See’s Makes Australian Debut – in Queensland
See's Candies, the iconic American confectioner founded in 1921, opened its first Australian store at Robina Town Centre in Queensland. The launch is a licensed partnership with local operators Jason and Megan Banks, who highlighted the Gold Coast’s community vibe as a strategic fit. The brand now boasts more than 250 locations worldwide, adding Australia to its international footprint. The store will offer fan‑favorites such as Scotchmallow, California Brittle, and classic assortments to Australian shoppers.
‘Just the Beginning’: NZ’s Kiddicare Expands to Canada
New Zealand‑born baby care brand Kiddicare announced its entry into Canada, securing shelf space at more than 450 retail locations nationwide. The rollout includes major chains such as Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore and Zehrs. Since its 2012 launch, Kiddicare has...
EBay Launches Authenticity Guarantee for Trading Cards in the UK
eBay announced an Authenticity Guarantee for UK trading cards priced at £500 (about $635) and above, rolling out on May 6 with full coverage expected by June. The service partners with Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) to inspect, certify and attach a...
Zappfresh in Talks for Majority Stake in GM Foods
Zappfresh, the direct‑to‑consumer meat and seafood delivery platform owned by DSM Fresh Foods, is negotiating to acquire a majority stake in Haryana‑based GM Foods for roughly Rs 20 crore (about $2.4 million). The acquisition would add GM Foods’ ready‑cook breakfast, spice and dessert‑mix...
Coupang Edges Back to Growth as Recovery Takes Hold
South Korean e‑commerce giant Coupang reported an 8 percent YoY revenue increase to $8.5 billion in Q1 FY26, signaling the start of a recovery after a data‑breach‑induced slump. Management said order frequency, customer engagement and membership metrics improved throughout the quarter, though...
Bluemercury Is Taking a Hands-On Approach to Staying Ahead in a Competitive Beauty Retail Environment
Bluemercury is doubling down on limited‑distribution, high‑end beauty brands, using in‑store education and exclusive founder meetings to drive sales. The Macy’s‑owned chain now runs 170 stores and has logged 20 straight quarters of growth, posting a 1.3% comparable‑sales rise in...
How Beauty Tapped in at the Miami Grand Prix
Beauty brands are increasingly using Formula 1 events to reach new audiences, as demonstrated at the Miami Grand Prix. Dermalogica activated a free Fan Fest booth, offering skin‑mapping analyses, product samples and a discount card for Ulta, serving 3,800 guests over five...
UK Supermarkets Ask Competition Watchdog to Rein in Aldi and Lidl
Britain's leading supermarkets have formally asked the Competition and Markets Authority to intervene against discounters Aldi and Lidl. The petition argues that the German chains’ rapid market‑share growth—now around 15% of total grocery sales—has triggered aggressive price wars that threaten...
Modern Retail+ Research: Marketing Workflows Benefit From AI, but Trust Is Still a Barrier to Adoption
Modern Retail’s 2026 research, based on 142 brand and agency professionals, finds AI now embedded in roughly 80 % of marketing workflows, from generative copy to automated media buying. While these tools boost speed and personalization, the rapid rollout has surfaced...
Nike Alumni, Now at Superfeet, Want Their Insoles in ‘Every Shoe in the World’
Superfeet, the longtime running‑focused insole maker, is pivoting to serve athletes across soccer, basketball, volleyball and football. The shift is driven by new leadership – CMO Mike Donnelly, a 23‑year Nike veteran, and CEO Trip Randall, also ex‑Nike – who...
Nexa’s Decade of Drift
Maruti Suzuki’s premium sub‑brand Nexa marks a decade with mixed results, as its contribution to total sales slipped to 27.6% in FY26 and unit volumes fell to 503,881 units. The brand’s portfolio is heavily skewed, with Baleno, Fronx and Grand Vitara...
Shiro Opens First Hong Kong Store at K11 Musea
Japanese fragrance brand Shiro opened its first Hong Kong boutique inside K11 Musea, a mall celebrated for art‑centric retail. The 1,200‑sq‑ft store blends contemporary design with local heritage, using bamboo scaffolding and reclaimed tin to echo Hong Kong’s historic architecture. Central to the...
‘Increasingly Uncertain’ Climate Creates Challenges for JB Hi-Fi
JB Hi-Fi reported a 4% year‑on‑year sales increase, while its The Good Guys brand grew 2.5%, pushing first‑half fiscal revenue to AUD6.1 billion (≈US$4.0 billion) and after‑tax profit to AUD305.8 million (≈US$202 million). CEO Nick Wells highlighted an "increasingly uncertain" retail climate, citing rising...
Starbucks Chilled Coffee Becomes Sidekick for People’s Individuality in Brand Platform
Starbucks has introduced a new brand platform that positions its chilled coffee lineup as a catalyst for personal expression. The campaign, crafted by AMV BBDO, frames chilled beverages as a “sidekick” that supports individual lifestyles rather than a generic product. The...
H&M Names New CIO
Swedish fashion retailer H&M Group announced the appointment of Diego Teijeiro Ruiz as its new Chief Information Officer, effective May 25. Teijeiro Ruiz brings extensive experience in large‑scale digital transformation, positioning H&M to accelerate its AI‑driven e‑commerce and supply‑chain modernization. The...
Why Russia’s Richest Woman Tatyana Kim Has High Hopes for Africa
Russia’s e‑commerce giant Wildberries, founded by billionaire Tatyana Kim, announced a strategic push into Africa after signing a partnership with Ethiopia’s sovereign wealth fund. The platform, which drives more than $50 billion in annual sales and runs over 90,000 pick‑up points across...
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Placer.ai April 2026 Mall Index: Back to Growth – Placer.ai Blog
Placer.ai’s April 2026 Mall Index shows foot traffic rebounding across indoor malls, open‑air centers and outlet malls, marking the first year‑over‑year growth since 2024. Open‑air shopping centers led with a 3.5% increase, while indoor malls rose 2.2% and outlets added 0.5%....
How Edible Prepares for Last-Minute Gifting Before Mother’s Day
Edible Brands is sharpening its last‑mile fulfillment ahead of Mother’s Day, expanding both its own franchise network and third‑party delivery partners to cover 90% of U.S. zip codes within an hour. The retailer uses predictive forecasting to align inventory and...
Want To Find New Customers? Shopify President Says AI Search Is Bringing Them in Twice as Fast
Shopify reported that AI‑powered search has become a growth engine for its merchants. In Q1, AI‑driven traffic to Shopify stores jumped eightfold year‑over‑year, while orders originating from AI search rose nearly 13×. New buyer orders generated by AI search are...
One Showroom, Three Voices: C.F. Stinson Unites Its Three Textile Brands at NeoCon 2026
C.F. Stinson is launching a 2,300‑square‑foot showroom at THE MART during NeoCon 2026, bringing its three commercial‑grade textile brands—Stinson, Arc‑Com and Anzea—under one roof for the first time. Designed by Kuchar, the space features five color‑blocked vignettes that showcase new...
Guestologie Launches to Help Restaurants Act on Guest Data in Real Time to Personalize Service and Boost Retention
Guestologie launched a platform that delivers real‑time guest‑data insights to restaurant staff, enabling personalized service at the point of visit. The system flags high‑value diners, offers actionable recommendations, and integrates with existing POS and reservation tools without a new app...
Wayfair Supply Chain Has Mitigated Impact of Fuel Costs, CEO Says
Wayfair’s Q1 2026 earnings call highlighted that rising fuel costs and geopolitical tensions have not eroded its margins, thanks to a supply‑chain model that passes fulfillment expenses to suppliers and keeps take rates stable. CEO Niraj Shah said the retailer...
The Moment Is the Medium
Retail media must adapt to an AI‑driven, fragmented path to purchase, focusing on influencing shoppers at the exact moment they decide to buy. While large‑language models shift intent signals outside retailer ecosystems, the actual transaction still often occurs within a...
Google Expands UCP Checkout to Main Search Shopping Results
Google has extended its Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) checkout from the AI‑Mode interface to the main Google Search results, adding a “Buy” button directly in product overlays such as Wayfair’s listings. UCP creates a shared language between AI agents and...
Amazon Business Adds Same-Day Fresh Grocery Delivery
Amazon Business is extending its same‑day grocery delivery service to more than 2,300 U.S. cities, using the same temperature‑controlled fulfillment network that powers Amazon.com. The rollout lets businesses add fresh produce, dairy, baked goods and frozen items to a single...
Samsung Is Discounting a Ton of Galaxy Accessories Including Cases, Chargers, More
Samsung is offering a blanket 5% discount on most official Galaxy accessories through its website, covering cases, chargers, battery packs, keyboards and more. The promotion requires no coupon codes and is applied automatically at checkout. In parallel, Samsung is slashing...
Hailey Bieber’s Go-To Leggings Brand Is Having a Massive Sale—Get Deals on Bestsellers Starting at $16
ALO Yoga launched its fifth Aloversary Sale, slashing prices by roughly 30% across the entire site. Early‑access begins May 4, 2026 for members of the free ALO Access loyalty program, with the full sale rolling out the next day. Discounted bestsellers include...
Shopify Posts Strong Q1 Revenue Growth, but Stock Still Falls on Slow Growth Forecast
Shopify reported first‑quarter revenue of $3.17 billion USD, up 34% year‑over‑year, and GMV exceeding $100 billion USD for the second straight quarter. A net loss of $581 million USD, driven by a $941 million USD mark‑to‑market write‑down on equity investments, offset the revenue beat....
Retailers Report Mixed Bank Holiday Trading
UK fashion retailers reported mixed results over the recent bank‑holiday weekend. A leading fashion chain saw sales dip about 4% year‑on‑year, with footfall down but conversion rates up, while e‑commerce remained flat after deeper discounting. Brands across the sector offered...
The Convenience Trap and Why Retail Fraud Has Outgrown Checkout
Retailers' push for frictionless experiences has widened the fraud attack surface, with fraud now spanning account creation, login, loyalty and BNPL, not just checkout. A 2026 survey of over 1,000 fraud and AML leaders shows only 47% of retailers have...
The New AirPods Max 2 Are Already on Sale for $40 Off
Apple’s second‑generation AirPods Max, released just over a month ago, have dropped to $509 after a $40 discount at Amazon, Best Buy and Target. The headphones retain the original’s 40 mm drivers but pair them with a new high‑dynamic‑range amp and the...
From Devices to Daily Life: Samsung’s AI Living Push
Samsung’s chief marketing officer, Allison Stransky, outlined the company’s "AI for All" strategy at CES 2026, positioning AI as a daily companion across its broad product ecosystem. The plan emphasizes higher‑order benefits—like AI‑driven meal planning in Bespoke refrigerators and SmartThings‑enabled home‑insurance...
Amazon Opens Its Logistics Network to Brick-and-Mortar Retailers
Amazon announced that its Supply Chain Services will now sell access to its extensive logistics network to brick‑and‑mortar retailers. The offering includes a multimodal fleet of over 80,000 trailers, 24,000 containers and more than 100 aircraft, plus AI‑driven demand forecasting...
2025 UK Retail Space Reduction Was First in Many Decades - Report
UK retail space contracted for the first time in decades, with a net loss of 800,000 square feet in 2025, according to CoStar data. Early 2026 saw an additional 700,000 square feet disappear, accelerating the downward trend. New retail development...
How Instore Bakeries Fare when Consumers Feel Financial Squeeze
Instore bakery sales are lagging the broader food and beverage category, with total bakery dollars down 1.7% and units down 4.7% year‑over‑year for the four weeks ending March 29. While higher‑income shoppers are driving modest growth in premium perimeter items, price...
Why Technology Adoption Fails in Retail and How Leaders Fix It
Retailers are pouring money into AI, robotics and analytics, yet roughly 90% of grocery AI projects never scale because the operating model can’t absorb them. The gap isn’t the technology itself but a lack of disciplined change management. Six practices—clear...
Why Product Experience Is Now a Joint Commercial Strategy
Product experience (PX) has moved from a marketing add‑on to a core commercial lever shared by brands and retailers. Inaccurate or incomplete product data now drives returns, margin erosion and lost loyalty, pushing PX onto the profit‑and‑loss statement. Companies are...
Round1 Fans Furious as Arcade Swaps Claw Machine Prizes for Sponges and Tissues
Round1 arcade chain faced backlash after swapping traditional claw‑machine prizes like anime figures for low‑cost household items such as sponges, tissues, Gatorade, and ramen. Customers posted photos from locations in Gurnee, Illinois, Danbury, Connecticut, and others, complaining that the new...
Are Prize Wheels Set to Render Static Bonus Codes Obsolete in Retail?
Prize wheels, once a novelty in gaming, are now a mainstream promotional tool across entertainment and e‑commerce. Research shows interactive wheels generate four to five times more page views than static bonus codes, prompting retailers to adopt them for higher...
The AI Upload: Verifone Adapts AI for Fuel and C-Store Merchants; SoundHound AI Debuts an Agentic Platform
Verifone is embedding generative AI into its Commander point‑of‑sale platform, adding an AI‑driven help center, real‑time fraud‑detection scoring and a self‑checkout integration for fuel and convenience‑store merchants. The AI assistant also supports help‑desk agents by transcribing calls, surfacing relevant documentation...
SQUID Launches Wave Points, Ireland’s First Universal Local Rewards System
SQUID, Ireland’s leading loyalty platform, has launched Wave Points, the country’s first universal local rewards system. The new scheme lets shoppers earn points from everyday purchases and redeem them at any participating local business, breaking the traditional single‑brand loyalty model....
'Taste' Sensation: GSD&M Promotes Mateo's Salsa As Farm Fresh
GSD&M unveiled the “Farmer’s Market Fresh Taste” campaign for Texas‑based Mateo’s Salsa, featuring two 15‑second television spots and six‑second social cutdowns. The integrated effort runs across OLV, CTV, social platforms and retail media networks, targeting millennials and Gen X. The creative...
Beyond Yellow Tags: How Grocers Are Evolving From Traditional Discount Strategies
Supermarkets are shifting from traditional high‑low pricing and simple loyalty perks toward richer value communication. Grocers are narrowing the value gap with discounters by emphasizing health, affordability, and technology such as electronic shelf labels. Case studies include Giant Food’s health‑affordability...
Coca-Cola to Funfetti: Food Brands Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday with Limited-Edition Products
Food brands are rolling out patriotic products ahead of the United States’ 250th birthday in July 2026. Coca‑Cola unveiled limited‑edition America250 bottles and state‑specific mini‑cans, while Talking Rain’s Sparkling Ice teamed with Flavor Flav to launch a red‑white‑blue Life Savers sparkling water. Pillsbury...
Lidl Launches Self-Checkout Using Smartphones and AI-Powered Scales in Luxembourg
Lidl has begun testing its Scan&Go service in three Luxembourg stores, letting shoppers scan items with the Lidl Plus app and use AI‑enabled scales to identify produce. The smart scales display the product, allow confirmation, and print a barcode for...
Small Online Stores in Germany See Revenues Decrease
Uptain’s 2026 E‑Commerce Market Study shows German online retail is consolidating. Since Q3 2023 the median online revenue fell 22% to €11,305 (about $12,200), while stores generating over €1 million annually grew 7.6% and those under €50,000 shrank 12.3%. The shift is...
Ahold Delhaize Expands Partnership with Uber Eats in the U.S.
U.S. supermarket chains owned by Ahold Delhaize—Food Lion, Giant Food, Hannaford and Stop & Shop—have expanded their presence on Uber Eats to nearly 2,000 locations. Shoppers can order directly through the Uber Eats app with free delivery for Uber One...
Pizza Express Enters the QSR Market with Brixton Opening
Pizza Express opened its first quick‑service restaurant in Brixton, replacing full table service with self‑ordering kiosks and a streamlined menu. The site, built on a former LEON location, offers dine‑in, takeaway and delivery and features dynamic lighting that shifts from...
Brands Briefing: Anthropologie’s Weddings Business Has Become a Powerful Customer Acquisition Engine
Anthropologie entered the wedding market in 2011, but its bridal segment has exploded in the last two years as brides seek coordinated outfits for every ceremony moment. Chief merchandising officer Holly Thrasher says the business is growing "exponentially," turning weddings...
Shopify’s Valuation Crisis Creates Opportunity in 2026
Shopify’s stock remains under pressure despite a strong Q1, trading at more than 120 times trailing earnings. Revenue surged 34.3% year‑over‑year, while operating income jumped 88%, underscoring robust top‑line momentum. The company is leveraging two decades of e‑commerce data to...