Kroger Q1 comp sales (no fuel) +19%; Digital sales +92% Press release

 

Amazon Uses ‘Hardball’ Non-Competes in Ways California Rivals Can’t at Bloomberg. “Amazon’s industry peers rarely seek to enforce non-compete clauses…The dearth of cases is partly the result of state law in California, home to the headquarters of Alphabet, Apple and Facebook…Washington state, home to Amazon’s Seattle headquarters, has no such prohibition…” Read more

 

JD.com stock closes 3.5% higher in Hong Kong trading debut at AP. “JD.com’s Hong Kong debut coincided with its annual “618” sale, or June 18 online shopping extravaganza. The shopping festival, which JD.com launched to rival Alibaba’s annual November 11 Singles’ Day sales, is the first major e-commerce festival to be held in China since the coronavirus pandemic started.” Read more

 

J.C. Penney’s top execs and directors just dumped their penny stock because they can at Dallas Morning News. “Eight executives and board members, including (CEO) Soltau, chief financial officer Bill Wafford, chairman of the board Ron Tysoe, have sold more than 4 million shares of Penney stock since June 12…the executives were in a new trading window that opened for insiders, and well, there’s still liquidity. Shares closed at 35 cents a share…on Wednesday.” Read more

 

TravelCenters of America to open first TA Express in Arizona Press release

 

Publix Scores High for Online Accessibility at Progressive Grocer. “…with standards set by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). Publix took the top spot, with a score of 3.55 on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 4 (highest). Giant Eagle scored 3.50, followed by SafeWay at 3.22, Kroger at 3.20, Whole Foods at 3.10, Meijer at 3.09, Winn-Dixie at 3.00 and Walmart at 3.00.” Read more

 

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Hang on to your nickels and dimes, the pandemic has created a coin shortage at Washington Post. “As the economy ground to a halt earlier this year, “the flow of coins through the economy has gotten all — it’s kind of stopped,” Fed Chair Jerome H. Powell said in a Wednesday hearing before the House Financial Services Committee. Powell said the Fed has been working with the U.S. Mint and reserve banks to fix the temporary issue.” Read more

 

Walmart appeals to Supreme Court to sell spirits in Texas at Fox Business. Read more

 

Amazon has expanded its Flex delivery program to more than 35 cities in India at TechCrunch. “Amazon Flex allows individuals to help the company deliver packages to customers. The company said “tens of thousands” of students, homemakers and others have joined the program in India in the past one year and supplemented their income.” Read more

 

Walmart’s Mexico unit rolls out mobile phone service at CNA. “Walmex said in a statement that the offering is meant to help populations in rural areas, and that shoppers at its stores would receive additional “megas” of data usage.” Read more

 

Amazon expands SNAP partnership covering 90% of beneficiaries at Fox Business. “People who receive nutrition assistance from the federal government can now use those benefits to purchase groceries online from Amazon in 36 states.” Read more

 

The 2020 Top Women in Grocery: Senior-Level Executives at Progressive Grocer. 87 Executive-Level women

 

Walmart Opening More Healthcare ‘Super Centers’ at Forbes. “…that feature an array of primary medical services, dental care, and behavioral health services…Walmart says the new health centers opening this month will be located in Loganville, Georgia, and Springdale, Arkansas. They will be the third and fourth such centers to open in less than a year.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

Mastercard provides extra security for Amazon purchases

Rich Americans slashed spending amid coronavirus, hurting poor workers

Amazon Studios buys Stacey Abrams voting rights documentary

This startup is helping gig workers launch grocery delivery businesses

As Mexico focuses on coronavirus, drug gang violence rises

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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