Food Lion Introduces New Store Concept
Food Lion LLC plans to open five pilot stores to test a new store concept, format and brand name. The pilot stores, all scheduled to open by the end of 2004 in the Charlotte, NC area, will be named, “Bloom, A Food Lion Market.” The Bloom pilot stores will place an emphasis on meeting customers' needs for home meal solutions. Among the products and services offered will be Boston Market home-style meals.
“Bloom is a different kind of name for a grocery store,” said Robert Canipe, Food Lion V.P. of Business Strategy. “The name reflects the beginning of something new and our desire to create a unique shopping experience.”
Customers will quickly notice Bloom’s new approach to store design, layout and merchandising. The store will also incorporate leading edge technologies designed to help customers find products, get information and check out with greater ease.
Hershey Foods Expands Presence In Hispanic Market
Hershey Foods Corp. has formed a multi-year partnership with Thalia Sodi, the Latin singer and actress, as part of its strategy to tap into the fast-growing Hispanic market. The partnership includes sponsorship of her upcoming U.S. tour, a Spanish-language advertising campaign, consumer and retail promotions and a co-branded Thalia line of Hershey products designed to appeal to Hispanic tastes.
“This unique relationship combines the heritage and power of Hershey’s iconic brands with Thalia’s deep connection to the Latino community,” said Thomas Hernquist, Chief Marketing Officer. “It’s a perfect pairing that will form the centerpiece of Hershey’s Hispanic marketing efforts in the U.S. and that will represent our largest effort so far to reach this important consumer segment.”
The new line of co-branded, Latin-inspired candies, to be launched this fall, will be a “Latin Flavor Twist” on some of Hershey’s most popular brands including “chili”-based flavors and “dulce de leche” fillings, which appeal to many Hispanic consumers.
Coca-Cola And Kraft Launch Youth Health & Wellness Initiative
Coca-Cola Co. and Kraft Foods. have joined with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to create Triple Play, an after-school health and wellness program.
“By addressing mind, body and soul, we’re taking an integrated approach to helping young people help themselves,” said Roxanne Spillett, President, BGCA.
“We all care about the well being of our young people, and we all must do our part to help them develop healthy habits,” said Douglas Daft, Chairman and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company. Triple Play will be available to each of the 3,400 Boys & Girls Clubs.
Blockbuster Launches Movie Pass
Blockbuster has launched its in-store Movie Pass, which allows customers to rent an unlimited number of DVD and VHS movies, up to two or three at a time depending on the type of pass purchased, and keep them for as long as they want while on the program. With a Blockbuster Movie Pass, there are no return dates and no extended viewing fees. Available in more than 5,000 Blockbuster stores across the country, the Blockbuster Movie Pass is designed to offer customers more convenience and value in the way they rent movies. Once customers purchase the pass, their credit card or check card is automatically charged the monthly fee so they don’t have to remember to renew.
“We want to give customers the chance to never pay extended viewing fees again,” said Nick Shepherd, Blockbuster’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Customers can choose the traditional pay-as-you-go rental model, or with the Blockbuster Movie Pass, they can pay one low monthly fee, rent as many movies as they want, and never worry about return dates or extended viewing fees again. We’re giving our customers more ways to enjoy movies.”
“The pass can also be a great tool for our members who are trying to budget their entertainment dollars. The pass is good for all titles and as long as the customer remains on the program, there are no return dates and no extended viewing fees,” added Shepherd.
Mervyn’s Shop Targets Tween Girls
Mervyn’s department store recently debuted Pinkie’s Palace, a new in-store shop geared toward tween girls. The central character and Princess of the Palace is Pinkie-a stylish black cat with a passion for pink.
Providing a fun-filled shopping environment, Pinkie’s Palace fulfills little girl’s fantasy for playtime and mom’s desire to encourage imagination. Designed with an easy-to-spot pink theme, Pinkie’s Palace, located in the girls’ department in Mervyn’s 266 stores, features more than 75 novelty items, including screen tees, hair accessories, handbags, dress-up shoes, sparkly nail polish, press-on nails, jewelry, make-up, bath and body items, stationery and plush.
Target Opens For Summer In Hamptons
Target stores recently set up shop for the summer in The Hamptons, creating a one-stop resource for all things summer. “With the Bullseye Inn, we want to delight our guests by bringing everything they need for summer fun directly to them at a favorite summer spot, The Hamptons,” said John Remington, V.P., Events Marketing, Target. “The Bullseye Inn makes Target even more accessible to our guests in New York.”
Product offerings include exclusive creations by Target design partners including colorful melamine dishes, table linens, bath accessories, bedding, rugs, and toss pillows, mix and match bedding, table linens, window treatments and bath accessories; elegant pots, planters, outdoor décor and lighting, grills, barbecue accessories, backyard games, beach towels and patio furniture.
Cereality Cereal Bar & Café Plans Rollout
Cereality Cereal Bar & Café, a new foodservice concept serving cereal out-of-home, is planning a national rollout. The “Seinfeld-esque” kitchen setting features homey kitchen cabinets stocked with familiar cereals.
From morning to night, Cereality focuses on the custom-blending and serving of both cold and hot cereals, along with a variety of original recipe cereal-based snack foods. Cereality features 33 choices of cereal including brand names, 34 choices of toppings, 3 types of milk, plus an assortment of specialty milks available from the “Moo Machine.” Invent-a-Blend, developed in partnership with Quaker, allows the customers to opt for a variety of basic grains, or select from three Quaker hot cereals.
David Roth, CEO of Cereality, said, “We’ve created a branded restaurant format for eating cereal away from home all day long. We’re also tapping into the personalization trend and we have built-in equity by using branded ingredients in our proprietary recipes.”
Dunkin’ Donuts Opens In Wal-Mart Stores
Dunkin’ Donuts has announced plans to establish a retail presence in select Wal-Mart locations. The first store-within-a-Wal-Mart recently opened in North Wyndham, CT.
“Wal-Mart and Dunkin’ Donuts share the same mainstream American Customer base,” said Jon Luther, CEO, Allied Domecq Quick Service Restaurants. “We understand the needs of our customers for speed, convenience, and quality whether they are stopping for a coffee or shopping for retail items.”
Prominently positioned in the front of each Wal-Mart, the in-store Dunkin’ Donuts shops will look and feel just like a neighborhood Dunkin’ Donuts store.
Diageo Announces Low Carb Wines
Diageo Chateau and Estate Wines announced that three of its wine brands, BV Coastal Estates, Sterling Vintners Collection and Century Cellars, all meet the definition of a “low carb” alcohol beverage.
Diageo Chateau and Estate Wines will use special point-of-sale materials, including bottle neckers and in-store displays, informing consumers that these wines meet the new low carb guidelines and providing nutritional information.
McDonald’s Launches Healthy Lifestyle Education Campaign
McDonald’s has unveiled a balanced lifestyles effort to help address obesity in America. The multi-year plan, focusing on children and adults includes significant efforts in the areas of food choices, physical activity and education. Jim Skinner, Vice Chairman, McDonald’s, said, “We are committed to playing an active role to be part of the solution.”
McDonald’s is introducing new food choices and ordering options including the “Go Active! Adult Happy Meal,” featuring a salad, bottled water and a Stepometer so consumers can track their daily walking. New Happy Meal choices will give parents and children the opportunity to mix and match offerings. Available nationally will be the option to order burgers and sandwiches “low-carb-style,” without the buns, and a “Simple Steps” brochure that shows customers how to order across the menu to lower fat, calories and carbohydrates. McDonald’s is also launching the “McDonald's Go Active! American Challenge,” with Bob Greene, who will walk and bike across America for 36 consecutive days, challenging people to take steps toward more active lives.
Cingular Buddy Bash Touring Malls
The Cingular Buddy Bash is challenging contestants to “buddy up” with their IM friends to see who can answer a series of music-trivia questions the fastest using the AOL Instant Messenger AIM service on Cingular phones. The live competition will visit 15 malls throughout the country.
David Garver, Marketing Director, Cingular Wireless, said, “The Cingular Buddy Bash is a unique way to demonstrate the popularity and ease-of-use of instant messaging on Cingular Wireless phones.”
Cingular teamed up with America Online, Nokia, Hewlett Packard, Journey’s and Simon Malls to bring the Buddy Bash to malls nationwide. The grand prize winner will receive a $5,000 Simon Giftcard, one year of free Cingular service, a one year AOL membership subscription, a $250 American Express gift certificate from America Online and a Hewlett Packard computer.
SoBe & Jeep Launch Joint Promotion
SoBe Beverages and Jeep have formed a marketing partnership designed to reach consumers through several events across the country.
A one-of-a-kind SoBe Jeep Wrangler Rubicon will be on display at Jeep 101, Jeep Music Trax and Camp Jeep events throughout the summer. Beginning with Jeep 101, a 12-stop driving experience with both on- and off-road courses, SoBe will offer free beverage samples to event-goers. SoBe sampling will also be incorporated into the ten-stop Jeep Trax concert tour, which features the Counting Crows. At Camp Jeep events SoBe will sponsor the Thrills and Spills arena, where consumers can participate in and view numerous action sports.
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