News

Top Roundy’s exec to step down
Bob Mariano, CEO of the Roundy’s Supermarkets Inc. division of The Kroger Co., will retire effective Sept. 1, 2016. After retiring, Mariano will serve as strategic adviser to Kroger and Roundy's for two years. Don Rosanova, president of Mariano's, and Michael Marx, president of Roundy's Supermarkets Wisconsin, will continue to serve in their current roles leading the two supermarket divisions.
Wages not the only thing rising at Starbucks
One day after announcing a general salary increase for all U.S. corporate store employees, Starbucks Corp. is preparing to increase some prices. As of July 12, Starbucks made what it calls a “small price adjustment” in U.S. company-operated stores. Depending on the market, customers will experience increases of 10 to 20 cents on select sizes of brewed coffee, and 10 to 30 cents on espresso beverages and tea lattes.

Amazon plans new DC, pickup center

Amazon.com is continuing its aggressive strategy of launching new distribution facilities and physical pickup centers. The retailer will open a new fulfillment center in Kansas City, Kansas by the end of 2016. The 855,000-sq.-ft. facility, the second large-sized fulfillment center Amazon has announced within a span of four months, will create more than 1,000 full-time roles. In addition to this center and an upcoming facility in Edgerton, Amazon has existing Kansas facilities in Lenexa.
Retailers back swipe fee limit

The National Retail Federation (NRF) has been actively campaigning to keep federal caps on debit card swipe fees, and now its constituents are speaking out.
This retailer satisfies appliance shoppers

Consumers have spoken, and they have a favorite chain when it comes to buying appliance products.
Prime Day Update: Best-sellers and positive buzz take center stage

While Amazon Prime Day got off to a bit of a rocky start, performance appears to be improving as the day goes on. According to analysis from Clavis Insight, consumer electronics is the most popular category among Prime Day “spotlight deals,” promoted at the top of the page as especially in-demand items. As of 10 a.m. ET Amazon had run 21 spotlight deals, almost half of which were consumer electronics. At the same on the 2015 edition of Prime Day, Amazon had only posted 10 spotlight deals.
Newegg takes another step into the physical world

Newegg.com is expanding its physical footprint, this time in Canada. The online electronics retailer opens its Hybrid Centre in Richmond Hill, Ontario on Friday, July 15. The facility serves a dual purpose of allowing customers to pick up their will-call orders, as well as browse tech products or attend an educational seminar. Some of the products on display are available exclusively through Newegg, many of which are making their North American debut at the Hybrid Centre.
Amazon Prime Day starts with some hiccups

Online checkout problems are indicative of heavy e-commerce traffic, but still were not what Amazon.com hoped to see in the first hours of Prime Day. According to multiple media reports, a glitch was causing problems for some U.S. and U.K. consumers attempting to check out their Amazon purchases the morning of Tuesday, July 12. Numerous shoppers tweeted their frustrations using hashtags such as #PrimeDay and #PrimeDayFail. A sampling of tweet complaints includes:
Pet Supplies Plus heads west

Specialty pet retailer Pet Supplies Plus is entering three new states as part of an aggressive 2016 expansion plan. The chain is entering California, Colorado and Oklahoma, as well as furthering its expansion in the states of New Jersey, Texas, Missouri, Iowa and Georgia. In addition, Pet Supplies Plus recently signed a deal to open 10 new stores in Kansas City, and is on target to open approximately 60 new stores by the end of the year.
Payment innovation heats up this summer

A lot of attention has been paid to the impact of mobile wallets in the payment technology arena. However, other technologies are also emerging to make payment, among other shopping activities, easier and more efficient. For example, 1-800-Flowers.com is partnering with Amazon.com to make the digital ordering process (including processing and payment) even easier.