Man Charged With Trying to Blow Up Target Stores to Tank Company’s Stock by Safia Samee Ali at CNBC. “Mark Charles Barnett, 48, of Ocala, was charged with “possession of a firearm (destructive device) affecting commerce by a previously convicted felon” after he offered an unidentified person $10,000 to put at least 10 explosives — disguised as food items — on the shelves of Target stores in New York, Florida and Virginia, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Ocala.” Read more

 

Walmart tests C-store in small Texas town by Maria Halkias at Dallas News. “In a parking lot on Main Street in this nondescript town of 14,000, Wal-Mart is testing out what it hopes could be its next small thing — a genuine convenience store…Wal-Mart’s strategy seems to be not to reinvent the convenience store concept but rather to tweak it.” Read more

 

Canadian Tire Retail Q4 Comp Sales +8.1% “For the full year, Canadian Tire Retail sales were up 5.6% over 2015 results and same store sales increased 4.2%.” Press release

 

‘Footwear Is a Gateway Drug’: How Saks Lures Mens to Its New Store by Steven Kurutz at New York Times. Read more

 

KROGER HEADACHE – An armless man couldn’t carry his bike up the stairs. He says it cost him his job. by Cleve R. Watson Jr. at Washington Post. “How can I push my bike?” he responded. “I don’t have any arms.”…Trimble’s disability is severe and clearly noticeable — he’s missing both arms — and the accommodations he asked of his employer were minor, his attorney told The Washington Post.” Read more/Pic

 

Now you can buy things from Costco, Whole Foods and other stores via Google Home by Tess Townsend at Recode. “This is the first Home capability allowing users to buy things using the piece of hardware that runs Google Assistant.” Read more

 

Kroger named one of nation’s top 10 companies for inclusion by Steve Watkins at Cincinnati Business Courier. Read more

 

Lowe’s Canada integrates Ace dealer network “The integration of operations will result in the closing of the Winnipeg, Manitoba distribution centre and head office and the Kitchener, Ontario distribution centre, which will be completed in the company’s fourth quarter this year. Moving forward, Ace head office functions in Winnipeg will relocate to the Lowe’s Canada regional office in Mississauga, Ontario.” Press release

 

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S.Korea court declares Hanjin Shipping bankrupt via CNBC. “The Seoul Central District Court said in a statement it has chosen a bankruptcy administrator, and claims by creditors are due by May 1, 2017.” Read more

 

Kraft Heinz CFO Calls Bottom on Commodities, Sees Inflation Ahead by Tatyana Shumsky at Wall Street Journal. “The futures and immediate-delivery market for certain commodities has already ticked higher, showing year-over-year inflation, Mr. Basilio said. “We’re already seeing that in cheese, coffee, bacon,” he said.” Read more (subs.)

 

…Kraft Heinz increasing marketing for key brands by Patty Tascarella at Pittsburgh Business Times. “The company’s focus for 2017 is its three key brands of Kraft, Heinz and Planters…Kraft Heinz is also prioritizing five categories Hees believes have “global potential.” They are condiments and sauces, cheese, meals, nuts and baby foods.” Read more

 

Ex-Vice Media Exec Named Ralph Lauren CMO Press release

 

Big Food Looks to Startups for Ideas, Innovation by Annie Gasparro at Wall Street Journal. “In total, venture capital funds made 66 food-and-beverage-related deals last year, up 20% from 2015…“If I tell you all our trade secrets, what’s going to stop Kellogg from making their own moringa bar?” Kuli Kuli founder Lisa Curtis recalls asking Simon Burton, the head of Kellogg’s venture capital fund.” Read more (subs.)

 

Visa Settles With 13 Retailers In £500M UK Swipe Fees Trial by Alex Davis at Law 360. Read more (subs.)

 

H-E-B Leaders Visit Univ. of Houston Feb. 23rd to Offer Guidance On Submitting Unique Products in Competition at Houston Style Magazine. “To learn more about the competition or for a complete listing of cities and dates H-E-B leaders will visit throughout February and March, visit heb.com/quest.” Read more

 

Sears Opens First DieHard Auto Center in San Antonio Press release

 

Kate Spade confirms takeover talk, shares jump by Krystina Gustafson at CNBC. Read more

 

Kraft Heinz to Pursue Merger Despite Unilever Rejection at Fox Business. Read more

 

Man stands under dangling Walmart sign for 2 days hoping to get hit, sue them by Alley Wilson at Global News. “On Feb. 14, Manuel Garcia posted to Facebook a photo of him standing under a dangling “p” at a local Texas Walmart. Garcia wrote he was “waiting for the P to fall and knock [him] out to be able to sue Walmart.” Pic/Video/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

CVS Workers Accidentally Lock Woman Inside Store

Mom campaigns to get Aldi to fit seatbelts in all of the supermarket’s carts – and wins

Amazon on the brink of launching own UK fashion label

Former Best Buy and Williams-Sonoma exec Named to Hallmark Board of Directors

Apple discussed buying Ron Howard’s production company, but talks ‘fizzled out’

Walgreens Boots Alliance chief merchandising officer to depart

Missing Home Depot worker not the type to ‘take off’

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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