Data & Analytics

By Sherrie Mersdorf, director of marketing, NewBrand

Minneapolis – Net earnings at Supervalu Inc. fell 14% to $36 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 from $42 million in the identical period a year earlier. Higher selling and administrative expenses, including store closure and benefit costs, helped reduce profits.

New York - H&M is number 32 on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) National Top 100 list of the largest green power users. H&M is using nearly 172 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, which is enough green power to meet 100% of the organization's electricity use.

Rehoboth Beach, Del. - Grotto Pizza has leveraged the Paytronix Rewards Platform to implement a multi-tiered loyalty program that enables the chain to reward year-round diners without heavily discounting seasonal guests. In particular, the “Winter Wednesday” promotion has enabled Grotto Pizza to increase off-season traffic on what was its slowest day of the week by 84%.

Coppell, Texas – Higher selling, general and administrative (SG&A expenses) helped drive down net income at The Container Store Inc. during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, and the retailer expects open nine new stores and relocate one store during fiscal 2015. The Container Store reported net income of $13 million, down 29% from $18.3 million in the same quarter the prior year.

Net sales totaled $224.26 million, up 3% from $216.82 million. Same-store sales dropped 0.8%.

Plano, Texas – Rent-A-Center Inc. reported stable profit during the first quarter of fiscal 2015. The retailer’s net income totaled $27.3 million, up 1% from $27.26 million in the same quarter a year earlier.

Consolidated total revenues climbed 6% to $877.64 million, from $828.47 million. Same-store sales rose 8%.

Purchase, N.Y. - MasterCard will acquire cloud-based analytics provider Applied Predictive Technologies (APT) for $600 million.

APT’s Test & Learn platform enables users to apply analytics to design, measure and calibrate marketing, merchandising, operations and capital initiatives.

Melbourne, Australia – Vertical Australian luggage retailer Crumpler has selected Raymark's cloud-based store management software suite for deployment in its stores worldwide. The software initiative is aimed at supporting Crumpler's international growth, improving the omnichannel customer experience and modernizing IT operations.

Chain Store Age recently had the chance to speak with noted consumer trend expert Faith Popcorn, founder and CEO of marketing consulting firm Faith Popcorn’s BrainReserve, about steps McDonald’s can take to reverse its struggling fortunes. Popcorn’s insights come on the heels of McDonald’s reporting a 33% year-over-year drop in profits for first quarter 2015.

Bigger Isn’t Always Better
According to Popcorn, McDonald’s vast size is not necessarily an asset anymore.

Winter storms and lower sales of its Elfa closet system led to decreased profit for the Container Store in the fourth quarter.