General Merchandise

BETHEL, Conn. — Duracell has introduced a new battery that it said would provide more power than previous models.

The Procter & Gamble-owned brand announced the launch of Duracell Quantum, which includes a Hi-Density Core and PowerCheck per indicator. The battery is sold in a red and copper color scheme.

SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs is sponsoring a two-week series of events to celebrate the opening of its 61st store, the company said.

The Seattle-based regional chain will open the 11,600-sq.-ft. store on Friday in Seattle's growing South Lake Union neighborhood. The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on Tuesday. Between Friday and Aug. 16, several vendors will participate in product sampling and demonstrations, highlighted by a 16-seat, peddle-powered "Hydration Station" that will tour the neighborhood with beverage samples.

TORONTO — Bouche Baby Inc. announced today the commercial release of its new baby-to-toddler feeding system, which includes the Take 'N Shake Feeding Bottle with Integrated Formula Compartment.

DETROIT — Materially expanding the business of pharmacy — it's not just a job for the big chains. The Detroit News on Tuesday published a story regarding the new wellness formats being showcased by both Walgreens and Rite Aid, respectively, and included some perspective from a local operator. 

LIVONIA, Mich. — Promotions were up across the front-end over the first half of 2013 as compared with the corresponding year-ago period. Couponing across non-food items were up 1.8%, according to the U.S. Mid-year 2013 CPG Coupon Industry Facts Report released Tuesday by NCH Marketing Services, a Valassis subsidiary.

Overall, consumers saved $1.8 billion in the first six months of 2013.

SOUTH DEERFIELD, Mass. — The Yankee Candle Company Inc. today announced the launch of six new Yankee Candle fragrances and three new fragrances in its contemporary Pure Radiance line for fall 2013.

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.