Shop Talk
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:05pm
Under Shop Talk
Check out consumer product powerhouses including Procter & Gamble, Kraft and Colgate, inundating Wall Street with quarterly reports on Wednesday.
The reports largely showed that the companies are finding successful ways to navigate the consumer spending slowdown and the commodity price surge that has raised their cost of doing business.
P & G, world’s largest consumer products maker, with brands ranging from […]
By admin
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:05pm
Under Shop Talk
Check out those federal rebate checks.
Tax rebates began arriving in U.S. consumers’ bank accounts this week as part of Washington’s $152 billion stimulus package. (Direct deposits this week and paper checks next week.)
Retailers have various strategies for attracting those rebate dollars. Many of them are offering 10 percent bonuses when the checks are converted to […]
By admin
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:05pm
Under Shop Talk
The convoluted history of attempted deals in the candy industry are enough to make an Oompa-Loompa’s head spin, but Mars’ $23 billion takeover of Wrigley may force rivals to reassess their options for consolidation, Bill Wrigley Jr said on Monday.
(The deal also proved that Warren Buffett “chews gum and identifies value at the same time,” as the […]
By admin
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:05pm
Under Shop Talk
Check Out investors waking up to a sweet deal on Monday morning.
M&M’s maker Mars Inc and Berkshire Hathaway Inc are buying Wm Wrigley Jr Co, the largest U.S. chewing gum maker, for $23 billion.
The deal will create a confectionary giant, bringing together Wrigley’s Altoids, Extra and Eclipse brands, with Mars’ M&M’s, Snickers, Starburst and Twix.
The newly announced deal could […]
By admin
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:05pm
Under Shop Talk
Check out fewer places to sip that latte or buy that power saw.
Late on Wednesday, Starbucks said it would slash U.S. coffee store openings through 2011 as it adjusts to slower U.S. growth.
The coffee giant blamed the domestic housing crisis for a significant quarter-over-quarter deterioration in U.S. customer traffic and said it saw early signs of a […]
By admin
April 5th, 2008 at 12:05am
Under Shop Talk
Americans spend 10 percent of their disposable income on food, including restaurant meals and snacks, according to U.S. Dept. of Agriculture figures.
That reliable needle may start to shift as food prices rise. Globally, food prices have jumped 75 percent since 2000, the World Bank calculates. Look at the graphic on the left for another view; […]
By admin
April 4th, 2008 at 04:03pm
Under Shop Talk
Check out what Wal-Mart customers have to say about the economy and how it is changing how they shop.
Reuters reporters went to Wal-Mart stores in New Jersey, Illinois and California this week to see how the weak economy (see today’s jobs report) has made them change how they grocery shop.
Here are some of their comments. For the […]
By admin
April 4th, 2008 at 12:05am
Under Shop Talk
Fred Katayama visits a Wal-mart just outside New York City to see how consumers socked with high gas prices and a sputtering economy are changing the way they shop. His full report hits the reuters.com website on Friday. It’s part of a Reuters multimedia presentation in text, video and pictures.
By admin
April 4th, 2008 at 12:05am
Under Shop Talk
Check out those coupons from Borders.
In a new report, J.P. Morgan analyst Charles Grom begins tracking the promotional cadence at book sellers. Grom said he is keeping a close eye on discounts and promotions as the price war among book retailers extends into the first half of 2008 and Borders prepares to launch its own […]
By admin
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:05am
Under Shop Talk
Check out the Easter boost in drugstore land.
Drugstore chains have been hurt by the weak U.S. economy of late, especially in the nonprescription part of the store.
But Easter seems to have helped at least one of the largest drugstore chains: Walgreen’s.
Walgreen Co said strong sales of Easter merchandise helped it post better-than-expected general merchandise […]
By admin
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