John C. Rother, policy director of AARP, applauded the drug stores' effort.
In-store efforts will include partnerships with retailers like Wal-Mart, with in-store signs and specific Wal-Mart packaging for Kellogg products.
Samsung retreated from its own physical store efforts in London, although these had been located in a mall, not in the Regent Street area.
An example is J. Jill, a women's apparel merchant that started as a cataloger, added a Web business early last year and shortly thereafter embarked on a retail store effort.
It also made a failed attempt to launch Google Health, a different data-storing effort.
Shopper marketing, which takes place primarily in stores through efforts like fanciful end-aisle displays, coupon distribution and product sampling, now increasingly includes efforts to influence consumers when they are compiling lists online or with smartphone grocery-list apps.
Sports Direct has cottoned on to this and is trying to woo the brands back with investment in stores, alongside efforts to tackle the employment and governance practices that have drawn so much bad publicity.
Mr. Caulfield said store remodeling efforts had probably come too late.
The results were limited by disappointing demand for apparel and disruption from store remodeling efforts, the company said.
