Walmart CEO Doug McMillon keeps fending off Amazon for the top spot on the Fortune 500. Can he and the mega-retailer continue their streak? at Fortune/Yahoo. “On an April morning at Walmart’s headquarters, Doug McMillon was getting the Ryan Gosling treatment. The occasion was a meeting to celebrate about 150 of Walmart’s long-tenured employees; the giant retailer holds a few such gatherings every year at its campus in Bentonville, Ark…But McMillon was the one being mobbed like a movie star, as coworkers rushed up to ask for autographs or get a selfie with their photogenic CEO.” Read more

 

Sam’s Club Top Marketer Resigns at Ad Age. “Ciara Anfield has resigned as chief membership and marketing officer of Sam’s Club, a spokesman for the retailer confirmed.” Ad Age subs.

 

FTC preparing lawsuit over alcohol pricing at Politico. “In recent weeks, FTC staff investigating Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits have recommended a lawsuit under the Robinson-Patman Act, some of the people said. The 1936 law is meant to prevent suppliers from offering favorable pricing to certain retail customers over others — typically meaning large chain stores over mom and pop outlets. The FTC has not brought a case under the law in well over 20 years.” Read more

 

Lowe’s is in the kitchen with Apple at HBS Dealer. “Lowe’s is offering an in-store, Apple Vision Pro-powered experience, with a pilot set to launch in three test markets this month. Customers can try Lowe’s Style Studio for Apple Vision Pro firsthand, allowing them to visualize and design their dream kitchens using spatial computing and the help of a Lowe’s associate.” Read more

 

Top ten companies on the 2024 Fortune 500 list (Walmart #1, Amazon #2, CVS Health #6) Press release

 

…2024 Fortune 500 – Fortune subs.

 

Retailers Hate That You Buy Big Things on Your Laptop at WSJ. “…this past holiday season was the first time mobile-revenue share surpassed desktop, reaching 61% on Christmas Day, according to data from Adobe. But that increase masks what shoppers say they want, particularly when it comes to large purchases. They often call these “big-screen purchases”—shopping done on computers.” WSJ subs.

 

The 2024 Axios Harris Poll 100 reputation rankings (Costco #11, Amazon #16, Kroger #29, Home Depot #39…) Top 100 list

 

Minneapolis is the Most Laid-Back City In America at Study Finds. Top 5 list

 

Dollar General’s self-checkout exit is bigger than expected at Supermarket News. “The retailer had already converted 9,000 stores away from self-checkout with the intention of  preventing theft, and in May an additional 3,000 locations were stripped of their self-checkout lanes.” Read more

 

Vallarta Supermarkets Introduces Buy Now, Pay Later Option at Progressive Grocer