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...
Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle maker Zoox is reportedly seeking an exemption from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that would allow it to operate as many as 2,500 of its vehicles on roads in the United States. The company’s current approval only covers vehicles designed for...
The Home Depot has launched a digital platform that helps professional renovators, remodelers and specialty tradespeople plan, manage and execute complex projects. The new Project Planning tool helps these pros manage their projects through a single supplier and collaborate with Home Depot staff in real...