News

GRAPEVINE, Texas — GameStop as formed The Gamer Fund to provide temporary relief and meet the basic needs of GameStop associates who are facing hardships from tragic and isolated events. Endowed with seed donations from GameStop’s founders and senior management team, The Gamer Fund will be fully run and funded by GameStop associates.

PepsiCo’s Mountain Dew executives and recording artist Lil Wayne this week opened a new skate park in New Orleans made possible by funding from the beverage brand.

The skate park is located in the city’s Ninth Ward, a region that gained infamy following devastating flooding after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The skate park is a key component of a social media, brand building initiative known as DEWeezy that was announced in March of this year and offers Dew fans an opportunity to create a television commercial featuring Lil Wayne.

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The company behind Soap.com has debuted an online shopping destination for natural, organic and sustainable products.

WASHINGTON — Jelly Belly president and COO Bob Simpson will take over the National Confectioners Association's executive board as chairman.

NCA's publication, Candy & Snack Today said Simpson replaces Mitchell Goetze as the chairman of the executive board. Blommer Chocolate Co. president Peter Blommer was appointed to serve as vice chairman, and Goetze, who is president and COO of Goetze's Candy Co., becomes ex-officio chairman.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Thursday announced the availability of flu shots on a walk-in basis at all Safeway pharmacy locations.

Newell Rubbermaid, a marketer of consumer and commercial products, has announced the introduction of Rubbermaid Bathroom Scrubbers and the Rubbermaid Clean & Dry Plunger.

Rubbermaid Bathroom Scrubbers provide four tools including the Spray Scrubber, Extendable Scrubber, Flexible Scrub Brush and 2-in-1 Scrubber.

A variety of switchable pads are available including Scour, Sponge, Bristle and Disposable Pads.

London -- A Thursday report by Reuters said that British sports retailer Sports Direct will buy 60 stores from struggling competitor JJB Sports.

Citing an unnamed source, Reuters reported that JJB said it is close to appointing KPMG as administrators to sell its assets and brands after failing to receive an offer for the entire company.

JJB operates 180 stores. Sports Direct is majority-owned by Mike Ashley, owner of the Newcastle United soccer club. He will pay about $48 million for the 60 stores.

Deloitte is out with its holiday sales forecast (up 3.5%-4%) and soon other prognosticators will weigh in with their seasonal outlooks.

For now, Deloitte is a lone voice in late September projecting holiday sales will increase between 3.5% and 4%, noting that the economy's health and the presidential election are taking center stage with consumers this fall. Despite the distractions a modest increase is expected, but the gain will be below last year’s growth rate of 5.9%.