Walmart Q1 U.S. comp sales +3.8% / Sam's Club +4.4% Press release   ...Walmart earnings beat as discounter wins over more high-income shoppers, e-commerce sales jump at CNBC. "In an interview with CNBC, Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey said one of the factors boosting Walmart’s grocery business is the widening gap between the price of cooking at home and buying food at fast-food chains or restaurants. Plus, he added, shoppers – especially with higher incomes – appreciate the convenience that Walmart offers. For the first time, its delivery business surpassed its store pickup in terms of volume, Rainey said." [...]

  Home Depot Q1 comp sales down 2.8% / US down 3.2% Press release   ...Home Depot comparable sales drop steeper than expected on easing demand at Reuters. "Foot traffic at Home Depot ticked down in the first quarter, except for an Easter spending boost in March. Store visits dipped 0.3% in February and 2.4% in April, according to data firm Placer.ai. Home Depot CEO Ted Decker said the quarter was impacted by a delayed start to spring and continued softness in certain larger discretionary projects." Read more   Alibaba shares fall in premarket trading after posting 86% profit drop [...]

  Costco April comp sales +5.6% Press release   Organized retail theft ring that targeted Macy’s, other retailers is charged in New York at CNBC. "Two New Yorkers were charged with possessing more than $1 million in stolen goods and reselling them through their business, Rehana’s Cosmetics, a perfume and cosmetics store in Midtown Manhattan, the borough’s district attorney Alvin Bragg said at a press conference. About $212,000 of the merchandise was stolen from Macy’s..." Read more   Insiders reveal why Walmart pulled the plug on Sam Walton’s dream to ’get the hospitals and doctors in line’ at Fortune/Yahoo. "While [...]

  Costco April comp sales +5.6% Press release   Organized retail theft ring that targeted Macy’s, other retailers is charged in New York at CNBC. "Two New Yorkers were charged with possessing more than $1 million in stolen goods and reselling them through their business, Rehana’s Cosmetics, a perfume and cosmetics store in Midtown Manhattan, the borough’s district attorney Alvin Bragg said at a press conference. About $212,000 of the merchandise was stolen from Macy’s..." Read more   Insiders reveal why Walmart pulled the plug on Sam Walton’s dream to ’get the hospitals and doctors in line’ at Fortune/Yahoo. "While [...]

  Amazon launches a Prime-free marketplace in South Africa, its first on the continent at TechCrunch. "Amazon is launching in South Africa without its famous Prime membership program...initially it plans to sell international brands and local products spanning some 20 product categories..." Read more   Target treks off the beaten path - by selling its own-brand products at other retailers at Fortune/Yahoo. "...plans to expand its Cat & Jack children’s clothing line across 85 Hudson’s Bay Co. Canadian department stores, adding outerwear and shoes to the brand’s 1,400 items...Since the partnership launched in March, the brand has been incredibly popular [...]

  Wayfair shares surge 17% after furniture retailer cuts losses by more than $100 million at CNBC. "Sales fell to $2.73 billion, down more than 1% from $2.77 billion a year earlier. The steepest drop-off came from Wayfair’s international segment, where sales declined nearly 6%..." Read more | Press release   Sprouts Q1 comp sales +4.0% / +7 new stores = 414 stores total Press release   Publix Q1 comp sales +2.8% Press release   Loblaw Q1 revenue +4.5%, as Reddit group's boycott kicks off at CBC   DoorDash Q1 total orders increased 21% year-over-year Press release   NLRB judge [...]

  Walmart Takes On Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods With New Premium Brand at WSJ. "...introducing a line of premium food called Bettergoods this year, aiming to attract new, often higher income shoppers more frequently...The new brand took years to develop and will include foods such as cardamom rose raspberry jam for $5.24 and curry chicken empanadas. Walmart plans to add more than 300 Bettergoods items to shelves this year—many of which will cost $5 or less." WSJ subs.   ...products will fit within one of three major areas...items with more of a culinary flair...items that are plant-based...or items that [...]

  Tractor Supply Q1 comp sales +1.1% Press release   Amazon aggregator Thrasio loses CEO, other top execs as company works through bankruptcy at CNBC   Home Depot and Walmart US CEOs say 'employers should value skills above degrees' in WSJ op-ed at Fox Business. "The American dream isn’t dead, but the path to reach it might look different for job seekers today than it did for their parents," Decker and Furner wrote. "While a college degree is a worthwhile path to prosperity, it isn’t the only one." Read more   ...WSJ op-ed Subs.   ...President and CEO of Walmart US, [...]