Category Archives: Columns
Surviving the jungle
Amazon.com has just started to make a dent in the grocery business, but there is no doubt that supermarkets are at the top of … Continue reading
Sounding Board: Basic Training
While many retailers use the end-of-year period to refocus their businesses, what does “back to basics” really mean? How many times over the years … Continue reading
Association Perspective: Mark Deuschle, GMDC
GMDC’s vice president and chief marketing officer discusses taking the “general” out of general merchandise. Grocery Headquarters: How important is general merchandise in terms … Continue reading
Nonfoods Talk: Read All About It
Single-copy magazine sales have declined at supermarkets. Is it a temporary blip caused by the tough economy or the beginning of the end of … Continue reading
Talking Shop with… Steve Ward
The national accounts manager for Heineken USA says the upscale segment of the beer category is driving growth. Grocery Headquarters: What is the state … Continue reading
Talking Shop with… George W. Prest
The CEO of Material Handling Industry of America previews the upcoming ProMat 2013 show, taking place Jan. 21 to 24 in Chicago. Grocery Headquarters: … Continue reading
Food Forum: The value of canned foods
Not only is the can a convenient and sustainable packaging format, it maintains the freshness, nutrition and safety of food. By Hella Gourven When … Continue reading
Food Forum: Payment protection
Data security should remain a top priority as grocers look to provide customers with more flexible payment options. By Tim Horton When grocers evaluate … Continue reading
Jingle hell
Condemned to the torment of nonstop Christmas music. Now that Halloween has passed, retail’s biggest season is upon us once again. Legions of stressed-out … Continue reading
Future Forces: Big data dilemma
To survive in tomorrow’s world, your internal rate of change must be greater than the external rate of change around you. No industry has … Continue reading
Food Forum: Countdown to Christmas
It can be a jolly holiday for grocers who offer their customers fresh-cut Christmas trees. By P. Allen Smith In planning for the holidays, … Continue reading
Food Forum: Family affair
Retailers can benefit from making the shopping environment safe and comfortable for parents and their children. By Paul Giampavolo Shopping with infants and children … Continue reading
Nonfoods Talk: A shot in the arm
Walmart is instituting a broad vaccination program that will gain consumer attention and build sales and profits. Remember the good old days of the … Continue reading
Talking Shop with… Elizabeth Webb, DS Waters of America
Elizabeth Webb, cause marketing manager for DS Waters of America, provides an update on the company’s efforts to support breast cancer awareness with its … Continue reading
From The Publisher: Connecting the dots
This strange economic landscape is causing real concerns for retailers and suppliers as they struggle to keep the supermarket sales engine humming. Officials at … Continue reading
Sounding Board: Letting go
Sometimes the best way to turn around a retail operation is to demolish it to make room for something better. There is finally proof … Continue reading
Sounding Board: Negative press
Supervalu has plenty of company in other industries as it struggles to prop up its brand in the wake of bad news. At a … Continue reading
Nonfoods Talk: Putting pets in their place
A new law makes it an expensive mistake not to harness your pet in the car in New Jersey. It could mean more sales … Continue reading
Food Forum: The Workers’ Comp perfect storm
What can grocers do to mitigate their risk? By David R. Leng Hang on to your wallets. Employers are already seeing the tip of … Continue reading
Food Forum: Protecting sensitive data
As thieves become more advanced, retailers must be careful to purge customer data and other information before discarding hard drives. By Andrew Kelleher Hackers … Continue reading
Fallout from the drought
As grocery prices rise, shoppers will need your help. This summer has been marked by excessive heat and scant rainfall in most of the … Continue reading
Sounding Board: The universal language of medicine
The pharmacy offers a great opportunity for retailers to attract—and interact with—a diverse customer base. Walk the aisles of any store these days and … Continue reading
Food Forum: The renaissance of mixed drinks
As consumers look for pure ingredients when making cocktails, retailers can benefit from merchandising bottled water near the spirits and other mixed drink COMPONENTS. … Continue reading
Future Forces: Have you called your call center lately?
In a demanding environment, the challenges of exemplary service and growth require a view from outside of your retail window. By Patrick Kiernan Certainly, … Continue reading
From the Publisher: Supervalu’s wrong turn
Financial gurus say that Supervalu’s poor earnings report is a harbinger of things to come for the rest of the industry. That may not … Continue reading
