Latest news with #SusanMorris
Hamilton Spectator
7 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
$1M from Co-operators Powers Kids Help Phone Peer-to-Peer Community for Youth Across Canada
TORONTO, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kids Help Phone (KHP) is proud to announce that with a renewed commitment Co-operators has reached $1M in support of youth through KHP's Feel Out Loud movement — Canada's largest movement for youth mental health. This latest contribution will help expand access to essential support and services for young people across the country. This commitment builds on Co-operators legacy of supporting youth mental health for more than three decades. As a founding donor of KHP's 24/7 texting service and the Peer-to-Peer Community, Co-operators has been instrumental in driving forward some of KHP's most impactful mental health innovations. This transformative investment will support the Peer-to-Peer Community, empowering youth from coast-to-coast-coast with a safe, co-created, youth-led online space to explore and let their feelings out. KHP staff and Peer-to-Peer moderators will also explore innovative approaches to maximize the impact of the platform, ensuring even more young people across Canada feel safe, supported, and heard as they engage with the Peer-to-Peer Community. In 2024, the Peer-to-Peer Community platform had a record 301,693 interactions, marking a 15% increase in volume compared to 2023, and the highest number of interactions since its launch in 2021. As a core component of KHP's vision for a more personalized and equitable e-mental health ecosystem, the Peer-to-Peer Community helps ensure youth can access the support they deserve in the ways that work best for them. 'Co-operators latest investment in KHP's services is a powerful example of the lasting impact that comes from a strong, long-term partnership,' said Susan Morris, Interim President & Co-CEO, KHP. 'Their ongoing generosity has helped us create safe, inclusive spaces where young people can turn to one another for connection and hope. We are incredibly grateful for their unwavering commitment to youth mental health.' 'Young people deserve mental health support that's accessible, inclusive, and designed with them in mind,' said Shawna Peddle, Associate Vice-President, Citizenship at Co-operators. 'We're honoured to support KHP's Feel Out Loud movement and the Peer-to-Peer Community, ensuring more young people have safe spaces to feel heard, supported, and empowered to navigate life's challenges.' Together, KHP and Co-operators are building a more supportive, connected future where all young people in Canada have the opportunity to grow stronger, together. FAST FACTS About Kids Help Phone Kids Help Phone (KHP) is Canada's only 24/7, free, confidential, and multilingual e-mental health solution. Whether through professional counselling, crisis response, or self-directed mental health resources, KHP has been a trusted space for youth for over 35 years. No matter the feeling or issue, big or small, KHP empowers young people to Feel Out Loud and access support whenever they need it most. KHP knows that young people and the issues they are facing are changing faster than ever. That's why innovation is more than what we do – it's who we are: a global leader in youth mental health that blends technology with empathy to better serve youth. KHP gratefully relies on the generosity of donors, volunteers, stakeholder partners, corporate partners and governments to unlock the hope young people need to thrive in their worlds. Join us at . About Co-operators Proudly Canadian since 1945, Cooperators is a leading financial services co-operative, offering multi-line insurance and investment products, services, and personalized advice to help Canadians build their financial strength and security. With more than $72 billion in assets under administration, Cooperators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability. Currently a carbon neutral organization, Co-operators is committed to net-zero emissions in its operations and investments by 2040, and 2050, respectively. Cooperators is recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers and ranked as one of Corporate Knights' Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada. For more information, please visit: . For media inquiries: Email: media@ For more information, please contact: Kids Phone Communications Team
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Albertsons beefs up its private label offerings
This story was originally published on Grocery Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Grocery Dive newsletter. Albertsons on Wednesday debuted a private label line of ready-to-cook marinated meats featuring 'adventurous flavors and globally inspired ingredients' that take about 20 minutes to prepare. The chain is bringing items sporting the new house brand, Chef's Counter, to the self-service meat department before expanding the line to the deli, frozen and center store sections next year. Albertsons is positioning the new brand to attract shoppers interested in preparing restaurant-style meals on a budget. Albertsons is bolstering its own brands portfolio with a new assortment of unique foods as the grocer looks to set itself apart from competitors and connect with price-conscious consumers who want to cook at home. The grocer, which inaugurated Susan Morris as CEO at the beginning of the month, said in a press release about its newest house brand that it wanted to offer 'distinctly memorable and sensorily evocative experiences and trend-forward flavors that are often challenging to replicate.' Chef's Counter selections range in price from $4.99 to $12.69. Options include lemon peppercorn chicken, boneless pork loin chops featuring mesquite or garlic herb flavors, and chimichurri beef sirloin steaks. Shoppers can also opt for carne asada beef flap steak that Albertsons said was designed to 'evoke a distinct restaurant experience.' Albertsons has also added a collection of shoppable recipes featuring Chef's Counter-branded items to its online platforms. In addition, the grocer has enlisted celebrity chef Antonia Lofaso to help promote the brand through content on social media. Albertsons' addition of Chef's Counter follows the company's introduction in September of Overjoyed, which spans multiple grocery categories including snack mixes, candy, cookies and dessert supplies. The grocer also brought out Bee Lightly, a line of wines that come in flat bottles made from 100% recycled plastic, last fall. Retailers have been expanding their selections of house brands as they angle to build ties with shoppers while holding down costs. Private label grocery sales rose by almost 4% last year, to a record $271 billion, according to Circana data cited by the Private Label Manufacturers Association. Recommended Reading Albertsons unveils limited-time private label items Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Albertsons beefs up its private label offerings
Dive Brief: Albertsons on Wednesday debuted a private label line of ready-to-cook marinated meats featuring "adventurous flavors and globally inspired ingredients" that take about 20 minutes to chain is bringing items sporting the new house brand, Chef's Counter, to the self-service meat department before expanding the line to the deli, frozen and center store sections next is positioning the new brand to attract shoppers interested in preparing restaurant-style meals on a budget. Dive Insight: Albertsons is bolstering its own brands portfolio with a new assortment of unique foods as the grocer looks to set itself apart from competitors and connect with price-conscious consumers who want to cook at home. The grocer, which inaugurated Susan Morris as CEO at the beginning of the month, said in a press release about its newest house brand that it wanted to offer "distinctly memorable and sensorily evocative experiences and trend-forward flavors that are often challenging to replicate." Chef's Counter selections range in price from $4.99 to $12.69. Options include lemon peppercorn chicken, boneless pork loin chops featuring mesquite or garlic herb flavors, and chimichurri beef sirloin steaks. Shoppers can also opt for carne asada beef flap steak that Albertsons said was designed to "evoke a distinct restaurant experience." Albertsons has also added a collection of shoppable recipes featuring Chef's Counter-branded items to its online platforms. In addition, the grocer has enlisted celebrity chef Antonia Lofaso to help promote the brand through content on social media. Albertsons' addition of Chef's Counter follows the company's introduction in September of Overjoyed, which spans multiple grocery categories including snack mixes, candy, cookies and dessert supplies. The grocer also brought out Bee Lightly, a line of wines that come in flat bottles made from 100% recycled plastic, last fall. Retailers have been expanding their selections of house brands as they angle to build ties with shoppers while holding down costs. Private label grocery sales rose by almost 4% last year, to a record $271 billion, according to Circana data cited by the Private Label Manufacturers Association. Copyright 2025 Industry Dive. All rights reserved.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Albertsons builds data acumen in pursuit of AI gains
This story was originally published on CIO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CIO Dive newsletter. Albertsons is strengthening its data science capabilities as it expands AI adoption and aims for productivity improvements, executives said during the company's Q4 2024 earnings call Tuesday. 'Most recently, we built a real-time comprehensive data platform designed to enable data science and artificial intelligence,' COO and CEO-elect Susan Morris said during the financial report. 'This advanced technology platform on which we will continue to innovate … will allow us to leverage emerging AI technologies to accelerate our operational transformation going forward.' The grocer has sharpened its focus on technology as part of a three-year cost-cutting initiative announced in January. Albertsons executives tied AI adoption to improved employee and customer experience, enhanced productivity and sales growth during a January earnings call. In the wake of a failed merger with Kroger, Albertsons is doubling down on its technology goals as it grapples with heightened competition and economic uncertainty. The Idaho-headquartered grocer reported $18.8 billion in net sales and other revenue during the fourth quarter, up around 2.5% year-over-year. Albertsons tied its $485 million in Q4 capital expenditures mainly to investments in technology platforms and modernization of the store fleet. The company plans to drive incremental growth in its 2025 fiscal year through these projects. 'Our North Star is to use technology in everything that we do,' Morris said. 'We've invested strategically to build best-in-class technology platforms with our core infrastructure in the cloud and a modernized, scalable network.' Albertsons plans to increase AI use to enhance product quality, monitoring produce departments to ensure freshness, which in turn leads to higher sales and better net promoter scores, Morris said. The grocer is also planning to use AI to reduce inventory loss, a fairly common use case among retailers of all kinds. Around 3 in 5 retail companies have turned to AI to improve loss prevention, and another 30% plan to implement it in the next year, according to a February report by Everseen. AI use cases for grocers are varied, from improving product forecasting and optimizing back-office tasks to minimizing food waste, Grocery Dive has reported. Target laid out plans earlier this year to experiment with AI in order to improve inventory decision making, and Walmart expanded developer access to AI-powered coding assistance tools. Despite implementation plans, hurdles remain for businesses. Retailers most often cited resources needed for training, difficulty integrating with existing systems and a lack of customer trust as persisting challenges, Everseen found. Nearly 3 in 4 shoppers surveyed by the firm wanted greater transparency of AI use in grocery and retail stores.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Albertsons credits app experience, loyalty for digital sales boost
This story was originally published on CX Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CX Dive newsletter. Albertsons is leaning into its mobile app and its recently simplified loyalty program to help drive digital sales and customer engagement, executives said on a Q4 2024 earnings call Tuesday. Loyalty membership grew 15% year over year during the fourth quarter to more than 45 million members, according to EVP and COO Susan Morris, who will assume the CEO role on May 1. The number of actively engaged members rose 12%. E-commerce accounts for 8% of Albertsons' grocery revenue on average, rising to 10% in the best performing markets, according to Morris. She credited the app experience for 24% sales growth in the digital channel. As Albertsons targets e-commerce growth, the Albertsons Deals & Delivery app, which also serves as its loyalty program portal, is a major part of the company's plans. 'At over 8% of grocery revenue today, e-commerce penetration is still below our industry peers and is one of our biggest growth, customer acquisition and customer retention opportunities for 2025 and beyond,' Morris said during the call. The Albertsons mobile app offers customers personalized deals, lets them earn loyalty points and gives access to its range of delivery options, according to Morris. It also uses in-store geolocation to deliver real time coupons and help customers find products in-store. Loyalty, which rose 15% year over year for the second consecutive quarter, is helping Albertsons connect with customers despite inflationary pressure, according to Morris. The grocer expanded the breadth of its loyalty options with an emphasis on savings and value. The grocer experienced a solid sales performance in the fourth quarter. Same-store sales rose 2.3% year over year, according to a company earnings report. Net sales and other revenue was $18.8 billion during the quarter. However, Albertsons expects its CX investments to weigh on the company's near-term results even as they set the company up for long-term growth. 'We will also continue to surgically invest in our customer value proposition and elevate the customer experience,' Sharon McCollam, president and CFO, said. 'We expect these investments will continue to drive outside growth in our digital and pharmacy businesses, which will result in increased future customer lifetime value, but create short-term margin headwinds.'
