Sprouts Coming To Vacant Highland Park 99 Cents Only Store
Sprouts Farmers Market has signed a lease for the former 99 Cents Only store at 6235 York Blvd. in Highland Park, Los Angeles, with plans to open a new grocery outlet in 2027. The existing 21,000‑square‑foot building will be demolished and rebuilt, though exact store size remains undisclosed. This follows Sprouts' recent conversion of a similar 99 Cents Only site in Santa Ana and its announcement to open at least 40 new locations in 2026. The move aims to fill the affordable‑grocery void left by the discount chain’s 2024 Chapter 11‑driven closures.
Builders FirstSource Partners With Blitzy to Implement AI Software Development
Builders FirstSource (BFS) announced a strategic partnership with Blitzy AI, an autonomous software development platform designed for product development. The collaboration introduces an agentic software development lifecycle, enabling BFS to modernize its technology stack and accelerate delivery. Within the first...
Boot Barn Strengthens Its Country Music Ties With New Stagecoach Sponsorship
Boot Barn announced its debut sponsorship of the Stagecoach country‑music festival, serving as the official boot retailer and presenting sponsor of the new Mustang Stage. The partnership includes on‑site activations, custom giveaways, and a pre‑festival in‑store loyalty event at its...
NRF’s Retail’s Big Show Is Driving the Next Wave of Restaurant Innovation
The National Retail Federation’s Retail’s Big Show in New York is now a proving ground for restaurant technology, showcasing AI, automation, and data‑driven loyalty tools that were once retail‑only. Sessions highlighted Dine Brands’ 34% cut in ticket‑resolution time and the...
Mint Velvet’s Brand Campaign Activations Take over the Capital This London Fashion Week
Mint Velvet is turning London Fashion Week into a city‑wide showcase, deploying brand activations in Underground stations and a wrapped London cab to spotlight its Spring Leather and Suede jacket line. The retailer also hosted an intimate editor dinner with...
Whole Foods Market Triples Pitch Day Capacity for Q2 2026, Offering up to 50 Brand Slots
Whole Foods Market announced a three‑fold increase in its Q2 2026 Pitch Day capacity, offering up to 50 dedicated slots across Grocery, Whole Body and Specialty categories. Applications open on 27 February and close on 27 March, with the pitch event slated for...
Local Food, Real People, Better Experiences: The Rise of the Modern Farm Shop
Shoppers increasingly demand traceable, locally‑sourced food, prompting a resurgence of modern farm shops. The Farm Retail Association notes that roughly 75 pence of every £1 spent at farm retailers stays within the local economy, reinforcing community wealth. Yorkshire‑based Farmer Copleys became...
Mercatto Expands with New Location in Port Credit
Toronto‑born Italian chain Mercatto is opening its first location outside the city core, Mercatto Centrale, in Mississauga’s Brightwater waterfront community on March 13, 2026. The 8,500‑square‑foot restaurant offers over 290 seats, including a 90‑seat patio, and introduces an exclusive brunch menu. Operated by...
H‑E‑B Announces Major Remodel and Expansion of 83 & Lincoln Store in Harlingen
H‑E‑B has launched a comprehensive remodel and expansion of its 83 & Lincoln store in Harlingen, increasing the footprint to nearly 112,000 square feet. The project, slated for completion in early 2027, adds expanded departments, a refreshed exterior, and a...
Giant Tiger and the Canadian Women’s Foundation Partner on International Women’s Day Shirt
Giant Tiger Stores Limited has launched its fourth‑year exclusive International Women’s Day shirt in partnership with the Canadian Women’s Foundation, with 100% of profits earmarked for the foundation’s gender‑equity programs. The design, created by Ottawa‑based queer artist Linh VH Nguyen in collaboration with...
5 Shoes & Retail Apparel Stocks Capitalizing on Premiumization Trends
The Shoes & Retail Apparel sector is riding a premiumization wave, with consumers favoring high‑quality, performance‑driven footwear and apparel that command higher price points. Digital acceleration and direct‑to‑consumer (DTC) strategies are boosting margins, inventory efficiency, and customer engagement across brands....
Target to Remove Certified Synthetic Colors From Entire Cereal Assortment
Target Corp. announced that by the end of May it will stock only cereals free of certified synthetic colors across all stores and online. The initiative follows internal guest insights showing a sustained shift toward products without artificial additives, especially...
3 Numbers that Highlight Grocers’ Evolving Approach to Health and Wellness
Grocers are rapidly embedding health and wellness into their core business, with 96% of food‑industry companies now reporting formal nutrition strategies. The FMI survey shows that registered dietitian nutritionists lead 79% of wellness decision‑making, while pharmacy leadership influence has climbed...
PayPal, Rainforest Join Forces
PayPal announced a partnership with Atlanta‑based Rainforest to embed PayPal, Venmo and buy‑now‑pay‑later services directly into Rainforest’s software platform. The integration is designed to accelerate merchant payouts, cut late‑payment incidents and shift transaction volume away from cash and checks. Rainforest,...
DESIGNME Launches Rooting for All Women Campaign
DESIGNME, a Canadian vegan hair‑care brand, launched the “Rooting for All Women” limited‑edition campaign on Feb. 27, 2026. The initiative celebrates women’s personal and professional transformations and donates a portion of sales, up to $10,000, to women‑focused charities, including Montreal’s Chez Doris....
Lloyds Stops Opening some Bank Accounts for Customers in Branches
Lloyds Banking Group announced it will no longer open joint, premium or student accounts in its branches, and staff will not switch customers from other providers. Customers seeking new accounts will be directed to the bank’s app or website, though...
Topshop Sets World Record: First Fashion Show with AI Live Shopping
Topshop staged a world‑first AI‑powered fashion show in Manchester, replacing the traditional runway with a hybrid physical‑digital experience. Shoppers used the bespoke Front Row AI app to buy each silhouette in real time while models walked, and later tried the...
National Pizza Chain Closing Hundreds of Locations After Brutal Drop in Sales
Papa John’s announced plans to shutter roughly 300 underperforming U.S. restaurants by the end of 2027, with about 200 closures slated for this year. The move follows a 5.4% drop in same‑store sales across North America and a broader flat‑lining...
The Friday Checkout: ShopRite’s Integrated Approach to GLP-1s
ShopRite, part of Wakefern Food Corp., has introduced a limited‑time "Wellness Your Way" starter kit for customers beginning GLP‑1 therapy. The kit bundles medication samples, coupons and a dietitian‑crafted wellness guide, explicitly tying the chain’s pharmacy and grocery divisions. The...
Amazon Deepens AI Push with $50B OpenAI Investment
Amazon announced a multi‑year partnership with OpenAI, committing $50 billion—$15 billion upfront and $35 billion conditional—to accelerate AI adoption. The deal includes a stateful runtime on Amazon Bedrock, exclusive AWS distribution for OpenAI Frontier, and an expanded $100 billion Trainium compute commitment over eight...
Albertsons Cos. Names Brian Rice to Board of Directors
Albertsons Companies announced that Brian Rice, the executive vice president and global chief information officer of McDonald’s, will join its board of directors on February 25, 2026, expanding the board to 11 members. Rice brings more than three decades of...
The Hidden Surge in Sales Promotion Fraud: What Retailers Must Prepare For in 2026
Sales promotion fraud is accelerating as retailers launch richer incentives in 2026, and AI‑powered bots and synthetic identities are now automating claim submissions at scale. Fraudsters exploit loopholes in cashback, rebate and trade‑in programs, using deep‑fake receipts and coordinated “promotion...
Lakeside Shopping Centre Announces Arrival of Fashion Heavyweight Urban Outfitters
London’s Lakeside Shopping Centre announced that Urban Outfitters will open a 6,500‑square‑foot store on the lower level in summer 2026. The new outlet will feature the retailer’s own brands alongside labels such as Levi’s, Dickies and Carhartt WIP, and will...
Why Sourcing Shifts Are Easier Said than Done when Battling Tariffs
Tariff volatility under the Trump administration is forcing U.S. brands to rethink where they source products. Executives like Brooklinen's COO note that shifting production to a new country takes months, not weeks, and domestic cotton supplies are limited. Companies are...
As 'Shockwaves And Shenanigans' Recede, Investors Move Fast To Snap Up UK Retail Bargains
UK retail property is re‑emerging as a high‑yield asset class, with prime shopping centre yields near 8% and secondary assets offering double‑digit returns. Transaction volumes in 2025 were modest at £5.83 bn, but the market saw a flurry of marquee deals,...
Il Makiage Owner Oddity Tech Shares Plummet Despite ‘Record’ 2025 Performance
Oddity Tech posted a record 2025, with revenue climbing 25% to $810 million and adjusted EBITDA reaching $163 million, driven by Il Makiage, SpoiledChild and the new MethodIQ launch. The fourth quarter saw revenue up 24% to $153 million and gross profit rising 20%,...
Inside Lookfantastic’s Second UK Store and Its Play to Be the ‘Immersive’ Retailer in the North
Lookfantastic, the THG‑owned beauty e‑commerce platform, opened its second UK brick‑and‑mortar location in Bristol’s Cabot Circus on 27 February. The 3,000‑sq‑ft store is designed as an intuitive, immersive environment that showcases premium brands such as Jo Malone, Tom Ford and YSL...
Burger King's Store-Level Profitability Runs Into a Beef Cost Wall
Burger King has been steadily boosting store‑level profitability, posting double‑digit earnings growth across its U.S. locations. However, a sharp rise in beef prices—up roughly 35% since early 2025—has begun to erode those gains. The chain responded with modest menu price...
Inside eBay’s London Roadshow
eBay held its first London roadshow, five years after the inaugural Sheffield event, gathering UK sellers to discuss AI tools and community support. The highlight was the “AI Activate” program, a partnership with OpenAI that gives 10,000 sellers funded access...
Molton Brown Opens 1970s-Inspired ‘Sanctuary’ Store in London
Molton Brown has launched a new flagship in London’s Broadgate district, reviving the brand’s 1970s salon roots with a calming, nature‑infused interior. The store showcases the full fragrance range and a growing refill collection for hand and body products, aligning...
Interparfums Sales Hit Record $1.49 Billion Due to ‘Several Blockbuster Fragrances’
Interparfums reported a record $1.49 billion in total sales for 2025, with fourth‑quarter revenue climbing 7 % to $386 million and full‑year growth of 2 %. The company beat expectations despite macroeconomic headwinds and new U.S. tariffs, driven by a resilient portfolio of prestige...
The Handbag Clinic Strengthens Circular Luxury Presence with Larger Selfridges Space and Continued Pop-Ups
The Handbag Clinic has opened a larger in‑store space on Selfridges London’s third‑floor Womenswear, showcasing around 80 authenticated pre‑loved luxury handbags. The expansion follows an 82% year‑on‑year income rise and a 59% jump in repair and restoration revenue. The brand...
Textile Exchange Unveils Three-Step Pathway for Action Cohort Members
Textile Exchange launched a three‑step Action Cohort pathway to accelerate responsible raw material production. Step one introduces voluntary data reporting in 2026, becoming mandatory for brands and retailers in 2027; step two pushes members to source more from verified preferred...
Rakuten Ichiba, Google Team on YouTube Shopping Experience
Rakuten Ichiba has become the inaugural Japanese partner in Google’s YouTube Shopping affiliate program, allowing shoppers to purchase marketplace items directly from YouTube videos. When viewers tap the “View Products” overlay, product names, prices, and a link to the Rakuten...
Consumer Confidence Falls Amid Concerns About Personal Finances
Consumer confidence in the UK slipped in February, with GfK’s index falling three points to –19. The personal‑finance outlook dropped to a score of 2, matching last year’s level, while the major‑purchase index declined to –14. Inflation is easing but...
Munro Footwear Group Goes Live with Fluent Order Management, Supported by Amblique
Munro Footwear Group (MFG) has launched Fluent Order Management, backed by Amblique, to unify inventory and fulfillment across its 240+ stores, digital channels and distribution centres. The Distributed Order Management system provides a universal inventory view, ship‑from‑store capability and configurable...
New Fragrance Launch – Strawberry Shortcake X Scentbird®
Strawberry Shortcake has entered modern perfumery through a capsule collection with Scentbird®, offering two distinct fragrances: a gourmand Eau de Parfum and a lighter Eau Fresh Picked, each priced from £15.95. The scents leverage neuroscent technology to evoke nostalgic scent...
Edeka Limits Purchases From Procter & Gamble and Iglo
German retailer Edeka has cut back orders from Procter & Gamble and Iglo amid ongoing price negotiations, leaving several product categories temporarily undersupplied. The reduction spans household staples such as dishwashing liquid, toothpaste, and frozen fish, as well as personal...
Handpickd Expands Into Flour and Spices Category, Plans New Cities Entry
Handpickd, the farm‑to‑home fresh food platform, is extending its product line into freshly milled flours and pounded spices, aiming for the segment to generate 20% of its revenue by the end of the next fiscal year. The company currently operates...
Panpuri Opens First Macau Flagship with Tea-Inspired Concept
Thai wellness brand Panpuri launched its first Macau flagship, the Panpuri Sensorial Boutique, inside The Venetian Macau. The store is built around a "Teahouse of Scent" concept that reinterprets Macau’s historic tea‑house culture through fragrance. Central to the experience is...
New Start for Comptoir Des Cotonniers and Princesse tam.tam in France
The Paris Commercial Court has approved the final relaunch of Fast Retailing France, the owner of Comptoir des Cotonniers and Princesse tam.tam, ending its insolvency proceedings. The company will operate a two‑brand model designed to generate greater synergy between the labels....
Asda Accelerates Plans to Rebrand Ten Asda Living Shops to George
Asda is accelerating the rebranding of ten Asda Living stores into standalone George fashion and homeware locations. The next site, in Peterborough, will open on 12 March, following successful pilots in Leeds and Hull launched in 2025. The new George store...
Nothing Before Coffee Aims for 400 Stores by 2029
Nothing Before Coffee (NBC), the Jaipur‑based quick‑service coffee chain, plans to expand to 400 company‑owned stores by 2029, up from over 100 locations across 39 cities today. The firm is shifting fully to a COCO model to maintain control over...
Geospatial Platforms and Location Based Services: Powering NextGen E-Commerce and Retail Business
At GeoBuiz Summit 2026, a panel of geospatial leaders highlighted how location intelligence is becoming the backbone of next‑generation e‑commerce and retail. They discussed the use of trusted geospatial data, AI‑driven analytics, and platform integration to optimize store networks, site...
FNP Posts Rs 861 Cr Revenue in FY25; Cuts Losses
Ferns N Petals posted operating revenue of Rs 861.5 crore for FY 2025, a 22 % increase over the prior year, driven primarily by product sales. The company narrowed its net loss to Rs 22 crore, an 8.3 % reduction, though EBITDA and ROCE remained negative at -1.25 %...
Superdrug Adds Made by Mitchell to Its Range
Superdrug has added the social‑media‑born Made by Mitchell Cosmetics to its in‑store and online assortment. Founded by professional makeup artist Mitchell Halliday, the brand is known for high‑impact, multi‑use makeup. The Superdrug collection launches five exclusive products, such as Head...
Why a Beauty Brand Is Giving Gen Alpha Equity
Evereden, the kid‑focused beauty brand that hit $100 million in sales, announced its Generation E program, granting equity stakes to three Gen‑Alpha creators aged 14, 15 and 17. The teenagers—Embreigh Courtlyn, Kaili Asa and Madison Rae—bring combined millions of followers and will...
Neo Naturelle Targets Canadian Market with Hormonal Skincare Strategy
Neo Naturelle, a federally registered Canadian skincare brand founded in 2019 by chemist Nila Cook, is expanding nationwide to serve women experiencing hormonal changes such as perimenopause and menopause. After the pandemic forced a digital‑first launch, the company now combines...
A Buyer’s Take on London Fashion Week, with Mytheresa’s Tiffany Hsu
In the Glossy Podcast’s London Fashion Week edition, Mytheresa chief buying director Tiffany Hsu offers a buyer’s lens on the Fall 2026 collections. She highlights Burberry’s outerwear‑led show, the romantic opulence of Simone Rocha and Erdem, and the sculptural concepts of newcomers...
Gymboree Turns to Partnerships with Brands Like Marchesa for Its Next Stage of Growth
Gymboree is reviving its brand by launching co‑branded collections, beginning with a limited‑edition Marchesa line priced between $20 and $170. The retailer also introduced everyday collaborations with Peter Rabbit and Hello Kitty, aiming to attract both special‑occasion and casual shoppers....