News Briefs

Podcasts continue to grow in popularity and retailers and brands should take note.

A majority of respondents (79%) listen to at least one podcast a month, and nearly half are listening more than they were a year ago, according to a survey by Clutch. 

The survey found that 42% of consumers have made a purchase based on a podcast host's recommendation. But 61% say they would trust that host less for a promotion that felt off-brand or inauthentic.

“What makes podcasts different from every other channel is the relationship listeners build with hosts over time,” said Anna Peck, Clutch analyst. “That relationship is the asset, and it's remarkably easy to damage with one promotion that doesn't feel right. Brands that treat podcast partnerships like a media buy are missing what actually makes the channel work."

J.Crew Group has added a beauty veteran to its leadership team.

The parent company of  J.Crew, Madewell and J.Crew Factory, has appointed Kathleen Van Nest Pierce as president of the J.Crew brand, effective August 4. In this newly created role, Pierce will lead the brand’s merchandising, design, marketing, and retail teams. 

Pierce joins the apparel retailer from Dyson, where she served as the global president for beauty, overseeing the global beauty brand's commercial, strategy and business operational functions. During her four-year tenure at Dyson Beauty, Pierce tripled the brand’s technology portfolio, according to the  J.Crew release announcing her appointment. She also is credited with expanding the brand’s reach into entirely new categories — building a full end-to-end formulations division from the ground up and bringing 27 products to market in just two years. 

Prior to Dyson Beauty, Pierce spent two decades at The Estée Lauder Companies.

 “Kathleen is a one-of-a-kind consumer brand leader with a proven ability to deliver outstanding results, build resonant brands, and forge meaningful connections with customers, and we are thrilled to welcome her to J.Crew,” said Libby Wadle, CEO of J.Crew Group. “J.Crew has always stood for authenticity and designed around an American sensibility that has resonated with customers for generations. Kathleen’s rare combination of brand vision, operational excellence, and track record of driving global growth is exactly what this moment calls for.”

 As of July, the company operates 114 J.Crew retail stores, 160 Madewell stores, and more than 395 J.Crew Factory stores across the United States.

Qdoba Mexican Eats is expanding across the Southeast and Western U.S.

The Mexican fast-casual chain has signed two new development agreements to open 30 restaurants in Atlanta, and 20 in Nashville. A recent acquisition and expanded development commitment from B Wild Investments, LLC is further accelerating franchise-led growth.

B Wild affiliate 7 Star Eats has completed the acquisition of 22 Qdoba restaurants in the Pacific Northwest. And B Wild has entered into an expanded 63-unit development commitment across Colorado, Utah, Washington, Nevada and New Mexico.

"Mexican fast casual is one of the most attractive segments in restaurants, and Qdoba has the brand, menu and unit economics to win," said Barry Dubin, founder and CEO of B Wild Investments.

Qdoba and its franchise partners currently operate over 865 restaurants, with plans to double the brand's footprint to approximately 2,000 restaurants within the next eight years. The company plans to open 100 restaurants annually.

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Sam’s Club is teaming up with a leading weight management brand.

The warehouse club subsidiary of Walmart is collaborating with WW International Inc. (known as “Weight Watchers”) provides members of the Sam’s Club Plus premium tier a complimentary three-month Weight Watchers Core membership (a ($54 value). 

After the introductory offer, Sam’s Club Plus members can continue Core fort $10 per month with no long-term commitment. All Sam's Club members will also have access to special pricing on Weight Watchers Core+ and Med+ programs, with savings of up to 50% off everyday pricing. Core+ provides personalized wellness support, customized food and nutrition recommendations, and access to virtual and in-person workshops. 

"At Sam's Club, our purpose is to help people save money and live better,” said Myron Frazier, chief merchant at Sam's Club. “This collaboration with Weight Watchers extends that commitment by making trusted, science-backed weight health support more affordable and accessible for our members.”

The retailer’s partnership with Weight Watchers follows its January 2026 launch of consulting for and access to the oral GLP-1 weight loss drug Wegovy, including free same-day delivery of oral Wegovy doses for Sam’s Club Plus members. All members can also get access to digital wellness tools via the Sam’s Club-exclusive version of the Well health app.

[READ MORE: Sam’s Club offers omnichannel weight loss drug pharmacy services]

“This new collaboration between Weight Watchers and Sam’s Club opens up access to trusted wellness expertise, value and convenience to help members take meaningful steps toward their wellness goals, whether they are focused on nutrition, weight management, medication support or overall well-being,” said said Scott Honken, PharmD, chief commercial officer, Weight Watchers.

Based in Bentonville, Ark., Sam’s Club is a division of Walmart Inc. and operates more than 600 clubs across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

When TFE Properties acquired The Shops at Brick in New Jersey last year, it was with the intention to transform it into a modern neighborhood destination where local families would shop, work out, and play.

“Refreshing the property's appearance was an important first step, but the real opportunity lies in assembling a thoughtful mix of retailers and service providers that complement one another,” said TFE’s principal Carey Taijfel. 

This week, JLL’s leasing organization announced the signing of three new leases at The Shops at Brick covering 40,799 square feet that should help propel TFE towards its goal.

Primetime Fitness signed a 25,000-sq.-ft. lease for its Crunch Fitness brand to serve as an anchor tenant at the property in Brick Township, which is located on the Jersey Shore.

JLL also placed Health Village Imaging, part of the Hackensack Meridian Health system, in a 7,799-sq.-ft. space and Bubble Island, a children’s entertainment concept, in an 8,000-sq.-ft. space.

“We’re thrilled to welcome these new tenants who will create an even stronger experience for shoppers,” Tajfel said.