Costco bails on books, Domino's AI pizza assistant, and a Dollar Tree sale: Retail news roundup
Plus, Dr. Pepper ties Pepsi as America's No. 2 soda
Costco $COST no longer plans to sell books regularly, largely because the labor to stock and replace them is too much work. Domino $DPZ’s says AI is helping it figure out when people are ready to order so that it can start making pizzas before customers hit purchase. Dollar Tree $DLTR is thinking about selling or spinning off its Family Dollar business.
Meanwhile, McDonald’s has lost exclusive rights to its “Big Mac” trademark in Europe and can no longer use the phrase for its chicken sandwiches, and Dr. Pepper bubbles its way into second place with Pepsi as the No. 2 soda brand in America.
Costco $COST Wholesale shoppers who are also avid readers may have to look elsewhere for books, as the retailer plans to stop selling them on a regular basis throughout the year starting in January 2025.
Domino $DPZ’s is betting AI will help it make and deliver pizzas faster, according to CEO Russell Weiner, who says the world’s biggest pizza company is already using the technology.
Dollar Tree $DLTR is considering selling its Family Dollar business, the company said Wednesday.
McDonald’s no longer has exclusive rights to use the “Big Mac” trademark when it comes to chicken products in the European Union, the region’s court of justice said on Wednesday.
Dr. Pepper is gaining ground in the soda wars. The soft drink is now tied with Pepsi as the second-most popular carbonated soft drink brand in America, according to sales volume data from analytics company Beverage Digest.
Hot dogs fans have nothing to fear – Costco $COST has no plans to raise the price of its iconic $1.50 frank combo. That’s largely due to a key logistics strategy.
Costco $COST Wholesale is working to turn all the shopping data it collects into an advertising machine. The retailer aims to strike a deal with an ad-tech firm to ultimately charge advertisers to reach millions of its paying members, said Mark Williamson, Costco’s assistant vice president of retail media .
General Mills $GIS is being sued by eight Black employees in a Georgia federal court who allege that the company has tolerated decades of a racially hostile work environment at its Covington plant, perpetuated by white supremacists dubbed “Good Ole Boys.”
Walmart $WMT hopes its new program will help it offset its worker shortage. It’s launching a pipeline program that will help it funnel its hourly employees into higher-level positions.
McDonald’s and Starbucks $SBUX have their hands full — but for all the wrong reasons. One analyst said that McDonald’s pushback on its price hikes came across as a “bit tone deaf.”
T.J. Maxx thinks fashioning its employees with police-like body cameras will help it keep its inventory and customers safe. The retailer says the strategy could help reduce theft, though that has yet to be seen.
Juice makers may soon need to replace their orange juice options as the crop braces for a steep decline in production, according to Fundecitrus, a Brazilian research association formed by citrus growers and manufacturers.
Starbucks $SBUX is hoping Grubhub can help make up for its dreadful quarter. The coffee maker said it plans to make delivery service available nationwide by August 2024.
National Donut Day is on Friday (Jun. 7) and those looking to score a sweet treat could be in luck. We’ve compiled a list of five places with deals on the pastries.
Big Food is big business — and for chief executives at some of the largest food companies in the U.S., it’s a lofty means of making money. We’ve compiled a list of the average salaries that CEOs at the 10 biggest food and beverage companies in North America make annually.
Chief executives had a very, very good year in 2023. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 highest-paid CEOs, including their industry of focus, and their total compensation.
Chipotle $CMG CEO Brian Niccol is pushing back on claims that the restaurant chain is skimping on food portions. All customers have to do is give employees a slight look.
Retailers Gap $GPS and Nordstrom $JWN are doing pretty well in the inflation economy, based on their recent earnings, but that’s not true of all retailers — Kohl’s performance fell short.