News

San Francisco - Mobile is increasingly influencing all stages along the shopper’s path-to-purchase for CPG items. New research from mobile audience intelligence firm NinthDecimal examines how mobile usage and marketing is transforming how shoppers interact with CPG brands.

By Matt Foster, Search Laboratory

The growth of mobile has made round-the-clock connectivity to the internet possible, allowing consumers to shop anywhere at any time. To cater for 24-hour convenience and on-the-go shopping, retailers are turning to innovative technology.

Vice presidents of merchandising at Fry’s Food Stores and Ralph’s and two other executives are the newest members of the board of the Western Association of Food Chains.

The trade group said four new members were elected to its board at its annual meeting this month in LaQuinta, Ca. Joining the board are Monica Garnes, Vice President of Merchandising at Fry’s, Dennis Gibson, president of QFC Stores, Valerie Jabbar, Vice President of Merchandising at Ralphs and Rob McDougall, President and CEO of Gelson’s.

Redmond, Wash. – As part of its Windows 10 OS announcement earlier this week, Microsoft Corp. revealed it will be releasing a new holographic computer system called HoloLens that may offer retailers some interesting new ways to deliver an enhanced, seamless customer experience. HoloLens features see-through, holographic, high-definition lenses and spatial sound so users can see and hear holograms in the physical world around them.

Target already has famous TV chef GIada De Laurentis selling her products on its shelves, but the retailer is teaming up with another celebrity foodie for a new product line.

The company said it is launching a Mario Batali coffee range. Caffé Italiano, a collection of Italian-style coffees, will sell at select Target stores nationwide and online at www.target.com. The coffee is a product of a unique collaboration between Batali and Todd Carmichael, founder and CEO of La Colombe, world-renowned specialty coffee roaster.

Canton, Mass. -- Athletic-shoe maker New Balance has teamed up with private-equity firm Berkshire Partners LLC to acquire The Rockport Company from the Adidas Group for $280 million.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

As part of the deal, New Balance affiliate Drydock Footwear LLC, whose brands include Cobb Hill, Aravon and Dunham, will join with The Rockport Co. to create The Rockport Group.

Macy’s plans to quadruple the size of a central California distribution facility that has played a key role in the execution of the retailer’s omnichannel strategy.

The company plans to relocate its West Sacramento, Calif., direct-to-consumer fulfillment center to a larger facility in a nearby location in Sacramento County to support continued sales growth driven by Macy's omnichannel strategy.

Framingham, Mass. – To celebrate the two-year anniversary of its SmartPay Check-Link mobile and card payment program, convenience chain Cumberland Farms is launching a promotion on its Facebook page Jan. 23-25. To enter, customers must calculate their projected 2015 coffee savings using Cumberland Farms' Coffee Savings Calculator, and post them as a comment on the Cumberland Farms page.

Twenty winners will be announced in the comments and will receive a $20 gift card to their local Cumberland Farms.