Mass Merchant

Minneapolis - The number of digitally distributed coupons for CPG brands on key websites received nourishment from food shoppers in the first half of 2015.

Overall CPG digital coupon distribution increased by 17%, according to analysis conducted by Kantar Media.

The increase was attributable primarily to food areas. Within food, the dry grocery area, which is historically the largest area in digitally distributed coupons, accounted for much of the growth.

Seattle – Amazon.com is reportedly planning to offer customers a new option for directly picking up orders.

According to GeekWire, Amazon is currently testing the service, called Amazon Flex, in its Kirkland, Washington, distribution facility.

A sign inside the facility instructs Amazon Flex users to take a ticket with a number, look for the number to be displayed, and then pick up their package. Amazon has not discussed exactly how Flex would work, or when or where it may roll out.

Bentonville now has something in common with Buenos Aires, Seoul, Bangalore and Istanbul.

Walmart’s home town is now home to Tyco Retail Solutions’ newest Retail Experience Center, a 5,000-sq.-ft. facility designed to showcase the capabilities of a global company best known for its broad range of security and inventory management solutions.

Target Corp. has agreed to pay $2.8 million to resolve a hiring discrimination claim filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Bentonville, Ark. -- How important is Walmart to Tyco Retail Solutions Inc.? Important enough that Tyco has built a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the giant retailer.

Located in Bentonville, Arkansas, the Walmart Retail Experience Center features a simulated retail environment and showroom where the retailer’s executives from around the globe will have access to resources and capabilities aligned to Walmart’s growing global footprint. It is Tyco’s first center built exclusively for one client.

Fast growing e-commerce firm Instacart is now delivering groceries to a 17th major U.S. metropolitan area.

Beginning this week, customers can order from Whole Foods Market, Costco (no membership needed), Marsh Supermarkets, Georgetown Market and Petco stores and have everything delivered by Instacart in as little as one hour.

Minneapolis – For the second quarter in a row, Best Buy Co. Inc. beat Wall Street expectations for profit and revenue with large-screen TVs and mobile phones providing a major boost to its results.

Best Buy reported net income of $164 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2016, up 12% from $146 million the same period the previous fiscal year.

New York -- Not only is Amazon.com launching its one-hour Prime Now delivery service in its hometown of Seattle, but it's also adding a whole new category of deliverable products.

The retailer announced Tuesday it will add wine, beer and spirits to its assortment of eligible products for Prime Now delivery.

With the launch of Prime Now in Seattle, it's the first U.S. city to include alcohol in the assortment of products eligible for the quick-delivery service.