News Briefs

[READ MORE: Ace Hardware streamlines frontline hiring]

The offices of Chain Store Age will be closed on Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

CSA’s daily newsletter, DayBreaker, will resume publishing on Tuesday, Jan. 20

Two pet brands continued to expand their physical footprints in 2025 as spending in the category shows no signs of slowing.

Pet supplies retailer Pet Supplies Plus and grooming chain Wag N’ Wash signed more than 30 franchise agreements and opened 18 stores combined in 2025, with seven of the stores opening in new markets. 

Looking ahead, the brands say they aim to continue their strong trajectory as pet spending is anticipated to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 4.96% for the next five years, according to recent data from Capital One Shopping Research. Pet Supplies Plus and Wag N’ Wash are on track to open more than 20 stores annually in the coming years.   

Last December, the two companies reorganized to separate from the Franchise Group Inc. The move aimed to provide the franchise brands the “autonomy to operate as an independent corporate entity.”

“Regardless of external challenges, both brands have proven they are strong investments as they continue to award franchise agreements and open more stores each year,” said Nick Russo, chief development officer of Pet Supplies Plus and Wag N’ Wash. “Next year, we’ll continue to accelerate our franchise development efforts while investing in long-term, sustainable growth.”

[READ MORE: Pet Supplies Plus debuts first-ever customer app]

Pet Supplies Plus has over 725 locations, with stores designed to make it easy to navigate a wide assortment of natural pet foods, goods and services. With more than 25 locations, Wag N’ Wash provides full-service grooming, self-wash facilities, baked dog treats, natural food, supplements and toys. The companies are headquartered in Livonia, Mich.

Kroger and Uber are following through with the introduction of online delivery from Kroger banner stores on the Uber Eats, Uber and Postmates apps.

Initially announced in October 2025, the partnership between The Kroger Co. and Uber Technologies Inc. builds on an existing collaboration that enables delivery of floral and sushi orders from Kroger via the Uber Eats app. Now, customers can browse full store assortments from more than 2,700 stores at Kroger banners including Ralphs, Fred Meyer, King Soopers, Smith's, Fry's, Harris Teeter and Mariano's.

"Customers' needs evolve constantly, and at Kroger, we're committed to meeting them with solutions that fit every moment with the understanding that what is convenient changes day-to-day," said Jody Kalmbach, Kroger digital experience and e-commerce group VP. "Collaborating with Uber enables us to deliver even more convenience and flexibility, helping more families access the food they love with ease and reliability."

Kroger also offers third-party delivery in partnership with Instacart and DoorDash. In addition, the grocery giant offers proprietary delivery of grocery orders in partnership with U.K.-based online grocer Ocado Group, using automated customer fulfillment center (CFC) facilities which combine vertical integration, machine learning, and robotics with fast-delivery service for fresh food. 

Recently, Kroger has been scaling back its use of the centers and its partnership with Ocado, including closing some CFCs and canceling the planned openings of others.

[READ MORE: Kroger seeks e-commerce profit boost by closing distribution hubs]

"Making Kroger's banners available across Uber's apps gives shoppers a simple, reliable way to get their weekly groceries or last-minute items whenever they need them," said Hashim Amin, Uber North American head of grocery and retail. "We're excited to begin working on our shared vision for convenience and to give households even more flexibility in the months ahead."

Amazon has big plans for the village of Orland Park, Ill.

The Chicago suburb is proposed site of a retail development that the e-commerce giant wants to build on a 35-acre site, reported Patch.com. The plan cleared its first hurdle this week when it was approved by Orland Park’s plan commission. It still needs to be approved by the village board of trustees who will meet on Jan. 19.

The development includes a 229,000-sq.-ft. building housing a retail store offering a wide range of products, including groceries and general merchandise, with a “limited” warehouse component to support on-site operation, according to the report. The plan also include multiple commercial outlets, six acres for open and landscaped space, and stormwater detention.

If approved, the plan would be Amazon’s first foray into big-box retailing, putting it in direct brick-and-mortar competition with the likes of Walmart’s supercenters and Costco. 

Amazon was represented at the commission meeting by attorney Katie Jahnke Dale of global law firm DLA Piper.

“We like to explain it as: 'It's the best that Amazon has to offer under Whole Foods, Fresh and their online offerings,'” she said, reported Patch.com. 

“We regularly test new experiences designed to make customers’ lives better and easier every day, including physical stores," an Amazon spokesperson said in an email to Chain Store Age. "The site in question is our planned location for a new concept that we think customers will be excited about."

Viral trends on social media — despite fizzling out after a short amount of time — are driving a large share of online impulse purchases.

Americans now spend an average of $1,598 annually on home decor, with much of it driven by viral design trends on TikTok and Instagram, according to data compiled by online home decor platform Awedeco of online marketplaces and consumer surveys. Awedeco says that a third (33%) of online home decor buyers make purchasing decisions based on achieving an "Instagram-worthy" or "TikTok-viral" aesthetic.

In other findings, 74% have experienced "buyer's remorse" after online shopping for home items, with 70% of Gen Z and millennials reporting buyer's remorse within six months of trend-driven purchases. An estimated $8.7 billion is spent annually on online trend-driven purchases that are abandoned within six to 12 months. These include TikTok-based trends such as “cottagecore,” “Barbiecore,” “dark academia” and more.

Additionally, nearly two-thirds (64%) of consumers have bought something on sale that they later regretted, often driven by FOMO (fear of missing out) triggered by social media trends.

Awedeco also found that more than half (56%) of frequent social media feel anxious when comparing themselves to friends and their homes on social media platforms, while a similar percentage (58%) users report feeling their home is "inadequate.”

[READ MORE: Survey: Majority of social media purchases fueled by online influencers]

"Your home should reflect you, not TikTok," says Andreea Dima from AweDeco. "The most beautiful homes are the ones that tell a personal story – not the ones that look like everyone else's feed."