News

Seattle – Amazon.com is piloting a program that delivers products from farmers markets to consumer tables (or at least their front doors).   

Partnering with farmers market delivery service Fresh Nation LLC, Amazon is delivering individual orders of farmers market goods, as well as prepared gift baskets of fresh fruits and vegetables, to customers in Los Angeles and Orange and San Diego counties in Southern California.

Dallas – 7-Eleven Inc. bases its value proposition on being a convenient way of purchasing food and CPG staples. But for consumers who are too time-strapped to even make a quick visit to their nearest 7-Eleven store, the retailer is offering a new omnichannel delivery service.

7-Eleven and omnichannel delivery provider DoorDash are partnering to provide on-demand delivery from participating 7-Eleven stores in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, with delivery service following in Washington, D.C. and Boston in the coming months.

After a monthslong search for a new president and chief executive, the Fresh Market Inc. has turned to a retail veteran to provide leadership at a time when the company's growth has been stagnant. 

The Fresh Market announced that its board of directors has named veteran food retail executive Richard Anicetti as the company’s president and CEO, effective immediately. Anicetti has also been elected to the company’s board of directors.

Evansville, Ind. -- Shoe Carnival Inc. kicked up its heels about its profit in the second quarter, but missed on sales.

Aided by higher merchandise margins and lower advertising expenses, Shoe Carnival reported net earnings of $4.8 million, up 84% from $2.6 million a year earlier. Its results easily beat estimates.

Net sales rose 2% $227.8 million, less than expected, from $222.1 million. Same-store sales rose 0.5%.

Shoe Carnival plans to open 21 new stores and close 15 stores by the end of fiscal 2015.

Belk Inc. looks like it has found a winner in a just-completed omnichannel back-to-school promotion.

Working with digital marketing provider HelloWorld, Belk allowed customers to both submit and vote on “looks” such as dorm room, game day and night out, created with Belk merchandise.

New York -- A Swedish-based payments company that allows mobile shoppers to pay for a purchase after has been delivered has entered the increasingly competitive U.S. payments market.

On Tuesday, Stockholm-based Klarna announced its official U.S. launch, with Overstock.com as its first major retail partner.

Shoppers at Lowe’s stores in Canada will soon be able to turn their purchases into miles toward air travel.

San Francisco -- Regional supermarket operator H-E-B has joined the ranks of retailers offering home delivery service.  

The chain is the latest retailer to reach an agreement with grocery delivery service provider Instacart. Under the deal, Instagram will offer home delivery to H-E-B customers in the Austin and Houston markets.