News Briefs

Target is testing a new sortation center model that focuses on next-day delivery facilitated by its online delivery subsidiary.

In an email to Chain Store Age, the discounter said it has opened a sortation center that will enable next-day delivery of online orders in the Cleveland metro area. Opened in time for the holidays, the facility is a three-year trial of a sortation center model in which last-mile delivery is only activated by the Shipt delivery platform, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Target.

Target piloted the concept of sortation centers —  which streamline the process of fulfilling and delivering online orders, removing the sorting process from the backroom of stores — in April 2021 with a pilot in its Minneapolis hometown.

[READ MORE: Target tests new process for faster order delivery]

The goal of the Cleveland pilot is to determine long-term viability of a Shipt-only sortation center for Target. Currently, the other sortation centers work with Shipt, national carriers, and third-party partners for last-mile delivery. 

For now, the building will be operated by Ryder, a long-standing third-party Target partner of Target. In the email, the retailer said working with Ryder sped up the launch process.  

The 40,000-sq.-ft. building is now open. There will be two Target team members on site working with Ryder staff and drivers with Shipt. 

A Florida-based regional grocer is building on its omnichannel partnership with Amazon.

[READ MORE: Amazon launches online Winn-Dixie grocery delivery in Florida]

A fast-growing sporting goods retailer has added a handful of additional locations to its 2025 new store lineup.

Texas-based Academy Sports + Outdoors has opened five new locations to wrap up the year, expanding its presence in Arkansas, Indiana and Texas. With the addition of these stores, Academy will have opened 24 total new locations by the end of fiscal 2025. The retailer says the new locations have created more than 1,400 total jobs.

“We are thrilled to expand our footprint with 24 new stores while also giving back to local communities who demonstrate a passion for sports and outdoors,” said Eric Friederich, senior VP of retail operations at Academy Sports + Outdoors. “As the holiday season approaches, we are confident in our value-leading product assortment of top brands curated to bring joy to every member of the family at undefeatable prices.”

The new stores include the following locations:

• Russellville, Ark.
• Fort Worth, Ind.
• Seguin, Texas
• El Paso, Texas
• New Braunfels, Texas

[READ MORE: Academy Sports opening 11 stores — here’s where; Q2 sales rise 3.3%]

Founded in 1938 and headquartered in Texas, Academy operates more than 300 stores across 21 states. Academy stores offer apparel, footwear, sports and camping equipment, hunting and fishing gear, and more from top national brands as well as the chain’s private label brands. In addition, the retailer offers free services such as grill and bike assembly, scope mounting, bore sighting, line winding/spooling and propane exchange. Hunting and fishing licenses are also available to purchase in stores.

A leading discount grocer is transforming a New York City bar into a holiday pop-up for superfans to enjoy.

Aldi is debuting its first-ever “A Very Aldi Holiday Pop-Up” on Wednesday, Dec. 3, where it will transform Everything’s Jake NYC Bar & Lounge in the Union Square neighborhood into a festive environment where guests can enjoy appetizers, seasonal favorites, desserts and drinks.

The pop-up will feature holiday decor in Aldi’s signature colors, along with a lineup of more than 30 seasonal wines and beers, charcuterie ornaments, hors d’oeuvres, and more.

The event is free with a ticket, and Aldi fans 21+ can reserve theirs starting Nov. 18 on Eventbrite, with a second ticket drop on Dec. 1 at ALDIHolidayPopUp.eventbrite.com. The event will have two evening time slots available at 5:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

Earlier this year, Aldi announced plans to open its second location in Manhattan. The grocer plans to open more than 220 new stores this year.

"Our fans have shown us so much excitement and love this year, and this pop-up felt like the perfect way to celebrate the season with them," said Dave Rinaldo, chief operating officer at Aldi U.S. "This holiday event is just a taste of what's found in our aisles every day of the year: a range of quality food at unbeatable prices, and of course, some unexpected fun."

[READ MORE: Aldi beats 2024 price with $40 Thanksgiving meal for 10]

With global headquarters in Essen, Germany, Aldi operates more than 7,200 store locations around the world, including more than 2,200 stores in 39 U.S. states with over 45,000 associates.

Consumers worldwide are relying on flexible payment options for their holiday gift purchases this year.

A new survey of global consumers from payment platform Paysafe revealed that debit cards (46%) and credit cards (37%) are the top payment methods for holiday shopping, but digital wallets (27%) and cash or eCash (27%) have gained traction, as well as local payment methods (region-specific payment options, 10%).

Heading into the holidays, security and convenience are key for shoppers. Roughly half (49%) of consumers have abandoned a cart because their preferred payment method wasn’t available, and a similar number (46%) have done the same due to concerns about the safety of their financial information. 

A third (34%) of consumers are splitting their purchases between online and in-store purchases, and, while online marketplaces are popular (19%), niche channels like social media are increasingly being used by younger demographics like Gen Z (11%).

[READ MORE: How retailers, consumers can best approach the holidays]

Additional insights from the survey include the following:

• Around half of consumers (49%) prefer giving an experience as a gift rather than a physical item, and 50% would like to receive an experience themselves.
• Almost half (47%) of consumers plan to shop well ahead of the season, while 20% intend to shop during the upcoming Black Friday weekend.
• A majority (69%) of global consumers plan to buy from small businesses.

​​Paysafe’s “Inside the Wallet: Holiday Edition” research report is based on a survey conducted on behalf of Paysafe by Sapio Research. The online survey, conducted September 2025, included responses from 8,500 consumers across Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Ecuador, Germany, Peru, the U.K., and the U.S.

Starbucks has a special holiday treat for customers visiting its shops located inside Target stores.

Starting Tuesday, Nov. 18, Starbucks located in Target stores will exclusively offer a drink called the Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate, which is a creme frappuccino with a blend of mocha sauce, milk and ice poured over a layer of peppermint-flavored whipped cream and red-and-green sprinkles. 

The beverage is then finished with a top layer of peppermint-flavored whipped cream and red-and-green sprinkles. Members of the Target Circle 360 paid loyalty program had early access to the exclusive drink on Monday, Nov. 17.

"For so many people, a Target run starts with grabbing their favorite drink from Starbucks before browsing our aisles, so together we’re building on that magic with an exclusive, only-at-Target drink to add a little extra cheer to holiday shopping," said Lisa Roath, executive VP and chief merchandising officer of food, essentials and beauty, Target. 

The beverage will be available throughout the holiday season at all participating Target locations nationwide. Its release follows Starbucks' recent rollout of its annual holiday cup line. 

[READ MORE: Starbucks rolls out annual holiday cups — and more]

In addition, Starbucks recently unveiled new festive holiday drinkware and gift sets, and Starbucks and Hello Kitty have teamed up to launch a "super cute" holiday merchandise collection featuring an array of items and collectibles.

"The Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate is a delicious beverage that brings together rich chocolate and cool peppermint flavors as well as red and green sprinkles for a pop of color and crunch," said Alicia Binion, Starbucks beverage development. "It’s a sweet way to pause during the holiday rush and enjoy a little seasonal cheer."