News Briefs

Klarna has formed an exclusive partnership with Walmart’s finance app, OnePay.

The Swedish payments giant, which is planning to go public in the U.S., will be the exclusive provider of installment (buy now, pay later) loans for purchases at Walmart in the United States. Klarna will provide the loans to Walmart customers through OnePay, offering flexible payment options for items bought  online and in stores, and will be directly integrated inside Walmart at checkout this year.

Klarna’s partnership with OnePay replaces Affirm, which has been the exclusive provider for buy now, pay later loans for Walmart since 2019.

"This is a game changer,” said Sebastian Siemiatkowski, co-founder and CEO, Klarna. “Millions of people in the U.S. shop at Walmart every day — and now they can shop smarter with OnePay installment loans powered by Klarna. OnePay choosing Klarna as their exclusive installment loans partner at Walmart in the U.S. is a huge vote of confidence as we pursue our goal of being available everywhere for everything.”

Walmart U.S. customers will have the option to use OnePay installment loans powered by Klarna to shop for thousands of items. Once approved, customers will be able to choose from a range of repayment terms, from 3 to 36 months, and have the ability to manage their loan experience in the OnePay app.

“It’s never been more important to give consumers simple and convenient ways to access fair credit at the point of sale — and that’s especially true for the millions of people who turn to Walmart every week for everything,” said Omer Ismail, CEO, OnePay. “We’re incredibly excited to partner with Klarna to give consumers easier and more seamless ways to shop with OnePay at Walmart.”

Corner Bakery Café is updating its locations nationwide.

The fast-casual chain plans to spend half a million dollars during the first half of 2025 to remodel locations primarily in Illinois and Pennsylvania. The remodels are part of a broader revitalization effort, with the goal of updating all its cafes by 2027. Corner Bakery recently completed renovations at seven locations, one in Pennsylvania and six in California.

Renovations include updated seating, flooring, paint, décor, beverage counters, awnings and patio furniture, all aimed at creating a more modern, comfortable atmosphere for guests, the company said.  

“We want our communities to know that we're here to stay, and our loyal guests deserve cafés that look and feel special," said Chris Dharod, CEO of Corner Bakery. 

The brand's commitment to growth is also reflected in its expansion of self-ordering kiosks, added Dharod.

"These renovations and technology enhancements reflect our commitment to elevating the Corner Bakery experience,” he said.

Since Corner Bakery was acquired out of bankruptcy by multi-brand franchisee SSCP Management in June 2023, the company said it has reinvested over $6.2 million back into the business through 100% self-funded improvements.

Expansion

In addition to its remodeling initiative, Corner Bakery continues its national expansion. New corporate café investments include the upcoming re-opening of the Accenture Tower location in Chicago, which will be followed by a new store in Irvine, Calif., in May 2025.

Besides the addition of new corporate locations, a new franchise cafe in El Paso, Texas, recently opened in February under Bakery Ventures led by franchise owner Tyson Duncan. This location marks the fifth Corner Bakery Café in El Paso and sixth overall location for Bakery Ventures.

Tamagotchi is hosting a spring-themed celebration at one of the country's largest retail and entertainment centers.

The brand, known for its handheld virtual pets that hit peak popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, is hosting its Tamagotchi Spring Celebration at American Dream in East Rutherford, N.J. on March 29 and 30. Tamagotchi fans are invited to the event to “immerse themselves in the playful and interactive world” of the brand.  

"Our Spring event at the American Dream is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Tamagotchi brand and its fans of all ages," said Tara Badie, senior director of brand strategy at Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America, Tamagotchi’s parent company. "March 29 and 30 will be a very special opportunity to experience the brand as it lives today – with unique experiences that families will remember and cherish for a lifetime."

Activities at the Tamagotchi Spring Celebration will include:

• Scavenger Hunt Adventure: Guests will follow a custom scavenger hunt map around the mall, collecting stickers and surprises along the way, bringing the “Tamagotchi experience to life.”
• Themed Portrait Studio: Fans can step into a Spring Tamagotchi-inspired photo station and snap a picture with fan favorite character Mametchi for a special keepsake.
• Cotton Candy: Guests can enjoy cotton candy shaped like their favorite Tamagotchi characters.
• Express Yourself Station: Visitors can get Tamagotchi nail art, face painting and temporary tattoos.
• Tamagotchi Market: A dedicated space selling must-have Tamagotchi items, while also directing guests to the Bandai store at American Dream for even more Tamagotchi finds.

[READ MORE: American Dream to host big — and free — Jonas Brothers event]

American Dream, developed by Triple Five Group, features more than 3 million sq. ft. of retail, entertainment and dining.

WHP Global is looking to add another apparel brand to its portfolio.

Fashion retailer Guess Inc. said it has received a non-binding offer from WHP Global through its affiliate WHP Investments to acquire Guess’ outstanding shares for for $13.00 per share in cash. The proposal, which values the company at $751.5 million, does not include the shares owned by Guess co-founders Paul Marciano and Maurice Marciano and CEO Carlos Alberini. 

The three collectively own about 50.6% of the company, reported WWD. Although WHP would be a minority partner, it would have the biggest single stake.

Guess said it has formed a special committee to evaluate the proposal. The company added there is no guarantee “that the proposed transaction in the proposal or any other transaction will be approved or completed.”

The proposal comes after Guess partnered with WHP Global  in 2024 to acquire New York-based fashion brand Rag & Bone.

[Done Deal: Guess completes acquisition of Rag & Bone]

As of November 2, 2024, Guess directly operated 1,057 retail stores in Europe, the Americas and Asia. The company’s partners and distributors operated 541 additional retail stores worldwide.

WHP operates a wide array of brands, including Toys”R”Us, Express, Bonobos, Vera Wang and more.

Regency Centers has acquired a new shopping center in a fast-growing market.

The Florida-based mall owner, operator, and investor has acquired the open-air Brentwood Place Shopping Center, located in the affluent Nashville suburb of Brentwood. Brentwood Place spans approximately 320,000 sq. ft., including more than 100,000 sq. ft. of shops. The center is 95% leased, with anchors including Nordstrom Rack, Total Wine, TJ Maxx/HomeGoods, and Golf Galaxy.

Regency says Brentwood Place currently draws over 4.3 million annual visitors due to its strategic placement, and is adjacent to the future 350,000-sq.-ft. Vanderbilt Medical Campus.

“This acquisition aligns with our strategic vision of investing in high-quality retail centers in thriving suburban trade areas with strong demographics,” said Andre Koleszar, managing director of the Southeast at Regency Centers. “Brentwood Place serves a powerful and growing community, and we look forward to further enhancing its appeal and long-term value.”

[READ MORE: Three centers to become one in Connecticut]

Regency Centers operates 470 retail properties across the United States.

Instacart is partnering with The Rockefeller Foundation, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and Syracuse University to help veterans obtain the right food.

The 12-month pilot program will support rural, homebound, low-income veterans with limited food access in the Syracuse, N.Y. area. The grocery technology company’s Instacart Health initiative designed to promote access to healthy grocery and produce items will provide a $100 Instacart Health Fresh Funds grocery stipend to eligible veterans monthly for 12 months.

The study will focus on veterans with diabetes or hypertension who live in low-income, low-access areas. The program is designed to reduce barriers to food access, improve nutrition adherence, and positively impact clinical health outcomes for veterans living with chronic conditions in rural areas with food insecurity.

Syracuse University will conduct research to evaluate the program’s impact on health, healthcare utilization, costs, and participant satisfaction. The ultimate goal of the project is to generate data that can help shape future “food as medicine” programs across the VA healthcare system.

This pilot is one of several major research initiatives Rockefeller will launch to test the effectiveness of food as medicine programs with veterans, reaching a total of 2,000 veterans across five states. 

In 2024, Instacart partnered with the Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN) to offer a food assistance program for military families relocating to U.S. Army Fort Cavazos in Texas.

[READ MORE: Instacart offers health-driven shopping options]

“With Instacart Health, we’re committed to using our technology and reach to make healthy food more accessible for all, including by supporting and scaling new research on the impacts of food as medicine interventions on health outcomes and costs of care for various population groups,” Casey Aden-Wansbury, VP of policy & government affairs at Instacart, said in a corporate blog post.