Convenience Stores

Report: Amazon tries its hand at a different kind of pop-up
Amazon is preparing for its newest physical store — and promoting its alcoholic products at the same time. The online giant is opening a pop-up bar in Tokyo’s Ginza district. The location, which will be open for 10 days, will sell beer, wine, sake and cocktails sold on its Japanese website, as well as exclusive products and samples not yet for sale, according to Bloomberg.
Fast-growing organic grocer sets 2018 store openings
Sprouts Farmers Market is in expansion mode. Sprouts Farmers Market announced it will open nine new locations in the first quarter of 2018. In total, the natural and organics grocer will open approximately 30 new stores across the country in 2018.

Report: Online giant has its eye on some French supermarkets

Amazon is exploring its next grocery opportunity — but not in the United States. The online giant is looking for physical store locations in France, especially Paris. French newspaper Le Monde, which first broke the story, said Amazon has approached various French supermarket operators — including Groupe Casino, Intermarche and Systeme U — about setting up distribution deals or making an acquisition in the country, according to CNBC.
Walmart ups same-day delivery capabilities with Big Apple acquisition

Walmart is determined not to be bested by Amazon when it comes to same-day delivery. The discounter announced on Tuesday that it has acquired Parcel, a last-mile delivery startup that specializes in delivery of perishable items and general merchandise to customers in New York City. Operating out of a warehouse in Brooklyn, Parcel delivers goods the same-day, overnight and in scheduled two-hour windows, providing customers with live updates via text messages throughout the delivery process.
Regulatory Wrap-Up: New wage hikes, paid leave initiatives take shape

Wages
Shoplifting: How to prevent ‘blind spots’ in the store layout

Though many types of theft deterrent equipment exist, one of the most effective and affordable approaches is preventing retail shoplifting is by avoiding “blind spots” in the store layout. In this regard, one of the hardest places for supermarket or mass merchandise cashiers to control and easily view has been under the shopping basket, which is usually blocked by a basketful of other items above it. Failing to ring up items under the basket before customers leave the store can be extremely costly to retailers.
Publix signs on as anchor at new Alabama center

Thanks to Wernher von Braun, who developed the Saturn V rocket in the Alabama town, Huntsville is known as the Rocket City. Now the appellation is being applied to its population.
Shop Talk

Trending Stores
SPECS 2018 Update

Planning is underway for Chain Store Age’s 54th annual SPECS conference, which will be held March 18-20, 2018, at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine (Dallas), Texas. The event will have attendees that are retail and foodservice executives involved in the planning, design, construction and maintenance of stores and restaurants nationwide.
Not Fake News

Fake news. Or, at the very least, over-exaggerated news. That’s what I call the reports about the death of retail. Retail sales are up $121.5 billion (through the first seven months of the year) and the holiday forecasts look promising, with Deloitte predicting a healthy 4 to 4.5% increase over last season.
Traditional grocers gaining ground with click-and-collection programs

The nation's supermarket retailers are positioning themselves to capture a significant majority of online grocery sales over the next decade or so. That's according to Joe McKeska, president of Elkhorn Real Estate Partners. He made his remarks during a panel discussion at Marquette University’s annual commercial real estate conference.
Thrift store chain goes ‘wireless’

Staying true to its “thrifty” roots, Savers has added a robust wireless solution without breaking the bank.