News

Rite Aid last week reported a same-store sales decrease of 0.1% for the four weeks ended Dec. 26. December front-end same-store sales increased 0.8% while pharmacy same-store sales, which included an approximate 207 basis points negative impact from new generic introductions, decreased 0.6%.

Despite the report of relatively flat sales, Rite Aid stocks were up on Dec. 31, reaching a peak of $7.89 for the day. Today, the stock is trading at $7.86, up slightly from the day's open of $7.84.

How will retailers fare in 2016? Very well, according to experienced market watchers.

“We expect core retail sales to grow 5.3% in 2016,” says Scott Hoyt, senior director of consumer economics for Moody’s Analytics, a research firm based in West Chester, Pennsylvania. (Core retail sales exclude volatile revenues from auto sales and gas stations.)

That is notably faster than the 4.2% rate anticipated when 2015 sales are finally tallied. The 2015 experience was, again, slightly better than that the 3.9% growth of 2014.

Americans will be eating grass-fed proteins, a wide range of non-GMO products and chasing it down with a can of wine, according to a list of 10 top food trends compiled by Whole Foods.

With the year-end being a time for reflection and prognostication, Whole Foods has entered the fray with a set of top food trends for 2016 informed by its position as the retail industry’s leader of natural and organic products. The company says to watch these trends in the New Year:

The New Year is here, and it’s time to make annual resolutions. When it comes to their IT activities, retailers should resolve to make improvements in the following three areas.

Innovation
The days of IT being responsible for “keeping the lights on” are long over. Enterprise systems are still required to perform basic but crucial tasks such as finance and HR, but any retailer looking to compete in 2016 needs to look far past the boundaries of simple task automation.

The New Year is here, and it’s time to make annual resolutions. When it comes to their IT activities, retailers should resolve to make improvements in the following three areas.

Innovation
The days of IT being responsible for “keeping the lights on” are long over. Enterprise systems are still required to perform basic but crucial tasks such as finance and HR, but any retailer looking to compete in 2016 needs to look far past the boundaries of simple task automation.

Sidecar, an early pioneer in the ridesharing and delivery app space, shut down as of Dec. 31.

Shoppers at select Nordstrom locations can design their own shoes at the retailer’s in-store Shoes of Prey design studio.

The shops, which are located within Nordstrom’s shoe department, include a wall display that showcases the different styles available for customizing. Using mounted touch-screen tablets with 3D software, shoppers design their own shoes, selecting the style, color, material, heel height and embellishments.

Houston -- PM Realty Group announced earlier this month that Roka Akor Steak, Seafood & Sushi signed a lease for 6,591 sq. ft. of ground floor space at 2929 Weslayan, the 40-story luxury residential building at the northeast corner of Weslayan and West Alabama in Houston. This will be Roka Akor's first location in Texas, joining its four locations in Scottsdale, San Francisco, Chicago and Skokie, Illinois.