General Merchandise

CINCINNATI — Tide Pods, a line of laundry detergent capsules from Proctor & Gamble, has announced a new partnership with acclaimed clothing designer and Council of Fashion Designers of America member Tracy Reese.

NEW YORK — Nielsen Holdings on Monday named Karen Kornbluh its EVP external affairs, effective immediately. Reporting to incoming CEO Mitch Barns — who succeeds CEO David Calhoun on Jan. 1 — Kornbluh will lead Nielsen’s global work in a number of key areas, including: government and public affairs and services; privacy strategy; corporate social responsibility; and multicultural market development. She will be based in Washington but will split her time in New York.

NEW YORK — GfK Consumer Experiences North America on Thursday released its GfK Brand Benchmark Study, which assessed US consumers’ relationships with hundreds of products and services in 48 categories, and found stark disparities in what different generations value in a brand. For example, while both Generations X and Y value a product’s functionality, Gen Y also cares strongly about a brand’s image and notoriety. 

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Meijer will donate up to $10,000 to benefit three diaper banks in the Midwest, the mass merchandise retailer said Thursday.

CHICAGO — IRI on Tuesday announced that it has formed a business agreement with Intage, a marketing research company in Japan.

Under this agreement, IRI clients gain access to Japanese retail point-of-sale data via the IRI Global Executive Market Reviews service. In turn, Intage is able to provide CPG and retail information and insights to their clients from all markets IRI serves worldwide.

WASHINGTON — Elderly and disabled people nationwide have saved almost $9 billion on prescription drugs thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, according to a new study by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General before the Thanksgiving holiday refuted a recent U.S. PIRG Education Fund study — Trouble in Toyland 2013 — which suggested a toy jewelry ring set that tested twice the legal limit for lead was sold at Dollar General stores. 

"This product is not currently, nor has ever been, sold in Dollar General stores," the dollar store operator said. 

SAN FRANCISCO – U.S. retailers are showing cautious optimism for the upcoming holiday shopping season.