The Business Case for Agentic AI Domination
Agentic AI is reshaping food tech, driving smarter service and explosive growth. But as automation deepens, legal battles and leadership shakeups hint at a turbulent future.
Tag: walmart
Target Slashes Prices on 3,000 SKUs, Including Grocery Price Cuts
Target is slashing prices on 3,000 grocery and essentials SKUs ahead of a shaky holiday season, reigniting retail’s value wars. As inflation-weary consumers hunt for deals, global grocers are racing to stay in their baskets.
Emerging Brands as Content Studios: The Trend Your Ad Agency Wants You to Ignore
Emerging brands are ditching ad agencies and building in-house content studios to control speed, cost, and creativity. Owned media is no longer optional – it’s the new engine of consumer marketing and brand memorability.
Independent Grocers See Hope Amid the Headwinds
Despite fierce competition and inflationary headwinds, regional grocers like Village and Weis are quietly holding their ground. Tight-lipped but resilient, they may be poised for a tech-fueled rebound if they can endure a bit longer.
Gen Z Magnetism Report: Authenticity Often Beats Advertising
Gen Z’s brand loyalty hinges on authentic user-generated content, not legacy clout. Food giants like Oreo and McDonald’s are losing steam – while Disney thrives by treating fans like community, not consumers.
3 Key Takeaways from Groceryshop 2025
At Groceryshop 2025, leaders tackled topics such as value-driven shoppers, evolving retail media, and AI’s seismic impact on grocery. From TikTok disruption to digital twins, the future of food retail is already knocking.
Investors Can’t Get Much More Impressed With Costco
Costco has emerged as a clear winner of today’s difficult macroeconomic environment, enjoying 7.3% same-store sales growth over the year. The club store’s aggressive strategy to expand to 20 more markets indicate it will only get bigger.
Macro, Tariffs May be All That Can Stop Walmart
Walmart’s Q2 sales crushed expectations, but tariffs and health costs trimmed profits. Grocery and fresh categories surged, signaling strong share gains, even as the retailer braces for a murky, margin-pinched second half.
Amazon Grocery Bets on Fresh in $10 Billion E-Grocery Market Bid
Amazon’s $10B grocery blitz just got fresher, as Prime members in 1,000+ cities now get free Same-Day Delivery on perishables. With Whole Foods integration and bold logistics, Amazon’s rivals have cause for concern.
Why Agentic AI Is the Food Industry’s Next Big Thing
Walmart is going all-in on agentic AI, launching super agents that act autonomously to streamline everything from customer service to supply chain ops. For food businesses, this tech could mean fewer errors and sharper margins.
Meat-ish, Dairy-ish: Is There a Market for Hybrid Plant-Based?
Recently, the F&B industry has seen an uptick in hybrid plant-based products, which blend standard meat and dairy with meatless and dairy-free versions. But will consumers embrace them?
Specialty Grocers Sprouts and NGVC Display Market Strength
Amid inflation’s shake-up, niche grocers like Sprouts and Natural Grocers have defied expectations with explosive growth. Turns out, health-conscious loyalty and savvy execution are worth their weight in organic chia seeds.
US Treasury Cuts Costs by Axing the Penny: What it Means for Retailers
The penny’s swan song – likely to occur next year – may save millions, but it won’t shake 99-cent psychology in retail pricing.
It’s Getting Difficult to Keep Pace with Walmart
Walmart is dominating the grocery sector with unmatched pricing, delivery speed, and scale – and its lead is widening. As rivals chase value-conscious consumers, Walmart is already monetizing convenience.
Economic Strain: Food Bill Gets Unruly
Despite wage gains, food inflation continues to outpace earnings, leaving consumers increasingly anxious about grocery costs. Meanwhile, new tariffs threaten to disrupt the food industry, with stakeholders bracing for volatile pricing and potential shifts in shopper loyalty.
Spread the Pain: Walmart, Competitors Consider Global Price Hikes
Amid the latest round of tariffs, global retailers like Walmart are weighing controversial price hikes beyond the U.S., a move that could shake consumer trust. Experts warn that spreading costs globally may backfire, leading to unintended economic fallout.
FI Fast Break audio news: May 28, 2025
The latest FI Fast Break news podcast touches on a new study suggesting that many GLP-1 drug users have reduced their beef intake.
Target Has Fallen Behind Retail Rivals – Again
Target has struggled to define a unique place in its market, watching rivals like Walmart and Costco capitalize on growth opportunities while its own stock and sales falter. Target’s leadership now faces a critical moment to convince investors that it can once again turn challenges into triumphs.
Investors Give Albertsons Another Chance – For Now
Following its earnings call last Tuesday, Albertsons stock finished the week up about 2.5% – but the stock took a winding road to get there. Shares originally fell nearly 8% on Tuesday, the day after the company’s fiscal fourth quarter release, before bouncing back over the next two trading sessions.
People’s Union USA Kicks Off 7-Day Economic Blackout of General Mills
Recently, People’s Union USA began calling on consumers to boycott products from various businesses in protest of alleged social, economic, and environmental offenses. Monday, participating consumers kicked off a seven-day economic blackout of General Mills.
Study Shows Vegan Grocery Costs Vary Widely by State
A recent study by CashNetUSA analyzed the average cost of a basket of vegan groceries purchased at Walmart stores across the U.S. Its findings revealed significant discrepancies in both the affordability and accessibility of plant-based groceries among states.
‘Status Quo’ Wont Cut It: Private Label Market Share Threatened
The battle between private label and name brands has taken a new form as analysts portend a stagnating global own brand market. The path ahead relies on innovation and retail portfolio synergy, NIQ noted.
The Billion (Family) Dollar Question: What Happened to Dollar Stores?
After purchasing discount retailer Family Dollar for roughly $9 billion in 2015, Dollar Tree admitted defeat in a recent sale earlier this month that valued the banner at only $1 billion. Is this a signal …
Walmart Partnership Pushes Fresh Produce Limits
Walmart is partnering with India-based agritech company GreenPod Labs to clean up its supply chain: the tech innovation endeavors to minimize produce spoilage during transportation.
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It’s Private Label’s World — On the ‘Cusp of a Super Cycle’
Private label continues to maintain dominance over the CPG sector: in 2024, it grew $9 billion from the year before. As a result, opportunities and innovation abound.
FI News Review (January 17, 2025): Top Stories in Food and Beverage Right Now
Raising the Dough: Gluten-Free Texas Toast Represents ‘Huge Breakthrough’
By all accounts, New York Bakery’s R&D team may have produced a game-changing gluten-free product. The key, one company exec says, is the brand’s unique alternative to dough.
FI Fast Break audio news: Jan. 2, 2025
The latest FI Fast Break news podcast touches on Starbucks’ revamped drink menu for 2025, featuring new beverages like a Cortado.
FI Fast Break audio news: Dec. 18, 2024
The latest FI Fast Break news podcast examines Walmart’s plans to equip employees with body cameras at some U.S. locations.
Behold, the Pharmacy of the Future
Brick-and-mortar pharmacies face increasing competition from online retail options, leaving their outlook murky. Industry experts feel pharmacies need to focus on being tech-driven – and fast.
News Roundup (November 8, 2024): The Hottest Topics in the Food Industry Right Now
What Killed Kmart? Key Retail Missteps Led to Demise
Kmart’s downfall, accelerated by poor management and failure to adapt to modern retail trends, ended with the recent closure of its last full-size U.S. store. Experts say there are lessons to be learned from Kmart’s demise.
Column: Walmart, Amazon in High-Tech Food Fight
Amazon’s chief engineer used to have a dog named Rufus who ran up and down the halls fetching tennis balls. That doesn’t seem like a big deal for a multibillion-dollar business. But recently, Amazon brought …
The Future of Grocery Shopping is Omnichannel
Food and beverage stakeholders already know that to guarantee a sale, one must meet consumers where they are. Today, that’s online. Nearly 70% of consumers purchase groceries online in some capacity, according to recent data …
Trust Your Gut: Harken Sweets Goes All in on Superfood Snacks
A health scare inspired CEO Katie Lefkowitz to create gut-friendly snack bars. She ended up with a sweet solution in the form of date caramel candy bars.
The Shifting Landscape of Grocery Retail: Four Key Trends
Retailers are navigating a complex landscape right now marked by regulatory scrutiny, rising shrinkage, and financially stretched consumers. These pressures are forcing retailers to adapt quickly, according to Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert.