News Briefs

The Kroger Co. may be breaking from tradition.

The grocery store giant expects to hire its next CEO from outside the company, according to a report by the Cincinnati Business Courier.   

“Selecting our first-ever external hire Chief Executive Officer in our company's 143-year history,” wrote Kroger chief people officer Tim Massa in response to a question about his biggest goal for next year in a questionnaire for the Business Courier’s C-Suite Awards. Massa is an honoree in the chief human resources officer category.

Kroger has been looking for a new chief executive since March when Rodney McMullen resigned following a board investigation of his personal conduct that was unrelated to the business but “inconsistent” with Kroger's policy on business ethics. The Kroger board appointed lead director Ronald "Ron" Sargent, the former chairman and CEO of Staples, as interim CEO, and said it was working with a search firm to identify a new CEO.

Kroger officials did not comment on Massa’s statement.

“A new CEO is likely within three to six months with a handful of leading external candidates in focus, in our view,” Michael Montani, analyst at New York-based Evercore ISI, wrote in a research report last week.

Through a partnership with SymphonyAI which launched in 2018, Weis Markets also leverages CINDE AI technology to develop “prescriptive insights that uncover opportunities and actions to engage customers and accelerate growth.”

[READ MORE: Weis Markets expands tech partnership for category insights]

Using CINDE AI, category managers can discern customer behaviors and interpret the drivers of performance company-wide down to specific stores, while also providing insights into opportunities for growing customer loyalty.

More than 500 entrepreneurs showed up to pitch their products at Walmart’s 12th annual Open Call, which was held last week at the retailer’s new headquarters in Bentonville, Ark.

More than 100 small businesses received "Golden Tickets," which gives suppliers the opportunity for their products to be sold in Walmart and Sam’s Club stores and online — joining the more than 60% of Walmart U.S. suppliers that are small businesses. 

In addition to product pitches, Open Call 2025 included presentations from 13 companies developing technologies that support U.S. manufacturing. These innovations ranged from shelf-life extension and yield optimization to alternative materials and advanced production techniques aimed at improving efficiency and reducing costs

“Open Call is Walmart at its best, backing American jobs, lifting up small businesses and offering customers new products they’ll love,” said John Furner, president & CEO, Walmart U.S. “For the past 12 years, the event has helped entrepreneurs grow, and in the process, helped boost U.S. manufacturing.”

Open Call also equips small businesses with practical tools to grow, compete and deliver for customers across the country. Entrepreneurs took part in intensive training and mentorship sessions focused on scaling production, improving packaging and strengthening financial and operational readiness — hearing directly from Walmart and Sam’s Club merchants, sourcing experts and past Open Call alumni about what it takes to succeed at national scale.

In 2021, Walmart announced a $350 billion, 10-year commitment to purchase products made, grown or assembled in the U.S., an initiative estimated to support up to 750,000 jobs through its supply chain. As of the end of last year, Walmart increased cumulative U.S. spend by $176 billion toward its $350 billion goal, and about two-thirds of Walmart U.S. product spend was on goods suppliers reported were sourced domestically.

A new survey reveals a transformation in how supply chains are being executed.

More than seven-in-10 (72%) supply chain leaders are actively diversifying their supplier base away from risk concentrations. This is the highest-priority disruption mitigation strategy identified in the new "Peak Season Confidence Report 2025" from supply chain software provider Depopsco.

The survey of supply chain professionals also reveals that 34% of respondents are building supply chain resilience and 34% are also improving forecasting accuracy. Depopsco analysis indicates these findings signal a "dramatic transformation" as supply chain organizations have evolved from reactive crisis management to proactive strategic development.

[READ MORE: Survey: Retail execs preparing for supply chain disruptions, tariffs]

Supply chain optimism grows

The survey also reveals sharp growth in supply chain optimism with 84% of respondents expressing confidence in their fulfillment systems for 2025, up 20% from 70% in 2024. 

In addition, only 46% expect 2025 to be more challenging than 2024, compared to 77% who anticipated increased difficulty in 2024 compared to 2023. Three-in-four (76%) respondents expect to outperform competitors, while 66% anticipate better profit margins despite ongoing cost pressures.

Technology investment priorities

To achieve these positive results, respondents are prioritizing supply chain technology investments including:

• 32% prioritize real-time cost tracking and margin analysis.
• 30% focus on multi-region supplier management and risk assessment.
• 30% prioritize technology integration for data visibility.

Supply chain workforce strategies

Respondents are also emphasizing supply chain workforce optimization alongside investments in strategic capabilities:

• 88% are cross-training existing workers for maximum flexibility.
• 78% are hiring seasonal workers earlier to ensure adequate training time.
• 76% are increasing compensation to attract and retain quality talent.

Ross Stores Inc. expanded the footprint of its two off-price retail banners in both new and existing markets in recent weeks.

The company opened 36 Ross Dress for Less ("Ross") and four DD’s Discounts stores across 17 different states in September and October. The new locations complete Ross Stores’ growth plans for fiscal 2025, for a total of 90 new locations. The retailer said that it “remains confident” in its expansion plans and sees a pathway to grow to at least 2,900 Ross Dress for Less and 700 DD’s Discounts locations over time.

"This fall, we continued to strengthen our brand presence by opening stores in existing markets and expanding in new markets," said Richard Lietz, executive VP of property development at Ross Stores. "At Ross Dress for Less, we were excited to add locations in the Midwest as well as the Northeast, with new stores in Michigan, New Jersey and New York, while also increasing our presence in the sunbelt states. At DD’s, we enhanced our footprint in our core markets of California and Texas.”

Together, Ross Dress for Less and DD’s Discounts, which both offer guests discounted apparel, accessories, footwear and more, currently operate a total of 2,273 locations in 44 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico.  

[READ MORE: Ross Stores meets Street with Q2 net income, sales]

 With prices remaining high amid tariff uncertainty, off-price chains have seen a rise in traffic this year. In the second quarter, retail foot traffic data firm Placer.ai found that visits to chains such as TJX’s banners, Ross, Burlington and more all grew year over year. 

[READ MORE: The Knot unveils AI update to digital wedding planning service]