News Briefs

A quick-serve burger giant is making a massive hiring push.

Burger King has launched a nationwide hiring search with the goal of adding up to 60,000 new team members to work at its nearly 6,500 U.S. restaurants. The positions range from entry-level roles to management positions.

Burger King says the hiring push follows a “transformative period,” and reflects the strength of the brand as well as the “collective investment of its franchise community” through its workforce.

[READ MORE: Burger King equips associates with ‘Patty’ AI voice assistant]

"We've done the important work of strengthening our operations, modernizing our restaurants, and listening to our guests, and it's paying off," said Tom Curtis, president of Burger King U.S. & Canada. "Now we need great people to help us keep that momentum going – people who are passionate, hardworking, and genuinely friendly. A warm welcome goes a long way, and the team members who bring that energy every day are at the heart of what makes the Burger King experience special.”

Earlier this year, Restaurant Brands International (RBI), the parent company of Burger King, Tim Hortons, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs, outlined plans to open approximately 1,800 net new restaurants per year by 2028, including between 300 and 400 net new restaurants per year in the United States and Canada.

The Burger King system operates more than 19,000 locations in more than 120 countries and U.S. territories. Headquartered in Miami, RBI operates approximately 32,000 restaurants in more than 120 countries and territories.

A multi-billion dollar mixed-use Miami development is selling its retail and entertainment district.

A joint venture led by Falcone Group with partners ROK Acquisitions, Andrew Mirmelli, The Davis Companies and Jamestown will purchase Miami Worldcenter’s 300,000 square feet of retail, dining and entertainment space, along with 100,000 square feet of public space. Falcone – one of the project’s founding partners – will retain a majority stake and lead operations.

Miami Worldcenter’s retail space is now 97% occupied, and home to a lineup of top global brands including Apple, Savage X Fenty, Lululemon, Sephora, Ray-Ban, Timeluxe, Lucid Motors and more. The $6 billion, 27-acre master-planned development in Downtown Miami is the second-largest mixed-use project in the U.S., and opened its doors last year after being approved in 2014.

“The coming to life of Miami Worldcenter has been a two-decade journey that began with the belief that Downtown Miami was poised to become a true global destination,” said Falcone Group CEO and Miami Worldcenter Associates founding partner Art Falcone. “What was once a stretch of vacant lots is now a vibrant, walkable neighborhood that reflects the energy, diversity, and ambition of our city. When CIM Group joined the partnership it provided momentum, enabling the team to realize our shared vision for Miami Worldcenter, and as the new owners, we’re committed to sustaining the property’s success well into the future.”

[READ MORE: Atlanta’s CNN Center to be reopened as The CTR]

Supporting Miami Worldcenter’s retail tenants are several residential towers, along with the CitizenM World Center hotel, with additional hotel concepts set to debut in future phases. The property is located adjacent to Brightline’s MiamiCentral Station, a high-speed rail hub linking Downtown Miami to major cities across Florida, and is also located near the Tri-Rail, Metrorail, Metromover, and the Brickell/Biscayne transportation systems.

A California-based convenience retailer is streamlining in-store workflows for associates with help from next-gen artificial intelligence.

Loop Neighborhood Markets is deploying the Tote Genie store associate AI agent. The agentic AI tool assists associates with handling tasks such as customer service inquiries, POS operations, maintenance and payments. 

The retailer also leverages Genie to shorten training time, ensure compliance to corporate procedures, and eliminate the need for store managers to answer routine questions from associates. Loop reports that since deployment, there have been zero escalations and 100% first-contact resolution of all issues that employees have handled using Genie.

"We're not interested in AI that just looks good in a pitch,” said Varish Goyal, president and CEO, Loop Neighborhood Markets. “Tote's Genie agent works in our stores, gives our associates the answers they need in the moment, and delivers results from day one. This is just the beginning of what agentic technology can do for our business.” 

[READ MORE: Walmart equips store associates with mobile AI tools]

Genie is available around the clock, supports multiple languages, and works via voice and chat, so every associate gets answers whenever or however they need them. Loop deployed Genie independently of its POS system using its modular design, bringing AI-native associate support to stores without having to overhaul the existing store technology infrastructure.

"Loop is exactly the kind of operator that makes this work,” said Shyam Rao, founder and CEO, Tote. “Deploying with zero escalations and 100% first-contact resolution from day one is not a beta result. That is a production result, and it reflects what AI in convenience retail can actually deliver.”

Headquartered in Fremont, Calif., Loop Neighborhood Markets operates more than 50 locations across the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Southern California.

Private label sales are on the rise amid ongoing macroeconomic pressures.

New data from Circana reveals that private label sales reached $330 billion in the United States in 2025, capturing a 24% unit share and a 23% dollar share of the total market. The food and beverage sector continues to lead the growth, as private label products now hold a 24% value share within the category.

Club retailers are currently the leading channel for store brand products, accounting for nearly half of all private brand growth. Younger consumers, particularly Gen Z, are the demographic helping drive the private label momentum in the U.S. market, according to Circana.

“As we look ahead to 2026, the outlook for private label remains positive, though more balanced,” said Sally Lyons Wyatt, global executive VP and chief advisor at Circana. “While we anticipate continued unit share growth, the pace will likely be more measured as private label transitions from an acceleration phase into a normalized growth cycle.”

Circana’s private label data comes after the firm noted that U.S. retail sales revenue increased 2% year over year for the first 10 weeks of 2026. Circana says the data shows consumers are changing their behaviors instead of cutting back spending all together.

[READ MORE: Survey: Consumers trading down, consolidating trips because of fuel costs]

“As private brands mature, staying aligned with shifting consumer needs is essential, but inspiring shoppers is what will set leaders apart,” said Lauren Hazenfield, industry advisor at Circana. “Our research indicates that building authentic, deeper consumer connections, especially through wellness, sustainability, and meaningful experiences, is essential for retailers looking to create long‑lasting trust and loyalty.”

RH (formerly known as Restoration Hardware) ended fiscal 2025 with net income growth exceeding 100% but still fell short of Wall Street expectations.

The luxury home furnishings and hospitality company’s net income more than doubled in the fourth quarter of 2025, rising to $28.77 million from $13.92 million in the same quarter the prior fiscal year. Net revenues rose a more modest but still impressive 4% to $842.62 million from $812.4 million.

For the full fiscal year 2025, RH reported net income of $124.78 million, up 72% from $72.41 million. Net revenues climbed 8% to $3.44 billion from $3.18 billion. However, the retailer missed analyst projections for profits and sales in both the quarter and fiscal year.

RH saw its net revenues in both the fourth quarter and full fiscal year 2025 negatively impacted by approximately $30 million due to higher-than-expected back order and special order balances as a result of tariff related resourcing and approximately $10 million due to adverse weather at the end of the quarter. 

However, the company was still able to reduce its cost of goods sold and selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for both the quarter and year.

[READ MORE: First Look: RH opens ‘gallery’ location in California]

Looking ahead, RH expects negative revenue growth of -2 to -4% and in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 and positive revenue growth of 4% to 8% during the full fiscal year 2026. These estimates include expected negative margin impact from preopening and startup costs to support the company’s international expansion.

[READ MORE: Amazon partners with BP to offer gas discount for Prime members]

To activate this new savings benefit, Prime members can sign up for a free BP Earnify loyalty account and then visit a dedicated page on the Amazon site. Activating the offer will connect a member’s Amazon and Earnify accounts. Members can then use the free Earnify app store locator to find the nearest BP, Amoco, or participating Thorntons and AmPm locations and begin redeeming at the pump by inputting their phone number or linked payment method. 

Members who live in the same household as another Prime member can save a combined $0.40 per gallon across two fuel transactions made each Friday via the Amazon Family program. To earn the combined savings of $0.40 per gallon on Fridays, two members in an Amazon Family must have separate Earnify accounts and make one fuel transaction per person.