Costco’s Craig Jelinek: Executives who join Costco from other companies “tend not to do well at Costco because they don’t understand the culture.” by Elliot Zwiebach at Supermarket News  Read Speech Highlights

 

Rosalind Brewer Named to “50 Most Powerful Moms” List at Working Mother.  See the top 50 list

 

Kroger Buys Hiller’s Markets at Detroit Free Press. “Kroger, the nation’s largest grocery store chain, will turn all but one of Hiller Markets’ seven stores into Kroger locations shortly after the sale closes in July.” Read more

 

Hank Meijer explains why Wisconsin stores are critical to expansion by Shandra Martinez at The Grand Rapids Press. “For the first time, we can dream about putting stores in Escanaba or Marquette and we see that as definitely part of our future,” Hank Meijer said. The retailer plans to open 11 stores in 2015: four stores in Michigan, four in Wisconsin, two in Illinois and one in Indiana.” Read more / See Hank Meijer video

 

Charges: Thief hit every Target store in Albuquerque by Mark Reilly at Minn./St.Paul Business Journal. “KRQE reports on the charges against William Ainsworth, who police say used an “alpha key” to unlock the cabinets Target uses to secure electronics and fragrances. He’s accused of stealing $9,179 worth of goods, including smart watches, headphones and cameras.” Read more

 

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Ben Carson Resigns from Costco Board of Directors “The voluntary resignation is not due to any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to Company’s operations, policies or practices. The Company and its Board of Directors express their deepest gratitude to Dr. Carson for his nearly sixteen years of dedicated service.” Read the 8-K

 

WinCo Foods Announces Opening of its 100th Store In Lewisville, Texas Read the release

 

Is Instacart coming to the Twin Cities? by Kavita Kumar at Star-Tribune. “Besides the job posting, there have been some other clues Instacart may soon be expanding here. When I signed up for an account on its website, I got an email back that said, “We’re almost ready to open for business in Minneapolis.” Read more

 

The return of the milkman by Courtney Reagan at CNBC. “A Nielsen survey suggests consumers are willing to buy more of their groceries online in the future. More than 55 percent told Nielsen they were willing to do so in the future—particularly among millennials. But “willing to try,” and making online grocery ordering and delivery a regular habit, are two different things.” Read more

 

Lowe’s halts sales of Chinese flooring over formaldehyde concerns by Scott Cohn at CNBC. “(Connie) Bryant says less than 10 percent of its laminate product is manufactured outside the U.S. She also notes that the sample in question was a special order product, while “the vast majority of the laminate flooring we sell is in-stock product that customers purchase in-store and carry out.” Read more

 

Canadian Tire Opens Second Digital Innovation Lab “The ‘Digital Garage’ builds on the momentum that began with the landmark launch of the retailer’s award winning digital ‘lab’ store in Toronto and West Edmonton Mall flagship location. Additionally, Canadian Tire will open its first Showcase Store in Edmonton, Alberta , in the coming weeks.” Read the release

 

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Eye-on-Retail Tipsheet is created early every weekday morning and read by retail merchants and executives worldwide. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s really happening in the world of retail. Contact us at info@eyeonretail.net.