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News Stories
Covering the latest news in the retail industry
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June 26, 2025
- Walmart is testing “dark stores” — fulfillment centers closed to the public — in Dallas and Bentonville to speed up online delivery and better compete with Amazon (via Bloomberg).
- Xiaomi has unveiled its new YU7 electric SUV at a price lower than Tesla’s Model Y, intensifying China’s EV price war. The launch drew over 200,000 pre-orders within minutes (via CNBC).
- Walgreens reported higher sales and narrower losses in its latest quarter, driven by improvements in its U.S. healthcare segment and cost-cutting efforts, as it prepares to go private following its $10 billion sale to Sycamore (via The Wall Street Journal).
- The Trump Organization has removed “Made in the USA” claims from its new T1 smartphone amid skepticism about domestic manufacturing, replacing the phrasing with “American-Proud Design” (via CNBC).
- H&M shares jumped as the retailer saw stronger June sales and signs of a summer rebound, even as it faces weak quarterly results and rising tariff costs. The company may raise prices to stay competitive against fast-fashion rivals (via CNBC).
- Daydream, a new AI-powered fashion app launched by retail veteran Julie Bornstein, makes online shopping easier and more personal by acting like a chatty personal stylist. It uses products from 8,000 brands and is backed by $50 million in funding (via Fast Company).
- Walmart is updating its image with a new $1 billion headquarters, tech features like drone delivery and AI shopping, and more luxury products. The company aims to attract top workers and focus on digital sales, which are now profitable (via The New York Times).
- Amazon plans to invest £40 billion ($54 billion) in the U.K. over the next three years to build new warehouses, upgrade facilities, and create thousands of jobs, a move welcomed by the British government as part of its economic growth strategy (via CNBC).
- Spirit Halloween is hiring 50,000 seasonal workers to staff over 1,500 store locations across the U.S. and Canada for the 2025 Halloween season (via Spirit Halloween).
- IKEA is slashing restaurant prices by up to 50% and offering free kids’ meals to attract budget-conscious shoppers. The company is also expanding its product range for older consumers in China and planning 58 new store openings worldwide (via CNBC).
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June 25, 2025
- Target is testing a factory-direct shipping model similar to Temu and SHEIN, aiming to offer more low-cost goods and boost sales amid ongoing demand challenges. The initiative focuses on non-food items (via Bloomberg).
- CVS faces multiple lawsuits from Louisiana for misusing customer data to send political texts and using its market power to raise drug prices and hurt independent pharmacies. The state wants penalties and refunds, but CVS denies any wrongdoing (via AP News).
- McDonald’s and Krispy Kreme are ending their U.S. partnership by July, citing “unsustainable” costs tied to limited rollout and low demand (via New York Post).
- FedEx beat earnings and revenue expectations for Q4 2025 and announced plans to cut an additional $1 billion in costs next fiscal year after meeting its $4 billion savings target (via CNBC).
- Tesla’s car sales in Europe fell nearly 28% in May — its fifth straight monthly drop — as the company struggles with lasting brand damage tied to Elon Musk’s political ties (via New York Post).
- ASOS is banning shoppers who make too many returns, sparking backlash from loyal customers who say they rely on ordering multiple sizes due to inconsistent fits (via BBC).
- Microsoft is planning major Xbox layoffs next week as part of wider company cuts, linked to restructuring and slowing growth, while prepping for the next Xbox generation (via The Verge).
- Amazon was ranked the worst UK grocery retailer for supplier relations for the second year in a row, despite some improvement. The results come as regulators investigate Amazon over potential violations related to delayed supplier payments (via Reuters).
- Anthropic did not violate copyright law by using published books to train its chatbot, Claude, a federal judge ruled, but the company must face trial over allegations it downloaded pirated copies. The decision is a major win for AI firms while leaving open questions about how training data is obtained (via The Washington Post).
- Hermès is raising the bar for luxury brand engagement with a free, sold-out immersive experience in NYC that gamifies its heritage and craftsmanship. The “Mystery at the Grooms” installation emphasizes emotion over transactions (via Forbes).
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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).
