News

MINNEAPOLIS — Digital coupons are increasingly being used as a marketing tool for major brands, as evidenced by the rise in such offers between 2011 and 2012.

Accoding to Kantar Media, digital couponing events across key websites increased by 46.1% in 2012 compared with 2011, and 805 manufacturers distributed digital coupon offers on these key websites during 2012, an increase of 18.9% as compared with the same period in 2011.  

New York City -- A report released Tuesday by The Conference Board showed that confidence among U.S. consumers fell in January to its lowest point since November 2011.

The Conference Board’s index decreased to 58.6, down from a revised 66.7 in December. The figure was lower than forecast; Bloomberg predicted a median of 64.

The drop in confidence coincides with the 2% payroll tax increase used to fund Social Security.

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — The Ikea Foundation, with the help of its customers and employees, have donated $12 million to UNICEF and Save the Children for projects that will help create opportunities for children to have access to a quality education.

London -- A Tuesday report by Bloomberg said that Tesco Plc may be recovering from its financial doldrums, as the country’s largest supermarket chain has matched market growth for the first time in more than 18 months.

Citing Kantar Worldpanel’s latest market share figures, Bloomberg said that at Tesco stores rose 3.3% in the 12 weeks ended Jan. 20, the same pace as the industry. Growth exceeded Wal-Mart Stores’ Asda and J Sainsbury, which gained 2.1% and 3.2% respectively.

NAPLES, Fla. — Though PayPal remains a popular online payment solution, Google's mobile wallet service is poised to take over the top spot.

Eden Prairie, Minn. -- Bloomberg reported Tuesday that Supervalu Inc. has set the rate it will pay on $2.4 billion of loans to fund the sale of five supermarket chains to a Cerberus Capital Management LP-led investor group.

A six-year, $1.5 billion term will pay interest at 5.75 percentage points more than the London interbank offered rate with a 1.25 percent minimum, reported Bloomberg, citing an unnamed source.

CHICAGO — An appreciation for human-crafted goods and growth in automated payment solutions are among the trends Mintel predicts will be impacting consumer behavior in the next five to 10 years.

AUSTIN, Texas — Starmount, a software provider focused on helping retailers optimize the shopper experience, has named software development veteran John Filut its new VP operations. Filut will play a crucial role in planning and executing internal operations and processes, including project management best practices and refining the development and delivery of Starmount services and support strategy. In this new role, Filut will also provide overall planning and management of IT.