March on Amazon HQ: Seattle housing activists demand ‘head tax’ on big business by Monica Nickelsburg at GeekWire. “About 250 people marched with Sawant, chanting “we are ready to fight, housing is a human right” and “no Bezos-Durkan deal.”…If the original head tax passes Monday, Durkan will have to decide whether or not to veto the legislation.” Pics/Read more

 

Amazon’s market share in India has grown in recent years as Walmart’s Flipkart has fallen by Tonya Garcia at MarketWatch. “Amazon, which has made significant progress growing market share from about 10% in 2014 to 27% in 2017, compared to 38% to 34% for Flipkart during that same time,” Stifel analysts led by Mark Astrachan wrote in a note.” Read more

 

Walmart’s deal to buy Flipkart came with an interesting caveat by Connie Loizos at TechCrunch. “Specifically, the filing states that, “acting together,” holders of 60 percent of the Flipkart shares held by the company’s minority shareholders, may require Flipkart to stage an IPO following the fourth anniversary of the deal’s official close — and at a valuation that’s “no less” than that paid by Walmart under its current agreement, which is $20.8 billion.” Read more

 

Costco Now Sells Its Own Razors by Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. “A razor and pack of 14 Kirkland blades costs $19.99 at (Costco), or $1.43 a blade. That’s about 24 percent less than the per-blade price Costco charges for Gillette’s Mach3 brand.” Read more (Tiered subs.)

 

Trump assails high drug prices, avoids direct hit on industry at Reuters. Read more

 

Firearms manufacturer cuts ties with Dick’s Sporting Goods by Patty Tascarella at Pittsburgh Business Times. “Mossberg said in a release that it will not accept future orders from the retailer in response to Dick’s hiring gun control lobbyists last month, and it is in the process of evaluating current contractual agreements.” Read more

 

Skechers sues Adidas over alleged payments to basketball prospects by James F. Peltz at LA Times. Read more (Tiered subs.)

 

**A message from 2018 Sweets & Snacks Expo – Next week – The single largest gathering of confectionery & snack companies under one roof! Chicago, May 22-24. Website | Exhibitors

 

The U.S. recycling industry is breaking down by Bob Tita at Wall Street Journal. “Prices for scrap paper and plastic have collapsed, leading local officials across the country to charge residents more to collect recyclables and send some to landfills. Used newspapers, cardboard boxes and plastic bottles are piling up at plants that can’t make a profit processing them for export or domestic markets.” Read more (Subs.)

 

GameStop’s CEO stepping down after 3 months in the role by Korri Kezar at Dallas Business Journal. Read more

 

Diamond market may be warming to lab-made gems at CNBC. “Millennials have shown less desire to buy mined diamondsthan previous generations — many say they’d rather save their money or purchase a gem that was produced with sustainability and ethics in mind.” Read more

 

Costco China planning first store opening at Retail News Asia. “Kuaxiaopin.net says Costco will open its first physical store for China in Shanghai’s Minhang district next year. A second store is planned for Pudong, to open in 2021.” Read more

 

D.C. – If you reload your Metro card at CVS stores, you’re going to have to find another way soon. at NBC 4 Washington. “Without the option to get SmarTrip cards at the more than 150 CVS locations in the D.C. area, the number of retail locations where people can buy or reload the travel cards is reduced by more than 60 percent, according to a letter from Metro.” Read more

 

Deadly convenience: Keyless cars and their carbon monoxide toll at NY Times via CNBC. “Mr. Schaub is among more than two dozen people killed by carbon monoxide nationwide since 2006 after a keyless-ignition vehicle was inadvertently left running in a garage. Dozens of others have been injured, some left with brain damage.” Read more

 

State shuts down Uptown Minneapolis market over food safety concerns via Pioneer Press. “Health Commissioner Gretchen Musicant says it’s legal to buy raw milk in Minnesota, but it has to be directly from a farmer…Operator Will Winter thinks the city is treating him unfairly. He says the market isn’t a store but a private buyers’ club.” Read more

 

Retiring union president walks off with $656,000 by Ross Jones at WXYZ ABC 7 Detroit. “The union, based in Madison Heights, represents more than 17,000 grocery store employees, mostly at Kroger stores here in Michigan…By 2013, he collected more than $250,000 . Just two years after that, Robinson made more than $309,000.” Video/Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra Stories

UPS’ new trucks look straight out of a Pixar movie

‘Do not use’ water warning issued at Costco store after hydrocarbons detected in hydrants

CVS wins appeal of opioid prescriber’s $1 million defamation verdict

CDC hides ticks on a poppyseed muffin. Thanks for ruining muffins forever.

Colon Washburn, former Walmart executive, dies at 72

Major league executives are taking meetings with bookies

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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