Fortune Best Workplaces in Retail 2024 (Wegmans #1, Sheetz #2, Target #3) Top 20 list   US holiday sales to grow at slowest pace since 2018, report says at Reuters. "U.S. holiday sales are expected to grow at their slowest pace in six years, data from Deloitte showed on Thursday as persistent inflation and dried up savings turn shoppers more frugal for the all-important shopping period. Holiday retail sales are likely to rise between 2.3% and 3.3% in the November 2024-January 2025 period, totaling up to $1.59 trillion, data report said, from a 4.3% growth to $1.54 trillion last [...]

  Academy Sports Q2 comp sales down 6.9% "Sales for the second quarter were more challenging than expected, impacted by a tough economy, a temporary distribution center backlog...and by a very active storm season...we are revising our full year guidance, while maintaining our gross margin rate range," said Carl Ford, CFO." Press release   Amazon Fresh introduces new grocery savings for Prime members "Up to 50% off eight to 15 grocery favorites that rotate each week, including fresh produce, protein, and pantry staples...More than 1,200 rotating Prime-exclusive grocery items and household favorites from top brands 25% off." Press release   [...]

  PayPal pushes into in-person payments with cashback rewards, Apple integration at Reuters. "PayPal is expanding into U.S. point-of-sale payments by integrating its debit card with Apple's mobile wallet and offering 5% cashback rewards, as the global online payments giant seeks direct competition with tech companies and banks." Read more   Target slows store theft, but at a cost to shopping experience at Minneapolis Star Tribune. "They’ve locked up a lot,” said Joey Mueller, 31, about his local Target store in northeast Minneapolis. “It’s toothpaste, deodorant, laundry detergent. … Out of principle, if it’s locked up, I don’t buy it.” [...]

  Best Buy Q2 comp sales -2.3% (vs. expected -3.2%) Press release   ...Best Buy lifts annual profit forecast as tighter cost controls pay off at Reuters. "We see a consumer who is seeking value and sales events, and one who is also willing to spend on high-price-point products when they need to, or when there is new compelling technology," Chief Executive Officer Corie Barry said." Read more   Dollar General Q2 comp sales +0.5% "While we believe the softer sales trends are partially attributable to a core customer who feels financially constrained, we know the importance of controlling what [...]

  Lowe's latest US firm to end some diversity policies at Reuters. "Lowe's will no longer participate in surveys for Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy group supporting transgender rights, and is also combining its various business resource groups that represent diverse employees into one umbrella organization...The company will not be sponsoring or participating in community events such as parades, festivals, or fairs and might also make additional changes to the policies over time..." Read more   Kroger and Albertsons defend merger plan in federal court against US regulators’ objections at AP. "Albertsons told a federal judge Monday that it might [...]

  BJ's Wholesale Q2 comp sales up 3.1% "...excluding gasoline sales, increased by 2.4% year-over-year...Digitally enabled comparable sales growth was 22.0% year-over-year...Membership fee income increased by 9.1% year-over-year to $113.1 million." Press release   Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Q2 comp brand revenue down 3.3% Press release   2024 PEOPLE's Companies that Care List (Wegmans #7, Sheetz #9, Publix #15, Target #42, Walmart #50...) Top 100 list   Sam’s Club unveils new design studio on its corporate campus at Talk Business. "...dubbed the “Clubhouse” on its corporate campus at 2100 Simple Savings Drive across the street from the Sam’s Club home office...37,000-square-foot design [...]

  Lowe's Q2 comp sales down 5.1% "...driven by continued pressure in DIY bigger ticket discretionary spending and unfavorable weather adversely impacting sales in seasonal and other outdoor categories, partially offset by positive comparable sales in Pro and online." Read more   ...Lowe’s cuts full-year outlook as it expects home improvement sales to weaken at CNBC. "The company said it now projects total sales of between $82.7 billion and $83.2 billion for the full year, compared with the $84 billion to $85 billion that it previously expected. It said it expects comparable sales to fall by 3.5% to 4%, compared [...]

  Kamala Harris will propose the first-ever federal ban on “corporate price-gouging” in the food industry at CNBC. "...she will direct her administration to increase scrutiny of potential mergers between large supermarkets and food producers...On Friday, Harris will single out the meat industry, saying that “soaring meat prices have accounted for a large part of Americans’ higher grocery bills, even as meat processing companies registered record-breaking profits following the pandemic” Read more   Walmart U.S. comp +4.2% / Sam's Club comp +5.2% Press release   ...Walmart beats estimates, raises outlook at CNBC. "CFO John David Rainey said...Walmart has not noticed a [...]