Amazon met with Boxed CEO to discuss acquisition: source by Lisa Fickenscher at NY Post. “Jeff Bezos’ e-commerce giant invited Boxed founder and Chief Executive Chief Huang to Amazon’s Seattle headquarters on Wednesday to discuss an acquisition of the four-year-old company, a source with knowledge of the trip and discussions told The Post.” Read more

 

…In the last two weeks, Kroger made an offer for Boxed — that was in the $300 million to $400 million range, according to sources. That offer was rejected, sources said. Read more

 

Wal-Mart Job Cuts Rise to 1,000 in Company’s Latest Shake-Up by Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. “A second phase of cutbacks will come in 2019, when some buildings are consolidated to make way for the company’s new corporate headquarters. Under 500 positions will be part of that wave, Wal-Mart said.” Read more

 

…Wal-Mart closing distribution centers in Bentonville, Fort Smith by Kim Souza at Talk Business. “The Fort Smith operation employs less than 100 workers. Jobs at the return center in Bentonville (serving Walmart and Sam’s Club) will also be eliminated when that operation is spread among five other return centers across the U.S. in the next year.” Read more

 

Jet.com’s president is leaving just 18 months after the $3 billion Walmart acquisition by Jason Del Rey at Recode. “Landsman is now leaving for a new role at another company, which she saw as too good to pass up, according to a person familiar with the decision. Her new role could not be learned.” Read more

 

HEB using augmented reality tech to speed up warehouse work by Kristen Mosbrucker at San Antonio Business Journal. “The project with Vuzix Corp. involved HEB employees wearing augmented reality glasses to read instructions or training materials without the need for a separate computer terminal.” Read more

 

Ikea sees ‘massive opportunities’ with artificial intelligence and virtual reality at CNBC. “Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, Jesper Brodin, CEO of Ikea, told CNBC: “(What) we haven’t been able to do before is to find easier ways to connect with people so digital opens up massive opportunities for us.” Read more

 

Walmart and Rakuten partner on grocery delivery in Japan, Kobo e-books and audiobooks in U.S. by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. Read more

 

**A message from Kidibul – The festive, bubbly beverage made for kids’ parties! Wildly popular European beverage now available in the US for the first time. 100% natural & sparkling juice in a champagne type bottle with natural cork & wire to pop. Great for birthdays, New Year, Christmas, etc. Kids love the bubbles! Website | PowerPoint | Samples: info@eyeonretail.net

 

Walgreens, Amazon and Kroger among top brands in “advertising effectiveness” for December 2018 by Tracey Greenstein at WWD. “For the print category, Kroger’s “Happy New Year” colorful ad earned a Reputation score of 152…And Aldi’s “Happy New Year” ad was most effective in the Free Standing Inserts category.” Read more

 

Billboard’s 2018 Power 100 List Revealed (Amazon Music VP #18) List

 

GOOD PEOPLE – Amazon worker’s misplaced keys helps raise awareness for boy’s rare disease by Donny Wong at Fox 7 Austin. “Kenneth says in an email to FOX 7 that “When I found out that I lost my keys I was crying like a baby. I was looking (for) the keys for like ever.” After getting connected, Kenneth learned about Roman…Kenneth swabbed and then others that were following the story also decided to do it as well.” Read more

 

Top 30 Most Polarizing Brands (Bass Pro #21, Cabela’s #26) at Morning Consult. List

 

…Walmart vs. Target: A Political Divide Among Shoppers “Walmart’s favorability leans Republican by 14 points, with a 69 percent net favorability, compared to 55 among Democrats. Target’s favorability, on the other hand, leans Democratic, by 18 points, with 71 percent net favorability compared to 53 percent among Republicans.” Read more

 

Home Depot hourly employees to receive up to $1,000 bonus due to tax reform at CNBC. Read more

 

Kroger’s Simple Truth Brand Reaches $2 Billion in Annual Sales Press release

 

China’s JD Prepares to Take on Amazon on Its Home Turf at Bloomberg. “JD.com Inc. is preparing to make its U.S. debut with a beachhead in Los Angeles…JD is in final-stage discussions to sell 15 percent of its logistics arm to Tencent Holdings Ltd.and other investors in an early fundraising round.” Read more

 

FOOD FIGHT – Nutella sale causes violence in supermarkets across France at CNBC. “One customer told French media that the customers were “like animals” and that a woman had her hair pulled, an elderly lady took a blow to her head, while yet another suffered a bloody hand.” Read more/Video

 

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