Retail & Celebrity Charity News Week of October 27

On November 7, Trader Joe’s will open new stores in Nashville, Tennessee, and Clackamas, Oregon. Additional stores are planned in California, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Arizona.

 

Saks Fifth Avenue announced plans to open a new, 28,000-square-foot Off 5^th store in San Antonio, Texas, in the spring of 2009. The store will be at The Rim shopping center.

 

Abercrombie & Fitch inked a deal with scent technology and media company Prolitec to add sensory branding for its retail locations. The retailer is working with Prolitec to create an in-store scent.

 

Gap Inc. has opened its first Banana Republic Factory Store and Gap Factory Store in the Canadian province of Ontario.

 

Starbucks Doubles Fair Trade Buys

Starbucks has inked a nine-year deal with TransFair USA and the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International to support small-scale farmers and fair trade. The deal will see the Seattle coffee company double its purchases to 40 million pounds in 2009, making it the largest buyer of Fair Trade Certified coffee in the world. TransFair USA and FLO will join Conservation International as partners in the Starbucks Shared Planet program to “ethical sourcing,” and will attempt to integrate the verification process for Fair Trade Certified coffee and Starbucks Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) practices to boost farm inspections and improve the positive impact on local communities.

 

Sears Extends Soldier Gift Card Program

Sears Holdings Corporation has extended the deadline of the Heroes at Home Wish Registry to Friday October 31 in consultation with the U.S. Department of Defense to ensure families of soldiers receives gift cards around the holiday season. The first 20,000 service members who apply and are validated with an active duty military status will remain anonymous and will get a gift card worth up to $550. Apply at http://www.sears.com/wish

 

Coca-Cola To Change Labeling, Improve Water

Coca-Cola North America announced it plans to put calorie information on the front of its packaging for products distributed in the United States. The new labels with calories per serving and number of servings per container information will start in 2009. The soda giant also announced a new partnership with WWF to improve water efficiency and cut carbon emissions within its operations. The deal will also promote sustainable agricultural practices and will help conserve seven major global freshwater river basins, including the Yangtze, Mekong, Danube, Rio Grande/Rio Bravo, Lakes Niassa and Chiuta, Mesoamerican Reef catchments. The partners will work another two years, through 2012, with another $3.75 million in backing form TCCC.