The national customer satisfaction benchmark gains 0.5 percent to 76.3 on a scale of 0 to 100 for the fourth quarter of 2012, according to a report released today by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). The rise comes from strong public sector gains combined with moderate customer satisfaction improvement for five of eight retail […]
Tag: economy
Posted in, National
Former Hostess Workers Eligible To Apply For Trade Adjustment Assistance
The U.S. Department of Labor said Tuesday that approximately 18,000 workers laid off in 48 states from 864 Hostess company locations are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance. “As President Obama said in his State of the Union address, ‘to grow our middle class, our citizens must have access to the education and training […]
Posted in, National
Simpson, Bowles Talk Fiscal Policy
During the NGA Show’s opening day, former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.) and Sen. Erskine Bowles (D-N.C.), co-chairs of the National Commission for Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, discussed the economy and America’s current fiscal system in a lively keynote presentation. Both speeches emphasized unsustainable spending and national debt, covering healthcare, Social Security, national defense, taxes and […]
Posted in, Market Profile, West
Economy Improving, But Significant Growth Proves Slow-Coming For Nevada
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer While the Nevada economy appears to have improved slightly over the course of 2012, the Silver State has a long way to go in catching up with the pace of recovery being experienced by the rest of the U.S. and even most other western states. According to Dr. Stephen P.A. Brown, […]
Posted in, Market Profile, Northeast
Retail Sector Emerges Modestly Triumphant In Flat Maine Economy
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer Though the Maine economy remains flat, as it has for the last several years, there is a bright spot, albeit dimmer than most would like, and it’s in retail. According to Charles S. Colgan, professor of public policy and management for the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of […]
Posted in, Market Profile, Southeast
Modest Growth Expected For Georgia In 2013, But National Fears Loom
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal reported in early December that the state is doing OK. His office’s highest priority continues to involve bringing new industry to the state in order to create jobs. The Peach State’s unemployment remains high, at 8.5 percent, above the national rate of 7.7 percent. “As of mid-2012, […]
Posted in, Industry News, National
Report: Retailers Must Differentiate From Restaurants
At the height of the economic downturn, many consumers flocked to supermarkets, mass merchandisers, warehouse clubs and other retailers looking for a deal on prepared foods. But now that the economy is recovering from the recession, some consumers are purchasing retailer meal solutions (RMS) less often than they did just two years ago; in fact, […]
Posted in, National
Walmart Commits To Domestic Sourcing, Veteran Hiring Initiatives
Walmart plans to increase domestic sourcing of the products it sells and help veterans find jobs when they come off active duty. Speaking at the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) annual BIG Show, Walmart U.S. President and CEO Bill Simon also announced the company is helping part-time associates who want to be full time make that […]
Posted in, Northeast, Store News
Giant Eagle Holds Down Prices With New Winter Low Price Lock
Giant Eagle Inc. has implemented a Winter Low Price Lock on hundreds of popular products. Giant Eagle launched its first Low Price Lock campaign in October and the program quickly became popular with customers, accoridng to a news release. The Winter Low Price Lock provides a degree of predictability in family budgets, as the prices […]
Posted in, Southwest
Colorado’s Grant Family Farms Files For Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Colorado’s first Certified Organic Farm—Grant Family Farms—has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, The Denver Post reports. “Grant Family Farms is confident that some things are worth saving and believes that this community-supported farm is one of them,” the farm said in a statement. “The Farm is working hard and is hopeful that it will emerge […]
Posted in, National
NGA President Lauds Passage Of Taxpayer Relief Act
Peter J. Larkin, president and CEO of the National Grocers Association (NGA), has released the following statement regarding the passage of the Taxpayer Relief Act: “NGA applauds Congress and the president for averting an economic disaster, albeit at the 13th hour, with the passage of the American Taxpayer Relief Act (House Resolution 8). The bill, […]
Posted in, Albertsons, National, West
2012’s Top Stories In The West
A number of big stories came out of the western states in 2012. Below are the most noteworthy as reported by The Shelby Report this year. Haggen Rolls Out Rebranding Program Bellingham, Wash.-based Haggen launched its Northwest Fresh rebranding program at its Bellevue store in late 2011, and this year the company began extending the […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods
Report: Cyber Monday Online Shopping Reaches All Time High
Holiday shoppers turned Cyber Monday into the biggest spending day ever with online sales growing 30.3 percent over the same period last year, according to cloud-based analytics findings by IBM. With an increase in online sales across multiple channels, the digital consumer took center stage. Retailers, marketing departments and CMOs delivered a consistent customer experience […]
Posted in, National
Black Friday Weekend Sales Hit Record
U.S. consumers spent more than $59 billion over the Black Friday weekend, the Associated Press reports. That sets a record for the post-Thanksgiving start of the holiday shopping season, according National Retail Federation (NRF) numbers. The Sacramento Business Journal reports that U.S. sales were up 13 percent compared to last year. Extended hours and sales […]
Posted in, National
Hostess, Union Mediation Fails; Snack Maker Continues With Closure Plans
Hostess Brands Inc. and the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) failed to reach an agreement during mediation Tuesday. “Unfortunately, the last minute mediation efforts by Judge (Robert D.) Drain were not successful,” said Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall. “The case will proceed (Wednesday, Nov. 20) at 11 a.m. with the […]
Posted in, National
Hostess And Bakers Union Enter Mediation Today
Hostess Brands Inc. said Monday evening that it will follow a request from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York to enter a confidential mediation today with the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco and Grain Millers Union (BCTGM). The hearing that was scheduled for today to consider Hostess Brands’ motion to wind down […]
Posted in, National, West
Greater Phoenix Expands ‘California 50’ Program
One week after the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) launched the California 50 program, the organization is expanding the program—which aims to fly 50 Golden State CEOs to the Phoenix metro region for an opportunity to tour and explore the market—to 100 California-based CEOs due to high demand. “The response to the California 50 program […]
Posted in, National
Ever-Growing Competition Rated Top Concern Among Independents
Competition, the cost of providing healthcare insurance and the economy are the three major worries among independent food retailers, according to the 2012 Independent Grocers Financial Survey, released last month by FMS and the National Grocers Association (NGA). On a scale of 1-10, where 10 is highest, competition averaged 7.9 with supercenters and conventional supermarkets […]
Posted in, Southwest, Suppliers
Cargill Donates 600 Turkeys To Arkansas Foodbank
Cargill’s turkey processing facility in Springdale, Ark., collaborated with the tri-state Poultry Federation representing Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma to donate 600 turkeys—totaling 15,400 pounds—to the Arkansas Foodbank in Little Rock, including a truckload of turkeys delivered this week for Thanksgiving. Over the past 20 years, Cargill’s Springdale facility has donated more than 288,000 pounds of […]
Posted in, Industry News, National
Premium Private Label Groceries Trump Frugal Fatigue
Private label food and beverage dollar sales topped $98 billion in 2011 to account for 17.6 percent of total food and beverage retail sales, according to “Private Label Food and Beverages in the U.S.,” a just-released report from market research firm Packaged Facts. Dollar sales rose 6 percent over the 2010 level. In grocery aisles, […]