Center Store

NEW YORK — The joint venture between Procter & Gamble's Duracell brand and Powermat Technologies is bringing its Duracell Powermat products to major retail outlets in the New York market, along with select online retailers and DuracellPowermat.com.

WAUKESHA, Wis. — Hamacher Resource Group will present at Good Neighbor Pharmacy’s ThoughtSpot Conference to be held June 20 to 23 in Las Vegas, the company announced Thursday.

Tom Boyer, a national account manager and part of the owners group at HRG, will present the continuing education session “Front-End: Cause & Effect” on June 21. The session is worth 1.5 CE credits for registered pharmacists.

CHICAGO — SymphonyIRI Group on Wednesday announced that Andrew Appel has joined the company as president and CEO.

Appel, who also joins SymphonyIRI’s board of directors, succeeds John Freeland, who moves into a new interim role as executive vice chairman and will remain on the board of directors until his retirement later in 2012.

NEW YORK — Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Pressman Toy have teamed up to bring to market new games based on "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and the upcoming film "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey."

FORT LEE, N.J. — A vast majority of shoppers continue to purchase some private-label products on a regular basis, according to research from Perception Research Services.

Among roughly 600 primary household grocery shoppers ages 18 to 64 years polled, PRS found that 86% continue to purchase private-label items on a regular basis (compared with 84% in 2010), while 38% have purchased more private-label products than they did in 2010 (32%) and across additional categories. More than half (51%) said they feel smart/savvy when they buy private-label products.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble has announced the launch of the P&G everyday mid-year resolution campaign to encourage consumers to make small pledges for themselves and their families in order to lead a more fulfilling life.

P&G everyday is a program that aims to improve the everyday lives of consumers by offering smart living tips, product savings and free samples via the website PGeveryday.com.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar is getting the Redbox treatment.

The discount store chain announced it inked a multiyear deal with the Coinstar subsidiary, through which Redbox kiosks will be installed at Family Dollar locations across the United States. Family Dollar customers will be able to rent new release DVDs at Redbox for $1.20 a night, Blu-ray discs for $2 a night and games for $2 a night.

NEW YORK — Gaiam announced the release of "The Layover" Season 1 on DVD under its exclusive home video license agreement with Travel Channel.

The first season follows host Anthony Bourdain through Europe, Asia and the United States as he shows viewers that vacation fun can be doubled during a layover by soaking up as much culture as he can within 24 to 48 hours of layover time to provide viewers with the most unpredictable, unique stories of places, people and their food. Bourdain also shares some top-of-the-line insider tips.