News

Report: Super Bowl pays off for online grocers
Not only was the 2017 Super Bowl a game for the record books, it also drove shoppers to their favorite e-grocers to prep for the big game. As time-pressed Americans football fans shopped with online grocers for game day necessities, they spent more than $150.18 per order — just a few cents more than the average cart size of all goods purchased on Black Friday, which was $149.68.
Kroger buys iconic New York specialty grocer
The Kroger Co. has acquired a New York City-based retailer of specialty cheeses and meats. The supermarket giant has purchased Murray's Cheese, which was founded in 1940. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Kroger also bought the three Greenwich Village retail condominium units that house Murray’s home base. The five-story, 22,000-sq-ft. building, which is also home to a bakery, was owned by Murray’s Cheese.

Wal-Mart increases stake in Chinese e-commerce giant

Wal-Mart Stores keeps upping its investment in JD.com. The discounter has increased its stake in the Chinese online company to 12.1%, (worth about $4.87 billion), from the 10.8% stake it had in October, and the 5.9% stake it had in June of last year, according to a report by Business Insider.
The Container Store to test smaller store format

The nation’s leading home storage products retailer is going to try on a smaller footprint. The Container Store Group on Tuesday said it plans to open locations in Cleveland; Livingston, New Jersey; and Staten Island, New York, as well as relocate its store in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
Footwear retailer embarks on supply chain transformation

To keep up the pace of its growth — and continue delivering merchandise to the right location at the right time — The Aldo Group is adding a new supply chain platform. The footwear brand operates a complex omnichannel supply chain that supports wholesale customers, franchise and company-owned retail locations, as well as its direct-to-consumer operations. This requires enterprise-wide visibility, as well as the flexibility to anticipate, plan for and respond to changing consumer preferences.
Southampton locals rally behind shopping center

Some 100 locals from tony Southampton, New York, gathered outside Town Hall yesterday to show their support for the building of a grocery-anchored center in the Tuckahoe neighborhood, according to Newsday. Demonstrators wearing “Yes Tuckahoe Shopping Center” T-shirts argued that the King Kullen supermarket proposed for the project would give them easier access to affordable groceries.
Grocery chain shifts to end-to-end supply chain systems

Disparate systems have no place in the age of “on demand” shopping. To continue serving its increasingly demanding shoppers — and fuel its continued expansion — Smart & Final is replacing its homegrown solutions with an integrated end-to-end merchandising, planning and execution solution from JDA Software Group.
Specialty game retailer files Chapter 11

Apparently mind-challenging games and puzzles weren’t big on holiday lists last year. Marbles: The Brain Store has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, with plans to close its 37 stores, reported The Chicago Tribune. In its filing, the Chicago-based retailer cited a "dramatic downturn" in its 2016 holiday business that left it short on cash.
Pay with Amazon volume nearly doubled in 2016

More customers are making digital payments through Pay with Amazon. In 2016, more than 33 million customers have used Amazon Payments to make a purchase, according to the retailer.
Check out Barneys’ new window displays

Just days after it named its first-ever female CEO, Barneys is devoting the window displays at its uptown and downtown Manhattan flagships to an initiative celebrating women’s empowerment. The windows are part of a new campaign launched by the Barneys New York Foundation, the charitable arm of the luxury specialty retailer. Entitled “We Will Be,” the initiative will run through the end of February to coincide with New York Fashion Week.