Kroger vows better sourcing, less waste by Alexander Coolidge at Cincinnati Enquirer. “The cage-free pledge was part of a slate of initiatives – from improving seafood and egg sourcing to cutting store and factory waste – Kroger announced as part of the release of its 10th annual sustainability report…” Read more | Read the release

 

Canada: Customers side with Walmart in Visa spat, but retailer may lose shoppers anyway by Hollie Shaw at Financial Post. “A new survey from the Angus Reid Institute finds that 59 per cent of Canadians support the big-box retailer in its decision to stop accepting Visa at certain stores…But Angus Reid found that 46 per cent of Walmart shoppers who have used a Visa card at Walmart in the last year say they will be less likely to shop at the store in the future if the retailer stops taking Visa.” Read more

 

Target’s Future Will Be Decided by Kids by Susan Berfield at Bloomberg. “…Target’s designers have been listening to kids, too, about 1,000 of them from the ages of 4 to 12—in their homes, online, at daylong fairs, and in focus groups—to create what could become one of the company’s biggest brands and maybe one of the country’s biggest kids’ brands…Cat & Jack is a crucial step in a long-term plan to revitalize Target…” Read more

 

Gap Posts First Comparable-Sales Increase Since March 2015 via Fox News. “Gap posted a surprise 2% comparable-sales increase in June buoyed by strength at its Old Navy brand, following more than a year of monthly declines.” Read more | Read the release

 

Striking Wal-Mart workers in China return to work – for now at Reuters. “Workers striking at Wal-Mart Stores Inc outlets in China have returned to work after the firm agreed to consider their protests against a new work scheduling system that some fear could be used to cut overtime pay, workers and labor activists say.” Read more

 

Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes Banned From Operating a Lab for Two Years via Fortune. Read more

 

Bethesda, MD is getting a tiny Target by Jeff Clabaugh at WTOP. “The 35,000-square-foot Target will open in the Shops of Wisconsin development in March 2017.” See the artist rendering / Read more

 

…Target to open smaller-format store in Skokie by Lauren Zumbach at Chicago Tribune. “In Skokie, which has a sizable Jewish population, that means grab-and-go groceries with Kosher items, Target said.” Read more

 

Alexa has exclusive deals when you order products using your voice on Amazon Echo “Just say: “Alexa order a drone” and get a Dromida Kodo UAV Quadcopter for $25 (38% off, through July 12 or while supplies last)…” Read the release

 

Fred’s June Comp Sales -1.3% Read the release

 

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4 in 10 top-selling sunscreens on Amazon don’t meet dermatologists’ standards, study says by Karen Kaplan at LA Times. “Digging deeper into the top 1%, the researchers focused on the 10 with the most customer reviews — a proxy for popularity — and found that half of them weren’t water-resistant.” Read more

 

J.C. Penney and Kohl’s put their own spin on the Amazon Prime Day hoopla by Matt Linder at Internet Retailer. “J.C. Penney will run a sale dubbed “Penney Palooza.” The sale will run Monday through Tuesday, with the Tuesday portion of the sale coinciding with Prime Day. Likewise, Kohl’s will be running a string of daily deals from Sunday through Thursday of next week.” Read more

 

Wal-Mart opens $100M distribution center in North Carolina, overdelivers in jobs count by Amanda Hoyle at Triangle Business Journal. “Wal-Mart will be hosting a ceremony July 13 to celebrate the opening…the 450,000-square-foot facility is expected to create more than 550 new jobs. That’s 100 more than was initially promised when the project was announced in late 2013.” Read more

 

Woman pleads not guilty to causing Evanston Target bathroom explosion by Brian Cox at Chicago Tribune. “Dressed in a blue prison uniform, Schmidt did not say anything during the brief hearing. Her attorney entered her not guilty plea for her.” Read more

 

Ex-Sam’s Club CEO & Current Microsoft COO Jumps to Citadel by Kate Kelley at CNBC. “A one-time cashier at Wal-Mart, (Kevin) Turner was named a corporate officer there at age 29, the retailer’s youngest ever at the time. He later became CEO of Wal-Mart’s Sam’s Club division.” Read more

 

Target Execs Escape Derivative Claims Over Data Breach by Shayna Posses at Law 360. “A Minnesota federal judge released Target Corp.’s top brass Thursday from derivative claims over a 2013 holiday season data breach that saw hackers steal information from tens of millions of customers after a special litigation committee appointed to investigate the allegations recommended dropping them.” Law 360 subscription

 

Americans spent gas savings on more gas by Nicholas Wells at CNBC. “Middle-income Americans spent 58 percent of what they would have otherwise saved thanks to cheaper gas. Chase said middle-income households had the potential to save an average of $632, but the lower gas prices encouraged drivers to drive more.” Read more

 

Home Depot Appeal To Test Banks’ Data Breach Footing by Allison Grande at Law 360. “Home Depot on Tuesday took the somewhat unusual step of seeking permission to bring to the Eleventh Circuit several questions of law raised by a judge’s refusal to toss data breach claims asserted by financial institutions, including whether the banks have standing to sue at all, a request that if granted will determine whether banks will continue to enjoy stronger footing than consumers in these disputes.” Law 360 subscription

 

‘Ghostbusters’ toys are already on the clearance rack at Target by Ian Mohr at NY Post. “But Target told Page Six when reached for comment it was all a big mistake. “This is an error and we are working quickly to address it. We apologize for any guest confusion,” said a rep.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

Former Wal-Mart exec named to Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Total Hockey files for bankruptcy protection

Canada: Retailers’ intense rivalry and lower crop prices are set to cut grocery bills

NYC Cracks Down on Businesses ‘Air Conditioning the Sidewalk’

Carrie Underwood sports new Calia swimsuit line on Cabo vacation

Popular author reignites concerns over safety of Chipotle food

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

 

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