Data & Analytics

Boston -- Gordon Brothers Group, a global advisory, restructuring and investment firm specializing in the retail, consumer products, industrial and real estate sectors, announced that Michael D. Sullivan has been promoted to managing director, business development in the Northeast Region for the firm’s Valuation & Advisory Services Division.

Salt Lake City – ReposiTrak,a leading provider of Compliance Management and Track & Trace solutions for food safety exclusively endorsed by FMI and ROFDA, said that W. Lee Flowers and Company, which operates or supplies 90 IGA / KJ’s Market and independent supermarkets in the Carolinas and Georgia, has chosen ReposiTrak to manage their food safety-related risk.



San Francisco - Mobile is increasingly influencing all stages along the shopper’s path-to-purchase for CPG items. New research from mobile audience intelligence firm NinthDecimal examines how mobile usage and marketing is transforming how shoppers interact with CPG brands.

Seattle -- Starbucks Corp.’s first-quarter profit surged 82% as new offerings and holiday gave a boost to store traffic. Net income increased to $983.1 million, from $540.7 million a year earlier.

Consolidated net revenues the quarter, ended Dec. 28, increased 13% to $4.8 billion. Global same-store sales increased 5%, with a 2% increase in traffic. Same-store sales in the company’s U.S.-dominated region rose 5%, with a 2% increase in traffic, better than analysts had expected.

By Rich Becks, E2open

To stay competitive in today’s marketplace, consumer goods companies are reaching across the globe to seek new customers in new markets. In order to cater to these new customer segments, brand owners are now providing a dizzying array of local product variations through a complex network of outsourced manufacturing partners.

Washington, D.C. – An estimated 184 million viewers will watch Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday, Feb. 1. According to NRF’s Super Bowl Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, average viewer spending will reach a survey high of $77.88, up from $68.27 in 2013.

Total spending is expected to reach $14.3 billion. Young adults ages 18-24 plan on spending an average of $95.92; those ages 25-34 and 35-44, however, will spend slightly more at an average of $101.54 and $102.82, respectively.

New York -- Dollar General CEO Rick Dreiling had planned to retire in a few months, but after Family Dollar shareholder’s snubbed his company’s buyout offer, Dreiling said he’ll stick around a bit longer.

Last June, Dollar General indicated that Dreiling would step down as CEO effective May 30, or possibly sooner depending on the conclusion of a search for his successor.

New York -- After months of delay and a failed bid by Dollar General, Family Dollar shareholders agreed to be acquired by Dollar Tree in a deal that creates a combined company with more than 14,000 locations, estimated annual sales of $19 billion and compelling growth opportunities.

Approval of the deal creates a new competitive dynamic in the world of extreme value retailing with the combination of Dollar Tree and Family Dollar making for a more formidable competitor to Dollar General and its nearly 12,000 stores.