News Briefs

Casey’s is expanding its footprint in Texas via acquisition.

The Iowa-based convenience retailer has agreed to acquire Pak-A-Sak, a family-owned convenience chain with 24 locations in the Texas panhandle, according to a report from local ABC 7 News. Both Casey’s and Pak-A-Sak confirmed the deal.

Pak-A-Sak was opened by Dale and Joyce McKee in 1978 in Canyon, Texas, according to the company’s website, and has been operated by the family for three generations.

“These high-quality locations are primarily in the Amarillo area and will add to the company’s growing number of units in the state,” a Casey’s spokesperson told the outlet. “We look forward to the next steps in this transaction and welcoming the employees at these locations to the Casey’s family.”

In late June, Casey’s announced new strategic plan is centered around three priorities: adding "at least" 400 new stores over the period, expanding its food and beverage offerings, and enhancing its operational efficiency by implementing new technology.

[READ MORE: Casey's aims to open 'at least' 400 new stores over next three years]

Since introducing its last strategic plan in 2023, Casey's opened more than 500 new stores and joined the S&P 500.

Through its network of more than 2,900 stores across 19 states, Casey’s is the third-largest convenience store retailer and the fifth-largest pizza chain in the United States.

Target Corp.’s increased emphasis on fresh and exclusive merchandise is reflected in its Halloween offerings.

Nearly 70% of the retailer’s 2026 Halloween collection is new, with about 60% of the items available only at Target. Sixty-percent of the decor is under $10 and half of all costumes and accessories under $25.

Target’s private label home brand, Threshold, will have Halloween-themed glass pumpkins, rattan decor, haunted village pieces and more. In March, the company said it would relaunch the brand this summer with plans that included shop-in-shops in 200 stores that highlight seasonal looks and on-trend décor.

[READ MORE: Target reveals turnaround plan — investing $6B in stores, tech and workers]

Target said its Halloween costume collection ranges from beloved classics to this year’s breakout sensations. Standout costumes include K-Pop Demon hunters and fan-favorite characters  ranging from Toy Story and Spiderman, along with more Marvel heroes. The selection also features an expanded Pokémon collection.

“Our guests are looking for more than simple Halloween decorations or costumes. They want the latest trends, meaningful ways to celebrate with family and friends, and products that reflect the fandoms they’re excited about,” said Cara Sylvester, executive VP and chief merchandising officer, Target. “This year’s assortment does just that, with elevated decor, fan-favorite characters, seasonal treats and creative family activities that make it easy to create memorable Halloween moments without compromising on style or value.”

Amid rising sales, Smoothie King is continuing to expand its footprint of stores nationwide.

The fast-casual smoothie chain opened 19 new stores across 11 states, including Minnesota, Michigan, Colorado and New York, in the second quarter of 2026. It also added 32 new store commitments to its development pipeline, including several multi-unit agreements across Arkansas, Ohio and Florida.

During the period, Smoothie King says it achieved its highest number of qualified franchise inquiries in a single quarter since the brand began tracking the metric in 2017.

The chain says the addition of new food items contributed to same-store sales growth of 9% in July. From 2020 through 2025, average unit volumes grew by 27%, and system sales increased by 64%.

"Smoothie King has always been a brand that both guests and franchisees can trust, and the numbers tell the story – our consistent growth over the past several years demonstrates the strength, resilience and continued evolution of our business," said Gavin Felder, president and chief financial officer of Smoothie King. "Consumers are placing a greater emphasis on health and wellness than ever before, and with more than five decades of nutritional expertise, Smoothie King is uniquely positioned to lead that movement.”

[READ MORE: 7 Brew, Smoothie King top Yelp's 2026 Fastest Growing Brands list]

Headquartered in Dallas, Smoothie King operates more than 1,250 units nationwide.

The Home Depot has tapped two company veterans as interim leaders.

The home improvement giant said that CEO Ted Decker will take a temporary medical leave of absence. The company expects Decker, who was named chief executive in 2022, to return within the next few months. He is 63 years old.

The board of directors, in alignment with Decker's recommendation, has chosen two long-time Home Depot executives to oversee the operations of the office of the CEO during his absence. Ann-Marie Campbell, senior executive VP, will provide oversight of Home Depot's day-to-day operations, while Richard McPhail, executive VP and CFO, will provide oversight of the company's financial management and Pro subsidiaries. In his role as independent lead director, Greg Brenneman will chair the board during Decker's leave.

"The Home Depot has the best management team in retail. Both Ann-Marie and Richard are strong, seasoned executives who have worked together for more than 20 years," said Brenneman. "We are confident in Ann-Marie's and Richard's ability to lead the company during this time, and we look forward to Ted's return."

[READ MORE: Home Depot adds partner reward offers to pro loyalty program]

At the end of the first quarter, the company operated a total of 2,361 retail stores and over 1,280 SRS locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico.

Amazon is brining its lockers to more college campuses with school around the corner.

The e-commerce giant’s locker network now reaches over 750 locations at colleges and universities across the U.S., giving more students than ever a secure and convenient way to receive online orders. The locations span over 500 campuses nationwide, with some colleges and universities offering multiple locker pickup points.

In total, Amazon’s broader network of pickup hubs spans more than 25,000 locations across the U.S.

“College students are constantly on the move, and picking up a package should fit into their day – not the other way around,” said Viraj Chatterjee, VP of Amazon Transportation. “Expanding Amazon Locker across college and university campuses nationwide puts secure package pickup directly into the flow of campus life.”

[READ MORE: Amazon makes first-ever Prime Air drone deliveries outside U.S.]

Students can have eligible orders delivered to a campus Locker at no additional cost and pick them up on their schedule. They can search by address or ZIP code to find a nearby locker, add it to their Amazon address book, and select it as the delivery location at checkout for eligible orders. Students can also review the operating hours and directions for each location.

When a package arrives, Amazon sends an email with instructions for opening the locker using a code, barcode or the Amazon Shopping app. Packages are held for three calendar days, and orders that aren’t collected during that window are automatically returned and refunded.

GameStop may be stepping back from its months-long pursuit to acquire EBay.

Ryan Cohen, CEO of the video game retailer, is considering withdrawing the company's $56 billion bid to purchase the online marketplace giant as he weighs different ways to work with the company, reported Bloomberg. In May, GameStop submitted an unsolicited, non-binding proposal to acquire 100% of eBay at $125 per share in 50% cash and 50% stock in a deal valued at $56 billion. The offer was rejected by eBay, with chairman Paul S. Pressler calling it “neither credible nor attractive.” 

According to the Bloomberg report, Cohen is now considering proposing a partnership or joint venture that would enable eBay to leverage GameStop’s roughly 1,600 U.S. store locations. In turn, the video game retailer, as one of eBay’s largest shareholders, would seek a seat on the company’s board, Bloomberg reported. Cohen has not yet finalized any decision, the report said, and he could consider other options.

Since its offer was rejected, GameStop has raised its stake in eBay to 9.75% (as of July 15). It is the company’s second largest shareholder, second only to Vanguard Group Inc. funds, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.