Sales & Marketing

Starbucks Corp. announced a major initiative to help the nation’s neediest citizens.

The coffee giant is launching FoodShare, a program to donate all leftover ready-to-eat meals from its 7,600 U.S. company-operated stores to food banks. In the first year alone, the program will be able to provide nearly 5 million meals, according to company estimates.

It’s been more than 15 years since they started ringing the death knell for brick-and-mortar retail. And although the Internet shopping base continues to grow, the in-store experience is here to stay. Even the doomsayers have quieted during recent years. There are simply too many things about in-store shopping that the online experience can’t offer.

Tommy Hilfiger will be inducted into the World Retail Hall of Fame at the 10th Annual World Retail Congress, to be held at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai on April 12-14.

Hilfiger introduced his signature collection in 1985. Since then, the business has grown from a single menswear collection to a global lifestyle brand achieving over $6.7 billion in retail sales in 2014. There are over 1,400 Tommy Hilfiger stores in over 115 countries.

Ikea is opening a new distribution center in Ontario as the Swedish home furnishings retailer ramps up plans to double its footprint in Canada over the next 10 years.

Ikea says its new distribution center in Mississauga, Ontario, allows the company to become even more accessible to customers by allowing for fulfillment of customer orders from four Toronto area stores and e-commerce purchases. This improved logistical set-up will enable shorter lead times for customers to receive their products, while at the same time contributing to Ikea's sustainability goals.

Apparel chains focused on tweens and teens are increasingly at risk of filing for bankruptcy protection.

At least that’s the view of Michael McGrail, COO of Tiger Capital Group and a veteran retail liquidation and asset appraisal executive.

Amazon.com is expanding its product range yet again. This time, the e-commerce giant is entering the world of cable TV. According to TechCrunch, Amazon is launching a section of its site called “Amazon Cable Store.” Currently, Amazon Cable Store is only reselling Comcast Internet and TV services. Amazon is also offering dedicated customer service to Comcast customers who purchase services through the Cable Store.

Two of the biggest names in the U.S. paint industry are combining forces.

Hickory Farms is looking for new ways to grow following the operator of the company acquisition last fall by a private equity firm and the recent appointment of a CEO who spent time at RedBox and Crate & Barrel.