken ground on four projects, completed three projects and started work on one expansion project across the country. In the Chicago area, Englewood’s restaurant group recently broke ground on an 11,265-square-foot, ground-up Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant in Oaklawn, Ill., and an expansion for the popular Purple Pig restaurant on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago.
Cabela’s expands to Houston with new League City store

Dallas -- UCR Dallas announced that Cabela’s will make its Houston debut with a new 72,000-sq.-ft. store at Interstate 45 and Big League Dreams Parkway in League City, Texas. Cabela’s will join HEB, Kohl’s and Big League Dreams Sports Park at this development. The new store is slated to open in fall 2015.
Analysis: Lackluster Sales Set Stage for Humbug Holiday

By Craig Johnson, Customer Growth Partners With a third straight year of dismal retail spending, American consumers will generate only a lackluster 3.4% year-over-year increase in holiday sales, well below the 5% pace in 2010 and 2011, according to Customer Growth Partners’ 14th Annual Holiday Forecast.
Kantar Retail: Walmart.com asserts price leadership over Amazon
Fred’s promotes CFO to CEO

Memphis, Tenn. -- Fred's Inc. named Jerry Shore as its next CEO. Shore has served as the company's executive VP and CFO for more than 14 years. He assumed the additional title of COO in Jan. 2014. Shore's promotion follows follows notification by current CEO Bruce A. Efird of his intention to leave Fred’s upon the expiration of his contract.
Look what Santa put under Whole Foods' tree

Whole Foods has a tendency to zig when other retailers zag and it is doing just that with a new line PBS Kids branded toys this holiday season.

No bright shiny plastic toys will be found on Whole Foods shelves. Instead, the natural grocer struck a deal with PBS Kids to offer a line of educational and sustainable wooden toys and plush products for kids ages six months to three years. Each item in the PBS Kids line is made with safe, non-toxic materials and inks, and all packaging is made from recycled materials, according to the companies.
Bottom Dollar Food head named Food Lion president

Salisbury, N.C. -- Meg Ham has been named president of Food Lion effective Nov. 1. She succeeds Beth Newlands Campbell, who is leaving the company for personal and professional reasons. Ham will lead all Food Lion banner operations, including strategic direction, financial performance, product assortment, pricing, customer service and marketing. She will continue to report to Delhaize America CEO Kevin Holt.