Target Doubles Down on Store Experience
Target is boosting store labor investment and training to improve in-store experience amid operational challenges and strategic shifts under its new CEO.
Sesame Street Learn & Play Reopens at American Dream, Boosting Experiential Retail
The reopening of Sesame Street Learn & Play at American Dream showcases how experiential retail and themed entertainment draw families and drive visitation for mixed-use destinations.
Ace Hardware Notches Record Q4, Full-Year Revenue Amid Profit Pressures
Ace Hardware closed its fiscal 2025 year with record fourth-quarter and full-year revenues — driven by strong retail and digital growth — even as net income declined, highlighting strategic tradeoffs between growth investment and profitability.
Nestlé’s Strategic Retreat From Ice Cream Signals Bold Marketing & Portfolio Shift
Nestlé’s announced exit from the ice cream business — with plans to sell its remaining operations to joint-venture partner Froneri — underscores a strategic marketing and brand focus on growth categories like coffee, nutrition, pet care, and snacks and beverages.
Monster Energy’s Early Drink Launches Boost Strategic Marketing Momentum
Monster Energy’s early 2026 release of three new beverages demonstrates innovative marketing tactics that deepen brand engagement and strengthen retail partnerships in a competitive energy drink landscape.
Starbucks Investors Push to Replace Directors Over Labor Dispute
A group of Starbucks shareholders is urging investors to vote against two board members ahead of the 2026 annual meeting, citing oversight failures in the company’s handling of prolonged labor tensions.
Income Gap Worsens Grocery Strain in Southern States
A new study reveals that residents of several Southern states spend a higher share of their income on groceries due to lower median earnings, highlighting cost pressures and food affordability challenges.
Walmart Recasts Carbon Strategy With New 2040 Deadline
Walmart is advancing a revised decarbonization roadmap focused on achieving zero operational emissions by 2040 after acknowledging delays in its original 2025 and 2030 goals and shifting its carbon targets.
Judge Dismisses Lawsuit, Buffalo Wild Wings Keeps “Boneless Wings” Name
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging Buffalo Wild Wings’ use of the term “boneless wings,” ruling that the name isn’t misleading and allowing the restaurant chain to continue using it on menus.
2026 Home Spending Shifts to Repairs Over Big Projects
In 2026, consumers are prioritizing smaller home purchases and essential repairs while big-ticket renovation projects and discretionary home improvement spending remain under pressure.
General Mills Lowers 2026 Sales, Profit Outlook
General Mills cuts its full-year sales and profit forecast as volume softness and shifting consumer demand pressure margins across key food categories.
FedEx to Close Hundreds of Stations as Network 2.0 Overhaul Expands
FedEx announces plans to shutter more than 475 facilities by 2027 as it consolidates Express and Ground operations under its Network 2.0 strategy, aiming to cut costs, streamline delivery routes and modernize its U.S. and Canada parcel footprint.
Air Cargo Volumes Rise Sharply in January as Lunar New Year Distorts Demand
Global air cargo volumes climbed 7% in January amid early Lunar New Year effects — but shifting e-commerce flows and “de minimis” regulatory headwinds signal continued market uncertainty.
Retail Lessons from Competing With Costco
Retailers can gain strategic insights on pricing, private label, loyalty, and operational discipline by studying how Costco competes and wins across omnichannel retail markets.
Ep. 139 - 2026 Retail Trends: Adapt or Fall Behind with Scott Benedict and Deanah Baker
Retail in 2026 will be shaped by AI shopping agents, private brands, and health driven demand. We explore agentic commerce, smarter product pages, value beyond price, and how retailers can win with better data, fulfillment, and wellness focused merchandising.
Swiftly Scales AI Retail Media for Omnichannel Growth
Swiftly leverages AI-powered retail technology to help retailers increase sales, deepen customer loyalty, and empower brands with effective retail media networks. This article explores Swiftly's impact on omnichannel retail and the future of digital commerce.