Walmart Partners with OpenAI to Create AI-First Shopping Experiences "For many years now, eCommerce shopping experiences have consisted of a search bar and a long list of item responses. That is about to change. There is a native AI experience coming that is multi-media, personalized and contextual. We are running towards that more enjoyable and convenient future with Sparky and through partnerships including this important step with OpenAI,” said Doug McMillon, President and CEO, Walmart Inc." Press release   Albertsons Q2 identical sales +2.2% "...with strong growth in pharmacy sales being the primary driver of the identical sales increase. [...]

  Costco September comp sales (ex fuel & f/x) +6.0%: US +5.0% / Canada +9.3% / Other Int'l +7.5% / Digitally enabled +26.3% Press release   China's Golden Week holiday spending dips in latest red flag for economy at Reuters. "Chinese holidaymakers' average spending dipped to a three-year low over this year's eight-day Golden Week holiday...Average spending per trip...down 0.55% from the same period last year, according to Reuters calculations..." Reuters subs.   Amazon just opened the warehouse of the future in rural Indiana at Fast Company. "The delivery center, known as DII5 and located in the town of Elkhart, [...]

  Why Did Walmart Just Buy a Shopping Mall? at NY Times. "Walmart owns most of its store sites, but its new purchase makes it a landlord to other merchants, too. If the Monroeville project goes well, it could serve as a template for a new way for Walmart and other large players to grow. A multiuse center could open new revenue streams from housing, child and pet care facilities, health centers, and recreational spaces like bowling alleys and movie theaters..." NY Times subs.   Adobe: U.S. Holiday Shopping Season to Rise 5.3% YoY "Mobile devices...set to drive a record [...]

  WIC funding could run short in days at Reuters. "Montana Governor Greg Gianforte's Republican administration said WIC funding will be provided through "at least the next month" and Connecticut's Ned Lamont, a Democrat, promised in a pre-shutdown video the state will keep WIC services for new mothers in the near term." Reuters subs.   Walmart U.S. to Eliminate Synthetic Dyes Across All Private Brand Food Products "...and (eliminate) the use of an additional 30 ingredients, including certain preservatives, artificial sweeteners and fat substitutes from its private brand food products." Press release   Pepsi looks at coloring Cheetos with paprika at AP. [...]

  ‘You Can’t Run From Fear’: American Eagle’s CEO on the Sydney Sweeney Fallout at WSJ. "Schottenstein, an Orthodox Jew, was perplexed at the criticism that the campaign smacked of eugenics...He said his mother-in-law grew up in Nazi Germany and watched as the synagogue across the street from her home was burned to the ground. “I’m very conscious of that term,” Schottenstein said. He said that if he and his team had felt the campaign would be offensive in that way, “we never would’ve done it.” WSJ subs.   Albertsons buyer took bribes to carry certain wines, prosecutors claim at San [...]

  Owners of Radio Shack and Pier 1 Imports accused by SEC of operating $112 million Ponzi scheme at NY Post. "The US Securities and Exchange Commission accused Alex Mehr and Tai Lopez, founders of Miami-based Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV), of duping investors out of roughly $112 million, according to the federal Southern District of Florida filing obtained by The Post." Read more   Walmart teams up with Spain’s La Liga at CNBC. "The Spanish league’s multi-year deal with Walmart is meant to build on this growing audience for La Liga soccer in the U.S., as well as the growing [...]

    Jeff Bezos’ Billionaire Dad Is Hiring a CEO to Run His Family Office at WSJ. "The office recently hired a chief executive, Valeria Alberola, several of the people said, to manage the entity from Miami. Alberola recently worked for Walmart heir Ben Walton and his wife, Lucy Ana Walton, in the Denver area overseeing their investment and philanthropic activities. The firm also is looking to hire a chief investment officer." WSJ subs.   Walmart Deals run October 7*–12 "Walmart Deals are open to all customers — no membership required. Walmart+ members, however, enjoy a 5-hour head start beginning [...]

  American Express Platinum Card now $895 annually - benefits include $300 to use at Lululemon at AP   Amazon Aims to Grow Ad Sales Further by Automating Creation at WSJ. "The results can run across Amazon’s ad inventory, including commercial breaks on the Prime streaming service and ads on outside websites sold through the company. The ads may run on platforms that have deals with Amazon, including Disney, Roku and, as of last week, Netflix. Creative Studio content also appears on sellers’ brand store pages or product listings." WSJ subs.   Rachel Brand to leave Walmart as chief legal [...]