Tipsheet: Kroger’s New Area | 2% Buy on Alexa | PriceSmart +0.2%
A Guide to Walmart’s Ragtag Alliance Against Amazon by Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. ““It’s the classic build-or-buy conundrum,” said Sucharita Kodali, an analyst at Forrester Research Inc. “Walmart needs to innovate, but it just doesn’t make sense for it to build much of it in-house.” Tiered subs.
Amazon introduces grocery pickup service at select Whole Foods locations by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. “…available only to Prime members, will initially be available at stores in Sacramento and Virginia Beach, but will expand to more cities through the year…For orders over $35, the grocery pickup service is free. Under $35, the pickup fee is $1.99…option (to) pay an additional $4.99 for a 30-minute pickup instead.” Read more
CVS Q2 Comp Sales: Front End -1.0%, Same Store Sales +5.9%, Pharmacy Same Store Sales +8.3% Press release
…CVS to offer nationwide telemedicine service through smartphone video by Nathan Bomey at USA Today. “The telemedicine service will be offered for diagnosis of conditions like colds and flu, skin issues and general wellness matters. The video visit service, which will be provided on smartphones, will cost $59 and can be paid by credit card or debit card.” Read more
Petco Expands to Canada through New Partnership with Canadian Tire “Canadian Tire shoppers will have access to Petco’s own WholeHearted brand – a premium pet food line…Additional Petco products will be added to Canadian Tire’s pet department in September.” Press release
Most people aren’t using Amazon’s Alexa to make purchases by Sean Wolfe at Business Insider. “According to a report published by The Information, only 2% of people who own Amazon Alexa-enabled devices like the Echo have used them to make an online purchase in 2018. Of those 2% who bought something, 90% of them didn’t make any additional purchases through Alexa.” Read more
Kroger Names Valerie Jabbar Group VP of Merchandising, Promotes Mike Murphy to Ralphs Division President Press release
PriceSmart July Comp Sales +0.2% Press release
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Lowe’s taps former Walmart/Sam’s Club exec Donald Frieson to head up supply chain at Talk Business. “Frieson left Sam’s Club in January shortly after John Furner took over as CEO for the departing Rosalind Brewer. Lowe’s said Frieson is responsible for the company’s distribution centers, logistics, global sourcing, transportation and delivery services.” Read more
HONOLULU – Hurricane Hector down to a Category 3 at Hawaii News Now. Read more
Toddler’s Popsicle-by-Air Marks Milestone in U.S. Drone Delivery by Alan Levin at Bloomberg Quint. “The Smiths were part of a U.S. Federal Aviation Administration-approved test that for the first time allowed flights over congested areas where people live, and ventured beyond the view of its operator on the ground. It was the most realistic public demonstration to date in the U.S.” Read more
Trump meets business leaders Tuesday night for dinner at Daily Mail. Pics/Read more
Kroger execs talk shop with Reuters by Lisa Baertlein “This year Kroger and Ocado will pick U.S. sites for the first three of 20 planned high-tech warehouses…Kroger plans to break into at least one new area where it does not have existing stores…CFO Mike Schlotman revealed for the first time that the company never made money on Home Shop, a roughly 30-year-old delivery service it shuttered in April.” Read more
Camping World Q2 Sales: Retail revenue +13.1%, Retail segment income -18.4% Press release
Etsy CEO Josh Silverman says it’s tackling one of the tech industry’s most stubborn problems — hiring and promoting more women at CNBC. “The focus on diversity is key for Etsy, as 87 percent of its 2 million sellers around the globe are women, as are the vast majority of its nearly 36 million buyers.” Read more
Boot Barn Q1 Comp Sales +11.6% Press release
Publix to open a second GreenWise Market in Boca Raton, making it the brand’s fourth location by Billy Jean Louis at South Florida Business Journal. “GreenWise is the grocery chain’s health, natural and organic products brand…Publix launched the GreenWise Market banner in the mid-2000s.” Read more
Meijer launches its own fashion brand called Ophelia Roe to “help women feel their best at work.” by Sari Lesk at Milwaukee Business Journal. Read more
Kroger explores sale of its Turkey Hill business “Turkey Hill produces a full line of popular iced teas, fruit drinks, milk, frozen dairy treats and a variety of ice cream in its Conestoga, Penn., manufacturing and distribution facility.” Press release
Tipsheet Extra Stories
Dad attacks man at Target after he allegedly snaps upskirt photos of his daughter
Retailers Rebuying Their Merchandise For Resale
Police officer uses taser on 11-year-old girl for stealing at a Kroger store
The Rubik’s cube, the most popular toy ever, gets redesigned
Walmart opens two new charging stations for electric vehicles in Arkansas
HGTV Buys ‘Brady Bunch’ House to Restore It “to Its 1970s Glory”
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