Data & Analytics

Milwaukee – A sharp reduction in loss from continuing operations, primarily related to the sale of the Rainbow banner to Supervalu, helped Roundy’s Inc. cut net loss to $2.33 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, from $4.52 million the same quarter a year earlier. Net sales rose 14% to $981.93 million from $862.69 million, while same-store sales dropped 1.6%.

Seattle – Starbucks Corp. is denying reports that hackers illegally gained entry into accounts of some users of its mobile app. Multiple media reports have indicated hackers broke into hundreds of accounts of Starbucks app users, stole their stored value, and leveraged the reload function to obtain customer payment card data.

In a statement, Starbucks said news reports of a hack are false and that it occasionally receives reports of unauthorized activity caused by criminals re-using names and passwords stolen from other customer accounts.

Grapevine, Texas – It’s not something from an episode of the classic black-and-white TV series “The Twilight Zone.” Monsters are coming to a street near you, courtesy of GameStop and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

Sephora is looking to increase online sales by expanding its omnichannel capabilities in China with a new flagship store on JD.com.

Sephora says its JD.com store will be the largest cosmetics store on JD.com's platform, featuring over 1,200 items from more than 70 leading international cosmetic brands, including Dior, Guerlain, Givenchy, Benefit and Kenzoki, among dozens of others.

Sunrise, Fla. -- Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta-based private equity firm focused on consumer brands, said that that its affiliate has acquired pet specialty retailer Pet Supermarket from Charles E. West, Jr., the company's founder. Pet Supermarket will remain headquartered in Sunrise, Florida, and continue to be led by Diane Holtz, its CEO.

Pet Supermarket operates 155 pet specialty retail stores in 11 states generating over $300 million of revenue.  

Lebanon, Tenn. - Cracker Barrel Old Country Store will roll out the QSR Partners DineTime solution at all locations nationwide, with plans to complete the installment by the end of summer 2015. DineTime offers features such as wait list management, online reservations, customer data collection, a mobile customer app and more.

Armonk, N.Y. - IBM is releasing new design and analytics features as part of IBM marketing cloud to enable brands to address the rising complexity marketers face engaging with customers as individuals. These new capabilities from IBM enable marketers to collaborate, design and deliver customer experiences with a focus on personalization.

Expanded analytics and design capabilities in IBM marketing cloud can be deployed as an integrated solution or as individual offerings. They include:

Atlanta - Havertys has promoted Tim Simpson to assistant VP, IT development. He started with the company in 2005 as senior java developer, in 2008 was serving as senior team manager, and since 2011 as director of development.