Data & Analytics

Fast-food chain The Wendy’s Co. may be the first big retailer to suffer a public data security incident in 2016.

According to the Krebs on Security blog, Wendy’s is investigating possible fraudulent activity related to credit cards used at some of its store locations. Wendy’s was notified earlier this month by partners in the payment industry that unusual activity was occurring.

The nation’s largest rural lifestyle retailer had previously warned that warm weather caused weaker-than-expected fourth quarter sales and it quantified the impact on profitability with the release of full financial results on Jan. 27.

A timely acquisition helped Coach Inc.’s post a sales gain in the second quarter — its first quarterly increase in 10 quarters.

The handbag and accessories retailer’s total sales increased 4.0% in the quarter ended December 26, to $1.27 billion, up from $1.22 billion in the year ago period.

Impulse buying is alive and well in the United States.

Conservative spending behaviors that made 2015 a challenging year for consumer packaged goods companies will remain intact for 2016, according to IRI, but there will be pockets of growth available to those who capitalize on 10 trends.

Since their meteoric rise last year, 3D printers have captured the imaginations of consumers and businesses alike. 3D printers work like inkjet printers on steroids — rather than depositing a single layer of ink, 3D printers spin out successive layers until a final product is created based on a computer-aided design (“CAD”) blueprint.

Staples on Monday announced several key executive moves as part of an organizational “streamlining.” But the retailer did not mention that it also was cutting hundreds of corporate jobs, according to a published report.

The report, by Fortune.com, said that pink slips were handed to both junior and senior employees of the chain.