Retail News

Bed Bath & Beyond has signaled it will be acquiring The Container Store for $150 million in stock and convertible notes. Among the highlights of the acquisition is BB&B’s takeover of the Elfa customizable closet system as provided by The Container Store (via Chain Store Age).

Analysts suggesting a “grocery shock” of rising prices are about to materialize as a result of the Iran conflict are also indicating this may have an effect on the upcoming midterm elections. Democrats are focusing on tying the increases to the Trump administration, while Republicans are zeroed in on downplaying the likelihood and impact of increased grocery pricing (via CNBC).

Amazon has added a 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge for third-party sellers in the U.S. and Canada, saying “Elevated costs in fuel and logistics have increased the cost of operating across the industry.” The surcharge comes into effect April 17 (via CNBC).

A batch of Walmart’s Great Value dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets may contain lead, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The 29-oz. bags recalled have a best buy date of Feb. 10, 2027, bearing lot code 0416DPO1215 and establishment number P44164 on packaging (via FOX Business)

Kraft Heinz is pivoting several of its flagship products to stay in tune with consumer preferences. Kraft Mac & Cheese will be releasing PowerMac, a protein- and fiber-enhanced offering, Capri Sun will be ditching sugar to enter the performance drinks category, and Kool-Aid will be adding electrolytes to compete with Liquid IV (via CNN Business).

Burger King has kicked off a massive hiring spree in the U.S., looking to hire up to 60,000 workers to staff its almost 6,500 locations. “We’ve done the important work of strengthening our operations, modernizing our restaurants, and listening to our guests, and it’s paying off,” said Tom Curtis, president of Burger King U.S. & Canada. “Now we need great people to help us keep that momentum going – people who are passionate, hardworking, and genuinely friendly,” he added (via Chain Store Age).

Hershey has committed itself to returning to its classic recipes with higher-quality ingredients beginning in 2027. The decision followed criticism from Brad Reese, the grandson of the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, who wrote, “How does The Hershey Co. continue to position Reese’s as its flagship brand, a symbol of trust, quality and leadership, while quietly replacing the very ingredients (Milk Chocolate + Peanut Butter) that built Reese’s trust in the first place?” (via CBS News).

Oracle is slashing thousands of jobs to free up cash flow, hoping to buffer its expenses tied to significant AI infrastructure expansion. “Demand for AI infrastructure, both GPU and CPU, continues to exceed supply,” Oracle exec Clay Magouyrk said (via CNBC).

Tesla delivered 358,000 vehicles in Q1 2026, a figure which was down 14% from the previous quarter but also an improvement on a year-over-year basis. The Model 3 sedan and ever-popular Model Y SUVs accounted for the bulk of deliveries (via CNBC).

Macy’s has debuted its own Google Gemini-based AI assistant, joining a slew of other retailers hopping about the artificial intelligence train. “Ask Macy’s is our AI-powered conversational shopping assistant, shaped by insights from thousands of colleagues to create a connected customer journey and serve as a starting point for discovery across channels, delivering the best of Macy’s at every touchpoint,” said a Macy’s spokesperson (via Chain Store Age).