News Briefs

Uniqlo is expanding its presence at shopping centers in Canada.

The Japanese apparel retailer will open four new locations in the coming months, with two stores in Ontario and two in Quebec. Following the openings, Uniqlo will operate 33 Canadian locations. 

The new Uniqlo locations opening in spring/summer 2025 include the following:

• Maple View Shopping Centre (Burlington, Ontario)
• Place Ste-Foy (Quebec City, Quebec)
• Galeries d'Anjou (Montreal, Quebec)
• Union Station (Toronto, Ontario)

"We are very grateful to our patrons in Canada and look forward to fostering more meaningful relationships with new customers,” said Yuya Tanahashi, chief operating officer of Uniqlo in Canada. “I am optimistic about our Canadian growth, and we look forward to bringing ‘LifeWear’ to new markets."

[READ MORE: First Look: GU, sister brand of Uniqlo, opens first U.S. store]

Uniqlo stores feature apparel for men, women, kids, and babies, seasonal collaborations and the UT (Uniqlo T-shirt) range of graphic T-shirts and other items. 

A brand of Japanese holding company Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., Uniqlo operates 2,500 stores worldwide. The chain operates 68 stores in the United States as of Nov. 30, 2024.

The Kroger Co. is adding to the duties of its CIO as it launches a new e-commerce unit to accelerate its online growth.

Kroger has named Yael Cosset, senior VP and CIO, to the additional role of executive VP and chief digital officer. With the expanded oversight, Cosset is now managing the grocer’s new e-commerce business unit, which is intended to align all the teams contributing to the online customer experience. 

Cosset will continue to lead technology and data for the company. As senior VP and CIO, he has overseen Kroger's recent technology transformation designed to better serve the needs of omnichannel shoppers.

[READ MORE: Kroger invests in digital enterprise transformation]

Cosset also leads Kroger's alternative profit portfolio of businesses, including the 84.51˚ data analytics subsidiary, Kroger Personal Finance financial services business, and Kroger Precision Marketing retail media business.

Prior to this, Cosset was group VP and chief digital officer, where he led the company's overall digital growth strategy and e-commerce expansion. He also previously served as chief commercial officer and CIO of 84.51° since its inception in 2015.

"Accelerating Kroger's e-commerce growth is a top priority," said Ron Sargent, Kroger chairman and CEO. "As the architect of Kroger's digital strategy, Yael will continue to make it easier for customers to shop for our fresh, affordable food."

Kroger's e-commerce sales reached $13 billion in 2024.

Based in Cincinnati, The Kroger Co. operates nearly 2,800 stores under a variety of banners that include Kroger, Ralphs, Dillons, Smith’s, King Soopers, Floors 4 Less, Fry’s, Harris Teeter, Fred Meyer and others.

The Fresh Market has opened its newest store – with a specific focus.

The specialty fresh food grocer has opened its first-ever Spirits & Wine store, debuting in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., a coastal suburb of Jacksonville. The store opened on March 7, and features a wide selection of premium spirits, wines and craft beer, plus assorted mixers, snacks, glassware, and wine by the glass.

Located adjacent to The Fresh Market’s traditional grocery store, the new Spirits & Wine location spans more than 7,000 sq. ft. Guests can find a “carefully curated” range of spirits including bourbon, whiskies, rums and vodkas, alongside a comprehensive wine selection ranging from European to domestic offerings, craft beers, and chilled beverage coolers.  

“The opening of our Spirits & Wine store is an incredible opportunity to expand on our popular beverage program,” said The Fresh Market CEO Brian Johnson, who was named chief executive earlier this year after spending more than four years as COO of the grocer. “Our guests already trust us to provide the highest quality ingredients and finest flavors from around the world. Now, with our Spirits & Wine store, they can enjoy the same impeccable hospitality paired with our new, top-shelf beverage offerings to help make their shopping experience extraordinary.”

[READ MORE: The Fresh Market opens new Massachusetts stores]

Headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., The Fresh Market operates more than 165 grocery stores in 22 states.

CVS Health plans to open small stores that eliminates many of items that are currently found on the shelves of drug store chains.

The retail pharmacy and health care giant plans to unveil a small-store format that offers a full-service pharmacy, as well as some over-the-counter medications, but with limited retail options, reported The Wall Street Journal. The stores will span an average of less than 5,000 sq. ft, and will not include merchandise such as greeting cards and groceries.

CVS plans to 12 of the new format stores over the next year, according to the Journal report, focusing on areas where customers have limited options to fill their prescriptions or obtain vaccines. 

"The new pharmacies will be introduced in select neighborhoods to help bridge gaps in care and make it easier for patients to access medications, immunizations and other pharmacist-provided healthcare services," a CVS spokeswoman told CSA sister publication Drug Store News. "By taking a customized approach to our footprint that is focused on the specific needs of the communities we serve, we’re continuing to strategically realign our pharmacy footprint to better support patient and ensure the right geographic coverage."

The move comes as the retail drug store industry has faced a number of challenges in recent years, including low reimbursement rates for filing prescriptions, increased online competition and softer discretionary spending. In late 2021, CVS announced plans to close approximately 300 stores annually during the next three years “to reduce store density in certain locations.” 

In October 2024, Walgreens Boots Alliance announced plans to close 1,200 stores in its U.S. fleet of roughly 8,700 locations by the end of fiscal 2027. Last week, the company entered into an agreement with Sycamore Partners to be acquired in a deal that will take the company private.

Casey's General Stores is offering shoppers digital coffee recommendations with a dash of humor – all personalized with AI.

The Iowa-based convenience store chain is marking the launch of its new proprietary Darn Good Coffee brand with a generative AI-based "coffee roaster" chatbot named Darn-ell. 

Customers can visit www.darngoodroast.com to obtain personalized coffee recommendations from Darn-ell, served with a side of playful "roast" humor that Casey’s says is delivered with "Midwestern niceness."

One sample roast provided by Casey’s is, "Your friend is so late, even the coffee’s gone cold! They could use a jolt from Casey’s French Roast to wake up and realize that ‘fashionably late’ is just code for ‘perpetually unprepared.’ At this rate, they might as well set their watch to 'whenever.'"

Darn-ell will also randomly dispense redemption codes for free coffee daily, as well as the chance to win free Darn Good Coffee for a year.

"We are thrilled to introduce 'Darn-ell' to our fans and guests, our innovative AI-powered coffee connoisseur, who’s here to help you roast with the best – Casey’s Darn Good coffee," said Tom Brennan, Casey’s chief merchandising officer. "By combining this technology with our passion for exceptional coffee, we’re continuing to redefine what it means to enjoy a cup at Casey’s – one delightful roast at a time."  

Casey’s has been establishing itself as a convenient and personalized source of food options with efforts like the convenience chain's "It’s Not Crazy, It’s Casey’s” branding campaign. The company has also worked fun into its marketing with promotions like the naming of a “chief pizza and beer officer.”

[READ MORE: Local Casey's fan selected as inaugural chief pizza & beer officer]

Based in Ankeny, Iowa, Casey’s operates approximately 2,900 convenience stores across 17 states.

Image: Casey's

Lands’ End Inc. is looking into its options.

The women’s apparel retailer said that its board has started a process to explore strategic alternatives, including a sale, merger or similar transaction to maximize shareholder value.

The move comes several weeks after billionaire investor and majority shareholder Edward “Eddie” Lampert sent a letter to the board in February advocating for a sale. (Lands’ End was spun-off by Sears Holdings in 2014 as a standalone public company under the direction of CEO Lampert.)

“While we remain confident in the company’s potential for future value creation, the board also believes that the market is undervaluing this great company and its upside potential,” said Josephine Linden, board chair.

“As a result, in consultation with the board’s legal and financial advisors, we have determined it is an appropriate time to explore strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value.”

No assurances can be given as to the outcome or timing of the board’s process, the company said.

Perella Weinberg Partners serves as Lands’ End’s financial advisor and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz serves as Lands’ End’s legal advisor.