Today's Retail Pulse
Chipotle relaunches Summer of Extras to offset price‑hike sales dip
Chipotle increased menu prices by roughly 2% in early 2025, which coincided with a 1.7% decline in comparable restaurant sales year‑over‑year. To win back price‑sensitive diners, the chain revived its Summer of Extras promotion, offering free entrees through monthly streak challenges and local leaderboards—a program that previously generated about $12 million.
Also developing:
Sunrise 2027 and the Next Generation of Barcoding Solutions
GS1 US’s Sunrise 2027 initiative aims to have every point‑of‑sale system read 2D barcodes, such as QR codes and DataMatrix symbols, by the end of 2027. The voluntary program pushes the retail sector beyond traditional 1D codes, unlocking richer data for inventory, traceability, and consumer engagement. Integrated technologies—cloud platforms, IoT‑enabled printers, and AI analytics—turn scans into real‑time operational intelligence. Complementary NFC and RFID solutions add anti‑tamper verification and bulk‑scan speed, creating a unified, data‑rich supply‑chain ecosystem.
Brandman Retail Partners With ANTA Group to Launch Wilson and ANTA in India
Brandman Retail announced a strategic partnership with ANTA Sports Products Limited to bring Wilson Sporting Goods and ANTA to India. The alliance will open dedicated mono‑brand stores in major metropolitan areas, with the first location slated for April 2026. The curated...
Apparel Group Expands India Portfolio with Nike Littles and Jordan Partnership
Apparel Group announced it will bring Nike Littles and Jordan to its Indian retail network. The move expands the group’s youth‑focused portfolio and adds both physical stores and digital marketplace presence. The partnership aligns with Nike’s inclusive sport mission and...
The New Front of House: Why Pizza’s Next Growth Era Runs on Self-Order Kiosks + Intelligent POS Systems
Pizza operators are turning to self‑order kiosks tightly integrated with intelligent POS platforms to streamline front‑of‑house service. The app‑like kiosks reduce wait times, improve order accuracy, and allow real‑time upselling of high‑margin items. Integrated POS systems provide dynamic pricing, analytics,...
Ilia Is Hosting a Beauty Pop-Up in Soho This Weekend
Ilia Beauty is staging a two‑day pop‑up on Greek Street in Soho from March 13‑14, 2026, to debut its new Skin Blur Serum Concealer. The concealer replaces the 2019 True Skin Serum formula and arrives in 34 shades, promising a lightweight,...
Floral Street Unveils Enchanted Masquerade Pop-Up at Liverpool Boots Location
Modern British fragrance house Floral Street is launching its newest scent, Enchanted Masquerade, in a dedicated pop‑up at Boots’ New Mersey store in Liverpool on 12 March. The fragrance is a licensed collaboration with Netflix and Shondaland’s hit series Bridgerton, translating...
Why Serious Costco Shoppers Know It's Better To Buy Beef At The Business Center
Costco’s Business Centers, accessible to all members, stock oversized beef cuts that regular warehouses often lack. Shoppers can purchase whole tenderloins, briskets and rib racks at per‑pound prices that undercut standard Costco locations. The larger walk‑in freezers provide a broader...
Transform Low‑Traffic Retail Areas Into Revenue Engines
Turning Quiet Corners Into Sales Drivers: Reviving Low Traffic #Retail Zones [NEW POOST] - B2B Marketing Blog | Webbiquity - https://t.co/oE7LTvVlWV https://t.co/cbOyS39t1h
How Molson Coors Keeps Creative Effectiveness On Tap
Molson Coors has shifted its creative strategy from chasing awards to driving sales and brand health, led by North America CMO Sofia Colucci. The company introduced an internal framework called MUSCLE—magnetic, unexpected, crafted brilliantly, long‑term platform, essence of brand—to align...
How Molson Coors Keeps Creative Effectiveness On Tap
Molson Coors’ North America CMO Sofia Colucci emphasized that creative must directly boost sales and brand health, not just generate buzz. To align creative output with revenue goals, the company introduced the MUSCLE framework—Magnetic, Unexpected, Crafted brilliantly, Long‑term platform, Essence of...
Retail Media at a Turning Point: Growth, Agents, and the New Rules of 2026
The Retail Media Podcast’s final episode, recorded at NRF 2026, highlights three pivotal shifts that defined 2025: marketplace sellers emerging as the primary growth engine, AI becoming the operating system for retail media, and product catalogs transforming into strategic discovery...
Home Care Redefined with The Clorox Company's Oksana Sobol
In this episode, Oksana Sobol, Vice President of Insights and Decision Intelligence at The Clorox Company, discusses the newly released "Home Care Redefined" research, which reveals shifting consumer priorities toward emotional and wellness outcomes in home cleaning. Key takeaways include...
Dreamland Opens Its First Three Stores at Cora Shopping Sites
DreamLand, the Belgian toy retailer, will launch three new experience stores on March 13 at Cora Shopping locations in Rocourt, Châtelineau, and La Louvière. The openings replace two existing outlets and add one new footprint, bringing DreamLand’s total to 93 stores...
Superdrug Rolls Out New Fixtures to Highlight Trending Beauty Products
Superdrug has introduced "Next Big Thing" fixtures in over 40 stores to spotlight trending beauty items, with a rollout plan to reach 122 UK locations by the end of March. The displays feature viral brands such as Made By Mitchell,...
Mekora Launches Marketplace for Vietnamese Fashion Designers
Australian startup Mekura is debuting an online marketplace on March 14 that aggregates over twenty independent Vietnamese fashion designers, offering more than 120 apparel pieces to Australian shoppers. The curated platform showcases women’s and men’s collections, ranging from dresses and...
What’s M&S’s Womenswear Strategy for Spring/Summer 26?
Marks & Spencer’s women’s wear spring/summer 26 line leans heavily on bomber jackets and straight‑leg denim, with barrel‑leg jeans still the top seller. The retailer reports growth among under‑35 and under‑55 shoppers while maintaining dominance with customers over 55. A new mid‑month...
Healthy Growth In The Age Of AI
Thorne’s Chief Growth Officer Mary Beech reports that AI engines now drive roughly 5% of new customer discovery, up from zero a year ago. To capitalize on this shift, she has reorganized the marketing function into a "growth laboratory" that...
NOVA Entertainment Partners With Retail Media Arm Of Westfield’s Scentre Group
Australian radio and podcast leader NOVA Entertainment has partnered with BrandSpace, the retail media division of Westfield owner Scentre Group, to create a unified advertising platform across 42 Westfield shopping centres and NOVA’s audio network. The collaboration offers agencies a...
Biryani Blues Bets on Regional Depth over Rapid Expansion; Plans ₹20 Crore Capex for Growth
Delhi‑based Biryani Blues is prioritising regional depth over rapid national rollout, allocating about ₹20 crore in capex to expand its company‑owned stores across North India. The chain, now operating ~80 outlets, aims for 40% revenue growth next year by adding 14...
Gong Cha Introduces ‘Red Ruby’ Store Concept at IconSiam
Gong Cha opened its sixth Thai outlet at IconSiam, debuting the new ‘Red Ruby’ store concept. The design uses ruby‑inspired red tones and sleek finishes to reinforce a premium tea image. Positioned as an experience‑oriented space with seating, the store...
Best Buy Wants to Be the Hub for AI-Powered Hardware Like Glasses, Laptops
Best Buy is repositioning itself as the go‑to retailer for AI‑powered hardware, from glasses to AI‑enhanced PCs, as its fiscal‑year revenue held steady at roughly $42 billion. CEO Corie Barry highlighted flat market share but pointed to rapid growth in emerging categories such...
Deconstructing the Financial Viability of Retail
The article dissects Saks Global’s bankruptcy to illustrate a broader retail paradox: private‑equity‑backed chains often falter while multi‑generation, family‑led stores like Mitchells, Dillard’s and Von Maur thrive. It argues that misaligned capital structures—excess debt, lease‑backs, and premature equity deals—accelerate a...
Exclusive: Phlur to Expand to Mexico and Europe
Phlur, the clean‑fragrance brand backed by TSG Consumer, is rolling out its products in Mexico on April 3 via Sephora, followed by a broader launch on April 6. A second phase will see the brand enter more than 300 Sephora locations across...
Starbucks’ Loyalty Revamp — The Blueprint for Modern Rewards | Reimagining Retail
In this episode of Reimagining Retail, host Susie David‑Kenyon and analysts Arielle Fager and Sky Canabis dissect Starbucks’ newly launched multi‑tier loyalty program. They debate whether the revamp is a defensive move to protect margins—by devaluing points and raising thresholds—or...
IATA: E-Commerce Will Drive 30% of Air Cargo by 2027
IATA says e‑commerce will drive 30% of air cargo by 2027, up from 20% today. It projects total air freight volume reaching 71.6 million tons in 2026 with a 2.4% annual increase. Growth is strongest in Asia‑Pacific, especially Southeast Asia, where...
MR. D.I.Y. Targets 1,500 Outlets Nationwide by 2027
MR. D.I.Y. Holding will invest 4 billion baht in 2024, allocating 2.1 billion baht for 210 new stores and 1.9 billion baht for a 160‑rai automated warehouse in Samut Prakan. The warehouse will support distribution for about 3,000 outlets by 2031, with partial operations starting...
Costco Quietly Adds Something F1 Fans Didn’t Expect
Costco has begun selling official Formula 1 apparel – caps and polo shirts for teams such as McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes – in select warehouses across the UK, Australia and Canada. The items, drawn from the previous season, are priced...
Stitch Fix Inc (SFIX) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Stitch Fix reported Q2 FY2025 revenue of $312.1 million, a 5.5% year‑over‑year decline but still above its guidance range. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $15.9 million (5.1% margin), and contribution margin reached 33% for the fourth consecutive quarter. Average order value jumped 9%...
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲
In this episode, the host explores how visual merchandising—specifically the strategic placement of a campaign display at a store entrance—can shape the entire customer experience. By describing a simple yet effective setup featuring a rainbow color scheme, low‑lying folded products,...
Publix Will Pull Payment Option on App
Publix announced it will retire the Publix Pay feature in its mobile app effective March 19. Shoppers can still use Apple Pay, Google Pay, and stored gift cards at checkout. The move comes as the Florida‑based grocer posted solid Q4 results,...
This Premium Chocolate Brand Reveals How It’s Surviving the GLP-1 Craze
Lindt & Sprüngli reports that U.S. consumers using GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs are buying premium chocolate at a markedly higher rate. Fifteen percent of households on GLP‑1s generate 17.5 percent of chocolate sales, with premium sales up 17 percent versus 6.5 percent for non‑users....
Kirana Owners Lose Hours to Wholesale Trips; We Automate
India has 12M+ Kirana stores, yet the average owner still spends 4-6 hours a week traveling to wholesale markets just to keep stock. We’re building [Brand Name] to kill that inefficiency. We’re hiring a Head of Supply Chain & FMCG Ops to...
UNFI Moving in the Right Direction Despite a Down Q2
United Natural Foods (UNFI) is accelerating its RELEX AI‑powered supply‑chain platform, with 12 distribution centers slated to go live next week and full rollout expected by year‑end. Operational metrics improved, showing over 6% productivity gains, an 11% reduction in shrink,...
Burger Chain Closes Its Last Location After a Decade in Business
California‑based Amy’s, the nation’s first organic vegetarian drive‑thru, has shut its final restaurant in Rohnert Park on March 8, ending a decade of brick‑and‑mortar operations. The closure follows a ten‑year experiment to bring wholesome, plant‑based meals to fast‑food consumers, with the...
Crocs to Open First Full-Price UK Store
Crocs opened its first full‑price UK mainline store on 20 March at Westfield Stratford City, a 1,496 sq ft space showcasing the brand’s complete adult and kids range, Jibbitz charms, and a Lego partnership. The launch is a cornerstone of Crocs’ 2026 retail...
‘Shrink’ Is Down at Target to Pre-Pandemic Levels and Could Signal an End Shoplifting Spree that Plagued Retailers
Target reported that its inventory shrink has returned to pre‑pandemic levels, reversing a spike that cost the retailer $600 million in 2022. The CFO credited improved inventory predictability and industry anti‑theft efforts for the decline. While shoplifting received most of the...
Home Improvement Spending Shifts in Canada
Renovation demand in Canada remains robust, driven by affluent online mass‑merchandise shoppers who also purchase electronics and sporting goods. Environics Analytics finds these consumers, averaging $150K household income, are focusing on high‑intensity projects such as basement finishing, HVAC, and roofing....
Shopify Evolves Into Full Business Operating System
@shopify stopped being “just an ecommerce platform” a long time ago. For many merchants, it’s the system of record for their entire business. Payments. Inventory. Capital. Shipping. Marketing. Data. All connected. Commerce now happens everywhere. Online. In stores. On social. Through AI agents. What matters most...
Bunnings Introducing Facial Recognition to 42 New Zealand Stores
Bunnings will deploy facial recognition technology (FRT) across its 42 New Zealand stores, beginning with a mid‑April pilot at two Hamilton locations. The rollout follows a surge in retail crime, with the retailer reporting a 9.5% rise in threatening incidents and...
Record Q4 Performance Sets up Jollibee for Sustained Expansion
Jollibee Foods Corp. posted a record fourth‑quarter operating income, up 41.9% year‑on‑year, and full‑year revenue of P305.11 billion, a 13% increase. Net income rose 5.4% to P10.87 billion, while system‑wide sales grew 16.6% for 2025. The company opened a historic 1,126 new...
Consumer Anxiety Is Reshaping Retail. Technology Is the Antidote
Consumer anxiety, fueled by rising fraud and economic uncertainty, is reshaping retail behavior, according to SOTI’s global survey. Over half of U.S. shoppers have experienced fraud, and 69% say inflation and supply‑chain issues have altered their purchasing habits. Retailers must...
First Yoboo Lifestyle Pharmacy Illustrates Colruyt Group’s Approach to Health
Colruyt Group opened its first Yoboo Lifestyle Pharmacy in Antwerp, converting the former Apotheek Noorderlaan into a health‑focused retail space. The new pharmacy combines traditional services with all‑day lifestyle coaching, self‑test kits, and a curated selection of supplements and functional...
Sally Beauty Hosting Pop-Up Event in Los Angeles
Beauty retailer Sally Beauty is rolling out “Colorfest,” a month‑long campaign centered on hair color and nail care, highlighted by a free pop‑up event at The Grove in Los Angeles on March 14. The event will feature immersive experiences and...
Petal & Pup Eyes Launch with Dillard’s, Von Maur
Petal & Pup, the Australian‑born digital fashion label for young women, is set to launch its collections in Dillard’s, Von Maur and select independent boutiques in 2026, extending its U.S. footprint beyond Nordstrom. The brand recently refreshed its visual identity and...
Walmart Is Making a Big Change to Vizio TVs Now That Vizio Is a Walmart Private Label Brand
Walmart has fully integrated Vizio into its private‑label portfolio, making the brand exclusive to Walmart and Sam’s Club stores. New Vizio smart TVs now require a Walmart account during setup to unlock full streaming and personalization features, while existing owners...
Dollar General Launches Weeklong ‘7 Days of Savings’ Event Ahead of Spring Cleaning Season
Dollar General is launching a weeklong "7 Days of Savings" promotion from March 15 to 21, targeting spring‑cleaning shoppers with rotating daily discounts on cleaning supplies, organization products, and household staples. The event showcases both national brands and Dollar General’s...
Brands Briefing: Wellness Brands Take over Expo West to Woo Retail Buyers
The 2026 Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim saw a pronounced influx of wellness brands, with startups showcasing collagen, hormonal supplements and other health‑focused products alongside traditional functional sodas and better‑for‑you snacks. Historically a food‑and‑beverage‑centric event, Expo West is now...
Urban Outfitters Builds Out Second Phase of Automation in Kansas Facility
Urban Outfitters is launching the second phase of automation at its Nuuly fulfillment center in the Kansas City area, part of a $60 million, five‑year investment plan. The upgrade targets expanded capacity, faster delivery, and lower logistics costs as the Nuuly...
3 Practical Ways Vertical AI Reshapes Fashion Retail Operations
Vertical AI is reshaping fashion retail by aligning inventory with hyperlocal demand, preventing costly markdowns, and accelerating trend analysis. Predictive models ingest local sales data, social signals, and logistics metrics to forecast store‑level needs, reducing out‑of‑stock incidents. AI agents recommend...
Tom Thumb Continues to Move Into North Texas
Albertsons’ Tom Thumb banner opened its third North Texas store, a 63,000‑square‑foot location in Argyle, marking the largest of three new stores launched within six months. The earlier December openings in Sanger (50,000 sq ft) and Sunnyvale (59,000 sq ft) also feature full‑service grocery...