Gap becomes the first major fashion company to offer checkout within Google’s Gemini at CNBC. “For now, customers won’t be able to link loyalty accounts or spend points on the transaction, he said. That could create some friction for regular customers, but Gerjets said the option could be added down the line.” Read more

 

Dollar General Corporation Appoints Jerry W. “JJ” Fleeman Jr., as CEO “Fleeman to succeed Todd Vasos as CEO effective January 1, 2027…Fleeman has served as CEO of Ahold Delhaize USA, Inc…He has also served as a member of the Ahold Delhaize Management Board since April 2023.” Press release

 

Puig stock soars after Estée Lauder confirms takeover talks with Charlotte Tilbury maker at CNBC. “Combining the bigger U.S.-listed Estée Lauder with the smaller Spanish Puig would bring some of the world’s biggest beauty and fragrance brands under one roof, including Tom Ford Beauty, Carolina Herrera and Clinique.” Read more

 

Dollarama, Inc. Q4 Canada comp sales + 1.5%  Press release

 

Walmart’s Vizio Pitches New Way to Track If Streaming Ads Drive Sales at Adweek. “…consumers will log into Walmart-owned smart TVs using their Walmart accounts…making it easier for Walmart to track whether streaming TV ads lead to purchases…Walmart and L’Oréal will unveil a product placement deal…will drop L’Oréal products into premium content across Vizio’s operating system within the U.S.” Read more

 

An exclusive tour of Amazon’s Trainium lab, the chip that’s won over Anthropic, OpenAI, even Apple TechCrunch

 

Fast Company: The World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2026 (Shopify #3, Walmart #9, QuikTrip #41) Ranked list

 

…How Walmart is insulating shoppers from the trade wars at Fast Company. “Walmart’s prices crept up only 5.3% last year, while Amazon’s have risen 12.8%…It helped that more than two-thirds of the products sold in Walmart U.S. stores are now made, grown, or assembled domestically.” Read more

 

Kroger/Google partnership allows advertisers to target precise retail audience on YouTube at Social Media Today. “Through a new collaboration between Kroger Precision Marketing and Display & Video 360, brands can now activate Kroger’s shopper audiences across YouTube and third-party inventory,” the company said in its press release. “To close the loop, new SKU-level reporting helps you measure the precise impact of your spend on Kroger sales.” Read more

 

The cost of owning a pet has skyrocketed. at CBS News. “According to the company Rover, pet ownership costs over the past year have increased by up to 10% — with an estimated $32,000 for the lifetime care of a cat and $35,000 for a dog.” Read more

 

The great toilet paper panic is back as Japan starts stockpiling at Fortune. “The original Japanese toilet paper crisis came in 1973, also triggered by turmoil in the Middle East over oil…Since then, Japan has raced for its toilet products every time a crisis rolls around.” Read more