News

Cincinnati – Kroger Co. reported a 4% increase in its first-quarter profit, helped by the addition of Harris-Teeter, which the grocery giant acquired in January 2014. Kroger raised its net earnings and same-store sales forecast for the fiscal year.
   
The company earned $501 million in the quarter, up from $481 million in the year-ago period. The payment of $56 million to withdraw from two pension funds negatively impacted Kroger’s net earnings.

Camp Hill, Pa. – Rising drug costs and falling reimbursements, as well as higher income tax expense, significantly cut into profits at Rite Aid Corp. Net income dropped 55% to $41.4 million in the first quarter, from $91 million in the year-ago period. Its earnings matched analysts' expectations.
 
Improving pharmacy sales helped drive a 3% increase in revenue to $6.47 billion from $6.29 billion, above Wall Street projections. Same-store sales rose 3.1%. Rite Aid maintained its fiscal 2015 earnings and revenue predictions.

Coppell, Texas – Alco Stores Inc. reported a net loss of $8.1 million in the first quarter of its fiscal year, up from a loss of $1.7 million in the year-ago period, amid an elimination of a tax benefit. The company also announced its CFO has left the company.

Net sales decreased 4.1% to $104.7 million, compared to $109.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. Same-store sales, excluding fuel centers, decreased 7.1%. Alco president and CEO Richard Wilson cited several ongoing initiatives as providing promise for future performance.

Fort Worth, Texas – Promotions took their toll on profitability at Pier Imports Inc. during the first quarter of fiscal 2015. The company reduced its earnings guidance for fiscal 2015.

Net earnings fell 25% to $15.1 million from $20.3 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2014.

Total sales for the first quarter were $419.1 million, a 6.1% increase from $394.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Same-store sales increased 6.3%, attributable to increases in total brand traffic, conversion and higher average ticket.

Oakville, Canada – Tim Hortons is launching the TimmyMe app for Windows 8 devices. Unique to the TimmyMe App on Windows 8 phones is the addition of voice recognition software, which allows users to launch the mobile barcode payment screen on their TimmyMe app by saying, "TimmyMe pay."

New York – L’Oreal Paris is releasing Makeup Genius, a free mobile app that uses advanced facial mapping technology to turn the front-facing iPhone and iPad camera into a virtual mirror that allows women to try on products in real-time. Makeup Genius allows consumers to scan a L'Oreal Paris product or advertisement to detect a color match, virtually try on individual products or test out curated looks from expert makeup artists, and share with friends and family on Facebook.

New York – L’Oreal Paris is releasing Makeup Genius, a free mobile app that uses advanced facial mapping technology to turn the front-facing iPhone and iPad camera into a virtual mirror that allows women to try on products in real-time. Makeup Genius allows consumers to scan a L'Oreal Paris product or advertisement to detect a color match, virtually try on individual products or test out curated looks from expert makeup artists, and share with friends and family on Facebook.

Secaucus, N.J. - Jimmy Jazz, a multichannel retailer of urban apparel and footwear with 170 physical stores in the eastern U.S., has implemented NetSuite OMX to support its e-commerce storefront. Jimmy Jazz is also taking advantage of the CRM and email marketing capabilities included in the solution for a single customer view that helps call center agents improve support effectiveness and deliver personalized email communication based on a customer’s order frequency, dollar value of purchases and products ordered.

New York - B2B Soft, a business-to-business software company specializing in retail management for the wireless/cellular retail industry, is partnering with QLess, a provider of line management solutions. QLess’ virtual line management service is now integrated with B2B Soft’s Wireless Standard Retail Management Platform.

New York - CloudTags, an omnichannel marketing technology company, is partnering with Brickstream, an in-store analytics vendor. The partnership will enable the analysis of physical store intent and behavioral data through a comprehensive in-store data platform.