News Briefs

Nearly half of CPG retailers agree that one issue is causing them problems with fulfillment.

In data exclusively released to Chain Store Age, 48% of 50 CPG retail executives recently surveyed by Dynata on behalf of Radial identify technology integrations and data visibility as a top fulfillment pain point (more than one answer accepted). Other leading responses include e-commerce/direct-to-consumer fulfillment speed (38%) and retail routing guide compliance and chargebacks (30%).

[READ MORE: Survey: Delivery performance key for brand opinion among consumers]

Despite the existence of these pain points, respondents are overall happy with their current fulfillment solution. More than eight-in-10 are either very satisfied (44%) or satisfied (40%) with their fulfillment technology. Another 14% are neutral and only 2% are dissatisfied (none are very dissatisfied). 

When asked how significant retail chargebacks are to their organization, 40% said very significant while a leading 42% said moderate. About one-in-six (16%) said chargebacks are of minor importance and 2% said they are not applicable to their organization.

Third-party logistics

The survey also asked questions specifically focused on 3PL partners, including:

Which platforms or systems does your 3PL need to integrate with?

• Salesforce (order management/CRM) 58%.
• SAP/Oracle/Netsuite (CRM) 56%.
• Amazon Seller/Vendor Central 56%.
• Shopify/Shopify Plus 50%.
• EDI (business-to-business orders) 30%.

How important is it that a single 3PL partner can handle both retail replenishment and e-commerce fulfillment?

• High importance 66%
• Critical - unified operations are essential (16%)
• Moderate importance 14%
• Low importance 2%
• Not important – separate providers are fine 2%

Amazon is making a major financial commitment to compress the timeline of artificial intelligence rollouts for Amazon Web Services customers.

The online giant is creating what it calls a Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) organization for its Amazon Web Services (AWS) hosted cloud subsidiary. Backed by a $1 billion investment, the AWS FDE embeds groups of engineers called “AWS frontier teams” directly inside customer business, engineering, and security teams to build and deploy production AI systems with the customer’s data, governance and processes.

According to Amazon, AWS FDE reduces development times from months to days, and it is designed so customers are self-sufficient when a deployment ends. AWS FDE teams focus on building agentic AI  solutions that run in a customer’s own environment. Deployments are structured around shared goals and business results rather than billable hours. 

AWS FDE uses agentic deployment technology and the AI-Driven Development Lifecycle, what Amazon calls a new approach to software development that emphasizes AI-based execution with human oversight. FDE teams also deploy a semantic layer into the customer's AWS account which is designed to connect to enterprise data sources, enrich metadata and use AI to publish a governed, versioned knowledge graph. Security is built in with hardware-based isolation, end-to-end encryption, and customer data that never leaves the customer's governance framework.

[READ MORE: Uber leverages Amazon AI]

“Unlike traditional consulting that assesses, recommends, and treats each deployment as a standalone project, AWS FDE builds for the long term,” said Francessca Vasquez, VP of frontier AI engineering and services, AWS, in a corporate blog post. “Customers leave AWS FDE deployments with both new solutions and new engineering capabilities. Along with agentic systems running in their own AWS environment, they gain lasting AI skills, workflows, and patterns they can use to innovate independently. 

Federal Realty, the operator of innovative mixed-use projects such as Assembly Row outside of Boston, has announced the hiring of a prominent real estate technologist to “accelerate innovation and AI across the business,” according to a company press release.

Paige Pitcher — who previously led technological strategy globally at Hines and introduced tech adoption at some of the nation’s largest REITs — now takes her practice to the Long Island-based developer as its first senior VP of digital innovation.

"For more than sixty years, Federal Realty has created value by knowing our real estate and our retailers inside and out," said Don Wood, Federal’s president and CEO. "The opportunity in front of us is to bring that same instinct to how we use data. To understand our centers and get great retailers open and operating sooner. Paige has spent her career helping real estate companies turn that kind of potential into results.”

Pitcher joins Federal Realty from Bigger Pitcher Advisory, where she drove AI integration and enterprise digitization for real estate firms and proptech companies.

"Federal Realty has one of the best portfolios and teams in the business, with the data and relationships to match," said Pitcher. "AI has changed the pace of business, and Federal intends to set the pace in retail real estate."

Pitcher holds a master of science degree in real estate development from MIT and serves on the Blackstone Proptech Advisory Board and the board of the Center for Real Estate Technology.

The offices of Chain Store Age will be closed on Friday July 3, in observance of the Federal holiday for Independence Day.

Our daily newsletter, DayBreaker, will resume publishing on Monday, July 6. We wish our readers a happy and safe holiday!

The world's largest retail trade fair is delaying its first-ever show in the Middle East.

The premiere of EuroShop Middle East in Dubai has been postponed to October 25 – 27, 2027. The event was originally scheduled for October 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Center. The decision to delay was made by event organizer Messe Düsseldorf and the Messe Düsseldorf Gulf Office “to ensure the best possible environment for exhibitors, partners and visitors.” 

Launched in 1966, EuroShop is held every three years Düsseldorf, Germany. The planned expansion in the Middle East underlines the brand’s international standing and the growing relevance of the region for global retail, according to Messe Düsseldorf.

“EuroShop Middle East is a project of strategic importance to us and a significant step for the international further development of the EuroShop portfolio,” said Petra Cullmann, executive director, Messe Düsseldorf. “This is precisely why we wish to realize the event in an environment that offers our exhibitors, partners and visitors maximum planning safety and optimal conditions for successful business. We are convinced the postponement is the right step to make the event a success long term.”

The teams at Messe Düsseldorf and the Messe Düsseldorf Gulf Office said they continue to work intensively on preparations for the event, which has already generated strong market interest and attracted numerous companies and partners from the international retail sector.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has named a new leader – at least temporarily.

The Colorado-based chocolate brand has appointed former board member Al Harper as interim CEO and principal executive officer for a 180-day term, effective immediately. Harper replaces Jeffrey Geygan, who had served as the interim CEO since May 2024, and was previously chair of the board of directors.

Harper, CEO of American Heritage Railways, was named a member of Rock Mountain Chocolate’s board of directors in 2024. According to The Durango Herald, the move came after the rail tourism company acquired a significant stake in the confectioner earlier that year.

“We are pleased to welcome Al Harper as interim CEO,” said Mel Keating, chairman of the board of directors. “Al brings decades of executive leadership experience, a deep understanding of franchising and consumer brands, and a long-standing connection to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and the Durango community. Having previously served on our board of directors, he understands our business, franchise system and opportunities for growth. The board has full confidence in Al’s ability to lead the company through this next phase.” 

Rocky Mountain Chocolate says it does not anticipate any changes to its strategic direction or day to day operations as a result of the leadership transition.

[READ MORE: Kilwins plots Arizona debut with 20-plus stores]

“I am honored by the board’s confidence and grateful for the opportunity to serve Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory during this important time,” said Harper. “Our focus remains on supporting our franchisees and employees, delivering exceptional products and experiences for our guests and executing the company’s strategic priorities.”

Rocky Mountain Chocolate and its franchisees and licensees operate over 250 stores across the United States, with several international locations.