Data & Analytics

Sunbury, Pa. – Weis Markets plans to invest $101 million in its growth program in 2014. That figure encompasses spending on 16 projects during 2014, including expansion of Weis’ 1.1-million-sq.-ft. distribution center in Milton, Pennsylvania.

Seattle – Amazon.com’s net income soared 32% during the first quarter of fiscal 2014, climbing to $108 million from $82 million the same quarter a year earlier. Net sales increased 23% to $19.74 billion in the first quarter, compared with $16.07 billion in first quarter 2013.

The challenges for a small/medium CPG company today, competing against the multibillion dollar conglomerates, are greater than ever before. With the skyrocketing cost of freight, manufacturing, raw materials, sales and marketing, the small/medium CPG company does not enjoy any of the economies of scale that the established multi nationals do. Competing in the low margin highly competitive beverage category, as we do at Celsius, only accentuates the challenge.

WTI expects May 2014 to trend the coldest in three years and drier than last year. On the West Coast, it will be cooler than last year, but still above normal, while the South trends warmer than last year and normal. There is a good chance that a large portion of the North will trend cooler than last year and normal. There will be a band of severe weather potential extending from the lower Mississippi Valley northeast to eastern Ohio which will set the stage for increased demand for clean-up categories.

A new digital initiative from Walgreens allows the retailer to engage with shoppers at multiple touchpoints on the path to purchase thanks to a personalized digital coupon and analytics platform from Coupons.com called Retailer iQ.

Coupons.com announced the launch of Retailer iQ with Walgreens as the largest user of the platform with implementations underway with four other unidentified retailers. According to Coupons.com Retailer iQ fundamentally changes the promotions and checkout experience for shoppers and retailers by making them digital, mobile and personalized.

Aria Systems, a leading innovator in recurring revenue management, has appointed Adeeb Shanaa to VP of products as part of the company's global expansion initiative. Shanaa will report directly to Aria Systems CEO Tom Dibble.

Whirlpool Corporation reaffirmed its full-year guidance following first quarter results.

Net sales in the quarter were $4.4 billion compared to $4.2 billion during the same prior-year period. Excluding the impact of foreign currency in addition to Brazilian (BEFIEX) tax credits, sales increased approximately 6%.

Seattle – Starbucks Coffee Company reported generally strong performance in the second quarter of fiscal 2014, compared to the same period a year earlier. Earnings per share rose 10% to $0.56, from $0.51.

Consolidated net revenues grew 9% to $3.87 billion from $3.55 billion, while consolidated same-store sales increased 6%.

The retailer cited its Teavana business, partnership with Oprah Winfrey, and new payment and loyalty technology as all contributing to overall fiscal growth.

Pleasanton, Calif. – Safeway reported a net loss of $76.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2014, compared to net earnings of $118.9 million in the same period a year earlier. The company is working toward closing its $9.4 billion merger with Albertson’s by the fourth quarter of the current fiscal year.

Edmonton, Canada – Lux Beauty Boutique has launched the SelfPay Shopper App from Digital Retail Apps. Since rolling out the mobile self-checkout app, Lux has seen results including 7% of all in-store transactions flowing through the SelfPay mobile app during launch weekend and higher than average transaction values when compared to purchases completed at the cash register.