Costco co-founder Sinegal bids goodbye at shareholder gathering by Benjamin Romano at Seattle Times. “One of my sons and I own a vineyard down in Napa Valley, and I take care of my own personal investments, so I’ve got a lot to keep me busy,” (Sinegal) added.” Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Wal-Mart updates suppliers on new OTIF requirements by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “An estimated 4,000 Wal-Mart suppliers are in Bentonville this week at the retailer’s annual Supplier Growth Forum…Suppliers, in town for Tuesday and Wednesday meetings, were told the new threshold for OTIF deliveries for full truckload shipments is moving from 75% to 85% by April.” Read more

 

Walmart in talks to buy a significant minority stake in Flipkart at Economic Times. “Doug McMillon led a delegation that visited Flipkart’s Bengaluru office early last week as part of this exercise, said the people…The other members of the team included Walmart ecommerce CEO Marc Lore…and Judith McKenna.” Read more

 

Walgreens to pay $2M to settle suit over expired baby food, drugs in California via Chicago Tribune. Read more (tiered subs.)

 

Warby Parker unveils pilot program for kids in New York City by Anthony Noto at New York Business Journal. “New children’s glasses will be available for a limited time only and sold exclusively at Warby Parker’s eight New York stores.” Read more

 

Lobbying’s Top 50 (Amazon #17, NRF #19) at The Hill. List

 

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Metro announces increase in automation to combat minimum-wage hikes via Toronto Star. “Metro says it will run a scan-and-go pilot project at an undisclosed Quebec store, despite some past reliability problems….will also add more self-checkout machines, particularly in Ontario where the minimum wage was increased to $14 an hour and is projected to rise to $15 next January.” Read more

 

Office Depot unveils market makeover of 14 stores in Austin including a flagship location – “BizBox: Powered by Office Depot” Press release

 

Amazon, Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s Employee by Lauren Weber & Laura Stevens at Wall Street Journal. “Some executives at companies in the Atlanta area, including UPS and Home Depot, are voicing concerns about the impact on the local job markets, according to people familiar with the matter…A Home Depot spokesman said the company is primarily concerned about whether Amazon will receive higher tax incentives than the norm.” Read more (subs.)

 

Kroger Names Steve McKinney Senior Vice President of Retail Divisions, Monica Garnes President of Fry’s Division Press release

 

Amazon’s Treasure Truck rolling up to Whole Foods stores by Nat Levy at GeekWire. Read more

 

H&M to open fewer stores in 2018 via CNBC. “H&M said it planned a net addition of about 220 stores in 2018, compared with 388 in 2017. Breaking down that figure, H&M plans to open about 390 new stores and close about 170, entering Uruguay and Ukraine for the first time.” Read more

 

Petco acquires pet insurance marketplace PetInsuranceQuotes.com Press release

 

New Starbucks COO Rosalind Brewer will have an annual base salary of $1 million and also receive a $1 million cash signing bonus as well as $7 million in sign-on equity by Ashley Stewart at Puget Sound Business Journal. Read more

 

Amazon is experimenting with its own QR code style ‘SmileCodes’ by Greg Kumparak at TechCrunch. “Amazon has apparently been testing these codes in pop-up shops and Amazon Lockers (pictured above) in Europe for a few weeks now, but the company says these codes will make their U.S. debut in a few different magazines (Cosmopolitan and Seventeen) come February.” Read more

 

NFL players to visit Target HQ as part of Super Bowl Festivities by Liz Mullen at Sports Business Journal. Read more (subs.)

 

Amazon is “likely to become the largest clothing seller in the U.S. by the end of 2018.” That title is now held by Macy’s at WWD. Read more

 

Stein Mart to ‘explore strategic alternatives’ as its sales wane at CNBC. Read more

 

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