Retail News and Headlines

Ace Looks to Regain Its Convenience Crown Amidst Evolving Customer Expectations

Ace Hardware’s Spring 2026 Convention in Louisville gathered over 12,000 attendees, including a record 4,566 retailers, to address a slipping convenience reputation. CEO John Venhuizen outlined a five‑point plan to reclaim the “convenience crown,” focusing on expanding store proximity, reducing latency, and leveraging third‑party marketplaces like DoorDash, Instacart and Uber Eats. The company also announced a push into agentic commerce, partnering with AI platforms such as OpenAI, Google Gemini and ChatGPT to become the preferred fulfillment brand. By Q3, Ace aims to launch a “fast and free” or “fast and fair” last‑mile program to eliminate friction for shoppers.