News

Starbucks ‘Express,’ New York City
Starbucks has unveiled its new “express” store format, just across from the New York Stock Exchange in downtown Manhattan. The 538-sq.-ft. space is one of the most streamlined in the company’s diverse portfolio.
Target sells commercial interior business
Target is shedding an obscure division that many people didn’t even know existed, as CEO Brian Cornell continues with his transformation of the company.

The company announced it will sell Target Commercial Interiors (TCI), a subsidiary that provides office furnishings and related services for business and commercial clients.

Minneapolis-based Omni Workspace Company, more commonly known as A&M Business Interior Services, will acquire TCI and operate it as a wholly owned subsidiary. TCI will be renamed following the completion of the acquisition.

Private equity firm Roark Capital acquires 155-store Pet Supermarket

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.
Cost Plus wants shoppers thinking summer

Cost Plus World Market is looking to drive summer traffic early with a new celebrity video campaign and sweepstakes.

The retailer of furniture, décor, accessories and gourmet food for every season can enter the Summer Getaway sweepstakes at worldmarketsweepstakes.com for a chance to win one of four grand prize trips for two to Florida, Hawaii, South Carolina, New York, or New Orleans. In addition, each grand prize includes hotel accommodations and a $500 World Market gift card.
America’s favorite grocery retailer is….

Louisville, Colo. -- Trader Joe’s is America’s favorite grocery retailer for the third year in a row, according to a study of more than 7,200 consumers by Market Force Information. Publix ranked a close second and Aldi was third.
Cracker Barrel to roll out QSR seating solution

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.
IBM expands analytics capabilities in marketing cloud

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:
Tango messaging service provides full e-commerce

Austin, Texas – Video and text messaging app Tango is partnering with Wal-Mart and Alibaba to offer full e-commerce functionality inside the Tango app. Tango is rolling out functionality to U.S. users, which will provide them with the ability to browse and purchase items available from Wal-Mart and the AliExpress international shopping site, which is hosted by Alibaba.
Wegman's to open 1st NYC store in Brooklyn

Cult favorite grocery chain Wegman's is coming to New York City, with plasn to build a massive store in Brooklyn.
Macy’s falls short in Q1; to open 32 new stores by 2018

Cincinnati -- Bad weather, decreased spending by international tourists due to the strong U.S. dollar and delayed merchandise shipments from the West Coast port slowdown all contributed to Macy’s missing Wall Street projections for profit and revenue in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income fell 13% to $193 million, from $224 million in the same quarter a year earlier.

Net sales dropped about 1% to $6.23 million, from $6.28 million. Same-store sales declined 0.7%.