Burberry to stop burning unsold items at CNBC. “The company also said it will no longer use real fur in its products.” Read more

 

Amazon orders 20,000 Mercedes vans for Delivery Service Partners program, more than quadrupling initial order by Todd Bishop at GeekWire. “…reflecting what the company calls a “tremendous response” from people applying to own their own Amazon delivery businesses as part of the program. With the order, the company becomes the largest Sprinter customer in the world.” Read more

 

Walmart Tests New Last-Mile Grocery Delivery Service “Spark Delivery is a crowd-sourced delivery platform…The pilot uses an in-house platform that provides drivers with the ability to sign up for windows of time that work best for their schedule as well as Grocery Delivery order details, navigation assistance and more.” Press release

 

…Spark Delivery is similar to Amazon Flex where a fleet of drivers use their own cars to make fast deliveries at Reuters. Read more

 

Bon-Ton is ready for its comeback as new company buys its brand by Charisse Jones at USA Today. “The agreement will need to get the green light from the Delaware Bankruptcy Court to become final. The new Bon-Ton will emphasize its online shopping experience. But CSC says it is “also in advanced discussions with landlords about reopening stores in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.” Read more

 

eBay expands authentication program to luxury watches by Sarah Perez at TechCrunch. Read more

 

Apeel’s Edible Produce Coating Could Save Supermarkets Billions by Maggie McGrath at Forbes. “Kroger…wants in too. The company announced Thursday that it will carry Apeel avocados in 109 stores in the Cincinnati area. It’s technically a six-month test, but if it goes well, Kroger could quickly expand to carrying the long-lasting veggies throughout the Eastern half of the U.S.” Read more

 

Starbucks just opened its first location in Italy at CNBC. “The Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Milan is the third of its kind after Seattle and Shanghai.” Read more

 

H-E-B announces plans to develop a world-class tech facility in Austin Press release

 

Bernie Sanders introduces the BEZOS Act, slamming Amazon’s low wages at CNBC. “…he and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., introduced legislation to tax corporations for every dollar that their low-wage workers receive in government health-care benefits or food stamps.” Read more

 

Couche-Tard Q1 profits surges 25 per cent despite lag in Esso loyalty program via Montreal Gazette. Read more

 

**A message from the Megaphone sound enhancing case – Why tolerate average smart phone sound when you can have Loud + Clear Megaphone sound? No wires or batteries, boosts sound 2X and filters the sound for a smoother “stereo” listening experience. Website/Video | Sample

 

J. Crew sets up shop on Amazon with new dedicated online shop at CNBC. “Amazon is giving J. Crew Mercantile, a line of less expensive clothes from J. Crew, its own dedicated storefront.” Read more

 

Whole Foods Workers Push to Unionize by Heather Haddon at Wall Street Journal. “A group of workers plans to send an email Thursday to workers at most of the 490 Whole Foods stores urging them to back their unionization drive. A copy of the group’s message to fellow employees, reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, said organizers want to “collectively voice our concerns to Whole Foods Market and Amazon leadership.” Subscription

 

Saks Teams with Julia Louis-Dreyfus to Fight Cancer Press release

 

Pay packages disclosed for Lowe’s new CFO and executive vice president at Charlotte Business Journal. “The new executive vice president of home-improvement retailer Lowe’s Cos. Inc. will be paid a base annual salary of $750,000, with a bonus opportunity equal to 100% of his salary.” Tiered subs.

 

Home Depot helping Detroit home buyers by Robyn A. Friedman at Wall Street Journal. “Under the “Rehabbed and Ready” program, the Authority selects properties in its inventory for Home Depot to rehab, Quicken preapproves interested buyers for mortgage financing and the homes are sold. The ultimate goal is to stabilize the market and create comparable sales to help future buyers.” Subscription

 

Loblaw rallies after selling Choice Properties REIT assets to George Weston via Financial Post. Read more

 

This will be seen as ‘the lost decade of retailers,’ RH CEO says at Mad Money on CNBC. “Traditional retailers racing to stake their claim in the e-commerce market are causing “clutter” in the broader retail industry, Gary Friedman…told CNBC…adding that with “the capital allocation over the last 10 years and people creating an unnatural shift to move their business online, there’s massively deteriorating operating margins.” Video/Read more

 

Hy-Vee on a roll in Minneapolis: 12 metro stores likely by end of next year by Bob Shaw at Pioneer Press. Read more

 

Walgreens to offer Auvi-Q as EpiPen shortage challenges parents at CNBC. Read more

 

Dick’s Sporting Goods Names Ex-Walmart Exec as Chief eCommerce & Supply Chain Officer “Vidya (Jwala) joins Dick’s from Overstock.com, where he most recently served as SVP Merchandising, Supply Chain, Technology & Customer Service…Previously, he was VP of Merchandising & Operations at Walmart Stores, Inc.” Press release

 

Home Depot CEO Craig Menear Presents at Goldman Sachs Retailing Conference Transcript via Seeking Alpha

 

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