Retail Media

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores on Friday unveiled a list of the most romantic states as determined by customer data supporting key categories for Valentine's Day.

LONDON, K.Y. -- Regional wholesaler Laurel Grocery said it plans to offer retailer customers an in-store radio network to deliver marketing messages to shoppers using a medium it expects will provide more impact than traditional mass media.

NEW YORK -- Not since the big hairstyles of the 80s has gel and mousse been so popular. Diversity in personal styles and the acceptance of daily style alterations are evidenced in the surge in usage of hair gels, mousses, sprays, and accessories, all of which are stimulating growth in the U.S. hair care market, according to a new study by market research firm Packaged Facts.

DENVER - The National Cattlemen's Beef Association based here has appointed Midan Marketing, LLC, as its new public relations agency of record for its retail marketing department. The Chicago-based Midan has also served as NCBA's Retail Marketing program agency of record since 2004.

NEW YORK -- The 2006 At-Retail Media (ARM) Conference & Product Showcase will be held during Advertising Week in September here, providing retailers, brands, and ad agencies with information and solutions on the fast-emerging retail media channel.

LIVONIA, Mich. and WINDSOR, Conn. -- Marketing services company Valassis has entered into a definite merger agreement with ADVO, the country's leading direct mail media company, to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of ADVO stock for $37 per share in cash in a merger.

ALTOONA, Pa. -- A partnership with General Motors, VeraSun, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will find a suburban Pittsburgh convenience store operated by Sheetz Inc. based here as the first location in the Keystone State to carry earth-friendly E85 ethanol fuel.

IRVINE, Calif. -- The California Avocado Commission (CAC) here reported record levels of avocado shipments in May, with Cinco de Mayo and Memorial Day at all-time highs. The record-breaking trend continued into June, with the second week of June recording an all-time high one-week tally of avocado shipments of just over 22 million pounds, said CAC officials.