Retail Daily

A Colorado judge puts the Kroger, Albertsons merger on hold. Consumer confidence inches upward. And boneless wings are among the biggest c-store sellers, according to a new Technomic report.

Albertsons grows its loyalty program to over 41 million members. Rite Aide plans to close 50 locations in Ohio and Michigan. And QuikTrip sues the city of St. Charles, Missouri, over its tourism tax.

Starbucks is installing at least 100 more electric vehicle charging stations at its stores. Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores is making progress in its $1 billion store renovation plan. And the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union 770 named a new president.

A 730,000-square-foot perishable Walmart distribution center opened in Lancaster, Texas. Alimentation Couche-Tard appointed a new head of mergers and acquisitions and business development. And Amazon Prime Day is in full swing.

Costco will be increasing membership dues in the U.S. and Canada. Florida topped CSP's June tally of new-to-industry convenience stores. And Dollar General has agreed to pay OSHA $12 million and will do a complete worker safety overhaul.

Unions come out swinging against the proposed Kroger, Albertsons merger. The Federal Trade Commission issues a scathing report on the drug-pricing practices of pharmacy benefit managers. And convenience stores get ready for National Hot Dog Day.

Kroger releases its full list of stores it will divest under its proposed merger with Albertsons. Grocery tech company Upshop acquires Toronto-based Invafresh. And a U.S. Appeals Court allows a deceptive pricing practices lawsuit against Walmart to proceed.

The National Retail Federation praises the Supreme Court’s latest swipe fee ruling. Yesway is raising money to support communities affected by the South Fork and Salt wildfires in New Mexico. And FGF Brands Inc. has recalled almost 12,000 cases of chocolate chip muffins sold at Aldi.

The U.S. Supreme Court has decided in favor of a convenience-store retailer’s 2021 legal challenge involving swipe fees. A fire broke out at the original Buc-ee’s travel center in Luling, Texas, Monday morning. And Costco is building an affordable housing unit on top of a store. 

Food4Less workers reach a tentative contract deal. Walgreens plans to close more locations. And a new report shows that more than one in five EV charging stations are out of order.

Grubhub makes a major grocery play with Albertsons. Two grocers in Missouri deploy AI-powered smart carts. And Buc-ee’s opens its second location in the Bluegrass state.

The Food and Drug Administration authorizes its first menthol-flavored e-cigarettes. Walmart is partnering with Agritask. And Dollar General is the subject of a class-action lawsuit brought by a motorist who received a Dollar General gift card in lieu of change from his cash payment for fuel.

More Rite Aid stores are closing due to the retailer’s bankruptcy. Philip Morris International has suspended online sales of Zyn. And convenience-store retailer EG America is launching a $5 meal deal at its chains.

H-E-B opens its first discount concept store, Joe V’s, in Fort Worth, Texas. Petroleum interests sue the EPA over electric vehicle regulations. And Anabi acquires Land O’Sun Management’s Fast Track.

Food 4 Less workers in California could go on strike. Food inflation inches upwards in May. And consumers are increasingly turning to convenience stores as an alternative to fast-food restaurants.

The feds create a taskforce to combat the illegal distribution of e-cigarettes. Walmart goes digital with electronic shelf labels. And Starbucks is coming to select Schnuck Markets in metro St. Louis.

Buc-ee’s gets ready to open its biggest store ever. Sam’s Club creates a new focus group that its members can opt into. And Walmart announces new worker benefits.

SpartanNash has named a new vice president of merchandising and pharmacy. Maverik and Kum & Go are rolling out summer promotions. And the New York State Senate passed a bill to ban the sale of vape products that resemble school supplies or children’s toys.

Giant Eagle joins the summer discounts bandwagon. Digital rewards company Ibotta announces strong quarterly earnings. And Chevron gets the green light to buy Hess Corp.

Dollar Tree lays off 54 corporate employees. ConocoPhillips announces plans to buy Marathon Oil. And Walgreens enters the grocery price wars.

Wisconsin convenience-store retailer Mega Co-op has terminated its Holiday Stationstores franchise relationship. Ahold Delhaize USA is closing some Stop & Shop stores. And  RaceTrac has launched a new rewards app.

GasBuddy estimates the national average price for gas will hold in the mid-$3 per gallon range for much of the summer. United Natural Foods, Inc. has extended its wholesale partnership with Whole Foods Market. And Meijer is preparing to open a 75,000-square-foot grocery store in Fishers, Indiana.

Buc-ee’s has applied to build its first travel center in Kansas, City, Kansas. Weigel’s has launched MyWeigel’s Employee Rewards Program. And Target has reduced prices on roughly 1,500 products and plans to cut costs on thousands more throughout the summer.

Democrats urge President Biden to investigate price gouging. 7-Eleven Inc. has added a new frozen pizza to its 7-Select private-label line. And AAA projects 43.8 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Memorial Day holiday travel period.

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Arthur Irving of Irving Oil Ltd. has died at age 93. Walmart is cutting hundreds of corporate positions. And QuikTrip opened a new travel center in Monahans, Texas.

Enter into CSP’s 2024 Retailer’s Choice, Best New Products contest here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/24BNPC