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Covering the latest news in the retail industry

  • October 17, 2025

    • Toys’R’Us has announced the opening of 10 flagship stores, in addition to 20 seasonal stores, by year’s end, in partnership with Go! Retail Group. “Through both flagship stores and seasonal holiday shops, we are delivering the same experience nationwide, strengthening our presence while meeting consumer demand during the most important season of the year,” Gideon Schlessinger, CEO of Go! Retail Group, said (via Chain Store Age).
    • Electronic Arts has sold more than 7 million copies of its latest entry in the “Battlefield” series, “Battlefield 6,” in the three-day time span since its launch. EA is hoping the success of “Battlefield 6” will help dislodge competitor “Call of Duty,” published by Microsoft-owned Activision Blizzard, from the top of the charts (via Reuters).
    • Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, following an episode of “Mad Money,” indicated that he felt the company’s China business could be worth more than $10 billion. We expect the value of the China business to Starbucks to be north of $10 billion. That includes the upfront investment by a potential partner, Starbucks’ retained stake in the China business, and future royalty payments,” Niccol wrote (via CNBC).
    • The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is warning that the government shutdown is harming small business and the broader economy. “The government shutdown is harming small businesses and costing American economic growth that can’t be recovered,” said Neil Bradley, EVP and chief policy officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (via FOX Business).
    • EssilorLuxottica stated that a good amount of its Q3 revenue growth could be attributed to its partnership with Meta, selling Ray-Ban smart glasses to consumers looking for a tech edge when it comes to eyewear. “Clearly there is a lift coming from Ray-Ban Meta wearables as a product category,” CFO Stefano Grassi said (via CNBC).
    • Amazon is expanding its pay-per-visit telehealth services to children aged 2 through 11. “This service makes it easier for families to connect with trusted family care providers, day or night, saving time and money while providing peace of mind and helping kids feel better sooner,” Bergen Elsa, GM for Amazon One Medical Pay-per-visit, said (via Chain Store Age).

  • October 16, 2025

    • Nestle is slated to cut ~16,000 jobs worldwide over the next two years, citing automation and the aim to slash costs as the primary motivators. “The world is changing, and Nestlé needs to change faster. This will include making hard but necessary decisions to reduce headcount,” CEO Philipp Navratil said (via CNN Business).
    • Gen Alpha consumer data indicates that the majority (53%) receive an allowance, and of those funds, the most popular purchase categories include snacks, entertainment, electronics, and beverages. YouTube is the most popular social media platform for the youngest consumer cohort, followed by TikTok (via Chain Store Age).
    • Retail returns are expected to total ~$850 billion this year, or 15.8% of total annual sales, falling from $890 billion, or 16.9% of total annual sales, last year. Increasing expectations around generous return policies are set against retailers’ focus on reducing fraud, bracketing, and excessive returns (via Chain Store Age).
    • IKEA saw its annual sales tumble for the second year in a row, with the furniture retailer engaged in a program of planned price cuts to appeal to beleaguered consumers. IKEA has slashed prices by 10% on average, hoping to capture market share versus competitors (via Reuters).
    • Walmart U.S. CEO John Furner has gone on the record as stating that the American consumer was showing resilience, spending at a healthy rate despite ongoing economic headwinds. “We see (a) resilient customer that makes really smart choices for what’s right for them and their families at the time they’re shopping,” Furner said (via Reuters).
    • Stellantis has stated plans to invest $13 billion to boost its U.S. manufacturing footprint over the next four years. “Accelerating growth in the U.S. has been a top priority since my first day. Success in America is not just good for Stellantis in the U.S. – it makes us stronger everywhere,” Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa said (via FOX Business).

  • October 15, 2025

    • Deloitte is now predicting a sharp drop in U.S. holiday spend this year, with consumer spending over the holidays projected to fall by 10% on average, YoY. Surveyed consumers aim to spend an average of $1,595 this season, with the spending pullback most evident among members of Gen Z (via Chain Store Age).
    • LVMH shares surged on Oct. 15 as improved demand in China fed into a larger narrative which also saw other luxury brands’ share prices gain — adding ~$80 billion to European luxury stocks’ valuations (via Reuters).
    • Sam’s Club has expanded its hours — in most cases from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. — but is also now enticing new sign-ups via an exclusive deal on club memberships ($15 versus $35 normally) and Plus memberships ($50 versus $60 regularly) until Oct. 31 (via press release).
    • Walmart is engaging in the largest-ever deployment of Internet of Things (IoT), slated to deploy millions of IoT devices throughout its supply chain and in stores. Full deployment is expected to employ ~90 million sensors (via CNBC).
    • BUILT Bar is reportedly eying a sale, according to sources familiar with the matter. Sources claim that the protein bar company has hired investment bank Houlihan Lokey on the sales process (via Reuters).
    • Krispy Kreme has expanded its international presence, opening its first location in Spain, in Madrid, with two more shops slated to open before 2025 draws to a close. The plan calls for more than 50 locations to be installed over the course of the next four years (via Chain Store Age).

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