10 Stores That No Longer Exist in Maine but We Wish Still Did

Seacoast Current

Maine businesses come and go as the times change, but almost every one who grew up in this state has fond memories of stores they or their parents used to shop out that are no longer around. . . . more

More Americans took on holiday debt this season, owing an average $1,249

CNBC Business

More Americans got into the spirit this holiday, even if it meant spending more than they could afford.. . . more

Albertsons pilots AI-driven salad bars

Retail Dive
Albertsons is piloting artificial intelligence-driven salad bars in six East Coast supermarkets through a partnership with European food technology company Picadeli, according to a press release. . . more

First Look: Lovepop store opens at Disneyland Resort

CSA

Lovepop has added another location to its retail portfolio. . . . more

Who’s In, Who’s Out: Shifting buying habits of Gen Z

CSA
Global online fast-fashion retailers dominate Gen Z pandemic shopping, displacing such traditional favorites as Urban Outfitters. . . more

Nordstrom’s 10 biggest milestones of 2021

CSA

Nordstrom is wrapping up a busy 2021, during which it celebrated its 120th anniversary and launched a number of new initiatives. . . . more

Iconic Harvard Square Flower Shop Closing After 104 Years In Business

CBS Boston
An iconic Harvard Square flower shop is permanently closing its doors after 104 years in business, citing in part challenges caused by the “daunting” COVID pandemic. . . . more

Cultivating consumer loyalty amidst supply chain challenges

Retail Dive
Brand loyalty is increasingly fragile. Since the beginning of the pandemic, three-quarters of consumers in the United States have switched brands, products, stores or buying methods, reports McKinsey. As retailers strive to woo shoppers into a long-term relationship, supply chain hiccups can sabotage those efforts — but it doesn't have to. . . more

Fast Casual Restaurants Exit the Pandemic Positioned for Growth

QSR

Many segments of the restaurant industry are still struggling with the after-effects of the pandemic. However, fast casual brands may have emerged stronger than ever. It may sound surprising that after the difficulties the restaurant industry faced during the height of the pandemic, we would be saying this is a good time to invest—but it is. . . . more

Crumbl Cookies to open its 326th store in four years

CSA

Two cousins from Utah who struggled for years before landing upon the milk chocolate chip cookie recipe that made their cookie shop one of the fastest-growing in the country will open their 326th store at The Levee District in East Peoria. It will be their fourth location in Illinois and their first in the central region of the state. . . . more

CVS and Walgreens to limit the number of at-home Covid tests you can buy after surge in demand

CNN Business
The two largest pharmaceutical chain stores in the US -- CVS Health and Walgreens -- are limiting the number of at-home Covid kits customers can buy due to huge demand. . . more

Can this year's department store recovery last?

Retail Dive

Department stores were already a decade deep into their decline when the pandemic upended normal life, exacerbating years-long trends that are also hurting the traditional malls they anchor. . . . more

Office Depot offers free omnichannel services for last-minute shoppers

CSA

Office Depot is gearing up for a surge of panicked customers finishing their holiday shopping in the final days before Christmas. . . . more

‘Cult Classic’ Cookies Now Available in Newington, New Hampshire

Seacoast Current

Knowing that Crumbl Cookies just opened right down the street from where I live has sent my taste buds into a frenzy! I do fear for my waistline but we are in the Winter months and that is what baggy sweaters are for. . . . more

Wayfair to launch brick & mortar for AllModern and Joss & Main at MarketStreet Lynnfield, Legacy Place and Burlington Mall

NEREJ
Wayfair Inc. will open its next brick-and-mortar retail stores in the coming year, bringing two of its specialty retail brands to life in 2022 with three stores located in Massachusetts. . . more

COVID Is Surging Again in NYC — What Does This Mean for Retail?

Footwear News

With COVID-19 cases on the rise across the U.S., the path toward recovery across the retail landscape could be in flux. . . . more

Nordstrom reportedly hires AlixPartners to review possible Rack spinoff

CNBC Business
Nordstrom has tapped the consulting group AlixPartners to help it review a potential spinoff of its off-price Nordstrom Rack business, according to a report from Bloomberg. . . more

Drugstore chain Rite Aid to close at least 63 stores in the coming months

CNBC Business
Drugstore chain Rite Aid said Tuesday it plans to shutter at least 63 stores as it reassesses how many locations it needs in the United States. . . more

Authentic Brands expands Reebok to over 2.8K stores in deal with JD Group

Retail Dive
Reebok is expanding under soon-to-be owner Authentic Brands Group. The brand conglomerate on Monday announced a partnership between Reebok and JD Group that will see the athletics brand in more than 2,850 stores. . . more

Report: Most restaurant customers don't want to wait more than 5 minutes for their order

Restaurant Dive
A report from Oracle finds that increased off-premise business at restaurants is impacting customer expectations for speed of service. . . . more

Starbucks says it will negotiate with workers forming a union in Buffalo, New York

CNBC Business

Starbucks plans to negotiate in good faith with workers at its Elmwood store in Buffalo, New York, the company said Monday, days after the employees’ votes to form the coffee chain’s first U.S. union were certified. . . . more

Sears owner plans to sell its corporate HQ

Retail Dive
Sears and Kmart owner Transformco plans to put its corporate campus near Chicago on the real estate market next year, according to local media reports and confirmed for Retail Dive by Kevin Kramer, director of economic development for Hoffman Estates, where the campus is located. . . . more

Online resale retailer debuting pop-up shop

CSA

Mercari, an online marketplace for buying and selling secondhand items, will launch its first-ever experiential pop-up shop in time for the New Year. . . . more

Target going down-to-the-wire with Christmas online orders

CSA

Target Corp. is reaching out to last-minute holiday shoppers. . . . more

Forever 21 enters metaverse with Roblox store

CSA

Forever 21 is the newest retail player on the popular Roblox gaming platform. . . . more

J.C. Penney launches same-day delivery in time for holidays

CSA

The J.C. Penney Co. Inc. is expanding upon its omnichannel fulfillment options. . . . more

Life Alive cafe and yoga school will collaborate, opening sites in Harvard Square and South End

Cambridge Day
The Life Alive Organic Cafe in Central Square and Down Under School of Yoga, which has a site in Porter Square, have combined and will open a 100-seat cafe and yoga studio at 22 JFK St., Harvard Square. . . . more

Aron of KeyPoint Partners brokers two retail sales transactions

NEREJ
Vice president of investment sales for KeyPoint Partners, Jonathan Aron, represented the buyer in the purchase of a Dollar General store at 1122 Burnside Ave. . . . more

Chipotle opening second digital-only store concept

CSA

Chipotle Mexican Grill is launching a new format called “Chipotlane Digital Kitchen” in Ohio. . . . more

Supply chain issues impacting pharmacies: What to know

Fox Business
The Federal Reserve reported Wednesday that many parts of the country were hit by supply chain disruptions and labor shortages in November. . . . more

Strip centers outpacing traditional malls as physical retail recovers

Retail Dive

The commercial property values of open-air strip centers, which rose 13% since before the pandemic, are drastically outpacing traditional malls, where values edged up 1%, according to a report from Green Street. . . . more

Survey: Holiday shoppers aren’t done yet

CSA

A new survey from Klarna reveals that many consumers have not yet even come close to finishing their holiday shopping. . . . more

Moorestown Mall attains approval to add multifamily housing

CSA

Excavators will soon dig in at Moorestown Mall in New Jersey as owner PREIT won unappealable approval for it to add multifamily housing there. The company also received a mortgage loan extension to redevelop its Woodland Mall in Michigan. . . . more

New Kelly’s Roast Beef Location Planned In New Hampshire

CBS Boston
Kelly’s Roast Beef could be headed over the border. The Salem, New Hampshire Planning Board is meeting on Dec. 14 to discuss proposals for a restaurant and drive-thru on South Broadway. . . . more

2021 Was the 'Year of Acquisitions' for Restaurants—Will it Continue?

QSR
After evaluating pandemic performance throughout the strangest year on record for restaurants, 2021 has turned into the “Year of Acquisitions.” According to a Duff & Phelps report, Q2 2021 was the strongest period since 2015 in terms of the number of deals for the food and beverage space. . . more

Neiman Marcus looks at plan to split into 3 separate businesses: report

Fox Business

Neiman Marcus is exploring a plan that would divide the luxury retail chain into three different businesses. . . . more

More Saladworks restaurants open in Giant supermarkets

Supermarket News
Under a partnership unveiled last year, The Giant Company has added WOWorks restaurant locations under the Saladworks and Frutta Bowls banners in four more supermarkets. . . more

Costco is adding pickup lockers to more stores

Retail Dive
Costco plans to have pickup lockers in more than 200 of its U.S. retail locations by the end of 2022 — more than twice the number of stores where it currently operates the self-service offerings — Chief Financial Officer Richard Galanti said during the retailer's earnings call on Thursday for its fiscal first quarter, which ended Nov. 21. . . . more

Dick’s Sporting Goods launches omnichannel ‘buy now pay later’ payment

CSA

Dick’s Sporting Goods is joining an increasingly crowded playing field of retailers enabling customers to divide their payments into four interest-free installments. . . . more

JLL: Demand for grocery-anchored centers highest in two decades

CSA

Last week during the RECon show in Las Vegas, global real estate services firm JLL issued a report showing that grocery-anchored neighborhood centers—despite acting as retail’s essential core during the height of the pandemic—had vacancy rates averaging 7.4% in the second quarter. That was higher than the mall sector’s 7.2% rate. . . . more

Christmas Tree Shops will use new name, updated concept at new Holyoke location

MassLive
Christmas Tree Shops plans to open a new store in the Holyoke Crossing plaza in April with a new and less seasonally specific name. . . . more

November online grocery sales hit $8.6 billion, up 6% from year ago

Supermarket News
The U.S. online grocery market generated $8.6 billion in sales during November, reported the Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopping Survey, marking a 6% sales gain over last year’s $8.1 billion. . . more

Focus Brands accelerates non-traditional growth

Restaurant Dive
Focus Brands, parent company of Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, McAlister's Deli, Moe's Southwest Grill and Schlotsky's, is accelerating its non-traditional unit growth and has 313 such units in the pipeline, according to a press release. . . more

Study: Bath & Body Works, Ace Hardware among retailers with best reputations

CSA
Customer service can make — or break — the shopping experience. . . more

True Religion breaks Cyber Week sales record

CSA
True Religion had its largest e-commerce volume week ever during Cyber Week (Nov. 25-30). . . . more

'Diet' soda is disappearing from store shelves

CNN Business
As you make your way through the soda aisle, you may notice a lot less of the word "diet" than you used to. . . . more

Pacsun introduces same-day delivery in time for holidays

CSA
Pacsun is joining the ranks of retailers offering same-day delivery. . . more

Forever 21 lands at J.C. Penney

CSA

J.C. Penney is targeting a young, on-trend fashion audience with the newest addition to its brand portfolio. . . . more

Club channels, online retailers may have the edge in grocery in 2022

Supermarket News

During the recent SN Analysts Roundtable, Supermarket News spoke with Rupesh Parikh, grocery analyst at Oppenheimer, about the challenges the industry faced in 2021 and where he sees the grocery channel heading in 2022. . . . more

CVS could soon be your doctor in big health care push

Fox Business

CVS Health is the local drugstore for many, and now the chain wants to be your doctor as well. . . . more

Torrid braces for rising costs and ongoing pandemic uncertainty after mixed Q3

Retail Dive
Benefiting from apparel demand but dogged by supply chain issues, Torrid on Wednesday reported a mixed Q3. . . . more

Report: Starbucks workers at Buffalo store unionize

CSA

Starbucks reportedly now has one U.S. corporate store which is unionized. . . . more

Boston's first Chick-fil-A to open in coming weeks, company says

WCVB
Construction continues on what will become Boston's first Chick-fil-A restaurant, centered in the heart of the city. . . . more

Nike To Stop Selling Sneakers At Popular Shoe Chain

CBS Boston
You won’t be able to buy Nike sneakers and apparel at one of America’s largest shoe store chains in 2022.  . . more

Saugus Barnes & Noble To Close In January

CBS Boston
The Barnes & Noble on Route 1 in Saugus is closing up shop for good this upcoming January. . . . more

GameStop reports mixed Q3 amid bulked-up inventory

CSA

GameStop retailer reported mixed third-quarter earnings, showing a larger-than-expected quarterly loss and sales that were above estimates. . . . more

Furniture e-commerce giant Wayfair will get back into brick and mortar

Boston Globe
Wayfair is trying its hand again at brick and mortar retail.
The Boston-based e-commerce giant announced on Tuesday that it will open three storefronts in Greater Boston in the coming year, showcasing designs from two of its in-house brands. An AllModern store will open at MarketStreet Lynnfield and Legacy Place in Dedham. And a Joss & Main shop will open in the Burlington Mall. The company says it plans to open stores for all five of its brands in the next two years. . . . more

Nordstrom leverages pack and hold inventory to mitigate supply chain risk

CSA
Nordstrom is increasing its use of pack and hold inventory "by a factor of two times to three times" at its Rack subsidiary as it expects macro supply chain disruptions to persist into 2022, CEO Erik Nordstrom said on the company's Q3 earnings call. . . . more

JLL: ‘Retail’s recovery is going faster than anyone imagined’

CSA

Retail rents are rising with strip centers and neighborhood centers posting the biggest increases, Class C malls are suffering with average vacancy rates topping 12%, and retailers are expanding to markets where the most people are going, places like Las Vegas, Orlando, and Atlanta. . . . more

As Christmas Nears, Holiday Shopping Is Set Break Records, Despite Supply Chain Worries

Footwear News
While Thanksgiving and Black Friday 2021 are now in the past, the shopping season has yet to conclude. . . more

Why Dollar Tree's price hike to $1.25 could be 'one of the worst decisions in retail history'

CNN Business
In 1986, three retail veterans opened a chain of stores in the southeast named Only $1.00. . . . more

5 Tips to Navigating Supply Chain Disruptions

QSR
In early November, the National Restaurant Association sent a letter to President Biden regarding the dire situation the COVID-19 pandemic has created for the restaurant industry. In the letter, the Association addressed how increasing costs and limited supplies are restricting the industry’s ability to function. . . more

Ahold Delhaize USA adds more Instacart virtual c-stores

Supermarket News

All Ahold Delhaize USA supermarket chains — Stop & Shop, Giant Food, Giant/Martin’s, Food Lion and Hannaford — now provide 30-minute delivery of convenience-oriented products via Instacart. . . . more

Regional grocer extends on-demand assortment

CSA
Giant Food is launching a new online marketplace called “Ship2Me,” which adds tens of thousands of new items for in-store pickup and online delivery. . . more

Shake Shack to open first drive-thru location

Restaurant Dive
Shake Shack will open its first-ever drive-thru location on Dec. 6 in Maple Grove, Minnesota. . . . more

Burger King to simplify menu to boost drive-thru times

Restaurant Dive
Burger King is planning to simplify its menu and remove some products that have become too complicated to build in order to improve drive-thru times, José Cil, CEO of parent company Restaurant Brands International, said on Wednesday during the Morgan Stanley Virtual Global Consumer & Retail Conference. . . . more

Retail sales reached pre-pandemic levels before December, says NPD

CSA

The U.S. retail industry had largely recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic even before the start of December. . . . more

Jack in the Box buys Del Taco in $575 million deal

CNBC Business

Jack in the Box is buying Del Taco, the second-largest Mexican fast-food chain in the U.S., in a deal valued at roughly $575 million. . . . more

Should retailers like Kohl's and Macy's break themselves up?

CNN Business
For years, the future of the department store has been in doubt, as shoppers abandon malls and instead opt to scoop up dresses, appliances and accessories online. . . . more

Toymaker Ty air ships products for the holidays to avoid port congestion

Retail Dive

Ty Inc. is air shipping its products for the holidays to avoid port congestion, and the toy manufacturer has already financed 283 cargo flights into the U.S. since October, according to a news release on Monday. . . . more

CVS enters digital health partnership with Microsoft

CSA

CVS Health is embarking on a new partnership with Microsoft to create innovative solutions to help consumers improve their health. . . . more

Big Lots outlook downbeat amid supply chain headwinds

CSA

Big Lots reported third-quarter results that beat analysts’ forecasts but warned that it expects supply chain challenges to continue to weigh on gross margins. . . . more

Lids expands store footprint with its first stores in Europe

CSA

Lids is expanding internationally with the opening of its first standalone stores in Europe. . . . more

Shoe Carnival acquires Shoe Station for $67 million

CSA

Shoe Carnival has expanded its footprint via an acquisition. . . . more

Office use proposed for former Lord & Taylor Burlington Mall space

Daily Times Chronicle
BURLINGTON - The currently vacant Lord & Taylor space could be getting in on the renovation act that has been taking place at Burlington Mall for the past two years. . . . more

Ulta Beauty tops expectations as beauty business rebounds

CSA
Ulta Beauty reported better-than-expected third-quarter results with comp sales that topped pre-pandemic levels.. . . more

American Freight Awards Two New Locations In Texas And Louisiana

CSA
American Freight, a leading furniture, mattress and appliance retailer, is awarding John and Llaura Jenkins with two franchise locations in Longview, Texas and northwestern Louisiana, adding to the company’s growing nationwide footprint of more than 300 stores. . . . more

Five Below in strong Q3; holiday off to ‘strong start’

CSA
Five Below reported third-quarter results that beat Wall Street expectations despite a “challenging” supply chain environment. The teen and tween value retailer reported that its earnings totaled $24.2 million, or $0.43 a share, in the quarter ended Oct. 30, compared with $20.4 million, or $0.36 a share, in the year-ago period. Analysts had expected earnings per share of $0.29. . . . more

Toys ‘R’ Us to open global flagship at American Dream

CSA
Toys “R” Us is making a big move in its U.S. retail comeback — just in time for the holidays.
The iconic toy retailer will open a flagship — the first in the United States under its new owners — in mid-December at American Dream, the massive, three million sq.-ft.-plus entertainment and retail center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The two-level, 20,000-sq.-ft. store will feature a modern design with signature elements that have long been associated with the retailer, including its mascot, Geoffrey the Giraffe.. . . more

Dollar General to open 1,110 stores in 2022; plans international expansion

CSA
Dollar General unveiled aggressive expansion plans that includes its first stores outside of the U.S. and the acceleration of the rollout of its more upscale Popshelf store concept.
The discounter’s 2022 real estate plans include 1,110 new stores — including its first stores in Idaho, its 47th state — and 1,750 remodels. Dollar General will also open its first international stores, with plans to open up to 10 locations in Mexico. . . more

Twin Peaks Signs Grand Slam Deal to Bring 10 Lodges to Philadelphia

CSA
Los Angeles, CA (RestaurantNews.com) FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc., parent company of Twin Peaks Restaurant and 14 other restaurant concepts, today announced a 10-store franchise development agreement with Moussa Haidar and Tom Pisula to bring its rugged lodge atmosphere to Philadelphia. . . . more

NRF holiday recap: In-store shopping up, online down; average spend falls YOY

CSA.com
Approximately 104.9 million people shopped in stores from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday, up from 92.3 million in 2020, according to the annual survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. The overall number of online shoppers decreased to 127.8 million from 145.4 million last year.  . . . more

Velvet Taco sold to Leonard Green & Partners

NRN.com
Fast-casual restaurant chain Velvet Taco has been sold to private equity firm Leonard Green & Partners L.P., former majority owner L Catterton, another private equity firm, said Tuesday.. . . more

Hwy 55 Seeks Operating Partners for Stand-Alone Stores; 20 Planned for 2021-22

RestaurantNews.com
Mt. Olive, NC Hwy 55, a small-town Americana burger chain based in eastern North Carolina, is growing up. This year marks the launch of a multi-year expansion plan that will shift its locations, previously housed in shopping centers, to innovative free standing models.. . . more

Pollo Campero will triple US footprint in 5 years

Fast Casual.com
Only 80 of Pollo Campero's 350 global locations are in the U.S., but the 50-year-old brand born in Guatemala is on a mission to increase its presence in the States to 250 by 2026.. . . more

Walmart CFO Brett Biggs to depart

Supermarket News
Walmart Chief Financial Officer Brett Biggs plans to leave the company in 2023 to pursue other opportunities.. . . more

Biden meets with CEOs about supply chain issues; Walmart cites improvements

CSA
CEOs of Kroger, Best Buy, Etsy were among executives who met with President Biden at the White House on Monday to discuss the state of holiday supply chain challenges. . . . more

CGP: Black Friday sales hit record $34.9 billion, boosted by Thanksgiving closures

CSA
Black Friday reclaimed its relevance as the key retail milestone on the way to Christmas.. . . more

Dollar Tree to increase price point, shares Q3 results

Storebrands.com
Discount chain Dollar Tree shared strong financial numbers from Q3 of this year while also announcing the company will raise the price point from $1 beginning next year. . . . more

Natural Grocers Announces Q4 Results, Partnership with RangeMe

WFM.com
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage has announced results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, and provided its outlook for fiscal 2022, according to a press release. Separately, the company announced that it is partnering with RangeMe, an online product sourcing platform, to streamline the search for innovative new products. . . . more

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu Announces the extension of the outdoor dining season to Dec. 31, 2021

BRET
BOSTON – Building on her commitment to support small businesses across Boston’s neighborhoods, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced the extension of the outdoor dining season to December 31, 2021. The extension of outdoor dining on private patios and city streets had previously been set to expire on December 1. . . . more

DTC 3D-printed furniture brand Model No. opens first physical store

CSA
An online furniture retailer with a mission to create healthy, tech-forward and made-to-order furniture has opened its first physical space. . . . more

Black Friday store traffic up year-over-year; down from pre-pandemic levels

CSA
Traffic in retail stores rebounded from last year but remains down compared with 2019 as consumers started holiday shopping earlier in the season and also continued their shift to online.. . . more

Starbucks in Harvard Square closes down suddenly

BOSTON.COM
The Starbucks in Harvard Square closed down suddenly and unexpectedly on Sunday, Nov. 21 after serving drinks to students for over 10 years.. . . more

Avoid these 3 holiday scams on Black Friday and Cyber Monday

CNBC Business
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are almost here — and consumers shopping for the winter holidays should be on the lookout for online scams. . . . more

Supply chain issues take big bite out of Gap; slashes full-year forecast

CSA

Gap Inc. delivered disappointing third-quarter results as COVID-related factory closures and ongoing port congestion led to “significant” product delays. . . . more

Nordstrom Q3 earnings fall amid labor costs, weak Rack sales

CSA
Nordstrom Inc.’s third-quarter earnings fell short of estimates due to higher labor costs and challenges in its off-price Rack division, whose sales fell from pre-pandemic levels. . . . more

Why thousands of restaurants are open, but you're not allowed inside

CNN Business
Early in the pandemic, restaurants had to close their dining rooms because of local or national restrictions intended to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Those restrictions have mostly lifted — but thousands of restaurant dining rooms are still unavailable to customers. . . . more

Stores are closing on Thanksgiving, but thousands of retail staff are still working

CNN Business
Store workers at major US chains are getting to spend Thanksgiving at home as more retailers decide to close their doors for the holiday. But not all retail staff will get the day off. . . . more

Going to the store may be your smartest bet to navigate the supply chain crisis this holiday

CNN Business
The supply chain crisis means last-minute gift buyers may have little choice but to go shopping the old-fashioned way this holiday season. . . . more

How retailers can evolve and thrive in 2022

Supermarket News
The year is coming to a close, and retailers’ plans for 2022 are already well underway, paying close attention to the market shifts that took place in 2021. . . . more

Wingstop Breaks Into Manhattan, with 20 More Stores on the Way

QSR
Wingstop announced plans in July to develop the Manhattan, New York, area in a company-owned strategy that includes an asset mix of traditional locations and ghost kitchens, with more than 20 upcoming openings over the course of three years. . . more

Burlington Stores See Same-Store Sales Climb 16 Percent Against Q319

SGB Media

Burlington Stores, Inc. reported earnings and sales gains for the third quarter ended October 30, 2021 against the third quarter of 2019 but also said freight and supply chain challenges pressured margins in the period. . . . more

Best Buy CEO says the trauma from rising retail thefts could force employees to quit

CNBC Business

Best Buy CEO Corie Barry said Tuesday that rising theft is hitting the company’s profits and could hurt employee retention at a time when the labor market is tight, especially in the retail industry. . . . more

Dollar Tree hikes prices 25%. Most items will cost $1.25

CNN Business
Dollar Tree will soon be $1.25 tree. . . . more

First Look: Panera Bread unveils next-gen restaurant

CSA

Panera Bread is doubling down on drive-thru without neglecting dine-in. . . . more

Amazon to open first grocery stores in Massachusetts, New England

WCVB
Amazon, the online e-commerce behemoth that delivers millions of packages to New England homes each day, is set open its first grocery stores to Massachusetts. . . . more

Target To Keep Stores Closed On Thanksgiving Permanently

CBS Boston
Target will no longer open its stores on Thanksgiving Day, making permanent a shift to the unofficial start of the holiday season that was suspended during the pandemic. . . . more

Shoe Carnival Just Had Its Best Quarter Ever. Its Newly Minted CEO Explains Why.

Footwear News

It’s been a busy few months for Mark Worden. . . . more

BJ’s nets sales double-double in third quarter

Supermarket News
BJ’s Wholesale Club saw both net and comparable sales climb by double digits in its fiscal 2021 third quarter, adding to double-digit sales gains from elevated consumer demand a year ago. . . more

Macy’s and Kohl’s are raising clothing prices to protect profits. Investors see that as a big win.

CNBC Business

A round of major retail earnings this week revealed a stark divide in the industry between the retailers that are trying to keep prices low for customers amid rising inflation, and those that are able to pass on costs to shoppers this holiday season. . . . more

Video game consoles and smartphones will be harder to find this holiday season

CNN Business
The global chip shortage is making it harder for shoppers to get their hands on some of the most sought after tech gadgets of the holiday season. . . . more

Macy's to delay store closures, launch third-party marketplace next year

Retail Dive
Macy's is pausing its plan to close 125 stores, announced last year as part of its Polaris turnaround, telling analysts Thursday that physical locations have proven key to digital as well as brick-and-mortar sales. . . more

Nordstrom to expand in entirely new category via deal with Fanatics

CSA

Nordstrom is beefing up its online assortment by entering the licensed sports merchandise category for the first time in its history. . . . more

CVS Plans To Close 900 Stores In The Next 3 Years

CBS Boston
CVS announced Thursday it is planning to close about 300 stores per year over the next three years, while increasing its offering of health services. The closures will start in spring of 2022. . . . more

Starbucks has opened a store with Amazon Go

Supermarket News

Starbucks opened its first Starbucks Pickup store in partnership with Amazon Go on the Upper East Side in New York City Thursday, with two more on the way in the area by early 2022. . . . more

Placer.ai: The holiday shopping season may have begun in October

CSA

There isn’t a retail research firm or an investment house that hasn’t predicted an early start to a holiday season in which product availability is being curtailed by supply chain problems, and Placer.ai’s October Mall Index indicates Christmas shopping is underway. . . . more

Solstice Sunglasses reduced rents significantly to exit Chapter 11

CSA
With its revenues slashed in half by mandatory store closings in 2020, Solstice Sunglasses sought bankruptcy protection and emerged from Chapter 11 with fewer shops and smaller rents. . . . more

Amazon 4-Star and Warby Parker to open at Cherry Hill Mall

CSA

Prominent online brands continue to expand to high-profile physical retail locations, the latest being Amazon 4-Star and Warby Parker signing leases at the super-regional Cherry Hill Mall in New Jersey. . . . more

TJX revenue up 20% over pre-pandemic level as HomeGoods continues to soar

CSA

The TJX Cos. reported revenue and earnings that beat analysts’ expectations as comp-sales rose across all its brands, with Home Goods the star of the show. . . . more

Retail winners of past year: Target, Best Buy, and dollar stores

CSA

During a three-hour webinar yesterday, foot traffic analyst Placer.ai, itself a big winner over the past year, asked panelists to name the retail brands they thought conquered the pandemic. Topping the list were Target and Best Buy. . . . more

Target beats expectations; ready for holidays with inventory up nearly 20%

CSA

Target Corp. reported stronger-than-expected third-quarter earnings and sales and said it’s ready for the holidays as it remains focused on “protecting prices” for customers. . . . more

Supermarket chains unveil private-brand additions

Supermarket News

The Save Mart Cos. and H-E-B have added new labels to their own-brand portfolios, while The Kroger Co. has updated its Comforts line of disposable diapers. . . . more

Foot Locker merges Champs Sports and Eastbay brands

Retail Dive
Foot Locker is merging its Champs Sports and Eastbay brands after last year integrating the corporate organizations for both labels, according to a company release. . . . more

Papa John's redesigns its logo and stores

CNN Business
Papa Johns is the latest restaurant brand to give itself a makeover. . . more

KFC wants customers to ditch the drive-thru

CNN Business
Restaurant drive-thrus have become too popular for their own good. Kentucky Fried Chicken wants its customers to ditch them. . . . more

What supply chain crisis? America's largest retailer is doing just fine

CNN Business
The supply chain crisis isn't slowing down Walmart. . . . more

Christmas Trees May Cost More This Year Due To Shortage

CBS Boston
Christine Spillane says her nursery in Middleboro is getting ready for the post-Thanksgiving Christmas tree rush. Their trees will arrive next week but it will be a much smaller inventory. . . . more

Giant Food expands store footprint

CSA
Giant Food is expanding with two new stores. . . more

Dollar General Announces 18,000th Store Opening

Citizen Tribune
Today, Dollar General (NYSE: DG) announced the opening of its 18,000 th store located in Gulf Shores, Alabama. . . . more

Restaurant Brands International to acquire Firehouse Subs for $1B

Restaurant Dive
Restaurant Brands International has entered into an agreement to acquire Firehouse Subs for $1 billion in an all-cash transaction, the company announced Monday. . . . more

Grocery store CEO: How we're dealing with food shortages and higher prices

CNN Business
Since the onset of the pandemic, there has been intense scrutiny on the grocery industry, as historic demand and a stretched supply chain have led to rising food prices and shortages of certain products.. . . more

Chick-fil-A Restaurants Will Be Closed Christmas Weekend

CBS Boston
Chick-fil-A customers looking for their fix over Christmas weekend this year will be disappointed. . . more

KeyPoint Partners Negotiates Sale of Allston Storeblocks

Boston Real Estate Times
KeyPoint Partners (KPP) represented the seller and procured the buyer in the sale of 1-9 North Beacon Street/491 Cambridge Street and 479-489 Cambridge Street in Allston, Massachusetts for $7,940,000, said Jonathan Aron, Vice President of Investment Sales for the firm. . . more

ShopRite stores make debut a week apart

Supermarket News

Members of the Wakefern Food Corp. retail cooperative recently opened a pair of new ShopRite supermarkets a week apart in Matamoras, Pa., and Wayne, N.J. . . . more

Party City's Halloween more solid than scary, but costs loom

Retail Dive
Party City revenue during the Halloween period rose 13.9% year over year to $415.5 million, with retail revenue up nearly 20%. . . . more

Supply Chain Problems Affect Discount Stores Like T.J. Maxx, Marshalls

CBS Boston
Bummer for bargain hunters: It may be harder to snag designer clothes at T.J. Maxx, Burlington and Ross. . . . more

Genghis Grill Announces Franchise Expansion Strategy

QSR
Genghis Grill (Genghis), the nation’s leading build-your-own stir-fry concept with locations across the southern United States, has announced a franchise expansion strategy plan that will offer customization, freshness and fun in more communities across the nation. . . . more

Dollar General offers on-demand delivery of household essentials

CSA
Dollar General is making same-day, online delivery available from more than 9,000 stores. . . more

Food inflation stands out in October consumer pricing surge

Supermarket News
Much to the dismay of U.S. shoppers, consumer prices jumped more than 6% in October, boosted mainly by surging gasoline prices but also continued high inflation for food. . . more

AMC theaters now accepting cryptocurrencies

Fox Business
AMC Entertainment is now accepting more forms of payment at its theaters. . . more

Why Tapestry Is Confident It Will Meet Demand This Holiday Season

Footwear News
Tapestry isn’t worried about meeting demand this holiday season. . . more

Grocery shoppers hitting the stores for Thanksgiving early this year

Supermarket News

More shoppers than ever are shopping early for Thanksgiving this year, according to a new report from IRI tracking the purchase of Thanksgiving-related grocery categories throughout October. . . . more

Ahold Delhaize USA adds to sales gains in third quarter

Supermarket News

Led by its U.S. businesses, global food retailer Ahold Delhaize saw fiscal 2021 third-quarter sales improve on a sequential basis and build on prior-year growth propelled by the pandemic. . . . more

Study: Mobile gamers level up commitment to QSR digital ordering

Restaurant Dive
Nearly two-thirds (65%) of mobile gamers said they order takeout food from quick-service restaurants (QSRs) via apps and websites more than they did a year ago, per AdColony's Mobile Trends in QSR report released today (Nov. 4). . . . more

The Children's Place launches tween brand Sugar & Jade

Retail Dive
In the midst of a tween clothing resurgence, The Children's Place on Tuesday announced the launch of Sugar & Jade, its new tween apparel, accessories and footwear brand, according to company information sent to Retail Dive. . . . more

Staples still wants to acquire Office Depot

CSA

The parent company of Staples remains determined to acquire its chief rival. . . . more

Capitulation In Wendy’s Market After Q3 Results

Entrepreneur
The market in The Wendy’s Corporation (NASDAQ: WEN) had been trying to push the share prices higher for the last couple of months but couldn’t make it happen. . . . more

Kmart will have only a handful of US locations by year’s end

WHDH
Kmart is shuttering its last-remaining store in Michigan, the state where the once-proud retail chain launched in 1899. It’s one of series of store closings that will leave the company with only six locations in the continental United States still in business by year’s end. . . . more

Auntie Anne's and Cinnabon Sign 10-Unit Co-Brand Development Agreement to Expand in New York City

RSN
Auntie Anne's and Cinnabon today announced a deal with franchise group Fresh Dining Concepts to bring 10 co-branded Auntie Anne's and Cinnabon locations to the five New York City boroughs over the next four years. . . . more

Black Friday 2021: Expect so-so deals and supply snags

Boston Herald
Nope, sorry, you don’t have time to catch your breath from Halloween before careening into the next holiday — well, shopping holiday. Black Friday is upon us. . . . more

Bed Bath & Beyond to launch digital marketplace; names new C-suite roles

CSA

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has made a series of moves as part of the reinvention of its business under president and CEO Mark Tritton. . . . more

Planet Fitness CEO says gym membership has almost reached its pre-Covid peak

CNBC Business
Membership at Planet Fitness gyms has nearly returned to its pre-pandemic peak, CEO Chris Rondeau told CNBC on Thursday, illustrating people’s eagerness to exercise outside of their home. . . more

Puma Opens the Doors to Its New North America Headquarters

Footwear News
Puma has opened the doors to its new North America headquarters. . . . more

Kroger unveils annual subscription program

Supermarket News

The Kroger Co. has introduced Boost by Kroger Plus, an annual subscription service that offers online benefits and additional rewards via the Kroger Plus loyalty program. . . . more

P.F. Chang's wants to offer self-delivery nationwide by 2023

Restaurant Dive
Prior to the pandemic, P.F. Chang's managed catering deliveries in-house and was already exploring self-delivery solutions. . . . more

Blockbuster is trapped in brand limbo. Will it ever get out?

Retail Dive
The Blockbuster brand has had a weird life. And it's only gotten weirder with time. . . . more

Altitude Trampoline Parks Leap Ahead Of Competitors With Accelerated Growth

Johnson City Press

While some traditional indoor entertainment venues have struggled during the pandemic, one brand is seeing a strong rebound, literally, in new franchise growth. . . . more

CVS surpasses third-quarter expectations and raises 2021 forecast

Fox Business

CVS Health delivered a better-than-expected third quarter and raised its 2021 forecast again as more people returned to its drugstores for prescriptions or COVID-19 vaccinations. . . . more

Bed Bath & Beyond partners with Uber to deliver baby essentials

Retail Dive

Bed Bath & Beyond has partnered with Uber to help launch a baby and kids vertical on the Uber Eats app, the companies announced Monday. . . . more

Ralph Lauren is opening 90 new stores this year

Retail Dive
Ralph Lauren on Tuesday said that Q2 2022 net revenue rose 26% year over year to $1.5 billion, although that was down 11.8% from 2019. . . . more

Major mall-owner CBL exits Chapter 11

CSA

“This is a huge day for CBL,” said chief executive Stephen Lebovitz, whose company just emerged from Chapter 11 following a year of publicly questioning the fate of a public company owning 100-plus malls in 29 states. . . . more

Staples opens two new Staples Connect locations

CSA

Staples is bringing its reimagined store format that spotlights coworking, podcasting and community event spaces to a new location on each coast. . . . more

Target to fill the empty JCP space at Brooklyn’s Kings Plaza

CSA
Most retail real estate developers would agree that losing a J.C. Penney anchor is bad, but that filling that space with a Target is a big win. That’s what’s happened at the million-plus-sq.-ft. Kings Plaza in Brooklyn and the leadership at owner Macerich is overjoyed. . . . more

Fat Brands to buy Fazoli’s for $130M

Restaurant Business

Fat Brands, the Los Angeles-based restaurant chain collector, is adding another concept to its portfolio after agreeing to purchase the Italian fast-casual Fazoli’s for $130 million, the company announced on Tuesday. . . . more

Packaged salads and fresh produce have retailers seeing green

Supermarket News
During the height of pandemic fears in the second and third quarters of 2020, fresh produce and the salad category saw a drop in sales as consumers turned more to center store packaged goods and e-commerce for their grocery needs. . . . more

All the Stores Closing for Thanksgiving This Year

Footwear News

As one of the busiest shopping days of the year, Thanksgiving used to be synonymous with getting a head start on holiday gifting and scoring deals ahead of the Black Friday rush. . . . more

Sweetening Fall Candy Sales

CStore Decisions

After an uncertain 18 months, candy sales are looking promising with better-for-you varieties, mega packs of gum and mints, and individually wrapped candy in multi-serving packages trending. . . . more

Burger King doles out crypto on Robinhood to boost loyalty program

Restaurant Dive

Burger King has teamed with investment platform Robinhood to offer members of its Royal Perks loyalty program a chance to win various cryptocurrency, according to a press release emailed to Marketing Dive. . . . more

Why are department stores a target for e-commerce spinoffs?

Retail Dive

Just when retailers thought their imperative was to combine their e-commerce and stores into one, smooth, silo-free operation, along comes Saks Fifth Avenue, attracting hundreds of millions of dollars from investors after splitting them apart. . . . more

Dick’s Sporting Goods expands new Public Lands, Golf Galaxy store concepts

CSA

Dick’s Sporting Goods continues to roll out its new experiential and discount store formats. . . . more

Snap Fitness Fuels Up for North American Franchise Growth

Franchise.org
Snap Fitness is breaking down the barriers that have prevented more than 80 percent of North Americans from joining gyms. . . . more

GameStop COO leaves after seven months on the job

CNN Business
GameStop chief operating officer Jenna Owens is leaving the company seven months after joining it, the company said in a regulatory filing. . . . more

Ikea moves forward with U.S. furniture buyback and resale

CSA

Ikea is turning its pilot of a U.S. resale program into a national rollout. . . . more

Noodles & Company Continues Strong Performance

QSR
Noodles & Company's total revenue in the third quarter increased 18.1 percent to $125.1 million, up from $106 million in Q3 of 2020. . . . more

First Look: Petco opens new, experiential Reddy store concept in NYC

CSA

Petco Health and Wellness Company has debuted its first-ever store devoted to a single exclusive brand — and to one animal. . . . more

Psycho Bunny makes Mall of America debut

CSA

A menswear brand whose logo is an irreverent bunny and crossbones continues to expand its national footprint. . . . more

Giant Food tests Flashfood food waste reduction app

Supermarket News

Ahold Delhaize USA’s Giant Food has kicked off a three-store pilot of the Flashfood, an app-based digital marketplace that gives shoppers access to savings on foods approaching their expiration date. . . . more

Dollar Tree expands same-day delivery with Instacart

Supermarket News

Online grocery giant Instacart continues to expand its retail reach with a new expanded partnership with Dollar Tree Inc. to offer same-day delivery in as fast as one hour from nearly 7,000 Dollar Tree stores. . . . more

Apple sounds a $6 billion holiday season warning

CNN Business
What will dominate this holiday shopping season: Huge demand, as shoppers use pent-up savings to splurge, or supply chain problems leading to empty shelves and presents on back order? . . . more

Starbucks raising wages to as high as $23 per hour; adding recruiters

CSA

Starbucks is raising pay for U.S. employees as the company deals with a labor shortage and a union challenge. . . . more

Yum Brands starts opening units again

Restaurant Business

Yum Brands' roster of fast-food concepts opened more locations around the globe in the third quarter as international sales picked up and their U.S. sales remained strong. . . . more

MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes Signs a Deal Every 2.5 Days in Q3 With Commitments for 22 Restaurants

RestaurantNews.com
People are flipping for MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes, the franchise that served up deals for 22 new restaurants in Q3 – a deal every 2.5 days. . . . more

McDonald's gets a big boost from higher prices, celebrities and chicken

CNN Business
Higher menu prices, celebrity meals and chicken sandwiches helped boost McDonald's sales in the third quarter. . . . more

Price hikes expected to propel grocery sales growth

Supermarket News

Amid supply chain snags and surging costs, grocery manufacturers and retailers expect price increases to spur dollar sales growth heading into next year, new research from Advantage Sales shows. . . . more

Target adds new features to same-day services

Retail Dive

Target has added new features to its same-day services (Order Pickup, Drive Up and Same-Day Delivery with Shipt) to make consumers' shopping trips run smoother and faster this holiday. . . . more

Hasbro hit by supply chain woes as $100M in orders go unfilled

Retail Dive

Hasbro logged $100 million worth of orders that went unfilled during its third quarter due to shipping supply chain disruptions, including capacity shortages and port congestion. . . . more

JC Penney names CEO, chairman

CSA

A former executive of Levi Strauss & Co. and Walmart has been named chief executive of J.C. Penney. . . . more

BJ’s plans early Black Friday, new hires

CSA

BJ’s holiday plans include starting Black Friday early, shuttering stores Thanksgiving Day and adding new seasonal and permanent employees. . . . more

BJ’s taps H-E-B exec Rachael Vegas as chief merchant

Supermarket News

Former H-E-B and Target executive Rachael Vegas has joined BJ’s Wholesale Club as executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. . . . more

Maine's Second Chick-Fil-A Sets Opening Date

Seacoast Current
It has been teased since May of 2020 that the fast-food restaurant with a cow mascot who encourages people to "Eat Mor Chikin", Chick-fil-A, will be opening Maine's second location at Rock Row in Westbrook. The first location is in Bangor and has been in operation since fall of 2016. . . . more

Salad chain Sweetgreen files to go public, hopes to double footprint within 5 years

CNBC Business

Salad chain Sweetgreen filed Monday to go public on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SG, aiming to become the latest restaurant company to hit the public markets this year. . . . more

CVS, Walgreens offering COVID-19 booster shots to Moderna, J&J recipients

Fox Business

CVS and Walgreens pharmacies around the nation are offering more COVID-19 boosters to eligible patients after U.S. regulators signed off on extending the shots to Americans who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine. . . . more

Labor shortage squeezes Popeyes' late night business

Restaurant Dive
Popeyes' year-over-year Q3 2021 U.S. comparable sales fell by 4.5%, a drop driven primarily by traffic declines as ongoing labor challenges led to a reduction in service and operating hours. Late night hours were particularly challenged by the labor crunch, Restaurant Brands International CEO José Cil said on Monday during the company's Q3 2021 earnings call. . . . more

Crocs posts blazing growth even amid supply chain struggles

Retail Dive
Crocs beat expectations once again, with third-quarter revenue growing 73% year over year to $626 million. Digital sales were up nearly 69% and accounted for 36.8% of all revenue. . . . more

New Jersey’s largest mall adds three new names to its restaurant list

CSA

Season’s 52, Eddie V’s, and Fogo de Chao will soon become part of Garden State Plaza’s menu of 30-plus restaurants. . . . more

Panera aims to be carbon negative by 2050

Restaurant Dive
Panera has announced its intention to remove more carbon from the atmosphere than it emits by 2050, alongside several intermediate goals for 2025, in a press release Wednesday. . . more

12-foot skeletons, pet costumes and vaccines: Retailers get ready for a weird Halloween

Retail Dive

Like much else in life, Halloween has been changed — maybe forever — by the pandemic. . . . more

Placer.ai’s data-driven expectations for Holiday 2021

CSA

According to Placer.ai, both indoor and outdoor malls saw traffic rebound to pre-pandemic levels during the summer. Tourists returned to New York City in August at levels 2% higher than August 2019. . . . more

Lowe’s kicks off holiday promotion; to close stores on Thanksgiving

CSA
Lowe's is ready for holiday shoppers, both online and in-store. . . more

Who Is Buying CBD and Why?

CStore Decisions

A lot of Americans still aren’t sure exactly what CBD is or what it can do for them. Worse, a lot of convenience store operators still aren’t sure who their CBD customers are – the very first thing they need to know in order to capitalize on the trend. . . . more

Over 70% of retail sales will come from stores in the next few years: Forrester

Retail Dive
While the pandemic is widely seen as boosting e-commerce sales, it may be more accurate to say that consumers have become more "digitally savvy," according to a new report from Forrester. . . . more

Is Best Buy undermining its storybook turnaround?

Retail Dive

Even Hubert Joly's friends thought he was nuts when he took over as CEO of Best Buy in 2012. . . . more

Lululemon in new initiative to advance mental health

CSA

Lululemon Athletica Inc. is diving deeper into physical and mental wellness as it works to remove inequity in wellbeing through movement, mindfulness and advocacy. . . . more

Target doubling the number of in-store Apple shops

CSA

Target Corp. is doubling down on Apple. . . . more

Ulta to open 50 stores annually; promises faster delivery, invests in AI company

CSA

Ulta Beauty laid out its strategic priorities and long-term financial targets for fiscal 2022 through 2024 at its virtual analyst and investor conference on Tuesday. . . . more

Albertsons sees second-quarter rebound

Supermarket News

Albertsons Cos. topped the high end of Wall Street’s earnings forecast for its fiscal 2021 second quarter as net and identical sales surpassed last year’s pandemic-driven gains. . . . more

How traditional teen apparel brands went out of style

Retail Dive

There came a time when teens clad in low-rise jeans and T-shirts with giant logos from the likes of Express, Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch filled every high school classroom in America. . . . more

10 of The Most Underrated Restaurants in Maine

Seacoast Current
Maine is growing as a food destination. There are a few with names that everyone recognizes and will travel for miles to dine at. . . . more

Business leaders expect supply chain turmoil to last well into 2022

CNN Business
The ongoing supply chain crisis isn't going to end anytime soon, according to a new survey of chief financial officers. . . . more

Macy's teams up with Fanatics

Retail Dive
Macy's announced that it has entered into "an exclusive long-term partnership" with Fanatics that will broaden the company's assortment of fan gear online and through its app, according to a company announcement sent to Retail Dive. . . . more

Major mall owner introduces a digital short-term leasing program

CSA

One of the biggest victims of COVID-19 was the 10-year lease, long a standard at enclosed malls. Now one of the biggest mall owners in the United States, Macerich, is introducing QuikSpace, a digital platform that puts booking retail space on a par with reserving a hotel room. . . . more

Best Buy Announces Its Black Friday Plans for 2021

IGN
The official date of Black Friday 2021 is November 26, but the official start of Black Friday is much tougher to pin down. . . . more

Cambridge Bakery Makes List Of Top 50 Restaurants In America

Patch
Based on flavor, vibrance, and a ranking to reflect the rich mosaic of American dining, the New York Times has named one Cambridge restaurant in the top 50 places to eat across the country. . . . more

McDonald’s to test McPlant burger created with Beyond Meat in eight U.S. restaurants next month

CNBC

McDonald’s will test the plant-based McPlant burger created as part of its partnership with Beyond Meat in eight U.S. restaurants next month. . . . more

Walgreens CEO Roz Brewer: Tobacco sales under ‘real scrutiny’ as drugstore chain steps up health-care focus

CNBC 
Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Roz Brewer said the drugstore is taking a hard look at whether it will continue to sell cigarettes and tobacco products as it steps up its focus on health care. . . . more

Walgreens posts higher profit as COVID-19 vaccinations continue to lift sales

Fox Business
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. said its profit rose for the recent quarter, with its role in administering COVID-19 vaccines continuing to help lift sales. . . . more

This world-famous restaurant ditched meat, but it's still charging $335 a person. Will people pay?

CNN Business
There was a moment last year, as Covid-19 brought the entire planet to a standstill, when the chef and owner of one of the world's most renowned and expensive restaurants thought he might lose everything. . . . more

Target keeps inventory moving in face of supply chain congestion

CSA

As retailers grapple with supply chain problems, Target is confident its proactive investments in fulfillment technology, distribution hubs and 24/7 supply chain operations are paying off as the holiday season approaches. . . . more

Stores are preparing for a blowout Halloween

CNN Business
Last year, Halloween entailed homemade candy chutes — pipes that allowed people to send candy down to costumed children without getting too close — and pre-packaged goody bags left on stoops, curbs and outdoor tables. . . . more

Nordstrom Looks to Hire 28,600 Seasonal and Regular Workers Ahead of the Holidays

Footwear News
Nordstrom, like other major retailers, is stepping up its hiring goals ahead of the holidays. . . . more

Ahold Delhaize hits 2021 target in shift to U.S. self-distribution

Supermarket News

Ahold Delhaize USA has transitioned The Giant Company’s Carlisle, Pa., distribution center into its self-distributed network, raising self-managed center-store volume to 65%, its goal for this year. . . . more

Stop & Shop kicks off Express delivery

Supermarket News

In partnership with Instacart, Stop & Shop has launched Stop & Shop Express, an online shopping service providing delivery of groceries, convenience products and household essentials in as soon as 30 minutes. . . . more

Remember when Macy's was the one removing department store names?

Retail Dive

It's quite possible that on Thanksgiving Day, during what's known in New York City as the "Macy's Day Parade," instead of the usual red, star-blazoned Macy's sign, a big "Amazon" billboard will feature prominently as the balloons and festive floats glide by. . . . more

Survey: Holiday in-store shoppers want extended hours, occupancy limits

CSA

A new survey confirms that holiday shopping will start early this year and that more of it will involve the physical store. It also reveals how retailers can make in-store shoppers feel more comfortable. . . . more

Best Buy to acquire Current Health as it dives deeper into home health care

CSA

Best Buy is betting that a good deal of health care in the future will be based in the home. . . . more

Office Depot, OfficeMax launch 20-minute pickup guarantee

Retail Dive

As retailers prepare for the forthcoming holiday season, Office Depot and OfficeMax have launched a "20 Minute Pickup Promise," an in store and curbside pickup service and guarantee at stores nationwide, the retailer announced on Wednesday. . . . more

Simon malls to close on Thanksgiving

Retail Dive

Simon Property Group on Thursday joined several retailers in shutting down on Thanksgiving Day. . . . more

7 experiential store concepts that opened this year

Retail Dive

As in past years, testing store concepts has been top of mind for retailers in 2021, as the industry moved past the mass closures and severely dampened traffic of 2020. . . . more

Kroger plans Northeast entry with next-gen fulfillment centers

CSA

America’s largest grocer is entering a new market and expanding its customer fulfillment centers (CFCs) and rapid online delivery program. . . . more

Scotch & Soda ramping up store expansion

CSA

Scotch & Soda is looking to grow its global presence. . . . more

Walmart in exclusive merchandise deal with Netflix

CSA

In time for holiday shopping, consumers can buy merchandise tied into “Stranger Things” and other popular Netflix shows on Walmart’s website. . . . more

Smaller Products, Rising Prices: Shrinkflation Hitting Grocery Store Shelves

CBS Minnesota
Shrinking products and rising prices. From cereal to soap, paper towels to pretzels, you might have noticed you’re not getting as much as you used to at the grocery store. . . . more

Pret A Manger debuts coffee subscription plans

NRN

Pret A Manger USA has launched a new Pret Coffee Subscription in New York City and Washington, D.C., the company said Thursday. . . . more

Burger King tests new plant-based Impossible Nuggets in three markets

NRN
Burger King is reportedly testing the new Impossible Foods nuggets in several markets, following the success of the plant-based Whopper. . . . more

Supply crisis drives Walmart and rivals to hire their own ships

Fox Business
The Flying Buttress once glided across the oceans carrying vital commodities like grain to all corners of the world. . . . more

Another disappointment: US economy adds only 194,000 jobs in September

CNN Business
America's economic recovery has hit a roadblock: US employers added only 194,000 jobs in September, another troubling sign that Covid is disrupting the economy. . . . more

7 mall stores you forgot about

Retail Dive

Why is it so much fun to discuss old retailers? And why do malls sometimes stoke feelings of nostalgia?  . . . more

Office return delays take big toll on Midtown Manhattan retail

CSA

The delayed return to offices due to the spread of the Delta variant has been a blow to the retail recovery in Manhattan. . . . more

Walmart to provide same-day delivery — for Home Depot customers

CSA

Walmart is kicking off its new delivery business with an impressive first client. . . . more

How America ruined Christmas

CNN Business
The supply chain nightmare that's been plaguing the global economy for over a year is about to snarl the holiday shopping season. . . . more

NRA: 78% of operators report decline in dine-in business

Restaurant Dive
Seventy-eight percent of restaurant operators report a decline in customer demand for indoor dining in recent weeks due to the rise of delta variant coronavirus cases, according to a survey by the National Restaurant Association Research Group of 4,000 operators. . . . more

As it opens more brick-and-mortar stores, Ross hires new CFO

Retail Dive

Adam Orvos, group senior vice president of supply chain administration at Ross Stores, has been promoted to Chief Financial Ofifcer, the retailer announced Wednesday. . . . more

Pre-bankruptcy payouts under fire from government watchdog

Retail Dive

Companies paid some $165 million in retention bonuses to executives in advance of Chapter 11 bankruptcies in 2020, according to an investigation by the Government Accountability Office. . . . more

Why retail bankruptcies have stopped dead — for now

Retail Dive

To appreciate the turnaround the entire retail industry has made over the past year, consider the months of July and August. . . . more

High-tech mini-golf/dining concept Puttshack in U.S. expansion

CSA

An entertainment experience that combines tech-infused mini-golf with food and drink and whose creators include the co-founders of Topgolf is set to open its second U.S. location. . . . more

U.S. convenience store sales in 2021 could top pre-pandemic levels

CSA

Convenience store retailers are bullish about their sales for 2021 but concerns persist. . . . more

Floral departments stem the tide of COVID's sales impact

Supermarket News

It’s no secret that supermarket floral departments struggled during the pandemic as many events were canceled, online shopping became the norm and those who did shop in person rushed to get in and out of stores quickly, not thinking about bringing home some bouquets—even though some beautiful flowers could have helped bring some happiness during the somber time. . . . more

Seacoast Liquor Stores See Big Sales Increase In New Hampshire

Seacoast Current

Thanks in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, Seacoast liquor sales in New Hampshire are up by more than $10 million over the past year. . . . more

Facing traffic declines, Bed Bath & Beyond swings to a loss

Retail Dive

Facing foot traffic declines to stores, Bed Bath & Beyond on Thursday reported net sales in the second quarter fell 26% year over year to $2 billion, while comparable sales decreased 1%. . . . more

Claire's files for IPO 3 years after bankruptcy

Retail Dive

Teen retailer Claire's has filed for an initial public offering just shy of three years after it emerged from a Chapter 11 reorganization. . . . more

California Pizza Kitchen completes debt refinancing transaction

NRN
California Pizza Kitchen (“CPK”) today announced that it has successfully completed a debt refinancing with a new $195mm Senior Secured Credit Facility with Canyon Partners (“Canyon”) and Rabobank, resulting in a significant reduction in interest expense and reduced leverage. . . . more

Fat Brands completes $300 million acquisition of Twin Peaks—its second major purchase this year

NRN

Fat Brands announced the completion of the $300 million acquisition of casual-dining ‘breastaurant’ sports bar brand Twin Peaks on Friday after initially agreeing to the purchase in September. . . . more

How Jersey Mike’s plans to open over 500 locations in 2 years

NRN

Much of the restaurant industry is still in recovery mode following the pandemic, with brands licking their wounds and establishing new systems and tools that help position them for the consumer demands of the future. . . . more

Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy Stepping Aside in November

QSR

Chick-fil-A CEO Dan T. Cathy will step down on November 1, ending an eight-year run that saw the chicken chain grow into a more than 2,600-unit empire. . . . more

4 Ways to Get More Out of Your Drive Thru

QSR

Prior to the pandemic, most quick-service brands achieved about 70 percent of sales at the drive-thru window, but the number climbed to north of 90 percent for parts of 2020. . . . more

A&W Restaurants Named One of the 17 Best Restaurant Franchising Deals by QSR Magazine

RestuarantNews.com
A&W Restaurants, the 500-plus unit classic American restaurant franchise, has been recognized by QSR Magazine as one of the country’s top 17 deals in restaurant franchising. . . . more

Bed Bath & Beyond sales plunge on August traffic drop-off, supply chain issues

CSA

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. swung to a second-quarter loss and reported profit and sales that missed expectations. The chain slashed its revenue and earnings outlook for the year. . . . more

First Look: J.C. Penney in beauty makeover

CSA

J.C. Penney is giving a sneak peek of its new beauty offering. . . . more

Neiman Marcus says 4.6 million customers affected by security breach

CSA

A leading luxury retailer has notified law enforcement that information from over 4 million customers’ online accounts was exposed in a cybersecurity incident. . . . more

Whole Foods Market CEO John Mackey to retire in 2022; successor named

CSA

The co-founder and CEO Of Whole Foods Market is going to retire after four decades with the company. . . . more

Report: Macy’s in legal battle over Amazon sign

CSA

Macy's Inc. doesn't want an Amazon billboard on top of its most famous store. . . . more

Dollar Tree to sell more products above $1

CSA
Dollar Tree continues its expansion into prices above the one that its name is based on. . . more