General Merchandise

CARLISLE, Pa. — A newly remodeled Giant Food Stores location includes an expanded selection of gluten-free items and digital kiosks for finding savings and placing orders.

Carlilsle, Pa.-based Giant, also known as Giant-Carlisle to distinguish it from Giant Food of Landover, Md., announced that it had finished remodeling its Bensalem, Pa., store. Both chains are owned by Ahold USA.

WASHINGTON — Applied Predictive Technologies and IRI on Monday announced they are joining forces to fuel APT’s Test & Learn software suite with IRI’s point-of-sale data. The APT and IRI alliance is expected to further expand the scope of data used for designing and analyzing business pilots. The collaboration will enable CPG, retail and over-the-counter healthcare companies to distill cause-and-effect relationships in their transaction data and accurately understand the impact of various operating initiatives, the companies reported. 

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's product selection for the back-to-school shopping season will include many new products aimed at college students, the retail pharmacy chain said.

In preparation for what the National Retail Federation calls the second-busiest shopping season of the year after the winter holidays, Rite Aid is including new computer accessories, wireless Internet routers, sheet and blanket sets, shower curtains and door mirrors. According to the NRF, college living essentials are likely to see an increase in spending this year.

LOS ANGELES — PriceGrabber released today the results of its first 2013 Back-to-School shopping survey. Results of the survey indicate that 68% of consumers plan to spend up to $500 this back-to-school shopping season compared with 3% in 2012 and 48% in 2011. Additionally, 17% of respondents plan to spend between $500 and $1,000, and 15% of shoppers said they have no back-to-school shopping budget this year. Conducted from June 17 to July 8, 2013, the survey includes responses from 2,191 U.S. online shopping consumers.

DENVER — Lifestyle brand RuMe announced today select customizable iPhone and iPad cases and organizational accessories will be sold in Target locations nationwide as part of a back-to-school campaign beginning on July 28. Target will feature RuMe's cCase (for iPhone 4/4s & 5), cCover (for iPad & iPad mini), Baggie ALL, and cClean on endcaps in the electronics department.

NEW YORK — Focal Upright Furniture announced on Tuesday the introduction of its newest ergonomic product innovation: the Mogo.

EAGAN, Minn. — An increase in tobacco taxes in Minnesota has nearly tripled enrollment in a health plan's smoking-cessation program.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota said enrollment in its Stop Smoking Support program had nearly tripled since a $1.60 increase in the state tobacco tax took effect at the beginning of this month. The program enrolled 186 people in the first two weeks of July, compared with 69 people in the first two weeks of July 2012.

FREMONT, Neb. — Natura Pet Products and its flagship brand Innova have announced a new line of Farmhouse Stews for pet parents who want to enhance their dogs’ meals with an alternative to dry food.