Tipsheet: Bed Bath -6.7% | Kroger -Mid Mgmt | WM Healthcare Test
Bed Bath & Beyond Q2 comp sales -6.7% Press release
…Bed Bath & Beyond increases projected store closures to 60 by Kelly Tyko at USA Today. “…up 20 from the April estimate of 40 stores…Forty of the stores closing will be Bed Bath & Beyond stores and 20 will be stores in the company’s other concepts.” Read more
Kroger is looking to lay off several store employees holding middle management roles at Fox Business. Read more
Walmart to test programs for U.S. workers to cut its healthcare costs at Reuters. “In Colorado, Wisconsin and Minnesota, Walmart will expand a program that allows patients to video chat with a doctor from home for $4 per chat. The retailer will also offer workers access to fitness clubs for $9 per bi-weekly pay period and add a predictable co-pay of $35 for every visit to a primary care physician under its most popular medical plan.” Read more
Shoppers have more options to return online purchases by Anne D’Innocenzio at AP. “Shoppers are increasingly able to have a return get picked up inside their home. Walmart says it will launch such a return service later this year but didn’t offer any details.” Read more
Zulily unveils price comparison feature to compete with Amazon and Walmart by Taylor Soper at GeekWire. “Zulily is also offering a price-matching promise for items that are higher-priced on its site compared to Amazon or Walmart. The strategy is part of a “pilot” that lasts until Dec. 19, said John Lohnas, Zulily’s chief merchant who joined the company in May after nearly a decade at Amazon where he ran apparel and footwear businesses.” Read more
Amazon sites in France and India should be added to US counterfeit watchlist, says apparel trade group at CNBC. Read more
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WEGMANS OPENING RECORD – More than 3,000 people lined up outside the new Wegmans in Raleigh before dawn for the grand opening by Marcia Greenwood at Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. “Previously (Wegmans Natale said), the grand opening crowd record was 2,400 people, held by Wegmans’ Northborough, Massachusetts, store, which launched in 2011.” Read more/Video
The BrandLab auctions off 1 hour meetings with Target’s Rick Gomez and others Read more
New Tesco boss isn’t the obvious choice for chief executive by Nils Patley at The Guardian. “The surprise is that the Tesco chairman, John Allan, couldn’t find a replacement within the ranks. One can’t judge Ken Murphy until he arrives, but a 20-year career at Boots and its US-based parent may not be ideal preparation for a scrap with Aldi et al.” Read more
The Trump administration slapped 25% tariffs on French wine, Italian cheese and single-malt Scotch whisky — but spared Italian wine, pasta and olive oil at Reuters. Read more
Meet Triple Five Group: The real estate developers behind New Jersey’s ‘American Dream’ mega mall at CNBC. Read more
Target’s back rooms are becoming unsafe, overcrowded ‘nightmares’ as the company cuts shifts and hours, workers say by Shoshy Cimint at Business Insider. “Business Insider spoke with 28 former and current Target workers, 13 of whom said they felt that the shift changes made their back rooms an unsafe work environment.” Read more
Tipsheet Extra
Walmart continues process of relocating workers out of future corporate campus footprint
Amazon workers in Sacramento are protesting the company’s strict time-off rules
Empty shelves at numerous Fry’s Electronics stores spark concern
Chick-fil-A drive-throughs now slowest among big chains, study finds
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt believes biology is the next frontier in computing
Man arrested for cutting the brakes on over 100 electric scooters
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