Washington
Washington, DC grocer will pull national brands off beauty, health aisles to deter shoplifting
A supermarket in Washington, DC will reportedly pull all national brands from the shelves of its beauty and health aisles in a last-ditch effort to deter rampant shoplifting and keep the store open.
The Giant Food grocery store on Alabama Avenue has struggled to remain profitable amid the climate of shoplifting that has struck big chain stores throughout the nation.
As a response, the store will only leave generic store brands on the shelves — meaning that people searching for oft-stolen brands like Tide, Colgate or Advil will be out of luck, according to the Washington Post.
“We have no other choice,” Diane Hicks, senior vice president of operations, said last week, adding that nearby stores have already locked or removed similar products from their aisles. “I’ve been leaving it out for our customers and unfortunately it just forces all the crime to come to us.”
The store will also check customers’ receipts before they leave.
The grocer chain — which includes 165 supermarkets throughout DC, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware — had already put in place several new security measures, including more guards, fewer open entrances and more locked up products, the Washington Post said.
But things haven’t gotten better, according to Giant president Ira Kress.
“At this particular store, it’s actually worse,” Kress said of shoplifting. “And we’ve invested a significant amount of money here, even more security here than any other store.”
The brand name products are easy to steal and have high resale values, Kress added. Instead, customers will be able to buy the company’s brand, CareOne, which doesn’t command the same high resale prices, the Washington Post said.
The move is a final attempt to avoid closing the unprofitable store, which serves a city ward of more than 85,000 people, the paper said.
And it comes as retailers throughout the United States grapple with a wave of shoplifting and organized crime that’s put a dent into the profits of behemoths like Home Depot, Target, Walmart and Lowes.
“Our team continues to face an unacceptable amount of retail theft and organized retail crime,” Brian Cornell, Target’s chief exec, told investors last month.
“During the first five months of this year, our stores saw a 120 percent increase in theft incidents involving violence or threats of violence.”
The statements reflect a national trend as organized retail crime jumped in 2021 by more than 25 percent, according to a National Retail Federation study released last year.
That accounts for roughly half of the $94.5 billion lost that year to “shrinkage,” or product loss from something other than sales.
Many stores — such as Dollar Tree and Walgreens — have tried to fight the theft by locking up products and discontinuing others, the Washington Post said.
The paper added that because big grocers operate on slim profit margins, they can be sensitive to even minor changes in costs.
As a result, some have already closed stores in cities – such as a Whole Foods store that abandoned downtown San Franciso over concerns about rising crime.
“We are closing our Trinity location only for the time being,” a Whole Foods spokesperson told the San Francisco Standard back in April. “If we feel we can ensure the safety of our team members in the store, we will evaluate a reopening of our Trinity location.”
Washington
Commanders-Eagles Stats & Snaps
“Washington-Philadelphia Monday Stats Pack” is presented by BDO by the Numbers. People who know, know BDO.
A list of stats and notes from the Washington Commanders’ 36-33 win against Philadelphia, presented by BDO by the Numbers, as compiled by Washington Commanders Public Relations.
Washington
Denzel Washington Receives Minister’s License, Gets Baptized
Denzel Washington can now add ministry to his long resume.
On Saturday, the Gladiator II star was baptized, receiving a certificate of baptism, as well as a minister’s license, meaning that he can later get ordained. The event took place at the Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ located in New York City’s Harlem, per Today. First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Eastern New York livestreamed the service on Facebook.
“In one week I turn 70. It took a while, but I’m here,” the prolific actor said. Washington also thanked his wife, Pauletta Washington.
The two-time Academy Award winner has been open about his faith before, telling Esquire last month that while talk of religion in Hollywood is rare, he is unflinching in his resolve to share his beliefs and experience.
“I’m unafraid. I don’t care what anyone thinks. See, talking about the fear part of it—you can’t talk like that and win Oscars. You can’t talk like that and party. You can’t say that in this town,” he wrote in an essay relayed by the magazine.
He continued at the time, “It’s not fashionable. It’s not sexy. But that doesn’t mean people in Hollywood don’t believe. There’s no such thing called Hollywood anyway. What does that even mean? That to me means a street called Hollywood Boulevard. It’s not like we all meet somewhere and discuss what we believe. So I don’t know how many other actors have faith. I didn’t do no poll. How would I find that out? I mean, there’s no Church Actor Meetings I’ve been to.”
Upcoming on Washington’s docket is Spike Lee’s Apple Original Films/A24 project Highest 2 Lowest, alongside A$AP Rocky & Ice Spice, as well as Black Panther 3, his involvement in which he accidentally let slip.
Washington
Commanders Trail Eagles 21-14 at Halftime of Week 16
LANDOVER, Md. — The Washington Commanders are hosting the Philadelphia Eagles looking to exact a little revenge for their Week 11 loss to the NFC East Division rival.
Facing the Eagles on their home turf this time around, they are determined not just to win the game but also to show improvement following a string of fourth-quarter collapses.
Starting the game on the field, the Commanders’ offense looked to get the tone set early and did, but unfortunately, it wasn’t the tone they wanted.
After consecutive incomplete passes from quarterback Jayden Daniels, he was able to find running back Brian Robinson Jr. for a nine-yard gain. On the fourth-and-one attempt, Robinson was stonewalled, turning the ball over to Philadelphia in Washington territory to start its own first drive of the game.
Eight plays later, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley punched the ball in from two yards out to open up the scoring and led to a 7-0 deficit for the Commanders less than four minutes into the contest.
The second Washington possession started with a bang after receiver Luke McCaffrey returned the kickoff 47 yards into Philadelphia territory, but it was short-lived because Robinson fumbled the first down run play, turning the ball right back over.
Eight plays later, the Eagles scored again, this time on a pass from quarterback Kenny Pickett to receiver A.J. Brown. During the second Philadelphia scoring drive, Jalen Hurts was taken out of the game to be evaluated for a concussion and eventually taken into the locker room for further testing.
The third possession for Washington didn’t go much better, resulting in a three-and-out and a punt. Needing to manufacture some momentum the Commanders’ defense decided to take matters into their own hands leading to an interception by linebacker Frankie Luvu that shifted momentum and put the offense back on the field at the Eagles’ 25-yard line.
Four plays later Washington got on the board for the first time on a six-yard pass from Daniels to receiver Jamison Crowder making the lead 14-7 in favor of Philadelphia – all still in the first quarter.
The momentum was short-lived, however. Onn the Eagles’ second play of the subsequent drive, Barkley took off downfield for a 68-yard touchdown ru, pushingd the lead back out to 14 at 21-,- still in the first quarter.
That would be the final score at the end of the first quarter, but it wasn’t the final dose of heartbreak for Washington.
Starting the second quarter with the ball, the Commanders got all the way down to the Philadelphia 10-yard line before Robinson fumbled for the second time in the game, again losing possession of the ball.
Fortunately, that turnover didn’t turn into points. Even more fortunately, Daniels connected with star receiver Terry McLaurin on a 32-yard fade route into the end zone on the very next possession, trimming the lead to 21-14 with just under seven minutes left in the half.
With just under two minutes left in the half and two timeouts in his back pocket, Daniels had his offense on the field looking to tie the game, but on the first play of the drive, the quarterback sailed his pass attempt to receiver Luke McCaffrey and was intercepted by Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
The interception gave Philadelphia the ball back with time and two timeouts left to try and get more points before halftime, knowing it would also get the ball back to start the second half.
Fortunately, the Commanders’ defense kept that turnover from hurting them further, and we entered the halftime break with the Eagles leading 21-14.
Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2024 season.
• Commanders Gearing Up to Take Down ‘Hottest Team’ in the NFL in Week 16
• Commanders’ Josh Harris Makes Statement on Stadium Future
• Commanders Coach Reveals How Jayden Daniels Has Grown
• Commanders on Pace for Historic Season of Fourth Quarter Scoring
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