Kohl’s -2.8% | Spice Makers Hot | $100B Club

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Kohl’s Q4 comp sales down 2.8% / fiscal year 2025 comp sales down 3.1% “For the full year 2026, the Company currently expects the following: Net sales and Comparable sales: A decrease of (2%) to flat…” Press release

 

The $100 Billion Club: These 20 People Have 12-Figure Fortunes “Alice Walton #14 / Jim Walton #12 / Rob Walton #11 / Jeff Bezos #4…” List

 

Barnes & Noble Q3 gross comp store sales +6.6% Press release

 

Casey’s Q3 inside comp sales +4.0 Press release

 

Walmart’s Vizio Acquisition Finally Opens Up Retail Advertising’s Growth at Adweek. “Walmart already controls roughly a third of TV sales in the U.S…For the first time at global scale, the second screen (your phone) and the first screen (your TV) can be synced through an operating system. The TV knows your logins, your payment credentials, what apps you use, and what you buy.” Read more

 

The HBR Interview with outgoing Walmart CEO Doug McMillon HBR subs.

 

**Is your salsa aisle looking a little bland? Su Salsa breaks the “red label” sea of sameness with a pop of lime and a hint of garlic. It’s the flavor-forward, high-visibility brand your premium category needs. A message from Su Salsa | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net

 

The little shipping company that’s making Europe’s sanctions look silly at Politico. “The network’s linchpin is LS Logistics Solution GmbH…The company operates a warehouse near Berlin’s Brandenburg airport, from which trucks take packages — bearing labels identifying them as being handled by Uzpost, the state postal service of Uzbekistan that is not authorized to operate in Germany — through Poland and Belarus to street addresses in Moscow and St. Petersburg.” Read more

 

United Natural Foods, Inc. Q2 net sales decreased 2.6% Press release

 

Flipkart moves its headquarters back to India ahead of IPO at TechCrunch

 

Sauce, spice makers attract deal interest as GLP-1s send Americans looking for hot stuff at Reuters. “The move towards protein…as well as vegetables and other healthier parts of the food pyramid – they don’t always naturally have a lot of flavor…an opportunity for a lot of these sauces and ​seasonings,” said Justin Craig, managing director ​and head of food ⁠and beverage at investment bank Moelis.” Reuters subs.

 

Signet Jewelers: Preliminary comp sales “decreased in the range of 0.9% to 0.7% to Q4 of FY25” Press release 

 

**Get your product, service or event in front of the most powerful decision-makers in the retail community. Contact: info@eyeonretail.net

WM AI Head Speaks | Kroger +2.4% | BJ’s +2.6% | Open Call 8 Cities

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BJ’s Wholesale Club Q4 comp sales (ex. gas) +2.6% “Membership fee income increased by 10.9% year-over-year…90% tenured member renewal rate during fiscal 2025…digitally enabled comp sales growth was 31%…” Press release

 

Kroger Q4 Identical Sales (ex. gas) +2.4% “CFO: “For 2026, we expect identical sales without fuel growth of 1.0% to 2.0%…includes an approximately 130 basis point headwind from the Inflation Reduction Act.” Press release

 

Target to open more than 30 new stores in 2026 – including its 2000th store “…plans to add more than 300 new stores by 2035, with seven locations welcoming guests this March as part of the company’s continued expansion.” Press release

 

Walmart’s Daniel Danker – EVP of AI Acceleration, Product & Design Presents at Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference Transcript @ Seeking Alpha

 

Burlington Stores, Inc. Q4 comp sales +4.0% Press release

 

Victoria’s Secret & Co. Q4 comp sales +8.0% Press release

 

…Victoria’s Secret Forecasts Its Best Year Since L Brands Split at Bloomberg. “The retailer’s stock has more than quadrupled from last year’s low point in early April. The shares have advanced 11% this year…” Bloomberg subs.

 

Walmart begins again the ‘Open Call’ process at Talk Business. “…will make 8 regional stops between April and June, providing potential suppliers a fast-track to the company’s big event held in Bentonville in early October…Walmart plans to kick off the spring tour with an event on April 9 in Los Angeles…” Read more / Cities & Dates

 

Cracker Barrel Q2 comp retail store sales down 9.2% Press release

 

Netflix Taps Amazon’s Shopping Data to Sharpen Ad Targeting at Adweek. “The move deepens Netflix’s push into performance advertising territory. Rather than relying solely on contextual or demographic targeting, advertisers can now reach members based on what they are actively shopping for on Amazon…” Read more

 

Bain & Company: 2026 US Insurgent Brands List

 

Judge rules companies are entitled to refunds for Trump tariffs at AP. “Trade lawyer Ryan Majerus…said he expects the government to appeal or “seek a stay to buy more time for U.S. Customs to comply.” Read more

 

CVS warns bill would force shutdown of 134 pharmacies in TN at USA Today

Target -2.5%/Feb+ | B.Buy EPS Beat | On +22.6%

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Target Q4 comp sales decreased 2.5% “…reflecting a comp store sales decline of 3.9 percent and a comp digital sales increase of 1.9 percent…Food & Beverage, Beauty and Toys delivered net sales growth …double-digit growth from Roundel and over 30 percent growth in marketplace. Same-day delivery powered by Target Circle 360 grew over 30 percent.” Press release

 

…Target’s holiday-quarter sales and store traffic drop, as retailer tries to snap its roughly four-year slump at CNBC. “(Target) said sales and traffic trends picked up in the last two months of the holiday quarter. Then sales turned positive year over year in February, which is the beginning of the current quarter…Target CEO Michael Fiddelke described that inflection as “an important milestone on our path back to growth this year”…” Read more

 

…Fiddelke scheduled to appear on CNBC this morning around 9AM CT

 

Best Buy Q4 comp sales decreased 0.8% “…largest drivers of the comp sales decrease on a weighted basis were home theater and appliances. These drivers were partially offset by growth in computing and mobile phones.” Press release

 

…Best Buy Surges After Profit Last Quarter Tops Estimates at Bloomberg. “Adjusted earnings per share were $2.61, topping the average analyst estimate of $2.46. Comparable sales trailed Wall Street projections…Shares of the retailer rose as much as 15% in premarket trading.” Bloomberg subs.

 

AutoZone Q2 comp sales +3.3% Press release

 

On Q4 net sales +22.6% Press release

 

**Is your salsa aisle looking a little bland? Su Salsa breaks the “red label” sea of sameness with a pop of lime and a hint of garlic. It’s the flavor-forward, high-visibility brand your premium category needs. A message from Su Salsa | Sample: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Publix Q4 comp sales +0.7% Press release

 

Publix now 20 miles south of Kroger’s HQ at WSJ. “About 20 miles south of downtown Cincinnati, the new Publix sits just past a roundabout at the front entrance of a glitzy subdivision known as Triple Crown…Publix envisions a dozen locations operating in Kentucky by year’s end…Kroger wants to open more stores in Publix’s home state, including in Jacksonville.” WSJ subs.

 

Michaels revamped rewards program introduces a 9% rewards tier Press release

 

Sam Altman’s ‘Human Verification’ Startup Leans on Consumer Brands at WSJ. “Sam Altman’s project to help humans distinguish themselves from bots is increasingly banking on household names to sell its far-out concept. A Gap store in San Francisco has begun helping visitors get World IDs, the “proof of human” product from the startup Tools for Humanity, by installing one of its signature volleyball-sized “Orb” devices to take images of faces and eyes.” WSJ subs.

 

Federal court rejects Trump administration attempt to slow tariff refund process at AP

 

Brookshire Grocery Co. Chairman, CEO To Retire The Shelby Report

 

Brands are battling a surge of AI-driven return fraud at Modern Retail. “Historically, customers and professional fraudsters have relied on fake images to secure refunds…“Shamir: “AI is accelerating that type of fraud, because now it’s easier than ever to say, ‘Yeah, it’s damaged. Here’s a photo.’” Read more

 

How Confidence Changes Consumer Loyalty at Wharton. “New research from Wharton marketing professor Jonah Berger reveals that rather than a smooth, upward trajectory, the link between experience and confidence…follows a U-shaped curve: Customers often start with an inflated sense of confidence, but that soon decreases as they realize they know less than they think. As they gain more knowledge and experience in the category, however, their confidence rebounds.” Read more

 

**Get your product, service or event in front of the most powerful decision-makers in the retail community. Contact: info@eyeonretail.net

 

EBay Cuts 800 | Buc-ee’s Sues | Bezoses’ Chair Met Gala

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EBay Is Laying Off About 800 Workers, 6% of Global Workforce at Bloomberg. “…The layoffs mark the third round of cuts in three years. In early 2024, the e-commerce company axed about 1,000 jobs, or about 9% of its workforce, saying labor costs had outpaced growth. In early 2023, the company terminated about 500 employees, or about 4% of staff…” Bloomberg subs.

 

Warby Parker Q4 net revenue +11.2% Press release

 

American Eagle to serve as exclusive apparel and denim sponsor of country music festival Stagecoach at Adweek. “American Eagle will also release a limited-edition clothing collection on March 25 commemorating Stagecoach.” Read more

 

6-Year-Olds Want Makeup. These Brands Are Cashing In at WSJ. “They are creating an unhealthy obsession with appearance, which should not start at this age,” said Dr. Thivi Maruthappu, a London-based dermatologist and consultant…“Skin care is not a hobby. They need a better hobby.” WSJ subs.

 

Amazon to move out of longtime office building near its main Seattle headquarters at GeekWire. “Amazon is not renewing its lease at 1915 Terry Ave…has occupied the seven-story, 251,000-square-foot space…since 2014…(Amazon) has been growing its footprint across Lake Washington in Bellevue…” Read more

 

Buc-ee’s sues yet another convenience store over logo similarities at USA Today. “With about 42 Ohio locations…Mickey Mart features a smiling cartoon moose within a red hexagon as its logo. Buc-ee’s argues, in court documents, that the animalistic logo is too similar to its own…Both animals are facing right and display wide eyes and a smile, Buc-ee’s says in court documents.” Read more

 

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos Will Be Honorary Chairs of the Met Gala at NY Times. “…this is the rare instance in which the lead sponsors will also be the honorary chairs. The news was not acknowledged immediately, perhaps because even the Bezoses’ initial involvement provoked something of an outcry — or perhaps because the deal was not settled till now.” NY Times subs.

 

Target and Roller Rabbit Debut an Exclusive Spring Getaway Collection Press release

 

Lowe’s CEO says the housing market is under pressure at CNBC. “Comparable sales for the quarter climbed 1.3% (vs. 0.2% expected)…posted growth in nine of its 14 merchandising categories, said Bill Boltz, EVP of merchandising…items that sold well are more closely tied to pros, such as sales of plumbing supplies like water heaters and millwork for windows and doors, Boltz said…also saw strength with paint sales, as customers bought interior and exterior paint, primer and stains, he said.” Read more

 

TJX Companies, Inc. Q4 comp sales +5.0% Press release

THD Beats @ +0.4% | Saks Savior? | Bed Bath -9.8%

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Home Depot Q4 comp sales +0.4% Press release

 

…Home Depot beats Wall Street’s expectations at CNBC. “Despite the fourth-quarter sales decline, Home Depot topped Wall Street’s revenue and earnings expectations for that period. In an interview with CNBC, Chief Financial Officer Richard McPhail said U.S. consumers and the company have “been in a frozen housing environment for three years” – and there hasn’t been a meaningful thaw.” Read more

 

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. Q4 net revenue -9.8% Press release

 

Saks Owner Says He Saved Department Stores. Never Mind the Bankruptcy. at NY Times. “I had 50,000 people working for 10 years longer than they would have,” said Mr. Baker, wearing a cashmere crew neck from Loro Piana, one of the luxe brands he used to sell. “That’s more than a half a million work years. I kept each one of these businesses going longer than anyone on Earth ever could have.” NY Times subs.

 

Novo Nordisk to Cut U.S. List Prices for Ozempic, Wegovy by Up to 50% at WSJ. “Under the changes, both Ozempic and Wegovy will list for $675 a month, effective Jan. 1, 2027. That is half of the current price tag for anti-obesity therapy Wegovy and a 34% cut for diabetes treatment Ozempic. The price cuts also will apply to pill versions of both injections, including one sold as Rybelsus.” WSJ subs.

 

Loblaw eyes 70 new stores in 2026 Read more

 

From cost center to competitive advantage: Modernizing reverse logistics with AI at McKinsey. “…consumers don’t weigh each of these (return) features equally. When asked to rank their preferences, consumers say they care most about receiving a guaranteed refund, the cost of the return, and the form of repayment; they care less about the number of days they have to return an item, visibility into the process, or consistent processes or platforms…” Read more

 

Scott Bomar (Ex-Home Depot SVP of Finance) named Yeti CFO Press release

 

The Luxury Resale Market Is Booming. Brands Are Struggling to Cash In. at WSJ. “According to Boston Consulting Group, the share of secondhand goods in shoppers’ wardrobes has risen 7 percentage points to 28% since 2020…Handbags, one of the most lucrative products for luxury brands, are particularly exposed to the shift. Young Gen Z consumers are now making nearly half of their bag purchases at secondhand retailers.” WSJ subs.

 

Sprouts names Don Clark (Ex-Giant Eagle/Whole Foods) new Chief Merchandising Officer & Amanda Rassi (Ex-Michaels/Kroger) as Chief Customer Officer Press release

 

RH Unveils 2026 Interiors Spring Sourcebook

 

FedEx sues Trump administration for full tariff refunds at Fox Business. “The lawsuit does not disclose how much FedEx has paid in tariffs. However, in September (FedEx) expected a $1 billion hit to fiscal-year earnings from U.S. trade policies, only part of which involved IEEPA duties.” Read more

Amazon Dethrones WM | WM US +4.6% | Sam’s +4.0% | Kroger +McCann

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Walmart Q4 comp sales (ex. fuel): Walmart US +4.6% / Sam’s +4.0% / Walmart Int’l (net sales growth) +7.5% “Global eCommerce sales grew 24%…global advertising business up 37%…membership fee revenue grew 15.1% globally…gross margin rate up 13 bps, led by Walmart US.” Press release

 

…Walmart reports strong holiday growth, but earnings outlook falls short of estimates at CNBC. “(CFO) Rainey also said consumer price increases from inflation and President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes should ease in the coming months. Food inflation at Walmart in the fourth quarter was just above 1%, while it was slightly higher for general merchandise, he said…’I think we have, largely as a retail industry, absorbed or seen the brunt of the impact from tariffs’.” Read more

 

…Walmart delivers another quarter of impressive sales but offers a muted outlook at AP. “(Walmart) expects sales (for current quarter) to increase anywhere from 3.5% to 4.5% and earnings per share to be in the range of 63 cents to 65 cents. For the year, it expects sales to reach $706.4 billion and earnings per share to be $2.64. That is a little cooler than Wall Street had been projecting.” Read more

 

Amazon Dethrones Walmart as World’s Biggest Company by Sales at Bloomberg. “Walmart, which had been the largest company by revenue for more than a decade, on Thursday reported sales of $713.2 billion for the 12 months ending Jan. 31. Amazon, which operates on a fiscal year ending in December, earlier this month reported 2025 sales of $717 billion.” Bloomberg subs.

 

Wayfair Q4 Total Net Revenue +6.9% Press release

 

Etsy, Inc Q4 GMS +2.4% Press release

 

McCann Wins Kroger’s US Creative Business at Adweek. “The Kroger Company‘s total ad spend is roughly $391 million, according to COMvergence…Kroger’s move from DDB to McCann keeps the agency underneath the Omnicom umbrella…” Read more

 

Etsy sells secondhand clothing marketplace Depop to eBay for $1.2B at TechCrunch. “The deal comes nearly five years after Etsy acquired Depop for $1.62 billion…” Read more

 

dunnhumby: Walmart’s Grocery Penetration Hits Record 72% “…mass-channel retailers have equaled traditional supermarkets at 79% penetration for the first time…U.S. consumers perceive food inflation to be 19.6%, more than eight times the actual rate of 2.4% in December 2025.” Press release

 

DoorDash Q4 Total Orders increased 32% year-over-year Press release

 

University of Texas at Austin adds Shein to list of banned Chinese companies Fox Business

 

Over 65? Congratulations, You Own the Economy at WSJ. “…people 70 and over controlled roughly 39% of all equities and mutual funds owned by households, compared with 22% in 2007, according to Federal Reserve data. Their share of net worth—assets minus debts—was 32%, up from 20% two decades earlier.” WSJ subs.

Aust. Tobacco Bombings | Jim/Rob/Alice @ $465B | Prices Up

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The Break Is Over. Companies Are Jacking Up Prices Again. at WSJ. “Companies from Levi Strauss to McCormick…say they are raising prices early this year…increases appeared to be stronger than normal for January for electronics, appliances and other durable goods, said UBS economist Alan Detmeister…Columbia Sportswear said it is upping prices of spring and fall merchandise by, on average, a high single-digit percent…” WSJ subs.

 

Nancy Guthrie kidnapping investigators work with Walmart after identifying suspect’s backpack at AP

 

Jim, Rob and Alice Walton are now the world’s 8th, 9th and 10th wealthiest people with a combined net worth of $465.8 billion Bloomberg subs.

 

How $40-a-Pack Cigarettes Pushed Australians to the Black Market at NY Times. “The smashed window at Ms. Felvus’s local shop may have been part of the violence that has been called the “tobacco wars” between criminal gangs vying for market share. The police have said there have been at least 100 cases of firebombings related to the turf war among organized groups, concentrated in Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city. One group has tallied more than 250 attacks.” NY Times subs.

 

Canada’s annual inflation rate edged down to 2.3% in January CBC

 

Stop and Shop union employees vote to ratify new contract WJAR NBC 10

 

Lowe’s CEO secret to climbing the corporate ladder was volunteering for jobs ‘nobody else wanted’ at Fortune. “Ellison’s approach to (DEI) initiatives look different from other CEOs. While many executives threw money at the issue or made performative hires…Ellison is getting more hands-on. “Talk less and do more,” Ellison said. “I just wanted to fix it. We didn’t go out and make some big public announcement. I didn’t do a series of interviews. I didn’t put any white papers out. I just said, ‘We’re gonna fix this by making it a priority.’” Fortune subs.

 

Shoe Prices Climbed ‘Fastest in More Than 36 Months’ in January, FDRA Says Footwear News

 

Costco launches mobile app ordering for custom cakes and deli trays at NY Post. “Previously, shoppers were required to drive to Costco just to fill out paper order forms in-store…Fox 11 Los Angeles said customers can expect the “Order Grocery/Bakery” feature in the app by the end of 2026.” Read more

 

Amazon plans second big store in Chicago area Chain Store Age

 

Gen Alpha Can’t Be Ignored at Bloomberg. “The eldest only just turned 16; the youngest still wear diapers…Very young boys across the globe spend hundreds of dollars on fancy colognes, and millions of Alpha girls are into makeup and skin care from adult-focused stores…“Gen Alpha already shapes adult purchasing decisions,” Chidiac says. “Cars, appliances, groceries—parents consistently report that their kids have a voice, and often a decisive one.” Bloomberg subs.

Innovators: Bezos #2 | Family Office: L.Walton #5 | Amazon ITA HQ Search

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CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor: January Data Shows Fourth Consecutive Monthly Gain “The Retail Monitor calculation of core retail sales (excluding restaurants in addition to auto dealers and gas stations) was up 0.15% month over month in January and up 5.51% year over year. That compared with increases of 1.6% month over month and 3.58% year over year in December.” Press release

 

Forbes 250: America’s Greatest Innovators (Bezos #2, Sinegal #17, Blank #54) Ranked list

 

Italian tax police carried out searches on Thursday at Amazon’s headquarters in Milan in a new tax evasion investigation at Reuters/CNBC. “The sources said the Guardia di Finanza tax police also ​searched the homes of ​seven Amazon managers and ​the offices of auditing firm KPMG. The probe is a new strand of an investigation looking into whether Amazon had an undisclosed, permanent base in Italy from 2019 to 2024 and should ⁠therefore ‌have paid more taxes in the country.” Read more

 

CNBC releases its inaugural Inside Wealth Family Office 15 list (Bezos #2, Lukas Walton #5…) List/Read more

 

Unaffordable Housing Impacts How Americans Consume, Work and Invest at Bloomberg. “As housing prices climb out of reach, discouraged Americans may be reaching for crypto and other risky investments…When the incentive to strive fades, behaviors change.” Bloomberg subs.

 

It’s a Grocery Store, but Selling Food Isn’t the Point at NY Times “Happier Grocery opened in 2023 and debuted its event space, called the Apartment, the next year. It has hosted chess nights, family-style dinner parties with chefs, yoga and breath work classes, and knitting workshops led by Ella Emhoff, daughter of the former Second Gentleman of the United States, among other experiences. There is, of course, a podcast. It has an actual grocery store, too…” NY Times subs.

 

…The Booming Business of Luxury Grocery Stores at WSJ. “Swaddled in expensive parkas and slinging luxury purses, a winding queue of patrons waits for the handsome bouncer to let them inside…’I wanted people to feel like they just took a Xanax when they walk in,” Sammy Nussdorf (of Meadow Lane) says…In downtown Manhattan, there’s Happier Grocery and Rigor Hill Market, both blocks away from Meadow Lane. Uptown is home to a bounty of longer-running spots including Butterfield Market, Agata & Valentina, Zabar’s and Ouri’s Market.” WSJ subs.

 

Target kicked off New York Fashion Week with the Spring Beauty Studio event in its new retail concept store, Target SoHo Press release

 

Amazon Pharmacy to expand same-day delivery to nearly 4,500 US cities TechCrunch

 

Your Strategy Needs a Visual Metaphor at Harvard Business Review. “…metaphor and storytelling did not change what people understood; they changed how much they cared…insights point to what we call a “second level” of visualization power…Strong metaphors connect with people’s imagination. Story structures create continuity and momentum.” Read more

 

PR Week: AI 25, Class of 2026 (Daniel Danker – Walmart…) List

 

Sally Beauty is betting on dupe fragrances and instant delivery at Glossy. “Anchoring the category at Sally Beauty is Alt., a dupe fragrance brand known for its interpretations of luxury scents…“We’re doing [fragrance] in our unique way, which continues to be a value play,” Sally Beauty CEO Denise Paulonis told Glossy. “At $25 to $35, you’re getting the equivalent of a $300 fragrance, which fits perfectly with who our customers are.” Read more

 

US Foods Q4 net sales +3.3% Press release

 

A year into Trump tariffs, Chinese factories and ports are buzzing with activity at CNBC. “Major ports in China handled 40% more containers during the week ended Feb. 1 from a year earlier…That marks the fastest year-on-year growth in more than 12 months…ports in Ningbo…operated “beyond capacity, with individual vessels overbooked by more than 20%…” Read more

 

FCC clears Amazon Leo to boost satellite broadband coverage “The approval would add more than 4,500 satellites to the previously authorized constellation of 3,232 Gen 1 spacecraft, expanding coverage to the entire globe…” GeekWire

 

**Get your product, service or event in front of the most powerful decision-makers in the retail community. Contact: info@eyeonretail.net