Business-to-Business Brand Colruyt Professionals Is Expanding Into Flanders
Colruyt Professionals, the B2B arm of Belgium’s Colruyt Group, opened its first two stores in Flanders – a location on Ottergemsesteenweg Zuid in Ghent today and a second at the former Makro site in Machelen on April 15. The brand already operates five stores in Brussels and Wallonia after a 2020 pilot in Schaarbeek and plans to reach roughly ten outlets nationwide in the coming years, with an additional Wallonia store slated for Alleur. The new stores target professional customers, offering bulk packaging, pallets and larger aisles to streamline high‑volume purchases. By shifting these orders to dedicated B2B locations, Colruyt aims to reduce congestion in its regular consumer supermarkets.
Almost 50% of US Consumers Would Use Palm Biometrics Payments, Research Finds
A Handwave survey of 2,001 Americans finds that almost half of U.S. consumers would adopt palm‑based payments if they trusted the security of their biometric data. Acceptance is strongest among younger shoppers, with 46% of 25‑34‑year‑olds comfortable using palm verification,...
Levi’s Accelerates Growth as ‘DTC-First’ Strategy Pays Off
Levi Strauss & Co. posted first‑quarter net revenue of $1.7 billion, a 14% year‑on‑year increase, driven by a 16% rise in direct‑to‑consumer sales that now represent 52% of total revenue. The company lifted its full‑year 2026 outlook, forecasting 6% revenue growth...
Luxury Unfiltered: Kering’s 80pc Opportunity Starts with a Question Most Brands Won’t Ask
Kering currently commands roughly 20% of a $380 billion luxury market, leaving an $305 billion opportunity that CEO Luca de Meo aims to capture. De Meo, who turned around Renault’s €8 billion loss with a purpose‑driven brand story, now wants Kering to redefine the emotional...
Wednesday Briefing: Has the Sacking of a Shop Worker Highlighted Our Unease Around How Crime Is Tackled?
Waitrose dismissed a store employee after she confronted a shoplifter, igniting a national debate over how retailers handle rising shoplifting incidents. The case has become a flashpoint, with unions and consumer groups questioning whether staff are being asked to act...
ATTACK and CJ WORX Turn Fragrance Tech Into Behaviour with ‘Tap Tap, Pull Pull, Hug Hug’
ATTACK Detergent, in partnership with CJ WORX, launched a Thailand‑wide campaign that turns its micro‑encapsulation fragrance technology into everyday gestures. The "Tap Tap, Pull Pull, Hug Hug" routine lets consumers activate scent by tapping shoulders, stretching fabric or hugging, making freshness a visible behavior....
Liquid Death Lets Incrementality Decide What Tactics To Kill And What To Keep
Liquid Death, the metal‑themed canned water brand, has adopted Ibotta’s LiveLift platform to measure the incremental sales impact of its promotions in near real time. By comparing shoppers exposed to offers with a control group, the brand can identify which...
Digital Commerce in India Will Grow to $250 Billion by 2030: Google and Deloitte Report
Google and Deloitte project India’s digital commerce market will expand to $250 billion by 2030, up from $90 billion today. Growth will be powered by a surge of Gen Z shoppers, rapid‑delivery (quick commerce) services, and AI‑driven content commerce. Quick commerce alone is...
Ergobaby Is Revamping Its Website and Packaging to Better Resonate with Young Parents
Ergobaby is rolling out a brand refresh aimed at Gen Z and millennial parents, debuting a new website on April 8 that features lifestyle imagery, CGI fit explainers, a product‑finder quiz and 360‑degree videos. The company is widening its retail footprint with...
Korea Seven Names New CEO to Drive 7-Eleven’s Local Revival
Korea Seven, the operator of 7‑Eleven in South Korea, appointed Daeil Kim as CEO on April 1, 2026. Kim brings 28 years of experience in fintech, digital services, and marketing technology, most recently leading SPC Group’s Secta9ine. He pledged to rebuild and...
Zsystems Brings Total Funding to $2.7 Million with Latest Seed Round
ZSystems, a Morocco‑based B2B2C marketplace, closed a $1.65 million seed round led by Azur Innovation Management, with participation from MNF Ventures, Witamax and new international investor Harambeans Prosperity Fund. The raise lifts total funding to $2.7 million after a $1.05 million pre‑seed round....
Amazon Is Selling a 2-Pack of Under-Sink Organizers for Just $14
Amazon is offering a Simple Trending 2‑pack of under‑sink organizers for $14, down from $18. The units measure 15.5" deep, 8.5" wide and 13.1" high, fitting most cabinets and featuring sliding shelves with S‑hooks. They are marketed for kitchen, bathroom...
Daily Synopsis: Apr 7, 2026
Canadian retail is seeing a wave of strategic partnerships, highlighted by Skip’s nationwide grocery‑delivery deal with Loblaw and T.LINE’s expansion through U.S. boutique collaborations and limited‑edition drops. PÜR Gum’s founder Jay Klein credits brand transparency and retail alliances for rapid...
Levi Strauss Revenue Jumps Again, with DTC Making up More than Half of Sales for the First Time
Levi Strauss reported a 14% revenue jump to $1.74 billion, with direct‑to‑consumer (DTC) sales climbing 16% to account for 52% of total revenue for the first time. The company beat Wall Street expectations on both top and bottom lines and lifted...
The Retailer’s Guide to the Best 3PL Fulfillment Partners in the USA (2026 Edition)
E‑commerce brands facing capacity constraints are turning to third‑party logistics (3PL) to scale. The 2026 guide ranks seven U.S. providers, highlighting Simpl Fulfillment’s flat‑rate model for 1‑500 orders, ShipBob’s 50+ centers for two‑day delivery, Red Stag’s heavy‑item expertise, and niche...
Academy Sports’ Matt McCabe Talks World Cup Opportunity, Elevated Brand Mix and More
Academy Sports + Outdoors is leveraging the 2026 World Cup, with 30 games located in its store network, to boost soccer‑related merchandise and tailgating sales. The retailer’s footwear mix has shifted dramatically, raising the share of shoes priced above $100 from 4%...
How Retailers Can Protect Voice Channel From AI Impersonation Scams
Scam robocalls jumped 15.6% in 2025, adding roughly 420 million extra calls each month, and AI‑generated voice deepfakes are making them harder to detect. The FCC warned that scammers are impersonating Walmart employees, highlighting retailers as prime targets. Over half of...
Telco Retail: Going Phygital at the Dawn of AI Commerce
Telco retailers have long offered disjointed digital and in‑store experiences, prompting CEO Christopher Krywulak of iQmetrix to call for a rapid shift toward a ‘phygital’ model. He argues that cultural inertia and siloed organization, rather than legacy technology, are the...
Nordstrom Local Expands in California
Nordstrom is adding two new Nordstrom Local service hubs in San Diego and Danville, raising the total number of Locals to nine. The 1,190‑sq ft San Diego site opens June 4 and the 1,214‑sq ft Danville location opens June 18, offering order pickup, returns, alterations and...
Hardis Supply Chain and Pandora Partner on Global WMS Transformation
Hardis Supply Chain has entered a strategic partnership with Pandora, the world’s largest jewelry retailer by volume, to execute a global warehouse‑management‑system (WMS) transformation. The rollout will span Europe, Thailand and North America as part of Pandora’s broader modernization program...
Spring Savings: Nothing Open-Ear Headphones Are $50 Off for Prime Members
Nothing has slashed the price of its Ear (Open) open‑ear headphones to $99, a $50 discount exclusive to Amazon Prime members. The lightweight design sits outside the ear canal, delivering situational awareness for runners, cyclists, and commuters. Key features include...
Walmart Website Now Accepts CareCredit for Health and Wellness Products
Synchrony announced that its CareCredit health‑finance card is now accepted on Walmart.com for both home delivery and in‑store pickup. The rollout adds new eligible categories, including medical supplies, fitness equipment, and sleep essentials. CareCredit, already used in Walmart and Sam’s...
Skip Adds Loblaw to Growing Grocery Network
Skip has sealed a partnership with Loblaw Companies, adding the retailer’s 13 banners—including No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore and Maxi—to its on‑demand grocery network. The deal extends Skip’s service to every Canadian postal code, allowing customers to order from a broader...
Kicking Horse Coffee Brand Platform Is an Ode to the ‘Hellbent’
Canadian roaster Kicking Horse Coffee marks its 30‑year anniversary with a new brand platform titled “Here’s to the Hellbent.” The campaign, developed with agencies OneMethod and Super Proper, rolls out a 60‑second television spot supported by social, out‑of‑home, connected TV,...
Fast Simon Instantly Tells Merchandisers What Products Are Successful, Overexposed—Or Hidden Gems
Fast Simon’s new AI platform gives e‑commerce merchandisers instant, data‑driven insight into product performance. It identifies winners, overexposed items, and hidden‑gem products within minutes, while also projecting the long‑term impact of current merchandising choices. The tool promises faster optimization of listings,...
Why ‘Keep It’ Returns Should Be Illegal
Retailers are increasingly using “keep it” returnless refunds to cut reverse‑logistics costs, but the practice fuels fraud, inventory distortion, and waste. The National Retail Federation estimates $849.9 billion in returns, with 9 % fraudulent, while Narvar reports 75 % of shoppers have received...
O Positiv Health Lands at Meijer
O Positiv Health announced its debut in Meijer stores, rolling out nine women’s health supplements across the Midwest. The launch brings the brand’s four product lines—URO, FLO, MENO and PREGGO—into 85 Meijer locations, with plans to reach 270 stores by...
Costco Tests Checkout that Could Take Under 10 Seconds
Costco is piloting automated pay stations that can complete transactions in under 10 seconds by having employees pre‑scan items before shoppers reach the register. Early tests show average transaction times around eight seconds and positive member feedback. The initiative is...
Retail Media Is a $69B Opportunity. So Why Is It Still So Hard to Get Right?
Retail media is projected to reach $69.3 billion in 2026, cementing its place as one of the fastest‑growing ad channels. The surge is driven by retailers leveraging first‑party shopper data to sell ads on‑site and off‑site. However, most retailers juggle 15‑20...
Proximity Is Retail’s Next Growth Lever
Retailers are reviving proximity marketing as a growth lever, recognizing that purchase decisions unfold across physical and digital touchpoints. A recent OAAA and Winterberry study shows roughly 70% of adults notice out‑of‑home (OOH) ads on their way to stores, and...
Amazon’s Pricing Tactics Lead Brands to Yank Items
Amazon has been refusing wholesale suppliers' requests to raise the prices it pays for their products, prompting brands such as Colgate and Adidas to trim or remove low‑margin items from the marketplace. Affected brands face added costs from tariffs and...
Retail Media Has Reached Its Accountability Moment
Retail media, once celebrated for its closed‑loop attribution near the point of sale, is now confronting an accountability crisis. Advertisers are demanding proof that spend drives incremental lift beyond a single retailer’s ledger. In response, major networks are expanding into...
Grab Amazon’s Most Popular Telescope for Just $96 While Artemis II Orbits the Moon
As Artemis II circles the Moon, Amazon is slashing prices on entry‑level telescopes. The popular Gskyer 70 mm refractor is now $96.99, down from $129.99, offering a solid starter optic with a smartphone adapter. Celestron’s StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ, a 130 mm Newtonian...
F.W. Webb Launches Mobile App for Trade Professionals
F.W. Webb, a wholesale distributor with more than 100 locations across the Northeast, launched a native mobile app on March 31, 2026 to let trade professionals order plumbing, HVAC and other parts directly from their phones. The app delivers real‑time...
TradeCentric, Commercetools Partner on B2B Ecommerce
TradeCentric and commercetools have formed a strategic partnership to integrate B2B e‑procurement with AI‑first commerce platforms. The collaboration enables suppliers to connect digital storefronts directly to buyers’ procurement systems, leveraging TradeCentric’s PunchOut capabilities to slash purchase‑order processing time by 80%...
This One-Hour Audit That Could Save Your Product From AI Exclusion
The article warns that in 2026 consumers rely on AI assistants that deliver a single synthesized answer, making product data the new digital shelf. Brands with vague or inconsistent product pages are being filtered out, while those that publish a...
The Rugged Bose Soundlink Flex Is 25 Percent Off Right Now
Bose has slashed the price of its second‑generation Soundlink Flex portable speaker to $119, a $40 discount from the regular $159 list price. The new Flex retains the original’s rugged IP67‑rated, silicone‑wrapped design and 12‑hour battery life while adding a...
PAR Technology Announces PAR Intelligence
PAR Technology unveiled PAR Intelligence, an agentic AI layer woven through its restaurant and retail platform. Leveraging two decades of data—including 12 billion annual transactions, 640 million guest profiles, and 400 million loyalty members—the system powers agents that spot performance gaps, auto‑generate offers,...
Nintendo Is Taking $20 Off Switch 2 in the US if It’s Bought with Super Mario Galaxy 1+2
Nintendo is offering a $20 discount on the Switch 2 when purchased with Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 from April 12 to May 9. The promotion applies at major U.S. retailers—including Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart—and covers both physical and digital versions of the game. Galaxy 1+2,...
Walmart Launches La Roche-Posay in Stores
Walmart is rolling out the French dermatology brand La Roche‑Posay to 1,460 U.S. stores, positioning pharmacists as trained skin‑care advisers. The partnership adds moisturizers, sunscreens, acne treatments and serums to Walmart’s expanding beauty aisle. By leveraging its pharmacy network, Walmart...
Kohl’s Spotlights Tek Gear Private Label at a Tough Time for Activewear
Kohl’s has enlisted U.S. women’s soccer star Carli Lloyd to front a spring‑summer campaign for its Tek Gear activewear label. The brand, highlighted as one of Kohl’s best‑performing private labels last year, is being promoted alongside the comedic “Kohl’s Mom” character to...
Hannaford Refreshes Private Label Packaging Across Portfolio
Hannaford Supermarkets is rolling out a refreshed private‑brand packaging design, beginning in select markets in 2026 with a full portfolio rollout slated for 2027. The new look, driven by customer feedback, aims to make products easier to spot, convey clearer...
Dunkin’ Exits an Entire Market in 2026 After 14 Years
Dunkin' will cease operations in India when its franchise agreement expires on Dec. 31, 2026, ending a 14‑year presence. Jubilant FoodWorks, the Indian franchisee, reported that Dunkin' contributed only 0.61% of its revenue in FY2025 and posted a loss of...
Attabotics Announces Integrator Partnership Program
Attabotics announced an integrator partnership program to extend its 3D robotic cube storage technology through third‑party distributors. The first partner, SAVOYE North America, will combine its automated storage expertise with Attabotics’ hardware and software to deliver end‑to‑end fulfillment solutions. The...
Wholesale Resurgence Reshapes Retail Growth Strategy
Retail brands are reversing the past decade's direct‑to‑consumer (DTC) focus, with wholesale emerging as the primary growth engine. Lightspeed’s 2026 State of B2B eCommerce report shows 78% of brands now rank wholesale as their top investment channel, while only 18%...
Fighting Back: How Restaurants Are Reclaiming the Customer Relationship
Restaurants are actively fighting delivery‑platform dominance by building first‑party ordering channels, adopting B2B order‑management tools, and pursuing regulatory relief. Large chains such as McDonald’s and Domino’s have launched branded apps to capture customers directly, while independents turn to services like...
Can the World Cup Solve Nike’s Problems?
Nike’s third‑quarter earnings revealed an 11‑year low in its stock, underscoring a disconnect between the brand’s product slate and consumer demand. Rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions are inflating supply‑chain costs, forcing the company to consider price passes. To revive...
Amazon Introduces Transport Surcharge for Partners
Amazon announced a new transport surcharge to offset rising fuel and logistics costs linked to the Middle East conflict. Effective April 17, a 1.5% fee will be added to Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) shipments in ten European countries, followed by a...
Snappy Technologies Rolls Out System to Unify Delivery Marketplaces
Snappy Technologies unveiled a new integration platform that consolidates disparate food‑delivery marketplaces into a single unified system. The solution leverages a standardized API to aggregate orders, inventory, and driver data across services like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Early pilots...
KFC’s Colonel Dances in the Name of Affordable Fried Chicken in New Ads
KFC introduced a new music‑driven campaign featuring the single “Finger Lickin’ Machine,” starring Colonel Sanders dancing to promote its Value Feast menu. The ad includes an extended music‑video style spot and limited‑edition physical copies handed out in Los Angeles to...