Two years after its historic win, a divided Amazon Labor Union lurches toward a leadership election at AP. “Two years after clinching a historic victory at a warehouse in New York City, the first labor union for Amazon workers in the United States is divided, running out of money and fighting over an election that could determine who will lead the group in the near future. Despite campaigns at several facilities in the past few years, the warehouse on Staten Island still is the only site in the U.S. where the retail giant’s workers have voted in favor of union representation.” Read more

 

San Francisco proposal would require grocery stores to provide six months of notice before closing a location at Fox News. “It was a good idea in 1984, and it’s an even better idea now,” Preston said in a press release. “Our communities need notice, an opportunity to be heard, and a transition plan when major neighborhood grocery stores plan to shut their doors.” Read more

 

Amazon leans into video in emerging Europe’s online marketplace fight at Reuters. “In February, Amazon had almost 5.9 million users in Poland, lagging far behind Allegro, with 18.2 million, and Temu’s 13.7 million, according to Mediapanel Gemius Polska and PBI data quoted by news agency PAP Biznes.” Read more

 

Grocery giants including Tesco, Woolworths team up to launch $125 million VC fund at Reuters. “The new fund, W23 Global, will invest over five years in start-ups and scale-ups deploying technology to benefit consumers “by driving faster, more personalised and connected experiences across stores and online”, the retailers said in a statement…” Read more | Press release

 

Costco plans renovations to office tower it bought next to Dallas store, filings indicate at WFAA ABC 8. “When Costco…agreed last year to buy a 10-story office tower along U.S. Route 75 next to one of its Dallas stores, at least one retail broker speculated that the company might tear it down — but so far, that doesn’t seem to be the case…It’s still unclear whether Costco will put its own offices in the building or whether it has other long-term plans for the site.” Read more

 

Microsoft, Junk Kouture, and Best Buy unite to foster eco-conscious innovation Press release

 

Whole Foods CEO Jason Buechel takes Progressive Grocer on a tour of Natural Products Expo West at Progressive Grocer. “Our first stop at the show is a booth for a product that Buechel already knows well: Nana Joes Granola, a handmade granola purveyor…Jason Buechel: Yeah, this was a product that [former Whole Foods Market CEO] Walter [Robb] told me about. He asked whether I had tried Nana Joes, and I hadn’t. He had some mailed to me and I thought, ‘Oh, this stuff is great.’ For me it has become a staple.” Read more

 

Former Walgreens CEO Rosalind ‘Roz’ Brewer Joins Black Economic Alliance’s Board Of Directors at Yahoo Finance

 

Amazon’s total Washington state employment declines for the first time at GeekWire. “The net decrease in the state comes as Amazon builds up its workforce in downtown Bellevue, but sees its overall employment decline at its main headquarters campus north of downtown Seattle. Meanwhile, the company is continuing to expand its employee base in Virginia, home to Amazon’s second headquarters.” Read more

 

Former Starbucks chief Howard Schultz buys a stake in Dutch ethical chocolatier Tony’s Chocolonely at Yahoo Finance. “The company’s sales have quadrupled in the States since 2020, and are likely to continue expanding across mainstream retailers. It’s already available at Walmart and other brick-and-mortar stores in America.” Read more

 

Best Buy is reportedly laying off a chunk of its Geek Squad team at 404 Media. “Best Buy is conducting mass layoffs of Geek Squad employees…according to former employees who lost their jobs. Workers told 404 Media they were told by the company to stay at home (last) Tuesday and to wait for a call from their bosses about whether they had been let go.” Read more

 

99 Cents Only files for bankruptcy, plans to shut down at Reuters. “… filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware on Sunday, saying that it intended to close all of its 371 stores in the U.S. and sell off its real estate and remaining inventory.” Read more

 

Colorado bill would restrict grocery retailers from selling hard alcohol, spirits at 9 News NBC. “The bill comes after independent liquor stores said they are struggling after voters approved beer and wine in grocery stores.” Read more

 

JCPenney’s First Store Opening in Eight Years Trumpets $1 Billion ‘Refresh’ Plan at Yahoo Finance. “In women’s fashion, “We’re the place to get dressed up,” said Wlazlo, adding that even through the pandemic, when people were stuck at home wearing sweats, Penney’s maintained its assortment of men’s suits and dresses. “We are based in Texas, and let’s just say Texas people were going out to eat and doing things. We saw a lot of suiting and dresses so we stuck with the business during that period.” Read more

 

***Advertising inquiries, new product searches, comments, questions, etc., contact Jason Long at jlong@eyeonretail.net