News Briefs

Walmart is providing e-commerce functionality to Pinterest users searching for recipe ingredients.

The discount giant is piloting a new shoppable recipe experience in the U.S. that lets Pinterest users add ingredients from eligible recipe pins (uploaded images and videos stored to a user’s account for quick retrieval) straight to their Walmart online or mobile cart with a tap on the "Shop Ingredients" button. 

In addition, users of the joint offering can swap products for alternatives, see real-time pricing, and select their preferred Walmart store for pickup or delivery. This shoppable recipe experience with Walmart is rolling out to Pinterest users over the coming weeks.

"Our collaboration with Walmart makes it even easier for people to turn a spark of inspiration, like a holiday recipe, into real-life moments," said Julie Towns, VP of product marketing at Pinterest. "Through this new experience, we’re bringing our vision to make every pin shoppable closer to reality."

This is not Walmart’s first digital recipe planning/shopping collaboration. Since 2021, the retailer has been teaming up with multi-platform media company Meredith Corp. to turn meal planning into a shoppable e-commerce experience. 

[READ MORE: Walmart grocery customers can shop online via ingredient]

Through the integration with Meredith Corp., Walmart is offering online grocery customers artificial intelligence (AI)-based services such as meal planning, shoppable recipes, visual search, and chatbots.

Meanwhile, Albertsons has been letting Pinterest users discover and shop food items since 2021 via a collaboration similar to the joint Walmart effort that includes a meal-planning API, designed to make recipes seamlessly shoppable by integrating saved pins straight into the grocer’s banner app.

Costco Wholesale continues to expand a format that’s targeted to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes.

The membership warehouse giant has opened a Business Center in East Gwillimbury, Ontario. The 137,000-sq.-ft. facility — Costco’s 10th business-oriented store in Canada — is a conversion of a traditional Costco, which was recently relocated.

The new location is part of a national expansion plan, with additional  business center locations planned to open across Canada in the near future. The company operates approximately 25 Business Center locations in the U.S., and reportedly plans to expand the format here too. 

Open to all Costco members, Costco's  business centers are different from the traditional Costco warehouse, with more than 70% of the product offerings unique to the format. The assortment includes 3,000 items targeted at restaurants, convenience/grocery stores and offices — from bulk food items, to commercial kitchen wares and cleaning supplies, to office furniture, coffee needs and everything in between. It also has a gas station with 12 pumps.

The facility has a large cooler, at almost 9,500 sq. ft., and a designated indoor loading area. With its own fleet of eight trucks, the new center in Ontario offers next-day delivery inside of a designated delivery zone extending across the city.

Costco currently operates 931 warehouses worldwide and 114 warehouses across Canada. 

Pet Supplies Plus and Wag N’Wash have reorganized to separate from the Franchise Group Inc. 

The move, effective immediately, provides the franchise brands the autonomy to operate as an independent corporate entity. The transition, which has no operational impact on the franchise or corporate locations,  was completed through an inaugural securitization financing. The low fixed-rate debt will reduce the entity's overall interest expense.

"Even though we were already operating as an independent business, this decision allows us to formally chart our own course," said Chris Rowland, CEO of Pet Supplies Plus and Wag N' Wash. "The separation empowers us to accelerate our franchise development goals, simplify our operational structure, and ensure we are all working toward a shared goal."

[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 26 locations, Wag N’ Wash provides full-service grooming, self-wash facilities, baked dog treats, natural food, supplements and toys. 

Price is top of mind for toy shoppers this holiday season.

New data from Numerator reveals that toy buyers are mostly purchasing for children, whether their own or grandchildren (63%) or friends’ and relatives’ children (19%), while 15% of toy shoppers buy toys for themselves or another adult. Top factors influencing toy shoppers’ purchase decisions include price or affordability (59%), the child’s or adult’s interest or request (58%), and educational or developmental value (43%).

Among those buying for children, purchases continue to center around celebrations such as birthdays (82%) and holidays (80%). However, Numerator noted that everyday play (“just because”) remains an important driver for 40% of shoppers. Those buying toys for adults are centering purchases around personal enjoyment (44%), hobbies or creative activities (40%), collecting or display purposes (38%), and nostalgia or sentimental value (36%).

[READ MORE: How AI, mobile devices and deals helped Cyber Week 2025 break records]

Numerator’s survey found that toy shoppers are leaning towards certain categories this year, such as Lego/building sets (50% purchase), plush toys (47%), board games and puzzles (42%), and cars or other toy vehicles (40%). The top licensed brands or franchises from which shoppers purchase or collect toys include Lego (51%), Disney/Pixar (47%), Hot Wheels (43%), Barbie (32%) and Marvel (31%).

Numerator’s data is based on a survey of more than 300 verified toy buyers who have purchased three or more toys in the past three months.

TJ Maxx is taking some of its most devoted customers on a holiday shopping road trip.

The off-price retailer has launched a double-decker bus, dubbed the Maxxinista Express, that will take “superfans” who won a drawing for the trip to a full day of shopping at three TJ Maxx stores in their cities. The holiday promotion will take place in Los Angeles, Dallas and Miami.

TJ Maxx described the bus as a “festive, fashion-forward showcase of everything shoppers love about being part of the Maxxinista community.” Every detail of the bus has been designed with Maxxinistas in mind, the company said, from Maxx-printed wrapping paper and needlepoint pillows featuring fan-favorite phrases to a full suite of tour-exclusive merchandise to holiday vignettes and stylish backdrops complete with a cozy fireplace. The bus also has a seasonal snack bar and custom cubbies where each guest can store their shopping hauls from the visited stores.

"TJ Maxx cherishes our passionate Maxxinistas and their love of connecting with each other, so we wanted to bring them together during the most magical time of the year," said Christina Lynch, VP, marketing director at TJ Maxx. "The Maxxinista Express is an ode to our superfans who proudly share their TJ Maxx adventures, going from store to store in search of the latest viral accessory or coveted designer find. We hope this experience emulates that same spirit and inspires even more joy amongst Maxxinistas this holiday season."

The first stop of the bus was on Dec. 4 in Los Angeles. The bus will roll into Dallas on Dec. 11, and into Miami on Dec. 18.

TJ Maxx has more than 1,300 stores spanning 49 states and Puerto Rico.

A California-based Nashville hot chicken franchise is expanding its footprint into two Southwestern states.

Angry Chickz will open 25 new locations in Texas and New Mexico over the next five years. The expansion will span 11 new markets, including the Dallas–Fort Worth and Austin areas, western Texas, and Albuquerque (see full list at end of article). The first restaurant is slated to open in 2026.

“This is a major step for us,” said Mike LaRue, VP of franchise development for Angry Chickz. “We’ve been hearing from fans in Texas and New Mexico for years asking us to come to their community, and now we’ve found the right partners to make it happen. They understand the bold flavor, the high energy and the insane fire that define Angry Chickz.”

Founded in 2018 in East Los Angeles, Angry Chickz now operates 33 restaurants across California, Nevada and Arizona. The brand says its expansion plans solidify its position as a “major contender” in the booming hot chicken category.

[READ MORE: Dave's Hot Chicken tests drone delivery program]

“It’s all about momentum,” added LaRue. “Simple, flavorful food that connects fast — that’s the Angry Chickz effect.”

Angry Chickz will open locations in the following cities:

• Dallas–Fort Worth
• Austin
• Longview
• Wichita Falls
• San Angelo
• Amarillo
• Lubbock
• Midland–Odessa
• Abilene
• Sweetwater
• Albuquerque