Kroger Debuts New Logo and Launches Brand Transformation Campaign “Fresh for Everyone is Kroger’s brand ethos…The Kroji (Kroger + emoji) animation features a loveable cast of characters to represent Kroger customers, associates and communities…Kroger’s 20+ retail banners across America will continue to operate under their existing names…” Press release | Brand campaign

 

CVS Health third-quarter profit rises 10% on Aetna sales at CNBC. “Earnings per share: $1.84, adjusted, vs. $1.77 expected. Revenue: $63.81 billion vs. $62.99 billion expected. CVS reported third-quarter net income of $1.53 billion, or $1.17 per share, up 10% from $1.39 billion.” Read more

 

…CVS to close 22 drugstores next year at CNBC. Read more

 

Walgreens has explored taking drug store chain private at Reuters. “Many private equity firms have pushed back on the idea, concerned about Walgreens’ business prospects and the challenges of financing the deal, the sources added. A leveraged buyout of Walgreens would likely require participation of several private equity firms, each writing large checks, at a time when many of them have lost their appetite for teaming together on so-called club deals.” Read more

 

Best Buy has closed 18 stores, but physical locations still key to strategy by Kavita Kumar at Minneapolis Star Tribune. “A company spokesman declined to give an official tally of the total number of Best Buy store closings in recent weeks, saying the retailer will update its store count when it reports its third-quarter earnings later this month.” Tiered subs.

 

Pier 1 Taps Debt Restructuring Expert as Chief Executive at Wall Street Journal. “Struggling retail chain Pier 1 Imports Inc. has hired a bankruptcy veteran to serve as its new chief executive. The Fort Worth, Texas-based home furnishings retailer said Monday it named Chief Financial Officer Robert Riesbeck to lead the company.” WSJ subs. | Press release

 

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Costco and Instacart test free one-hour prescription delivery as Amazon eyes the space at CNBC. “The pilot program is limited to California and Washington state, according to two people familiar, and it includes delivery to a Costco member’s home or office.” Read more

 

Amazon’s $1.45M effort to upend Seattle City Council yields mixed results in early reporting by Monica Nickelsburg at GeekWire. “Of the seven Seattle City Council seats up for grabs, four candidates with backing from the business community were leading their opponents in early election results.” Read more

 

Walmart drops lawsuit against Tesla over solar panel fires at The Verge. “…a settlement appears to have been in the works for a while. In August, Walmart spokesperson Randy Hargrove told The Verge that the companies were “working towards a resolution,” before adding that “if you were to characterize that as a settlement, we wouldn’t dispute it.” Read more

 

Thomson Reuters nabs REI’s Alex Thompson to be CCO at PR Week. Subs.

 

Amazon Announces New Amazon Robotics Innovation Hub “…and create 200 tech and advanced manufacturing jobs in Westborough, Massachusetts. Opening in 2021, the company plans to invest more than $40 million in the new site to allow Amazon Robotics to continue to grow its engineering, manufacturing, support and test teams in the state.” Press release

 

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen appear before some 1,800 Kohl’s Corp. employees in advance of the retailer’s launch of their clothing line by Rick Romell at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Read more

 

CBD-Dispensing Robots Show Up At 7-Eleven Stores at Forbes. Read more/Video

 

News team travels to different Target stores in CA to document price differences on same items at NBC 4 Los Angeles. 3:49 video

 

Tipsheet Extra

LA wants sealed takeout bags to stop drivers from stealing food

From Lawn Mowers To Rock Concerts, Our ‘Deafening World’ Is Hurting Our Ears

Amazon is reportedly testing step tracking on Echo Buds

Shopping ads come to YouTube’s home feed and search results

How Tapestry is trying to fix the Kate Spade brand

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