Nov 17, 2015
Looking for the Next 40 By Tim Hodson

Earlier this month we began accepting nominations for the Class of 2016 of GPN’s 40 Under 40.

Next May we will once again be recognizing the industry’s up-and-coming rock stars in our annual 40 Under 40 issue.

We want to shine the light on the the next generation in horticulture and we need your help.

If you know someone in our industry who is under the age of 40 and really making a difference, then we want to know about that person.

Just click here to access the nomination form and tell us a little bit more about that person.

Tell us why you think he or she belongs in the Class of 2016. What is that person doing that everyone else in the horticuluture industry needs to know about? How are they helping pave a path to the industry’s future? We want to hear from you so nominate someone today.

If you would like to learn about our illustrious alumni from the past four years and what they did to make it into GPN’s 40 Under 40 then click here.

Tim

Customer Satisfaction Going Up at Wal-Mart

Customer satisfaction appears to be on the rise at Wal-Mart stores according to a recently released study. Market research firm Cowen & Co. surveyed more than 2,500 Wal-Mart shoppers in September and found that 60 percent of them said they were satisfied with their shopping experience at Wal-Mart stores. It is the highest ranking the retailer has received in more than two years.

Home Depot Foundation Lends a Hand to Vets

The Home Depot Foundation plans to spend more than $5 million on home repairs for more than 400 elderly veterans in the Atlanta area over the next three years. On Veterans Day, the Foundation announced it is partnering with seven different non-profit organizations in the region to assist senior-aged military veterans. Since 2011, the Foundation has invested more than $105 million in home repairs for more than 22,000 veterans.

Kroger Adds to Its Grocery List

Last week Kroger Co. announced that it planned to buy Milwaukee-based grocery chain Roundy’s for $800 million. The acquisition will give Kroger an expanded presence in the upper Midwest including the Chicagoland area. Roundy’s operates stores under the Pick ‘n Save, Mariano’s, Copps and Metro Market names. With the addition of Roundy’s 151 grocery stores and 101 pharmacies, Kroger will have more than 2,700 stores in 35 states.