Meijer to Detail Innovation's Role in Driving Private Label Performance

In RetailConnections Feb. 25 keynote, Meijer Group VP Steve Light will outline framework for capturing new customers and locking in loyalty. End Quote

Miami, FL (1888PressRelease) November 07, 2012 - Brand-building is everybody's business with opportunities to shine across all operational areas from marketing and merchandising to logistics, e-commerce, store ops, finance and IT.

And in the realm of private label brands, business is booming. Sales of store brands grew 3.9% while national brands rose just 0.6% in a year's time, according to The Nielsen Company's latest figures. Among those attuned to private label's potential is Steve Light, Group Vice President, Merchandising Operations at Meijer, the big box behemoth with an estimated $16 billion in annual revenues.

Light will share insights on leveraging innovative strategies to propel private label growth and secure customer allegiance for the long term at the RetailConnections Business Executive Summit, Feb. 24-26, 2013, in Miami. In his keynote, "Taking Private Label Brands to the Next Level: The Role of Innovation as a Foundation for Growth," Light will outline the forces shaping private label programs including globalization, trends in sourcing and the new frontier of digital media and e-commerce.

As Meijer and other retailers are well aware, private labels are outperforming national brands on key growth metrics, reaching record-breaking levels in both dollars and units sold. And price is becoming a rapidly diminishing consideration for consumers, even as the economy shows signs of recovery. Savvy retailers are investing in existing brands and building new product families to seize this rich opportunity.

Just this week, Walgreen launched its own line of "green" household goods under the Ology name as a way to differentiate itself from competitors. The first wave of 24 baby and personal care items, light bulbs, cleaning and paper products will hit more than 7,900 stores this week. Another two dozen Ology products are due out this spring from Walgreen.

RetailConnections Summit presenters include
• Stephen Jackson, CIO, Harry Rosen
• Steve Light, Group VP, Merchandising Operations, Meijer
• Adam Holyk, DVP, Loyalty & Insights, Walgreen
• Deanna Steele, VP, IT Applications, Express
• Lisa Kranc, SVP, Marketing, AutoZone
• Girisha Chandraraj, EVP, Marketing & Sales, Blick Art Materials
• Lonnie Lawton, CFO, Helzberg Diamonds Shops
• Butch Jagoda, VP of IT, Helzberg Diamonds Shops
• Bryan Tatoff, CFO, Danier Leather
• Phil Cutter, CIO, Danier Leather
• Richard Hastings, Macro Strategist, Global Hunter Securities LLC

Registration for the RetailConnections Business Executive Summit Feb. 24-26, 2013, is open to qualified retail executives and registration via www.retailconnections.com. Discount rates at the Turnberry Isle Hotel & Resort are available for a limited time, after which point reservations will be accommodated on an as-available basis. Sign up now for this once-a-year senior leadership Summit.

For more information, contact Denise Power, (773) 573-3939 denise ( @ ) retailconnections dot com or Marc Millstein (914) 620-5947 marc ( @ ) retailconnections dot com or visit our web site dot For sponsorship opportunities, contact LuAnn Hallberg, (814) 516-4965 luann ( @ ) retailconnections dot com dot

RETAILCONNECTIONS serves senior retail executives by hosting events that provide exceptional learning and networking. We believe the value of establishing new business relationships in person far outweighs other forms of communication. In this era when knowledge from all retail departments is intertwined, events that bring together top-level management from every function area deliver the greatest business insights.

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