BAIN FORECAST: Retail sales growth will slow in the US, UK, France, and Germany in 2026 “Bain projects US retail sales to grow 3.5% year over year in 2026, to $5.3 trillion, slightly down from estimated 4.0% growth in 2025. Volume growth will be modest, with inflation projected to hover between 2.6% and 3.0%.” Press release

 

Target’s incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke, sent a message to employees on Monday, calls Minneapolis violence ‘incredibly painful’ at CNBC. “Fiddelke…will step into the CEO role on Feb. 1. In the video message to employees, he said he’s looking forward to starting the job in a week and “this isn’t the first message I imagined I’d send.” Video transcript/Read more

 

…Open letter from more than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies (Target, Best Buy, etc.) Letter

 

U.S. eGrocery sales surge 32% year-over-year to reach record high of $12.7 billion at Brick Meets Click. “The online share of total grocery spending reached 19% to close the (2025) year, an increase of 430 basis points compared to December 2024.” Press release

 

The Chinese Are Coming at The Robin Report. “The standout theme from MAPIC 2025—Europe’s biggest retail real estate event—was the surge of Chinese and Asian brands setting their sights on the U.S. and Europe, with aggressive expansion plans and a long-term outlook.” Read more

 

Bob’s Discount Furniture Announces Launch of IPO  Press release

 

AMAZON CUTS TODAY? – Amazon plans thousands more corporate job cuts this week at Reuters. “The company in October cut some 14,000 white-collar jobs, about half of the 30,000 target first reported by Reuters. The total this time is expected to be roughly the same as last year and could begin as soon as (today), the people said.” Read more

 

Costco faces lawsuit accusing the warehouse retailer of falsely advertising that its Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken contains no preservatives at Fox News

 

Albertsons Companies Names Allison Pinkham EVP & CHRO “Pinkham previously served as Chief Human Resources Officer at Galderma and Chief People Officer at Heineken USA.” Press release

 

Meta to test premium subscriptions on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp at TechCrunch

 

The Secret Society of People Who Know the Formula for WD-40 at WSJ. “The handwritten formula is kept in a lockbox at an undisclosed Bank of America location in San Diego. It’s only left a bank vault three times in the past 30 years…in the summer of 2024, (CEO) Brass and finance chief Sara Hyzer got a peek while signing paperwork at the bank. That viewing involved a couple weeks’ notice, several nondisclosure agreements and securing a key held only by the company’s top lawyer.” WSJ subs.

 

Lands’ End and WHP Global to Form Joint Venture Press release