News Briefs

The warehouse membership club subsidiary of Walmart Inc. is adding to the range of medications it offers for same-day delivery.

Sam’s Club is now offering same-day delivery of refrigerated prescriptions to members, with free delivery for members in the Plus tier. The service covers an assortment of medications that require temperature-controlled handling, including GLP-1s, insulin, antibiotics and other specialty prescriptions. 

Sam’s Club Plus members also have access to 10 commonly prescribed generic medications at no cost and more than 600 medications at $10 or less, alongside free same-day delivery.

The retailer’s parent company Walmart began offering same-day delivery of refrigerated and reconstituted medications in September 2025 across the U.S. With this move, Walmart said it became the first retailer to deliver refrigerated and reconstituted prescriptions alongside groceries and everyday essentials in a single online order.

[READ MORE: Walmart adds refrigerated prescriptions to same-day pharmacy delivery]

"Our members count on Sam’s Club for both quality care and convenience, and our pharmacists are more than just healthcare providers," said Matt Holt, VP, healthcare operations at Sam’s Club. "Expanding same-day delivery to include refrigerated and specialty medications shows how we’re blending innovation with trusted pharmacy service to make healthcare more accessible."

Sam’s Club members also have access to health and wellness benefits such as free hearing tests, over-the-counter and prescription hearing aids professionally fitted in-club by hearing aid specialists, and complimentary eyeglass adjustments at any Sam’s Club optical center. 

Bentonville, Ark.-based Sam’s Club, a division of Walmart Inc., operates nearly 600 stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Chain Store Age is proud to announce that its daily newsletter, “DayBreaker,” has been honored by the publishing industry.

DayBreaker received the “best newsletter” award in the 2025 Eddie & Ozzie Awards, which honor excellence in editorial content and design across all media formats. Presented annually by Folio, the awards are the most prestigious recognition program in the industry.

This year’s awards ceremony was held on Oct. 6, in New York City.

Orvis is downsizing as tariffs take a toll on the 169-year-old brand.

The Vermont-based outdoor apparel and gear company will close 31 full-price stores and five outlet locations by early 2026 and exit the lifestyle apparel business, reported WWD. The closings come as Orvis says it is returning to its roots as a fishing and hunting brand.

“We’re stepping into an exciting new chapter — one focused on our core passions of fly fishing and wingshooting,” said Simon Perkins, Orvis president and third-generation family, in a statement on the company’s website. “This return to our roots is a renewed dedication to innovation, a commitment to our angling and upland communities, and to the wild places we love."

Perkins added that as the company sharpens its focus, it is offering special savings on products marked "Last Release," which he described as items that "won't return once they're gone." In addition to a wide assortment of men's and women's clothing, the items include dog beds and related pet items.

In the WWD report, Perkins noted that, similar to many in retail, Orvis’ business model faced a sizable shift with the introduction of "an unprecedented tariff landscape."

“To ensure a durable brand and model for decades to come, we are focusing on our core strengths and making the difficult but necessary decision to rescale the business by tightening our assortment and reducing our corporate store footprint,” he said.

Last year, Orvis revealed a round of layoffs in conjunction with the discontinuation of its catalog and the move of its headquarters from Sunderland, Vt., to a smaller location in Manchester, Vt.

Smoothie King has entered two new states as it continues to expand.

The fast-casual chain has officially opened its first-ever Utah location in Washington (located outside of St. George) and its first-ever Minnesota location in Woodbury (a Minneapolis-St. Paul suburb).

At the same time, Smoothie King is strengthening its presence at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport with two new locations in Terminal A and Terminal D, joining its existing Terminal A store. Earlier this year, Smoothie King said it expected to open approximately 105 new stores in 2025.

Smoothie King has continued to grow its footprint nationwide this year. The chain added 25 new store commitments across 12 states in the second quarter, with especially strong development in Georgia and Texas, each securing six new deals. 

Just a week prior, the chain announced that private equity firm Main Post Partners had made a minority growth investment in the chain. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Smoothie King said the investment positions the chain for "accelerated growth, innovation and market leadership."

[READ MORE: Study: Smoothie King, In-N-Out among QSR customer experience leaders]

Founded in 1973, Dallas-based Smoothie King operates over 1,200 stores nationwide.

After months of rapid expansion, Batteries Plus has reached a key national milestone.

With the signing on of two new locations in Dover and Millsboro, Del., the specialty battery retailer will soon officially be open in all 50 U.S. states. The milestone comes following a streak of strong growth for Batteries Plus, which signed deals for 20 new locations in the second quarter of 2025, and signed 17 new franchise agreements in the first quarter of the year.

Batteries Plus currently has over 800 stores open or in development.

“Reaching all 50 states is a proud and defining moment for Batteries Plus,” said Joe Malmuth, chief development officer of Batteries Plus. “This achievement is a testament to the incredible demand for our services. It demonstrates that from coast to coast, communities rely on Batteries Plus to power their everyday lives and critical operations.” 

[READ MORE: Batteries Plus to open first stores in Hawaii]

Catering to both business and personal customers, Batteries Plus says its model continues to attract “purpose-driven entrepreneurs who are passionate about delivering real solutions to their communities.”

“Our franchise owners are more than operators; they’re trusted experts who provide solutions their communities can’t go without,” said Victor Daher, VP of global franchise development for Batteries Plus. “That dual focus on commercial and retail services is why our system continues to grow so rapidly, it’s a model that not only thrives today but is built to last.”

Headquartered in Hartland, Wis., Batteries Plus offers batteries, specialty light bulbs and phone repair services for the direct-to-consumer and commercial channels. It also offers key programming, replacement and cutting services.

The parent company of JCPenney, Aeropostale, and other retail brands is making a major hiring push ahead of the holiday season.

Catalyst Brands has announced that it aims to add more than 13,000 seasonal team positions across its retail banners. The company will host two hiring events in stores and online across the U.S., first from Friday, Oct. 17 through Sunday, Oct. 19, followed by Friday, Nov. 7 through Sunday, Nov. 9. The brands are focused on hiring for sales and cashier roles.

Catalyst Brands was created in January of this year when JCPenney and SPARC Group (a joint venture of brand management firm Authentic Brands Group, Simon Property Group and Shein) combined to form a new organization. The company’s brands include Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand, JCPenney and Nautica, with a footprint of 1,800 retail stores and shop-in-shops, along with e-commerce platforms throughout the U.S. and Canada.

“We’re gearing up for another wonderful holiday season, and as we anticipate shoppers crossing their lists off across our six renowned brands, we’ll need thousands of new team members to accommodate that demand,” said Andre Joyner, executive VP and chief human resources officer, Catalyst Brands. “Seasonal associates play a critical role in delivering the service and value our customers expect, and we offer great opportunities for them. We offer flexible scheduling, meaningful discounts across our brands and real pathways for seasonal employees to transition to permanent roles after the season.”

[READ MORE: Retail seasonal hiring to fall to lowest level since 2009]

To entice potential hires, Catalyst Brands is offering its seasonal team members several benefits including flexible schedules, career advancement opportunities, and associate discounts across all six brands.