Contactless Payments Pave the Path Forward

CSA
Contactless payments are becoming mainstream in the convenience store industry, as more retailers upgrade to offer the service. . . . more

Office Depot adds on-demand delivery option timed for back-to-school

CSA
Parents and students have a new way to quickly receive online orders from Office Depot. . . . more

Simon names new treasurer

CSA
Donald G. Frey has been made an executive VP at Simon and named treasurer of the nation’s premier mall operator. . . . more

Yesway opens concept store for college kids

CSA
Students at a major Southwest university will have a new convenience shopping option this fall. . . . more

The Quiznos of Tomorrow Has Arrived

QSR
Quiznos is familiar with being an industry disruptor, says Brent Phillip, vice president of marketing and digital experience for parent REGO Restaurant Group. . . . more

Panera Brands names new CFO

CSA
Panera Brands Inc. has named a new finance head. . . . more

Meet the New Scalable Franchise Model from Pet Wants

1851Franchise.com
Founded more than a decade ago, Pet Wants, the only national provider of pet food freshly delivered to customers, has become a household name for pet owners and franchise professionals across the U.S. . . . more

Potbelly Has a Plan to Streamline Kitchen Operations

QSR
After spending 18 months elevating its consumer-facing tech stack with a new website and app, Potbelly is turning its attention toward streamlining back of house. . . . more

Dutch Bros. on track for 130 new stores in 2022; Q2 revenue jumps

CSA
Dutch Bros Inc. isn’t pulling back on its expansion. . . . more

BP expands its ampm convenience store brand to East Coast

CSA
There’s a new player moving into the already competitive East Coast convenience store market. . . . more

MA Sales Tax Holiday 2022: What To Know

Patch
For the most part, you won't pay full price on anything this weekend in Massachusetts. . . . more

Warby Parker remains committed to store expansion; cuts guidance

CSA
Warby Parker’s loss widened in the second quarter amid increased expenses. . . . more

Sears Holdings reaches $175M settlement with Lampert and company

Retail Dive
After nearly four years in bankruptcy, Sears Holdings and its one-time creditors said they have reached a settlement with its former CEO and majority owner Eddie Lampert and other investors. . . . more

Petco reorganizes leadership team, names new COO

Retail Dive
In a number of leadership announcements, Petco said on Tuesday that Chief Operating Officer and President of Services Mike Nuzzo will exit his position after more than seven years with the company, according to a press release. . . . more

Online grocery sales increased 17% in July

Supermarket Dive
Online grocery sales in the U.S. increased 17% in July year over year, to $7.8 billion, as inflation and COVID-19 anxieties continue to drive increases in the channel, according to the latest monthly e-commerce report from Brick Meets Click and Mercatus. . . . more

Whole Foods co-founder plans to launch vegetarian restaurant chain

Restaurant Dive
John Mackey, co-founder of Whole Foods Market, plans to build a plant-based restaurant chain. . . . more

Ahold Delhaize’s U.S. net sales climb 7.7% in Q2

Supermarket News
Global food retailer Ahold Delhaize built on a solid start to fiscal 2022 in its U.S. business with strong net, comparable and online sales growth for the second quarter. . . . more

Primark continues expansion into new states; announces price freeze

CSA
Primark has signed three new leases, bringing it into two states, as it continues to slowly but steadily grow its U.S. footprint. . . . more

The 25 fastest-growing retailers are …

CSA
Harbor Freight Tools led an annual listing of the fastest-growing retail companies. . . . more

Placer.ai: What top malls are doing to win traffic

CSA
Malls are dying?  Not the ones that succeed in turning themselves into “The Third Place.” . . . more

Ace Hardware continues store, distribution center expansion

CSA
Ace Hardware continues to grow its portfolio. . . . more

Westside Pizza focuses on fresh food, franchising

Pizza Marketplace.com
Westside Pizza is a regional chain with 38 stores. . . . more

QDOBA to be Purchased by Parent of Modern Market Eatery

QSR
Butterfly Equity, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm, announced Tuesday an agreement to purchase QDOBA, the country's largest franchisor in the Mexican fast casual segment. . . . more

First Look: Abercrombie & Fitch debuts new store format

CSA
Abercrombie & Fitch has unveiled a new store experience inspired by how customers feel before a long weekend. . . . more

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet in milestone store opening

CSA
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet isn’t letting up on expansion. . . . more

Aldi leads in private-label volume, growth

Supermarket News
It will come as no surprise that four of the top five private brands are found in retail giant Walmart’s portfolio, but when it comes to leading private-label share in volume and growth, nobody beats small-format discount grocer Aldi. . . . more

Altitude Trampoline Park Fast-tracks Growth With Three New Park Openings in 10 Days

Franchising.com
Altitude Trampoline Park, one of the world’s largest family entertainment brands with more than 85 parks open or in development, recently opened three new locations in just 10 days. . . . more

Fat Brands plans to open 900 new restaurants in 5 years

Restaurant Dive
Fat Brands plans to add 900 units over the next five years, the company confirmed in an email to Restaurant Dive. . . . more

Report: Mall giant sees no downturn in store openings

CSA
Inflation worries aren’t stopping retailers from opening new stores. . . . more

Dockside Restaurant in Wakefield Is Becoming Floramo's

NBC 10 Boston
Last month, it was reported that the owner of a beloved spot for steak tips and ribs was taking over the kitchen of a restaurant in the northern suburbs, and now we have learned that the kitchen isn't the only thing changing. . . . more

Chipotle on track to reach $3.5B in digital sales in 2022

Restaurant Dive
Chipotle’s digital sales are expected to reach $3.5 billion by the end of the year, CEO Brian Niccol said Tuesday during the company’s second quarter earnings call. In 2021, digital sales were worth $3.4 billion.  . . . more

This is the last Sears for hundreds of miles. What can it tell us about the state of malls?

Retail Dive
Let’s say you’ve been tasked with explaining what a traditional shopping mall is to someone from the distant past, or distant future, who has stumbled into our timeline. . . . more

Analysts: McDonald's McPlant Test Ends on Low Note

CSA
McDonald's completed its test of the McPlant, without any announcement of a future national rollout. . . . more

Chipotle plans 4% menu increase in August

Retail Dive
Chipotle plans to increase menu prices in August by about 4% to help offset inflation, especially from dairy, tortillas and packaging, as well as from additional wage pressures around the country, CFO Jack Hartung said Tuesday during the company’s second quarter earnings call. . . . more

Best Buy the latest to warn of sales, profit declines

Retail Dive
Best Buy on Wednesday joined other retailers in lowering its guidance in key metrics, saying that demand for electronics has tempered. . . . more

Olympia Sports to close all its stores

CSA
Liquidation sales have begun at Olympia Sports. . . . more

Will Macy’s off-mall bet pay off?

Retail Dive
n a sign that Macy’s may be realizing that its massive, mall-based operation isn’t working so well anymore — if it ever did — the department store last week said that it’s speeding up the development of a fleet of small-format stores located away from traditional enclosed malls. . . . more

Nordstrom Rack expanding in two states

CSA
Nordstrom is expanding the footprint of its off-price banner, Nordstrom Rack. . . . more

Old Navy makes big price promise

CSA
Old Navy is making a pitch to inflation-weary consumers just in time for back-to-school shopping. . . . more

Dick’s Sporting Goods goes back to school – on Roblox

CSA
Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. is partnering with a popular digital gaming platform for its new back-to-school promotion. . . . more

Giant Food to offer reusable packaging option

CSA
Giant Food will provide durable, reusable containers at select stores in the Washington, D.C. metro area starting in fall 2022. . . . more

Best Buy unveils small-format, ‘digital-first’ store

CSA
Best Buy has opened its first-ever, small-format digitally focused store as part of its test of new store models. . . . more

The Little Gym Hits the Growth Trail as Top Franchise

Franchising.com
The Little Gym is primed for supercharged franchise expansion as the world's premier enrichment and physical development center for children ages four months through 12, having signed nearly 20 new franchise agreements in the first half of 2022. . . . more

Lids opening new store concept with 12 locations — here’s where

CSA
Lids is tapping into the lucrative college sports market. . . . more

Target building new new delivery centers for faster, more efficient shipping

CSA
Target Corp. continues to expand its regional delivery, or sortation, center model that streamlines the process of fulfilling digital orders. . . . more

What do drive-thru customers want?

CSA
A new consumer survey indicates ways retailers can make the drive-thru experience more satisfying for customers. . . . more

Eddie Bauer jumping into resale

CSA
Eddie Bauer is the latest retailer to expand into the growing resale market. . . . more

Gucci says ciao to Ohio

CSA
San Francisco? Check. Boston? Check. Honolulu? Check. Fifth Avenue? Check. Columbus? . . . more

David’s Bridal launches shoppable TikTok campaign

CSA
The nation’s largest bridal retailer continues to expand its omnichannel capabilities with commerce-driven content on TikTok. . . . more

Former mall in Taunton may become a FedEx hub

Boston Globe
An arm of Memphis-based FedEx Corp. is looking to build a 560,000-square-foot distribution center at the site of the former Silver City Galleria in Taunton, according to documentation filed with the city. . . . more