Electronic shelf labels are reportedly raising concerns among some lawmakers. The lawmakers fear that this technology would make it easier for grocery chains to use dynamic pricing, a strategy in which they could raise prices during times of high demand, CNBC reported Friday (Oct. 3)....
The Walmart-Amazon rivalry is becoming less a head-to-head contest than a clash of ecosystems. And the direction of travel across these retail ecosystems is unmistakable: toward a more digitized, sensor-aware and automated retail model, one that blends the physical presence of stores with data-driven logistics in...
Amazon is merging two of its private-label brands to attract bargain-hunting grocery shoppers. The company launched Amazon Grocery, a new private-label brand combining its Amazon Fresh and Happy Belly brands, according to a Wednesday (Oct. 1) press release. Most products are priced at less than...
Amazon unveiled the next generation of several of its devices Tuesday (Sept. 30), including Echo, Fire TV and Ring, that incorporate the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, Alexa+. The four new Echo devices are purpose-built for Alexa+, the company said in a Tuesday press release....
America is embracing the rise of the small, drive-thru coffee chain. As the Financial Times reported Sunday (Sept. 28), hundreds of these locations — in buildings “the size of shipping containers” are cropping up around the U.S. They’re run by drive-thru chains such as Dutch...
Walmart is reportedly preparing for artificial intelligence (AI) to transform its workforce. “It’s very clear that AI is going to change literally every job,” CEO Doug McMillon said last week, per a Friday (Sept. 26) Wall Street Journal report. The report characterized McMillon’s comments, at...
Uber Technologies reportedly expects to increase its grocery and retail deliveries, with the annual run rate of that segment of its business reaching $12.5 billion in gross bookings by the end of the year. The company made this projection as it has seen these non-restaurant...
Starbucks is eliminating 900 jobs and closing stores as part of its turnaround plan. The coffee chain plans to decrease its store count by 1%, leaving it with 18,300 locations in the United States and Canada. Eventually, Starbucks plans to add more stores and renovate...
With fall in full swing and the holidays fast approaching, Amazon and Walmart are once again maneuvering to define the competitive terms of the season. Announcements this past week point to diverging strategies but converging objectives: building ecosystems that lock in customers, stretching infrastructure to...