Kroger to Spend $112M on Store Projects in Ohio
Kroger announced a $112 million investment to open two Kroger Marketplace stores and remodel fifteen existing locations in central and northwest Ohio during 2026. The Delaware and Canal Winchester stores, spanning 123,000 and 118,000 square feet respectively, each cost roughly $30 million and will feature fuel centers. Approximately $24 million will be spent renovating stores in fifteen Ohio and West Virginia towns. The rollout follows a $450 million, five‑year capital program aimed at modernizing the Columbus division’s 114 stores across Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia.
From Chaos to Control: UPS Capital Report Highlights How Merchants Can Win the Last-Mile Battle
With 73% of businesses covering shipping mishap losses out-of-pocket, learn how merchants can regain control of last-mile logistics to manage costs and meet rising consumer expectations. The post From Chaos to Control: UPS Capital Report Highlights How Merchants Can Win the...
Costa Coffee to Open 40 More Drive-Thru Stores in 2026
Costa Coffee announced it will add up to 40 new drive‑thru locations across the UK in 2026, bringing its total drive‑thru count to 400. The chain now operates more than 2,800 stores nationwide and has refurbished over 210 high‑street and...
Number Sense: Can Target Succeed by Positioning Itself as a Specialty Grocer?
Target is repositioning itself as a specialty grocer, earmarking more than $1 billion—about 20% of its 2026 capital budget—for food and beverage innovation. The retailer’s 2,000th store in North Carolina will feature a grocery area 30% larger than the average Target,...
Colruyt Partners with Retail Media Platform in Which Ahold Delhaize Holds a Stake
Colruyt Group has teamed up with advertising platform Adhese to accelerate its retail media services, aiming to deliver omnichannel campaigns that leverage first‑party data. The partnership will provide the retailer with technology infrastructure, onboarding support, and scalable campaign management tools....
Are Parcel Lockers Becoming a Serious Supply Chain Play for Retailers?
Parcel lockers are moving from a niche convenience to a core component of retail fulfilment in the UK. InPost research shows 41% of consumers now receive parcels via lockers, with 115 million parcels processed annually, including 28 million returns. Retailers see lockers...
The Bear House Rolls Out Shop-in-Shop Format Across 15 Shoppers Stop Stores
The Bear House, a smart‑casual menswear label, is launching a shop‑in‑shop (SIS) concept in more than 15 Shoppers Stop locations across India. The rollout spans seven cities—including Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Ahmedabad and Jaipur—aiming to broaden the brand’s offline...
Wendy’s Named Official Dunks of NCAA March Madness: Launches National Promotion
Wendy's has been named the Official Dunks of the NCAA March Madness, launching a two‑phase Dunks Menu and a sweepstakes called Dunkstakes. The menu pairs classic Frosty desserts with Hot & Crispy Fries, later adding nuggets or Tendys for dunking....
The Big Squeeze
Anthony Guerra recounts a disappointing first visit to a newly opened restaurant, citing cramped bench‑style seating, an under‑filled margarita with an oversized ice cube, a limited and odd menu, and a single‑occupancy men’s room. He argues these missteps stem from...
UK Loyalty Market Set to Hit $4 Billion by 2030
The UK loyalty market is projected to nearly double, reaching roughly $4.06 billion by 2030, up from $2.33 billion today. Traditional points‑only schemes are losing traction as retailers pivot toward personalized, app‑led experiences that integrate challenges, cashback and gamified rewards. Enterprises are...
Once Upon a Farm Launches Into the UK Market with First Retail Listing
Once Upon a Farm is debuting in the United Kingdom on 27 March, launching six organic, sugar‑free snack pouches at select Whole Foods Market stores in London. The range includes three fruit‑vegetable blends and three dairy‑free smoothies aimed at children aged...
H&M Warns Prolonged Iran War Could Hit Consumers Hard
H&M warned that a prolonged Middle East conflict, especially the Iran war, could significantly dampen consumer spending and add cost pressures. The retailer posted a 26% year‑on‑year rise in first‑quarter operating profit to about $166 million, beating forecasts, but sales in...
How Successful Retailers Prosper in Tough Times
U.S. retailers that navigated three life‑cycle stages—store expansion, digital growth, and cost discipline—outperformed the market between 2016 and 2024, delivering an average 19.8% stock return versus the S&P 500's 12.5%. Costco’s focus on low prices, bulk formats, and employee retention generated...
London Food Icons Morley’s and Roti King Are Teaming up for a Game-Changing Collab
London’s iconic fried‑chicken chain Morley’s has partnered with Malaysian eatery Roti King to launch a limited‑time pop‑up called Bossman Mamak in Brixton Village from April 9 to April 12. The collaboration will showcase four hybrid dishes that marry Morley’s signature...
Deck Commerce Powers Eddie Bauer’s Digital Expansion with O5 Group
Deck Commerce has been chosen by O5 Group to power Eddie Bauer's next‑phase direct‑to‑consumer expansion across North America. The modern order‑orchestration platform now links Shopify storefronts, Amazon, and other marketplaces with a network of U.S. and Canadian fulfillment partners. A...
E-Bomb! US E-Commerce Is the Preserve of the Old and Rich, Warns New Report, While Most of the World Skews...
A new EBANX Beyond Borders 2026 report shows that half of U.S. e‑commerce spending is generated by consumers over 45, with rich and upper‑middle‑class shoppers accounting for 84% of online purchases—a share projected to rise to 88% by 2035. Younger,...
Chick-Fil-A’s Traffic Momentum Holds as Expansion Continues – Placer.ai Blog
Chick‑fil‑A is expanding its footprint while maintaining strong foot traffic, outpacing most quick‑service and fast‑casual peers in per‑location visits. Data from September 2025 to February 2026 shows year‑over‑year traffic growth and sustained high average visits per store. The brand’s affluent customer base...
The Protein Pivot: How Customizable Fast Casuals Win without Reinventing the Menu
Fast‑casual operators are responding to a surge in protein‑focused dining by emphasizing customizable, build‑your‑own concepts rather than launching entirely new menu lines. Guests increasingly seek meals that match personal macro goals, keto or paleo regimes, and expect flexibility without sacrificing...
Premiumisation, Convenience Lift Cookware Demand; Stahl Kitchens Outlines ₹1,000 Crore Plan
Stahl Kitchens, a leading Indian cookware brand, announced a ₹1,000 crore (≈$120 million) revenue target over the next four years. The company, which posted ₹95 crore (~$11 million) last fiscal and expects ₹140 crore (~$17 million) this year, is expanding its offline footprint to over 5,000...
Diriyah Company Picks Maison Pyramide for Jabal AlQurain Avenue Retail Strategy
Diriyah Company has appointed Maison Pyramide as the retail strategist and leasing consultant for Jabal AlQurain Avenue, a 9,500 sqm mixed‑use cultural corridor in Riyadh’s historic Diriyah district. Maison Pyramide will shape the avenue’s retail vision, brand curation, leasing processes and...
Forest Essentials Bets on ‘Slow Beauty’ with New Campaign
Forest Essentials launched the "Take Your Time" campaign, positioning Ayurveda‑based rituals and deliberate pacing at the core of its skincare narrative. The year‑long effort spans cinematic films, retail experiences, and in‑store activations that showcase slower, ritual‑centric beauty routines. Founder Mira...
How to Scale Consignment Management Beyond 100+ Consignors
Caroline Desmond explains that retail POS systems, designed for single‑owner inventory, break down when a store exceeds 100 consignors. As intake volumes rise, staff spend more time on manual ownership assignments, payout calculations, and answering basic seller queries. The article...
Why Brands Must Be Honest with Their Shrinkflation Strategies
Smaller packs rise as pricing tightens, but trust begins to erode. The post Why brands must be honest with their shrinkflation strategies appeared first on Inside Retail Australia.
Lenovo Coupon Codes and Deals: $5,000+ Off
Lenovo is rolling out a suite of promotions in March 2026, including up to 35% off the Idea Tab Pro tablet and a 26% discount that brings the device to $280. The company also offers a 5% demographic discount for...
Hollister Leans Into Nostalgia with New Graduation Campaign — and Music Video — Featuring Gen-Z Singer Gigi Perez
Hollister has launched a graduation‑themed campaign featuring Gen‑Z singer‑songwriter Gigi Perez, who covers Green Day’s 1997 anthem “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” in a brand‑produced music video. The 360‑degree effort includes a new “Time of Your Life” clothing collection,...
Julie Cartwright on Pvolve’s Prolific Partnership Strategy with Beauty, Wellness and Fashion Brands
Pvolve, the low‑impact functional‑movement brand founded in 2017, has built a prolific partnership ecosystem spanning beauty, wellness, apparel, and consumer giants such as Tower28, Lululemon, Amex and Amazon. These collaborations fuel brand awareness, drive foot traffic to its 43 U.S....
Quality or Price? Asia’s US$7tn Consumption Growth Hinges on Changing Priorities
Asia is projected to generate an additional US$7 trillion in private consumption over the next ten years, a 40% rise comparable to adding today’s entire Chinese consumer market. A new Roland Berger report finds quality is the primary driver in fast‑growing economies...
This Ex-Google, Ex-Anka Founder Is Building Shopify but for Social Sellers in Francophone Africa
Yelen, a Côte d’Ivoire‑based startup founded by ex‑Google executive Ibrahima Sylla, launched in June 2025 as an all‑in‑one platform for African social sellers. The service lets merchants create storefronts, accept card and mobile‑money payments, and manage orders from WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook...
Puma Trademark Challenge Against Tiger Woods’ Sun Day Red Fails
Singapore’s Intellectual Property Office has dismissed Puma’s opposition to Tiger Woods’ Sun Day Red trademark, finding no likelihood of consumer confusion. The decision follows Puma’s challenge to the new brand’s tiger‑inspired logo, which IPOS deemed visually dissimilar from Puma’s puma...
Nykaa Brings UK’s Q+A Skincare to India
Nykaa has introduced the UK‑based Q+A Skincare line to Indian shoppers, adding a brand known for its ingredient‑first, hero‑active naming and vegan, cruelty‑free formulas. The launch taps into a rapidly growing consumer appetite for transparent, efficacy‑driven products, driven by heightened...
Walmart Isn’t Just a Retailer Anymore — It’s an Advertising Powerhouse
Walmart’s advertising division, Walmart Connect, has evolved into a major revenue engine, posting $4.4 billion in 2024—a 27% jump from the prior year. The platform capitalizes on Walmart’s massive first‑party shopper data, delivering ads across its e‑commerce site, in‑store screens, and...
Inside India Newsletter: Ikea Has High Hopes for the Country as It Stares at a Global Slowdown
Ikea is accelerating its India expansion as global sales dip, targeting 30 stores—including small‑format outlets—within five years. The retailer plans to raise locally sourced product content from 30% to 50% by 2030, leveraging the India‑EU free‑trade agreement to turn the...
Apple’s MacBook Neo Could Upend India’s Mid-Range Laptop Market, Say Experts
Apple has launched the MacBook Neo, priced at $599 globally and $499 with student discounts, with an Indian launch price of Rs 69,900 (about $840). The device retains premium features such as an aluminum body, 13‑inch Liquid Retina display, long battery...
100-Year-Old Grocery Chain Closes Another Store in Major Shift
Historic regional grocer Winn-Dixie announced it will close its Garden Park Plaza store in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, with operations ending around mid‑April 2026. The closure leaves the area without a nearby Winn‑Dixie, the nearest alternative being over 10 miles...
Rugs Direct Launches WhatsApp Returns with stampfree.ai
Rugs Direct, in partnership with stampfree.ai, has launched the UK’s first WhatsApp‑based returns service, using the appfree platform to let shoppers start and track returns via chat. The move follows the Post & Parcel Trend Report 2026, which found 88 %...
Chewy CEO: Consumers Are 'Highly Engaged' Even as Inflation Squeezes Budgets
Chewy’s CEO Sumit Singh said inflation has pushed 80‑85% of pet owners’ budgets into food and health, slashing discretionary spending on toys and gear. The company posted Q4 revenue of $3.26 billion, up 0.5% YoY, while adjusted EPS of $0.27 missed...
Solving the Anonymity Problem at Checkout
Retailers still struggle to identify in‑store shoppers, with match rates lingering in the single digits despite digital loyalty programs reaching only about 30 percent. This anonymity forces marketers to rely on untargeted campaigns, inflating acquisition costs and missing the 70...
Anthropologie Says It Marries Data and Intuition in Merchandising as It Looks for ‘Calculated Risks’
Anthropologie is blending quantitative sales data with qualitative customer insights to drive fast‑moving merchandising decisions. The retailer launched a dedicated 90s minimalist section within a week after spotting TikTok and Hulu‑driven trend signals. It also expanded in‑store footwear from eight...
Amazon’s Unprecedented Gamble on AI Redemption Might Just Work
Amazon is abandoning its traditionally frugal reputation to embark on an unprecedented AI spending spree, dubbed a “Capexapalooza” by JPMorgan Chase. The e‑commerce giant is allocating billions of dollars to build custom AI chips, expand data‑center capacity, and integrate generative...
Behr Paint’s New Marketing Campaign Speaks to DIYers’ FOMU — Fear of Messing Up
Behr launched its "Let’s Be Honest" campaign on March 23 to tackle DIYers' fear of messing up, a sentiment revealed by a survey showing 70% avoid projects over paint‑choice anxiety. The initiative features a toll‑free Behr Hotline where callers leave...
ThriveCart Launches Card-Linked Installments to Unlock $3.3Trillion in Unused Credit
ThriveCart unveiled ThrivePay Installments, a card‑linked financing option that places an authorization hold on a shopper’s existing credit‑card limit and splits payments over three, six or twelve months. The model targets high‑ticket digital products, offering merchants up‑front liquidity on sales...
Best Gaming Deals in Amazon's Big Spring Sale
Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is offering deep discounts on gaming hardware and titles across Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC platforms. Switch 2 accessories like the ProCase carrying case are under $10, while the Samsung P9 Express 256 GB microSD card...
NACS CEO Frank Gleeson on the Evolution of Convenience Retail
NACS president and CEO Frank Gleeson says the convenience‑store sector is shedding its fuel‑and‑tobacco identity in favor of a food‑centric, digitally connected model. He notes that foodservice has become the primary growth engine, while loyalty programs, personalization and enhanced customer...
Audemars Piguet Brings AP House Concept to Miami Beach
Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet has opened AP House Miami, a 7,300‑sq‑ft experiential retail space on Miami Beach. Designed with Miami‑based Studio DADO, the venue blends natural materials and bluish tones to echo the brand’s Le Brassus headquarters. The concept features lounges, a mini museum of...
Canadian Tire and WestJet Launch Loyalty Partnership
Canadian Tire and WestJet have launched a joint loyalty program that links the retailer’s Triangle Rewards with WestJet Rewards. Members can earn Canadian Tire Money and WestJet points simultaneously on purchases at Canadian Tire, SportChek, Mark’s and on WestJet flight...
Merchandising: Warner Unveils ‘Lord of the Rings’ 25th Anniversary Collection
Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products announced a new "Lord of the Rings" 25th‑anniversary collection, debuting on WBShop.com. The first wave features soft shell jackets, hoodies, graphic tees, oversized shirts, crew‑neck sweatshirts, and matte‑finish tumblers. Each item bears the anniversary...
58% of Shoppers Lose Brand Trust over Faulty AI Suggestions
Rithum’s new study of 1,046 U.S. and U.K. shoppers shows that 58% of consumers blame retailers when AI‑generated product recommendations contain errors, and 16% would abandon a purchase after a bad suggestion. In the U.K., 70% have used AI tools...
GOOD GOOD Partners with 3PL to Support UK Growth with Multi-Channel Fulfilment
GOOD GOOD, the health‑focused food brand, has signed a three‑year partnership with UK third‑party logistics provider 3PL to handle multi‑channel fulfillment across direct‑to‑consumer, Amazon Seller Fulfilled Prime, and wholesale distribution to Holland & Barrett. The deal leverages 3PL’s Flex service and...
What TikTok’s Volatility Means for Retail Media Planning
TikTok’s uninstall rates have surged roughly 150% as U.S. regulatory uncertainty intensifies, prompting retailers to reassess video spend. The spike highlights the risk of concentrating advertising budgets on a single social feed during critical back‑to‑school and holiday periods. Marketers are...
AirTags Are $60 — and More Great Apple Deals at Amazon’s Spring Sale
Amazon’s Big Spring Sale 2026 is offering a slate of Apple products at steep discounts, with price cuts ranging from 20% to 40%. Highlights include a 4‑pack of AirTags for $60, AirPods 4 at $149, the Apple Watch Series 10 titanium...