News

Cincinnati – Kroger Co. reported a 4% increase in its first-quarter profit, helped by the addition of Harris-Teeter, which the grocery giant acquired in January 2014. Kroger raised its net earnings and same-store sales forecast for the fiscal year.
   
The company earned $501 million in the quarter, up from $481 million in the year-ago period. The payment of $56 million to withdraw from two pension funds negatively impacted Kroger’s net earnings.

Fresh & Easy has launched a full-scale marketing campaign inviting customers to discover the company’s new image.

Since transferring to new ownership in November, the company said, it has reinvigorated the brand and its stores with the aim of being the anytime, anyway, anywhere solution for getting healthy, convenient and affordable food.

Omnichannel pricing solution provider Clear Demand and pricing intelligence leader 360pi have formed a partnership to put powerful new capabilities into the hands of retailers.

Seattle -- T-Mobile US Inc. is introducing "T-Mobile Test Drive," a program that lets people receive an iPhone 5s and unlimited nationwide service to take T-Mobile's network for a seven-day free trial. Starting June 23, people can sign up for T-Mobile Test Drive online.

L’Oréal Paris has unveiled a free mobile app called Makeup Genius that allows users to try on products in real time by using advanced facial mapping technology.

Users can also scan a L'Oréal Paris product or advertisement to detect a color match, virtually try on individual products or test out curated looks from expert makeup artists, and share with friends and family on Facebook.
 

Secaucus, N.J. - Jimmy Jazz, a multichannel retailer of urban apparel and footwear with 170 physical stores in the eastern U.S., has implemented NetSuite OMX to support its e-commerce storefront. Jimmy Jazz is also taking advantage of the CRM and email marketing capabilities included in the solution for a single customer view that helps call center agents improve support effectiveness and deliver personalized email communication based on a customer’s order frequency, dollar value of purchases and products ordered.

Johnson & Johnson has added UPS chairman and CEO D. Scott Davis to its board as director. Davis will serve on the audit committee and the regulatory, compliance and government affairs committee.

Davis has been with UPS for 29 years and was appointed its CEO in 2008. Under his leadership, the company has expanded its logistics network reach and capabilities throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas. Davis plans to retire Sept. 1, and will remain non-executive chairman of UPS’ board.

Oakville, Canada – Tim Hortons is launching the TimmyMe app for Windows 8 devices. Unique to the TimmyMe App on Windows 8 phones is the addition of voice recognition software, which allows users to launch the mobile barcode payment screen on their TimmyMe app by saying, "TimmyMe pay."