Supermarkets
John Lewis Brings In-Store Theatre to Life with New Platter Restaurant Concept
John Lewis is giving customers another reason to spend time in its stores with the launch of Platter, a new restaurant concept designed to make food, drink and hospitality a central part of the...
Asda Warns Britain’s Lowest Earners Are Losing Spending Power
Britain’s supermarket battle is becoming increasingly complicated because millions of shoppers are not simply looking for lower prices — they have less money available to spend in the first place. New figures highlighted by...
Sainsbury’s Makes a Huge Bet on Food as Argos Exit Changes the Business
Sainsbury’s is preparing for a major change in its business following its decision to sell Argos for £120 million, bringing an end to one of the supermarket industry’s most unusual combinations. Sainsbury’s acquired Argos...
Albertsons Is Under Pressure as American Shoppers Become More Cautious
Albertsons is facing a difficult period as weaker consumer spending, declining profitability and a more cautious American shopper put pressure on one of the country’s largest supermarket operators. The company recently cut its financial...
Kroger Faces a New Consumer Trust Test Over $17 Million Pharmacy Settlement
Kroger is facing renewed attention over a proposed $17 million class-action settlement involving prescription drug pricing, putting another spotlight on the increasingly complicated relationship between supermarkets, pharmacies and consumers. The settlement concerns allegations that...
The American Grocery Basket Is Shrinking — Shoppers Have Less Money to Spend
The American consumer is showing signs of fatigue, and supermarkets are beginning to feel the pressure. U.S. retail sales fell 0.6% in July, the weakest monthly performance in more than a year, while retailers...
Oil Shock Threatens to Reach the Supermarket Shelves as Iran Sanctions Tighten
Oil prices have slipped on Monday, but there is little reason for retailers, suppliers or consumers to assume that the pressure on fuel and food prices is over. The market is waiting for the...
Walmart Finally Accepts Apple Pay: Are Younger, Higher-Income Shoppers Changing the Checkout Game?
After years of resisting Apple Pay, Walmart is finally changing direction. The retailer’s decision to begin accepting Apple Pay and Google Pay in its US stores marks a significant change in its approach to...
Mariano’s Closures Add to Albertsons and Kroger Retail Shake-Up After Failed Merger
The fallout from the failed Kroger-Albertsons merger is continuing to reshape the American grocery sector, with store closures now providing another reminder of how difficult the supermarket market has become. Among the latest developments,...
After Years of Resistance, Walmart Finally Changes Course on Apple Pay
After more than a decade of resisting Apple Pay and other contactless payment services, Walmart has finally changed course. The retail giant announced on August 21 that it will begin introducing tap-to-pay at selected...