June 20, 2025

  • Darden Restaurants beat earnings and revenue expectations for the quarter, driven by strong same-store sales at Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse. The company also announced a $1 billion share repurchase program and is exploring strategic alternatives for its Bahama Breeze brand (via CNBC).
  • Gap Inc. CEO Richard Dickson announced at Cannes Lions that the company is moving away from overwhelming promotional tactics to focus on more refined storytelling and brand revitalization (via Business Insider).
  • Meta and Oakley have teamed up to launch Oakley Meta HSTN, a new line of AI-powered glasses combining hands-free video, open-ear audio, and built-in Meta AI. The first model will be available for preorder on July 11 for $499 (via Meta).
  • Tractor Supply Company plans to open 90 new stores by the end of 2025 — bringing its total to about 3,200 nationwide — as part of its successful “Life Out Here” strategy (via Men’s Journal).
  • Home Depot has entered the race to acquire building-products distributor GMS, setting the stage for a potential bidding war with dealmaker Brad Jacobs, whose firm QXO offered $5 billion earlier this week (via The Wall Street Journal).
  • Ford is developing a new low-cost EV platform aimed at matching the cost structure of Chinese automakers, signaling its intent to compete globally in the affordable EV market (via Electrek).
  • UK retail sales fell 2.7% in May — the sharpest drop since December 2023 — as supermarkets saw a “dismal” month and consumers cut back on spending due to inflation (via BBC).
  • CarMax reported stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings, driven by a 9% increase in retail used vehicle sales and a 7.5% rise in revenue from those sales, even as average vehicle prices declined (via Investopedia).
  • Wegmans is opening three new stores in 2025, including its first in Connecticut, and planning additional locations in North Carolina and Pennsylvania through 2026 (via FOX Business).
  • Trump’s new tariffs have not yet caused a significant spike in consumer prices, with inflation remaining low and most retail items unaffected. Economists warn, however, that price increases may still be coming as retailers deplete pre-tariff inventory (via CNN).