Dollar General Corp. Q4 comp sales +1.2% “For fiscal 2025, the Company expects…Same-store sales growth in the range of approximately 1.2% to 2.2%.”  Press release

 

…Dollar General CEO warns consumers are cash-strapped, and says 2025 won’t be better at CNBC. “For the fourth-quarter, Dollar General said same-store sales growth of 1.2% was driven entirely by 2.3% growth in average transaction. Customer traffic fell 1.1% during the period, “impacted by ongoing financial pressures of our core consumer,” Vasos said.” Read more

 

Trump threatens 200% tariff on European alcohol as trade war escalates at CNN

 

PPI showed no gain for the month after jumping an upwardly revised 0.6% in January, seasonally adjusted figures showed. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for a 0.3% increase at CNBC

 

Shoppers Are Skimping on Cigarettes, Doritos and Twinkies at WSJ. “U.S. convenience-store sales volume fell by 4.3% as prices rose in the year ended Feb. 23, according to market-research firm Circana…At a Circle K store in suburban Chicago, adult customers with children in tow hurry out the door before they get talked into buying a snack, said sales representative David Guerino…A large bag of chips there now costs $7. “People can’t afford it anymore,” Guerino said…” WSJ subs.

 

Duluth Holdings Inc. Q4 net sales down 1.8% Press release

 

…Samuel Sato to retire as President/CEO/Board member at Duluth effective April 25, 2025 – During the transition period, Stephen Schlecht, the Company’s Chairman of the Board, Founder and former CEO, will assume day-to-day leadership Press release

 

Walmart Gets an Earful From China Over Response to Trump Tariffs at WSJ/Yahoo. “Chinese authorities summoned Walmart officials for a dressing-down this week after receiving complaints that the retailer was pressuring some Chinese suppliers to cut prices to absorb the cost of U.S. tariffs, state media and people familiar with the matter said Wednesday…“If Walmart insists” on making Chinese suppliers absorb the blow, “then what awaits Walmart is not just talk,” state broadcaster China Central Television said on social media Wednesday.” Read more

 

Build-A-Bear Workshop Q4 revenues +0.8% Press release

 

Roomba maker iRobot, once Amazon’s takeover target, flags going concern risk at Reuters/Yahoo. “Roomba vacuum cleaner maker iRobot, a former $1.4 billion buyout target of Amazon.com, raised concerns on Wednesday about its ability to stay in business…company was once valued at $3.56 billion in 2021, driven by pandemic-fueled demand. It is now worth less than $200 million.” Read more

 

Sam’s Club introduces Member’s Mark golf ball Press release

 

As China’s Birth Rate Drops, Pampered Pets Reap the Benefits at Bloomberg. “China’s population has fallen for three straight years, and the marriage rate plunged by a fifth in 2024, reaching its lowest level in almost a half-century. With fewer babies, China’s formula market dropped 21% from 2021 to 2024. Pets, meanwhile, are on track to outnumber toddlers almost 2 to 1 by 2030, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. predicts.” Bloomberg subs. 

 

Michaels unveils its first-ever Creativity Trend Report Press release

 

They Wanted a Quick Fix for Hair Loss. Instead, These Young Men Got Sick. at WSJ. “Finasteride…is a popular hair-loss treatment that has been on the market for three decades with potential side effects including sexual dysfunction and depression. But a new generation of young men are discovering the medicine—and its potential risks. That is largely because they are peppered with ads on social media pitching hair-loss medications from telehealth companies, which unlike drugmakers aren’t required to disclose side effects and other risks in advertisements.” WSJ subs.

 

Amazon is merging its convenience and grocery store corporate teams at C-Store Dive/Yahoo. “Amazon is merging the corporate teams behind its Amazon Go convenience stores and Amazon Fresh grocery business…” Read more

 

Casey’s Q3 inside comp sales +3.7% Press release

 

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