A couple of days ago, my colleague Jeff Reeves took a look at 7-Eleven's decision to enter into the beer game. Yes, 7-Eleven -- the sultan of Slurpees, the high priest of week-old hot dogs, the convenience king -- is going to throw its proverbial hat in the ring, looking for your beer bucks.

I did not know this, but 7-Eleven is the third-largest beer retailer in the United States. Perhaps my ignorance is born from the fact that there are no 7-Elevens in my hometown.

Continue reading 7-Eleven's Brewing Ambitions No Threat to Budweiser, Coors or Miller

7-Eleven's Brewing Ambitions No Threat to Budweiser, Coors or Miller originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Wal-Mart to Squeeze More out of Supply Chain

Wal-Mart to Squeeze More out of Supply Chain originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I hope the following article out on Reuters isn't wholly accurate. I can see the logic of what's being reported, however. According to the item, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) could be reducing the valuable real estate in its stores that is devoted to bottled water from popular brands. This includes The Coca-Cola Company's (NYSE: KO) Dasani and PepsiCo, Inc.'s (NYSE: PEP) Aquafina. This observation is being sourced to analyst Bill Pecoriello of ConsumerEdge Research. He believes that Wal-Mart might be trying to focus on the value consumer by offering more shelf space to generic brands.

Continue reading Wal-Mart no longer a friend of Dasani water?

Wal-Mart no longer a friend of Dasani water? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

General Mills (NYSE: GIS), a cereal manufacturer whose colleagues at the supermarket include Kellogg (NYSE: K), Kraft (NYSE: KFT), and Campbell Soup (NYSE: CPB), is all set to report earnings on Wednesday, March 18. This will be for the third quarter, and according to the following source, analysts are expecting $0.88 per share. It won't be an impressive performance if General Mills merely meets expectations. In the previous year's Q3, the company did $0.87 per share. Obviously, $0.88 wouldn't be much in terms of growth.

Continue reading Earnings preview: Will General Mills top estimates?

Earnings preview: Will General Mills top estimates? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Campbell Soup (NYSE: CPB) reported earnings for the second quarter, and while they weren't that great in terms of growth, they did beat Wall Street expectations. The bottom line came in at an adjusted 65 cents per share from continuing operations. Analysts were expecting 64 cents per share. I know, a one-penny beat isn't necessarily something to crow about, especially when Campbell grew income from continuing operations by only a single penny on a year-over-year basis. In this market, though, this is the stuff of dreams.

In fact, I bet Campbell's shares would have been higher on the news if it wasn't for the fact that the Dow is getting closer and closer to the 7,000 mark (and, please don't worry, we'll see a Dow reading that begins with a 6 before you can scream sell!).

Continue reading Campbell Soup beats in Q2, but it may not be that defensive in this market

Campbell Soup beats in Q2, but it may not be that defensive in this market originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Wal-Mart expands store-brand food deals

Wal-Mart expands store-brand food deals originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of our Battle of the Brands feature. Let us know which brand you prefer, and watch out for more Battle of the Brands posts.

A portfolio manager once said, "If a nuclear explosion hit my city and I had to pick one place to hole-up for a couple of years until all was calm, I would want to be at a Costco store. It has everything any human being could ever want or need." Well, I don't know if I could spend a couple of years in a Costco store, but no problem with a couple of hours!

Sam's Club, a division of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) versus Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST): they have collectively changed the way people shop. The differences are profound between the two, yet conceptually they are very similar. Both "warehouse" concepts sell in bulk fashion. If you're looking for a small jar of Grey Poupon mustard, forget either of these two warehouse stores. But, if you want two side-by-side 16-ounce jars of Grey Poupon, enough to satisfy a football team, then you have come to the right place.

As similar as these two are, the differences do exist. Costco offers tremendous prices to its customers (club members) and quality. Costco has figured out the consumer will come in with a set list of items to be purchased, only to be enticed to expand that list as they walk the store. Strategically placed "special" items, or Costco employees serving out free samples of delicious food and drink items not normally found on the customer's list. It's brilliant marketing: on-site demonstrations and/or sampling of the product. "An impulse purchase" is the expression I have used many, many times as I've explained to my wife why I bought this or that.

Continue reading Sam's Club vs. Costco: Battle of the Brands

Sam's Club vs. Costco: Battle of the Brands originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cramer: Treehouse Foods is LBO fund in disguise originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Nov 2006 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Are Wal-Mart's private-label goods really "Sam's Choice"? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 04 Aug 2006 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.