July 23, 2025

  • Back-to-school shoppers appear to be increasingly interested in shopping brick-and-mortar locations, according to ICSC survey data. A full 59% of respondents expect to do the bulk of their BTS shopping in physical stores, contrasted against 17% who expect to shop fully online (via Chain Store Age).
  • Walmart has reiterated its position of aggressively taking on bad actors and counterfeit merchandise seeking a foothold on the Walmart.com marketplace. The retailer has committed to enhancing controls, AI oversight, and secure onboarding of vendors to improve the experience for online shoppers (via Walmart).
  • Hershey has indicated price hikes on its chocolate products are coming, telling retail partners to expect an “lower double-digit range” increase from its side. Rising cocoa prices were underscored as the culprit driving the price increase (via CNN Business).
  • Tesla is slated to deliver Q2 earnings following stock market close on July 23. Analysis consensus projects an EPS decline of 23%, to $0.40, and a revenue fall of 13%, to $22.28 billion (via Investor’s Business Daily).
  • Target has announced a “Back-to-School-idays” sales event featuring discounts of up to 30% on related items. The sale runs from July 27 through August 2, and can be shopped via the retailer’s physical stores or online (via Target).
  • American Eagle has kicked off a new ad campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney in advance of the lucrative back-to-school season. A curated collection, titled “Syd’s Edit,” and a limited-edition jacket are just some of the exclusive offerings spurred by the campaign (via WWD).
  • McDonald’s is enjoying a surge in traffic due to the re-introduction of its iconic snack wraps. According to data, more than 90% of those who bought a wrap would repeat that behavior, and traffic has climbed since the wraps were brought back to restaurant menus (via CNBC).
  • JCPenney is also hopping on the BTS ad campaign bandwagon, launching its “Back-to-it” campaign in conjunction with its successful “Yes, JCPenney” initiative. Several ad spots are slated to run on traditional TV and online platforms (via MediaPost).
  • Johanna Foods, a U.S.-based importer and seller of orange juice, has sued the Trump administration over the threatened 50% tariffs on imported goods from Brazil. The company alleges that said tariffs would result in a $70 million hit to its business (via CNN Business).
  • Del Taco is in the midst of a phased 17-location reopening plan spanning the state of Colorado. The reopenings occur as Del Taco parent Jack in the Box looks into a sale of the Mexican chain (via Chain Store Age).