The Starbucks vibe shift, Costco's food court change, and CVS unlocks items: Retail news roundup

Plus, Big Retail brings out Big AI — and consumers might not even notice

ByFrancisco Velasquez

Updated January 31, 2025

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Starbucks has rolled out a , with and plans to . Costco’s bringing back a . AI’s is , while with its own tech-driven advantage.Check out these highlights and more on retail.

Starbucks $SBUX is changing its vibe beginning today.

Costco $COST (COST) is making a big change to its soda offerings.

AI is no longer just a buzzword in retail. It’s a tool retailers are increasingly deploying to transform their business operations.

CVS Health $CVS (CVS) is testing a new app feature that could make shopping at its stores a little more convenient — assuming you’re willing to jump through a few hoops first.

The retail landscape is shifting – at least for Sam’s Club (WMT) and Costco $COST (COST).

Starbucks $SBUX (SBUX) is making big changes in the name of safety.

Starbucks $SBUX is adding more former Taco Bell executives as part of its ongoing effort to revamp the coffee giant’s business under CEO Brian Niccol.

The Starbucks $SBUX ceramic mug hype is real – so much so, CEO Brian Niccol mentioned it three times during the company’s Jan. 28 earnings call.

Starbucks $SBUX (SBUX) reported a decline in same-store sales for the fourth straight quarter. However, the company’s earnings and revenue beat Wall Street’s expectations. Shares of Starbucks popped by more than 4% in after hours trading.

Starbucks $SBUX (SBUX) will report its first earnings of the year tomorrow, and analysts are keeping a close eye on key indicators that could signal whether the company is on track for a turnaround in 2025.