News Briefs

Consumers are open to sharing their shopping data, especially when it leads to a more personalized experience.

Nearly six-in-10 (59%) 18–54-year-olds are more likely to buy from retailers that deliver personalized retail media ads, according to a new study from Dunnhumby. When it comes to the practices that enhance shoppers’ experience, personalized pricing (64%), in-store screens with product suggestions (56%) and tailored health suggestions (54%) are the most popular concepts.

In other findings,  91% of consumers are comfortable with having their transactional data captured for the purpose of advertising. Seven-in-10 shoppers are likely to trust personalized ads, while generic ads are only trusted by a quarter of shoppers.

 [READ MORE: Survey: With digital technology, some consumers call purchasing path 'random']

Despite the willingness for personal data to be captured, nearly half (48%) of respondents in Dunnhumby’s survey deemed automated retail processes such as agentic commerce to be “intrusive.”

“Retail media is transforming at an extraordinary pace, but the shopper perspective is often missing,” said Michael Schuh, head of retail media at Dunnhumby. “This report changes that, showing how people engage with retail media so that we can design solutions that genuinely add value to their lives. Today’s world is filled with marketing messages, so it’s vital retailers and brands break through the noise with deep shopper loyalty and quality engagements – to build trust, create the best shopper experience – and ultimately grow their business.”

Dunnhumby’s research is based on an online survey of 3,000 grocery shoppers, comprised of 2,000 respondents in the United States and 1,000 respondents in the United Kingdom.

A Hispanic-focused California grocer is touting strong results after implementing an AI-powered inventory management system.

Vallarta Supermarkets generated a 1,070% return on investment after implementing Fresh Inventory Management technology from Logile Inc., according to a new ROI Case Study report by Nucleus Research. After the management system helped how it forecasted demand, reduced spoilage, and aligned fresh production with sales, Vallarta recovered its investment in 15 months and generated more than $10 million in attributable profit over three years.

[READ MORE: Vallarta Supermarkets automates detection of soon-to-expire products]

Vallarta rolled out the Fresh Inventory Management system in phases by department, allowing teams to test, refine, and scale new processes while maintaining operations. This allowed store teams to focus production on items with stronger demand, improve consistency in fresh preparation, and reduce overproduction of lower-performing items, according to the report.

In addition to a 15% reduction in software costs through consolidation of legacy systems, Vallarta saw its sales increase across fresh departments, including 1.1% in produce, 1.6% in bakery, 15% in taqueria and 9% in seafood.

“Before Logile, we didn’t have a consistent way to connect demand, production, and execution across fresh,” said Steve Netherton, CIO and VP of continuous improvement at Vallarta Supermarkets. “The platform helped our teams make better daily decisions about what to produce and when, which reduced overproduction and supported stronger sales while maintaining our commitment to fresh, made-from-scratch food.”

Headquartered in Santa Clarita, Calif., Vallarta operates approximately 55 stores throughout California and one store in Arizona.

Nearly one-in-10 U.S. households bought something on TikTok Shop last year. 

That's according to the latest data by NielsenIQ (NIQ), which also revealed hat the social commerce platform’s growth is continuing. TikTok Shop’s sales increased 84%, with $118 spend per buyer. (Sales data is from March 2025 through February 2026).

Health and beauty is TikTok Shop’s biggest sales driver, with vitamins, skin care and fragrances leading the way. The platform is now the No. 4 health and beauty retailer in the U.S., accounting for 81% of overall sales and surpassing $4.4 billion in sales. (The second biggest driver of sales is food, at 11%.) 

In other NIQ findings, TikTok Shop shoppers show limited awareness and minimal concern about TikTok’s change in U.S. ownership. More than half (53%) said the company’s new ownership had no impact on their trust in the platform, and 28% said it had increased their trust. 

[READ MORE: TikTok stays open in the U.S. with new joint venture]

Six companies were honored by The Conference Board with its annual Corporate Citizenship Awards.

The awards recognize outstanding leadership in sustainability, governance and corporate citizenship. This year’s honorees included one retail company, Ulta Beauty.

“This year’s honorees show that corporate citizenship is most impactful when ambition is matched by action,” said Brian Campbell, leader of the Governance and Sustainability Center at The Conference Board. “Their leadership demonstrates how governance, sustainability, and social impact can be embedded into core business strategy in ways that strengthen resilience, build stakeholder trust, and create long-term value.”

In a statement, Ulta president and CEO Kecia Steelman said that Ulta Beauty is “always committed to making the world a more beautiful place, and we are honored to be recognized for the positive impact we strive to make on our guests, associates, partners, and communities every day. “

“Whether it's meaningful human connection on our sales floors or giving back to our communities, we continue to prioritize inclusivity, sustainability, and well-being for all,” she added.

The Conference Board Governance and Sustainability Center helps businesses and other organizations strengthen governance, advance sustainability, and drive long-term value creation by providing trusted, timely, and actionable insights. Learn more about the Governance and Sustainability Center and the Corporate Citizenship Awards.

Claire’s is making a move under its new owners.

The tween and teen accessories retailer is relocating its headquarters from Hoffman Estates, Ill., to Columbia Centre III in Rosemont, Ill. The new space is expected to open in early 2027. 

In September, Ames Watson completed its acquisition of Claire’s, with plans to modernize and revitalize the chain. The acquisition came one month after Claire’s filed for bankruptcy.

The news about the move was was provided by commercial real estate firm Newmark, which worked with RCS Real Estate Advisors on the deal with Claire’s. The new location provides dedicated office space and positions the company closer to the Chicago CBD, enhancing access to talent while staying connected to its suburban workforce, Newmark stated in a press release.

“Claire’s was seeking a modern, amenity-rich workspace in a highly accessible location that would support both talent recruitment and retention,” said Sean Moran, associate director, Newmark. “We were proud to represent the company in securing a headquarters that aligns with its strategic goals and sets the stage for its next phase of growth.”

Columbia Centre III is located at 9295 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. The property is minutes from the Rosemont CTA Blue Line station, offering direct transit to downtown Chicago and the O’Hare International Airport.

A Midwest convenience giant is expanding its use of artificial intelligence.

Casey’s General Stores and SoundHound AI have renewed and expanded their partnership. The tech company’s AI-powered ordering agents have already supported Casey’s in handling more than 21 million guest interactions, successfully processing millions of food orders. Casey’s has deployed the technology across more than 2,600 locations, helping ensure guests can place orders quickly and easily.

[READ MORE: Casey’s Q3 earnings soar on expanding margins]

Leveraging SoundHound’s voice AI ordering agents, Casey’s stores can answer incoming calls for pizza even during peak meal times, reducing missed orders and long hold times while ensuring guests can place orders quickly and accurately.

SoundHound AI has deployed its voice and conversational AI tools at several restaurant companies to better streamline operations. Peet’s Coffee, Jersey Mike’s, Peter Piper Pizza and Red Lobster have all implemented the AI-enabled voice ordering technology.

“We’re focused on making it easier for our team members to deliver quality and convenience for our guests, especially during peak ordering times,” said Sanjeev Satturu, senior VP, chief information officer at Casey’s. “Expanding our partnership with SoundHound AI allows us to scale a proven solution that improves the guest ordering experience and helps our team members operate more efficiently across thousands of locations.”

Headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, Casey’s operates approximately 2,900 convenience stores. Founded in 1968, the company has grown to become the third-largest convenience store retailer and the fifth-largest pizza chain in the United States.