Today's Retail Pulse
Fresho acquires Nation Wilcox to dominate UK food‑wholesale software
Fresho, the Australian‑origin order‑management platform, has acquired UK ERP specialist Nation Wilcox, creating the largest software suite for British food wholesalers. The combined platform now serves over 400 wholesalers and caterers and processes more than £2 billion (≈$2.5 billion) in annual GMV.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Spinny targets $250-300M in IPO
We Impersonated a Restaurant on Glovo and Chowdeck; the Platforms Never Noticed
Techpoint Africa’s investigation revealed that Nigeria’s leading food‑delivery platforms, Glovo and Chowdeck, can be duped by impersonating existing restaurants. The team created a fake vendor, supplied fabricated tax IDs and CAC documents, and was approved within 48 hours on Glovo and an hour on Chowdeck, completing a real order. Both platforms rely on self‑reported paperwork without cross‑checking against government registries, despite handling millions in revenue—Glovo alone generated over ₦71 billion ($44.6 million). The lax onboarding exposes consumers to fraud and food‑safety risks.
Kith Unveils Redesigned West Hollywood Flagship, Debuts Ronnie’s Pronto
Kith has reopened its West Hollywood flagship on Sunset and La Cienega, expanding from the lower level to the ground floor with a complete façade and interior overhaul. Designed with architect Ben Porto, the store now features distinct rooms for...
Cloudinary Rolls Out AI Agents to Automate E‑Commerce Media Management
Cloudinary announced the general availability of a five‑agent AI suite that automates tagging, search, workflow, moderation and coordination of visual assets for e‑commerce teams. The tools integrate via APIs with existing DAM stacks, aiming to cut manual effort for its...
Chain Stores Damage Cities Whether They Arrive or Leave
The worst thing a chain store can do is open in a city. The other worst thing a chain store can do is close in a city.
Google AI Shopping Lens Spurs 239% Jump in E‑Commerce Product Discovery
Google’s AI Shopping Lens, rolled out globally in March 2026, has driven a 239% surge in product discovery and an 84% lift in conversion for retailers that optimize their catalogs. The tool now handles over 2.3 billion visual searches daily, reshaping...
Dealmoon Rolls Out Global Super App Uniting Community, Content and Commerce for 12M Shoppers
Dealmoon, a Moon Commerce Group brand, launched a unified global super app that merges its regional platforms in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Australia and Italy. The app serves over 12 million monthly active shoppers and gives brands a single...
Hongkong Land Unveils New Retail Tenants at $8bn Shanghai Development
Hongkong Land announced a new roster of high‑end retailers for Westbund Central, its $8 billion mixed‑use development in Shanghai’s Xuhui District. Phase two introduces designer lifestyle brands such as Issey Miyake, Leica, House of Läderach, Hay and Paulmann, complementing the food‑and‑beverage...
Dollar General Unveils Integrated On‑Site/Off‑Site Retail Media Platform
Dollar General announced a new retail media solution that links its DG Media Network on‑site inventory with off‑site activation through The Trade Desk, using Kevel’s ad‑serving technology. The integration promises advertisers a single framework for planning, activating and measuring campaigns...
Vivid Seats Q1 2026 Revenue Drops, Net Loss Expands Amid Ticket‑Market Pricing Pressure
Vivid Seats Inc. disclosed that its first‑quarter 2026 revenue fell while its net loss widened, according to its Form 10‑Q filing. The company attributes the decline to pricing pressure in the secondary‑ticket market, raising questions about the sustainability of its resale...
Zalando Attributes 24% Q1 Revenue Jump to AI Boost From ABOUT YOU Deal
Zalando posted a 23.8% rise in first‑quarter revenue to €3bn ($3.2bn), saying AI‑driven personalization and logistics improvements from its ABOUT YOU acquisition powered the growth. The German‑based fashion marketplace also lifted GMV 21.7% and adjusted EBIT 38.7% year‑on‑year.
Interlink Commerce Gains Walmart Marketplace Provider Status, Targeting Mid‑Market Sellers
Interlink Commerce announced its approval as an official Walmart Marketplace Solution Provider, giving the Boston‑based integration firm direct API access to Walmart’s platform. The move positions Interlink to serve the $50,000‑$1 million‑per‑month seller segment that has been underserved by existing marketplace...
Why Kaatil Sees a Rs 20,000 Crore Opportunity in India’s Fiery Palate
Indian condiment startup Kaatil, founded in 2022, is building a $2.4 bn (Rs 20,000 crore) heat‑focused condiment category using globally familiar formats like hot sauces, chilli oils and hot honey. The brand differentiates with region‑specific chilies and a numeric heat‑scale (e.g., No. 4, No. 7,...
Tesco Clubcard Vouchers Worth £17 Million Expire This Month – How to Find and Extend Them
Tesco’s Clubcard program faces a £17 million (£≈$21.6 million) voucher expiry deadline on 31 May 2026. Vouchers normally lapse after two years, but shoppers can extend them by making a minimal purchase on the Rewards page. The retailer also lets members double or...
D Market Elektronik Hizmetler Ve Ticaret AS (HEPS) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Hepsiburada reported an 84% year‑on‑year increase in Q1 2022 GMV to 8.3 billion Turkish lira, driven by 63% order growth and a 27% rise in active customers to 12 million. Revenue surged 82% to TRY 1.2 billion, helped by a 92% jump in 1P...
Commerce.com Inc (CMRC) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Commerce.com (CMRC) reported Q1 2026 revenue of $86.8 million, up 5% YoY and ahead of guidance, while GMV rose 14% to $8.3 billion. The company posted its first GAAP‑profitable quarter with net income of $3.7 million and generated $18.4 million of operating cash flow. New...
Grove Collaborative Holdings Inc (GROV) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Grove Collaborative reported Q1 2026 revenue of $42.4 million, a 14.3% YoY decline, driven by fewer orders after an e‑commerce platform migration and reduced advertising. The company posted its first positive adjusted EBITDA in six quarters at $1.6 million and...
Warby Parker Inc (WRBY) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Warby Parker reported Q1 2026 revenue of $242.4 million, an 8.3% year‑over‑year increase, and adjusted EBITDA of $29.6 million at a 12.2% margin, slightly below prior year. Retail sales rose 13.6% while e‑commerce fell 4.1% after ending the Home Try‑On...
Want To Find The Best Sales At Costco? Here's When To Shop For Big Savings
Costco’s deepest discounts appear early in the morning, when fresh markdowns hit the floor before noon. Seasonal clear‑outs at the end of spring, summer, fall or winter also generate steep price cuts as inventory makes way for new lines. After...
Why Are People Mad at Allies of Skin?
Allies of Skin sparked a consumer uproar after posting an Instagram photo that highlighted its products in Lauren Sánchez Bezos’s Met Gala makeup prep. Followers accused the brand of aligning with a politically charged figure and many vowed to stop purchasing,...
Gas Price Hike Won’t Deter Food Delivery Spending
Anyone that believes consumers would get skidish after $5/gas prices should look at DoorDash and Uber Eats reports. These businesses exist because of consumer disposable income. If the consumer was going to be crushed by higher gas prices, we would...
Meijer Opens Stores In 3 MW States
Meijer opened three new stores on May 6, adding a 47,000‑sq‑ft grocery‑only format in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and two 159,000‑sq‑ft supercenters in Brownsburg, Indiana, and Bainbridge Township, Ohio. The Rochester Hills location is the retailer’s fourth Meijer Grocery format in the...
Pepsi CMO Takes ‘Omni-First’ Mindset for Prebiotic Cola Launch
PepsiCo’s chief marketing officer Mark Kirkham unveiled an “omni‑first” approach by launching its new Prebiotic Cola exclusively online through Walmart Connect on Black Friday 2025. The limited‑run sold out within 24 hours and generated 80% positive sentiment, giving the brand...
Local Authentication Beats E‑Bay’s Opaque Third‑Party Service
This is super interesting. I sold some old designer stuff on EBay this year and was surprised by how liquid and well bid it was. But also that eBay was now providing a third party authentication service. This definitely added...
Dutch Bros Texas Sales Jump 20% in Q1
Same-store sales at Dutch Bros in Texas were up almsot 20% in Q1. So they're like the anti-Portillo's that way. $BROS
Beauty Marc
Marc Jacobs Beauty is set to relaunch next month after a five‑year hiatus, marking the brand’s return to the luxury cosmetics market. The revival arrives as parent company Coty and retail partner Sephora grapple with shifting consumer preferences and slower...
Applebee’s Feels a Pinch From Higher Gas Prices
Applebee’s Q1 same‑store sales rose 1.9% as the chain navigated higher gasoline costs that have dampened traffic among price‑sensitive diners. The boost came from a strong O‑M‑Cheeseburger promotion, which helped make Valentine’s Day the brand’s best sales day ever, and...
Dutch Bros' Clutch Reopenings Triple Sales, Spark Long Lines
Dutch Bros rebranded and reopened seven Clutch Coffee locations in Q1, generating long lines on reopening and generating more than 3x previous volumes. Sheesh. $BROS
EXEC: Nidecker Group Adds Europe Distribution for Etnies, éS, and Emerica
The Nidecker Group has signed OneTurn as the lead distributor and regional operations partner for its skateboarding brands Etnies, éS and Emerica across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). OneTurn will oversee wholesale, e‑commerce, regional marketing and apparel development...
Harris Farm Markets Bolsters Digital, Data Leadership
Australian grocery chain Harris Farm Markets announced two senior tech hires in rapid succession. Former Lion group technology and digital transformation director Ram Kalyanasundaram joins as chief information and digital officer, while Bharath Venkataraman, ex‑head of data at Freedom Australia,...
Cesar Unveils Renovated Milan Flagship at Design Week, Expands Beyond Kitchen
Cesar launched its renovated Milan flagship store at Milan Design Week 2026, unveiling a suite of new products that extend the brand’s design language from kitchens to living rooms, dining areas, bathrooms and more. The rollout marks a strategic shift...
NYC Drop Costs $20M Buildout, $100K Monthly Rent
This is my favorite drop when I visit NYC. Amazing experience. They had to spend $20 million + on the buildout and rent must be $100k + per month. Would love to see the financials here.
Salsify Launches SalsifyIQ, AI‑driven PXM Layer for Agentic Commerce
Salsify introduced SalsifyIQ, the first product experience management intelligence layer built for agentic commerce, at the Digital Shelf Summit in Atlanta. The new “brain” creates a product knowledge graph that unifies data, AI agents and workflows, aiming to accelerate brand...
Inside Dis-Chem’s Store of the Future
South African pharmacy chain Dis‑Chem unveiled its Melrose Arch Health Hub, the 323rd outlet and prototype for a new T‑shaped store format. The layout places a central aisle for innovation and a dedicated Health Hub that uses digital queuing to...
Target Says Move Or Go, Walmart Bets On Beauty & Claude Wants Your Cart | Fast Five
The episode tackles two major retail trends: Target’s mandate for 150 remote merchandising staff to relocate to Minneapolis or accept severance, and Estee Lauder’s expanded layoff plan cutting up to 10,000 jobs, mainly in underperforming department‑store POS roles. Host Chris...
PhonePe AI Agent Cuts Payment Gateway Integration to Minutes
PhonePe unveiled an AI‑powered integration agent that lets merchants connect its payment gateway through a conversational interface, cutting setup time from weeks to minutes. The tool is aimed at small‑ and medium‑sized businesses that lack in‑house developers, allowing them to...
Trucks Are Empty One-Third of the Time. AI Can Fix That
Retail logistics faces a massive empty‑mile problem, with one‑third of truck miles driven without cargo, costing roughly $1 trillion annually. The inefficiency stems from fragmented carrier networks and a focus on local optimization rather than system‑wide coordination. AI‑driven orchestration platforms are...
How Data-Driven Grocery Recommendations Help Shoppers Eat Better With Less Effort
A BusinessWire survey shows 42% of shoppers now rely on big‑data tools for grocery decisions, and retailers are deploying AI‑powered recommendation engines to personalize offers. Personalization is deemed essential by 89% of marketers, with 95% reporting success. These systems help...
Color Contrast in Store Displays
Retailers are leveraging color contrast in store displays to capture shopper attention, guide navigation, and increase basket size. Psychological studies show that high‑contrast palettes trigger faster visual processing and stronger emotional responses. Brands that align contrast with their identity see...
Liquid I.V.’s McLaren Racing Partnership Cements Its Foothold in Formula 1
Liquid I.V. has signed a multi‑year official partnership with McLaren Racing that runs through 2027, deepening its presence in Formula 1 after earlier activations at Miami and Las Vegas. The deal places the brand’s logo on pit‑crew helmets and Academy driver gear,...
Hertz Teams With eBay to Drive More Digital Auto Sales
Hertz Car Sales is launching a dedicated digital showroom on eBay, featuring more than 8,000 "Hertz Certified" near‑new vehicles. The partnership gives Hertz exposure to eBay’s massive automotive marketplace, which generated roughly $80 billion in gross merchandise volume in 2025. Listings...
GameStop Wants To Sell You Random Pokémon Cards For $5,000 A Pop
GameStop launched "Power Packs," letting customers buy single PSA‑graded Pokémon cards for up to $5,000. The top‑tier "Neutronium" offers a 0.4% chance at a card worth over $40,000, but odds heavily favor the house. This follows GameStop's broader pivot from...
Crypto.com Launches In-App Travel Booking Service
Crypto.com has introduced Crypto.com Travel, an in‑app booking platform built with travel‑tech firm Bookit. The service gives users access to more than one million global listings—including hotels, flights, cruises and car rentals—and roughly 20 million tickets for live events. Bookings are...
Meijer Debuts New Ohio Supercenter in Bainbridge Township
Meijer launched a 159,000‑square‑foot supercenter in Aurora, Ohio, on the former Geauga Lake amusement‑park site. The store offers a full grocery assortment, pharmacy, apparel, garden center, and specialty Meijer brands such as Frederik’s and True Goodness. Digital tools like Shop & Scan,...
Amazon Adds Same-Day Grocery Delivery in 2,300 US Cities
Amazon is extending its Business platform to include same‑day grocery delivery in 2,300 U.S. cities, letting companies order office supplies and perishables together. The service uses temperature‑controlled fulfillment to keep items fresh and is available to Business Prime members with free...
Disneyland Testing Move Toward a Cashless Park
Disneyland has begun a pilot that makes more than a quarter of its outdoor vending carts cashless, accepting only credit cards, Disney gift cards or mobile wallets. The shift targets pre‑packaged items like ice cream, while fresh‑food stalls still take...
Siin Hits $3 Million in Funding as It Bets on Live Commerce in MENA
Bahrain‑born e‑commerce platform Siin announced a $3 million funding round led by VentureSouq and Shift Group, bringing its total capital to $3 million. The live‑shopping marketplace, founded in 2024 by veterans of Delivery Hero, Tap Payments and Telp, operates in Saudi Arabia,...
Meijer Opens New Supercenter in Brownsburg, Ind.
Meijer launched its 44th Indiana location, a 159,000‑square‑foot supercenter in Brownsburg, offering a full grocery lineup, pharmacy, and general merchandise. The store features digital tools such as Shop & Scan, Flashfood discounts, and home delivery to streamline the shopping experience....
Survey: Memorial Day Spending Projected to See Significant Decline
RetailMeNot’s survey of 1,023 U.S. adults shows average Memorial Day spending expected to drop to $86, a steep decline from $289 last year. While overall spend per shopper falls, 54% say they’ll buy something, up from 36% previously. Grills, summer...
Can Design Save the UK Bookmaker?
UK high‑street betting shops have plummeted from nearly 10,000 locations in 2017 to under 6,000 today, a trend accelerated by higher gambling taxes and the surge of online platforms. The industry’s physical spaces remain stuck in a two‑decade‑old design, offering...
Is Swatch Teasing Its Next MoonSwatch-Level Collaboration?
Swatch is teasing a new "X Swatch" release slated for May 16, using pop‑art graphics and cryptic messaging that echo its MoonSwatch launch strategy. The campaign has sparked speculation about a partnership with Audemars Piguet, hinted at by references to "Royal" and...