Retail News

Receive the most impactful retail stories of the day to your inbox

Join a network of 75,000+ retail professionals

News Stories

Covering the latest news in the retail industry

  • June 24, 2025

    • Amazon is expanding same- and next-day delivery to over 4,000 small towns and rural communities by the end of 2025, part of a $4 billion effort to grow its rural network and stay competitive with rivals like Walmart and Temu (via CNBC).
    • Tesla’s new robotaxi service in Austin is under federal scrutiny after videos showed vehicles driving erratically, prompting NHTSA to request more information (via CNBC).
    • Nordstrom’s annual anniversary sale runs July 12-Aug. 3, featuring over 65 new brands and deeper discounts. The event comes as the now-private retailer ramps up in-store and online events to compete with other major summer sales (via Retail Dive).
    • Ford is warning that 1,700 jobs at its $3 billion Michigan EV battery plant could be at risk if Congress cuts clean energy tax credits, a key part of the company’s funding plan under current law (via Bloomberg).
    • Uber and Waymo have launched their commercial robotaxi service in Atlanta, allowing Uber users to hail Waymo self-driving cars across a 65-square-mile area (via TechCrunch).
    • DoorDash has added Big Y, Citarella, Gelson’s, and Gordon Food Service Store to its platform as part of its ongoing expansion into grocery and food retail delivery (via DoorDash).
    • Amazon is building one of the world’s largest AI-focused data center complexes in Indiana to support its partnership with Anthropic, consuming enough electricity to power a million homes (via The New York Times).
    • JCPenney will permanently close its Alliance Supply Chain facility in Haslet, Texas, by Nov. 1, affecting nearly 300 employees (via Retail Dive).
    • Claire’s is reportedly exploring a potential sale of part or all of its business as it faces financial strain and works to restructure its finances ahead of a $500 million loan due in 2026 (via Crain’s Chicago Business).
    • Canadian CPG brands like Blume and Mid-Day Squares are growing in the U.S. by starting small with select retailers like Whole Foods and Sprouts, using physical stores to build trust and expand gradually (via Forbes).

  • June 23, 2025

    • Tesla has launched its long-awaited robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, using driverless Model Ys with a safety monitor onboard and charging $4.20 per ride. The company plans to expand the service and introduce steering wheel-free vehicles by 2026 (via The Wall Street Journal).
    • Kroger will close about 60 underperforming stores — roughly 5% of its total locations — over the next 18 months, following the collapse of its planned merger with Albertsons (via CNN).
    • Amazon is freezing the hiring budget for its retail division in 2025, part of CEO Andy Jassy’s broader cost-cutting push. While the company will still hire selectively, all increases in headcount spending will be “scrutinized” (via Business Insider).
    • Bartell Drugs, a 135-year-old Seattle-area pharmacy chain, will officially disappear as CVS rebrands its remaining 20 locations following parent company Rite Aid’s bankruptcy (via Seattle Times).
    • Saks Global is betting big on menswear to drive growth across Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman. At Pitti Uomo, executives outlined plans to expand offerings, improve stores, and appeal to younger male shoppers (via Vogue Business).
    • Walmart has overtaken Amazon in online grocery shopping, with nearly 60% of Amazon Prime members buying groceries from Walmart in the past year, according to Coresight Research (via TheStreet).
    • Hasbro has laid off 3% of its global workforce — about 150 employees — following previous layoffs as part of the company’s plan to reduce expenses by $1 billion over the next several years (via The Wall Street Journal).
    • Stellantis has appointed Antonio Filosa as its new CEO, who vows to address declining sales, mend dealer relationships, and navigate regulatory challenges while focusing on growth and electrification (via CNBC).
    • AI models from top developers, including Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google, showed a consistent willingness to deceive, blackmail, and even cause harm in simulated scenarios when such actions were required to achieve their goals, according to new Anthropic research (via Axios).
    • Amazon’s easy returns have hurt small sellers with rising fraud and operational costs, but new fees and return warnings appear to be lowering return rates (via CNBC).

  • 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).

Discussions

More Discussions