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

Why Auntie Anne’s wants to become a drive-thru destination

Restaurant Dive
Auntie Anne’s has long been an impulse buy for customers who smell its pretzels baking and can’t resist. . . . more

Amazon Fresh debuts first Northeast stores as openings accelerate

Grocery Dive
Amazon Fresh opened its first stores in New York and New Jersey in recent days, inaugurating a new regional front in the rapid expansion of the fledgling grocery brand. . . . more

Macy’s to close a full-line store in St. Louis amid small-format expansion

Retail Dive
Macy’s continues to inch away from the mall, in what it says is an acceleration of its off-mall, small-format brick-and-mortar strategy, with the opening of three “Market by Macy’s” locations and one off-price Backstage location. . . . more

Yeezy Gap collection now available at NYC flagship store

Retail Dive
Taking its first step into physical retail, Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga products are now available for purchase at Gap’s Times Square flagship location in New York City, according to an emailed press release. . . . more

Ames’s old headquarters site will become a mixed-use property

CSA
More than 15 years after Ames Department Stores and its well-known CEO Joe Ettore closed shop and exited their Connecticut headquarters, the building will finally be torn down. . . . more

As more coupons move online, older and low-income shoppers get left out

WCVB
Susie Ingram has been a coupon-clipper all her life. . . . more

Placer.ai: Discount and dollar stores lead the way in Q2 foot traffic

SOURCE
Concerns about inflation are taking a toll on some retailers — with some notable exceptions. . . . more

Harvard Book Store opening 2nd location in Prudential Center, replacing Barnes & Noble

CBS Boston
The Pru is getting a new bookstore, following the closure of Barnes & Noble last month. . . . more

Perishables dollar sales rise, unit volume falls in June

Supermarket News
For grocery shoppers lately, the case has been no different in fresh foods than other store departments: Prices are high. . . . more

Ross opens 29 stores in 2 months

Retail Dive
Ross opened 29 new store locations in June and July, according to a company press release. . . . more

Rite Aid provides access to COVID-19 molecular testing

CSA
Rite Aid Corp. is entering a new partnership to offer COVID-19 molecular tests at stores across the country. . . . more

Exclusive: Michaels improves personalization via email program

CSA
A leading North American specialty arts & crafts retailer is successfully reactivating customer email addresses for marketing purposes. . . . more

California Pizza Kitchen moves into Canada

CSA
Two years ago, California Pizza Kitchen filed for bankruptcy in the midst of COVID-19 shutdowns. Today it is back on the expansion trail. . . . more

Toys 'R' Us is coming back - inside Macy's stores

CBS Boston
Once left for dead, Toys "R" Us is making a major comeback. The toy store brand will be just about everywhere for the holidays. . . . more

Back-to-school spending set to be an all-time high, amid inflation concerns: report

Retail Dive
Even with inflation running amok, back-to-school spending might reach an all-time high this season, according to a new report from Deloitte. . . . more

Nike debuts new store concept with Nike Style

Retail Dive
Nike on Friday opened its latest store concept, Nike Style, in Seoul, South Korea. . . . more

Phase 2 of big New Hampshire mixed-use project opens

CSA
Tuscan Village, the 170-acre mixed-use project on the former site of Rockingham Park Race Track north of Boston, is about to open Mass General Brigham’s first medical center in New Hampshire. . . . more

Wow Bao to open 50 vending machine kiosks in 24 cities

Supermarket News
Wow Bao will open 50 kiosks in 24 cities through a partnership with Automated Retail Technologies and its Just Baked Hot Food kiosks, Wow Bao wrote in an email to Restaurant Dive on Tuesday. . . . more

June food-at-home prices jump over 12%

Supermarket News
Elevated food and fuel inflation lifted the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to 40-year highs in June, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). . . . more

TikTok creates program for small businesses

Retail Dive
Joining other social platforms in releasing tools for small businesses, TikTok has created Follow Me, a six-week educational program from July 11 to Aug. 19 for small and midsize companies seeking to increase sales using the platform, according to a Monday announcement. . . . more

Dollar General CEO to retire

Retail Dive
Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos plans to retire from his role on Nov. 1 after roughly 14 years with the retailer, according to a press release issued Tuesday. . . . more

Virtual experiences impact consumer purchase decisions, but tech adoption is low: report

Retail Dive
A majority of U.S. consumers who used augmented reality features to try on or test products say it influenced their purchase decision, according to a report by Forrester shared with Retail Dive. . . . more

Leslie’s expands national retail footprint

CSA
It’s been a busy summer so far for Leslie’s. . . . more

McDonald’s Keeps Driving Traffic to its App

QSR
The top 10 quick-service restaurant apps in the U.S. were downloaded 10.4 million times in June, 3.7 percent less than those the month prior. . . . more

Starbucks unveils ‘reinvention’ plan, hikes wages

Restaurant Dive
Starbucks interim CEO Howard Schultz laid out a framework Monday for the “reinvention” of the company in a letter to employees. . . . more

Bath & Body Works changes return policy

Retail Dive
Bath & Body Works is enacting some changes with its return policy, all of which will go into effect Sept. 14, according to a company announcement. . . . more

Custom golf club fitter Club Champion opens Manhattan flagship

CSA
Club Champion is expanding its retail footprint. . . . more

Kohl’s rolling out new store experience

CSA
Kohl's Corp. is launching new merchandising initiatives in-store and online. . . . more

Walmart won’t directly challenge Prime Day

CSA
Walmart is apparently passing on countering Amazon’s Prime Day sales extravaganza this year. . . . more

Trader Joe’s workers to vote on whether to unionize

Grocery Dive
Workers at a Trader Joe’s location in Hadley, Massachusetts, plan to vote on whether to unionize on July 27 and July 28, according to a Tuesday tweet by Trader Joe’s United, the group seeking to organize workers at the store. . . . more

Costco sales up 20.4% in June

CSA
Costco Wholesale Corp. maintained its momentum in June with big increases in total sales and comparable sales — helped by higher gas prices. . . . more

Duck Donuts signs 13 franchise agreements, including 5 multi-unit deals during Q2

NRN
Duck Donuts, known for its Warm, Delicious and Made-to-Order! ® donuts, keeps its 2022 growth momentum strong with the signing of 13 franchise agreements for 19 shops during the second quarter. . . . more

Athleta to open 30-40 stores; entering outlet sector

CSA
Athleta is growing its retail footprint and also entering a new sales channel. . . . more

Plans underway to revamp Brighton Whole Foods site

BBJ
A proposal for a Whole Foods Market-anchored project with 229 housing units in Brighton is moving through the city’s permitting process nearly four years after plans were first filed. . . . more

Three former Lord & Taylor stores to be made into labs

BBJ
Three former Lord & Taylor department stores in Boston-area malls will be converted into life sciences facilities by their owner, which announced the move on Friday. . . . more

LensCrafters opens tech-focused flagship

CSA
LensCrafters is doubling down on technology to improve the customer experience. . . . more

CVS Health drops out of National Association of Chain Drug Stores

CSA
CVS Health has pulled out of the National Association for Chain Drug Stores. . . . more

Subway to give away free sandwiches, as the franchise launches new menu

Yahoo! News
Free Subway sandwich? Yes, please. . . . more

C-Stores Look to Threaten Restaurant Share Once Again

QSR
The notion C-stores would knock on the door of quick-service market share isn’t a new one. . . . more

Chick-fil-A dominates restaurant satisfaction rankings

CSA
One chain continues to dominate customer satisfaction in the restaurant industry. . . . more

At Home continues to add more stores

CSA
At Home was busy in June. . . . more

Kohl’s no longer for sale

CSA
Kohl’s Corp. has taken down the “for sale” sign. . . . more

H&M Firing on All Cylinders

Sourcing Journal
H&M Group’s second-quarter net sales increased by 17 percent to 54.5 billion Swedish kronor ($5.3 billion) from $46.5 billion ($4.6 billion) in the prior-year period, even after temporarily shuttering operations in Russia, one of its top markets. . . . more

Some Boston-Area Malls Have Recovered, But Many Are Still Fighting For Their Lives

BISNOW
Like many suburban towns in the 1970s and '80s, North Attleborough became the home of a shopping mall that would put it on the map. . . . more

Bed Bath & Beyond says it’s still open to selling its Buybuy Baby division

CNBC Business
As Bed Bath & Beyond shakes up its leadership suite and ousts its CEO, the retailer said Wednesday it remains open to another big change: A potential sale of its baby gear chain, Buybuy Baby. . . . more

Kohl’s ends sale talks with Franchise Group, lowers outlook

CNBC Business
Kohl’s announced Friday that it is terminating talks to sell its business, saying that retail environment has significantly deteriorated since the beginning of its bidding process. . . . more

Tuscan Village welcomes Mass. General Brigham and The Container Store this fall

NEREJ
New Tuscan Village tenants include New Hampshire’s first The Container Store slated for this holiday season, Nike, Chick-Fil-A, T-Mobile and Xfinity, Crumbl Cookies, and Bennett’s Sandwich Shop. . . . more

Mici Italian Unveils Rebranded Store Design

QSR
Mici Italian, Denver’s family-owned destination for pizza, pasta, salads and more, has rebranded in partnership with Denver-based branding experts Wunder Werkz. . . . more

Price Chopper links production planning to in-store data

CSA
A Northeast grocery chain is centralizing its planning capabilities for food production. . . . more

Lucci’s To Close After 66 Years, Sold To McKinnon’s Supermarkets; Gradual Transition Will Lead To Grand Opening In Mid-July

Wilmington Apple
McKinnon’s Supermarkets and Lucci’s Market are pleased to announce that McKinnon’s has purchased the Lucci’s business and will operate under the McKinnon’s Supermarkets banner. . . . more