News Briefs

Customers throughout the San Francisco Bay area now have faster access to deliveries of online Amazon Pharmacy orders.

In an email to Chain Store Age, an Amazon spokesperson said Amazon Pharmacy is now offering same-day delivery to customers in the greater San Francisco market. First introduced in 2020, Amazon Pharmacy operates as a full-service online pharmacy that delivers prescription medications directly to customers’ doors in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

With what Amazon says are 40% fewer pharmacies in San Francisco compared to a decade ago, Amazon Pharmacy will offer area residents prescription delivery, including GLP-1s, insulin and biologics, within hours of ordering. The service will also apply manufacturer-sponsored discounts automatically at checkout and provide transparent pricing so customers know the exact cost of medications before purchase.

[READ MORE: Amazon hits $100 million in customer pharmacy savings]

In addition, Amazon Pharmacy will provide Bay Area customers 24/7 access to licensed and trained pharmacists and a caregiver feature that allows customers to securely invite trusted individuals who, once verified, can manage medications on behalf of their loved ones through their own Amazon Pharmacy account.

This same-day delivery expansion is part of Amazon Pharmacy's broader commitment to offer same-day delivery to nearly half of U.S. customers by the end of 2025. The company also recently began offering same-day delivery to customers in nearly 200 small towns in greater Chicago. Amazon Pharmacy accepts most insurance plans and works with Blue Shield of California as its preferred home delivery pharmacy.

Following its recent acquisition by Dick’s Sporting Goods, Foot Locker’s headquarters is no longer on the move to Florida. 

According to a report by the Tampa Bay Times, St. Petersburg city development administrator James Corbett sent a memo on Wednesday to the city council, which confirmed that the footwear retailer would no longer relocate its headquarters. The move was announced in August of last year.

Foot Locker’s headquarters is currently located in New York City. In March, it was reported that the retailer had signed a 110,998-sq.-ft., long-term office lease for the new headquarters.

“Following the acquisition, the company reevaluated its corporate strategy and decided not to move forward with relocating its global headquarters to St. Petersburg,” Corbett said in the memo.

The announcement comes after Dick’s Sporting Goods’ $2.4 billion acquisition of Foot Locker was finalized in early September. As a combined company, Dick’s operates more than 3,200 stores across 20 countries worldwide in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, plus a licensed store presence in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. 

[READ MORE: Dick’s Sporting Goods closes Foot Locker deal; Mary Dillon out as new leaders named]

Following the acquisition, Dick’s continues to operate Foot Locker's portfolio of brands, including Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, WSS and Atmos, but under a new leadership team led by Dick’s executive chairman Ed Stack. Mary Dillon, who had served as CEO of Foot Locker since fall 2022, is no longer with the company. Ann Freeman, a 26-year former Nike executive, was named president of Foot Locker North America.

CVS Pharmacy is releasing a line of home, decorative and gift items in time for the holidays.

The drugstore giant is rolling out Joyward, which it says offers products to “celebrate the joy of every season,” in stores and online. In time for the holidays, the collection includes home accents such as soft throws and patterned pillows, as well as seasonal pieces like nutcrackers, ceramic trees, and curated gift sets featuring plush socks, tumblers, and candles.

According to CVS, Joyward will continue to evolve in 2026 and beyond with new products to celebrate occasions such as birthdays, holidays, backyard gatherings, graduations and other milestones. Each collection will introduce trending designs and expanded categories.

"Joyward represents our ongoing commitment to innovating within our store brands to help customers embrace joy and live well all year long," said Musab Balbale, chief merchandising officer at CVS Pharmacy. "By bringing all of our seasonal and holiday merchandise under one cohesive brand, we're simplifying the shopping experience and ensuring everyone can make their special moments meaningful."  

Joyward aligns with what CVS says is a broader strategy to enhance its owned-brand portfolio with products that balance design, quality, and affordability. The brand joins other CVS-owned names such as the WellMarket assortment of health and wellness products, and one+other.

Data from Numerator indicates that in 2024, CVS private label products reached 40% of U.S. households.

[READ MORE: This retailer dominates private label household penetration]

As of Sept. 30, 2025, the company had approximately 9,000 retail pharmacy locations, more than 1,000 walk-in and primary care medical clinics and a pharmacy benefits manager with approximately 87 million plan members.

Gen X’s spending power is the greatest among any generation, according to new data.

Numerator’s latest Generations Hub report found that Gen X’s (born 1965-1981) combined share of spending in the U.S. CPG, general merchandise and QSR markets stands at 34%. The average Gen X household spends $25,468 annually at stores, making around 824 shopping trips per year and spending $31 per trip. The retailers that earn the highest share of spending are Walmart (15%), Amazon (11%), Costco (6%), Kroger (4%) and Target (3%). 

Nearly seven-in-10 (69%) Gen X households no longer have children at home. Those without children are more likely to spend on pet care items (+15%), and less on household products (-12%), groceries (-16%), and health & beauty products (-20%) compared to those that do.

[READ MORE: ICSC: Gen X's spending power remains on top]

Additional insights from the Numerator Generations Hub report include the following: 

• Gen X remains a predominantly White shopper base (61%), but is still diverse. Sixteen percent identify as Black, while the same amount (16%) identify as Hispanic, and 5% identify as Asian.
• Gen X income skews higher than average, with almost half (45%) of households earning more than $125,000 annually.
• Gen X is most likely to live in the suburbs (39%), followed by urban areas (35%) and rural regions (27%).

Lowe’s Companies Inc. reported third-quarter sales growth as profits declined and the retailer scaled back its fourth-quarter earnings projections.

The home improvement giant reported net earnings for the third quarter of fiscal 2025 of $1.6 billion, down about 5% year-over-year from $1.7 billion and diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.88, down from $2.99 in the prior-year period. During the third quarter, Lowe's recognized $129 million in pre-tax expenses associated with the acquisitions of Foundation Building Materials (FBM) and Artisan Design Group (ADG), which negatively impacted EPS growth.

Total sales for the quarter were $20.8 billion, up 3% from $20.2 billion in the prior-year quarter. Comparable sales for the quarter increased 0.4%, driven by 11.4% online sales growth, double-digit growth in home services and continued growth in Pro sales.

[READ MORE: Lowe’s bets big on home improvement professionals]

"The company delivered another quarter of positive comp sales, and we're pleased to start November with positive comps as well, despite headwinds related to hurricane activity in the prior year,” said Marvin R. Ellison, Lowe's chairman, president and CEO. "With the closing of the FBM acquisition last month, we look forward to enhancing our offering to Pro customers and creating more sustainable, long-term sales and profit expansion for the company."

The company is updating its outlook for the operating results of full year 2025 to reflect what it says is ongoing uncertainty in the macroeconomic environment. Chief rival Home Depot has also scaled back its full-year guidance to reflect lack of storm activity, ongoing consumer uncertainty and housing pressure. 

Full-year 2025 outlook

• Total sales of $86 billion (previously $84.5 to $85.5 billion).
• Comparable sales expected to be flat as compared to prior year (previously flat to up +1%).
• Adjusted diluted earnings per share of approximately $12.25 (previously $12.20 to $12.45).

Insomnia Cookies has reached a new store count milestone – with more expansion planned for next year.

The late-night bakery chain recently opened its 350th store worldwide, just over a year after opening its 300th location. The new Williamsburg location in Brooklyn, New York City marks the brand’s third location in the borough and 22nd store in New York state.

Insomnia Cookies says it opened 55 new bakeries in 2025, including a record 25 locations in the fourth quarter, marking its most prolific quarter to date. Looking ahead, the chain is projected to open more than 75 new locations in 2026, surpassing its previous record for annual openings.

Insomnia Cookies’ long-term goal is to reach 1,800 bakeries globally over the next decade. It currently operates in the U.S., U.K. and Canada.

[READ MORE: Krispy Kreme sells remaining Insomnia Cookies shares]

"Over the past 22 years, we've built an incredible community of Insomniacs who share our love of warm, delicious cookies," said Seth Berkowitz, CEO and founder Insomnia Cookies, who launched the company as a student at the University of Pennsylvania in 2003. "As we continue expanding globally, our focus remains on delivering memorable experiences, deepening connections with our Insomniacs, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the late-night indulgence category to reach Insomniacs in an unparalleled way.”