TECHNOLOGY

The nation's largest supermarket operator is suing the German discount grocer Lidl over trademark infringement.    In a complaint filed last week in U.S. District Court in Virginia, Kroger claims that Lidl’s house brand, “Preferred Selection,” too closely resembles Kroger's own brand, “Private Selection.”  

Baskin-Robbins is making sure its customers get their ice cream fix exactly when they crave it.   On July 6, the quick service company launched a service that enables customers in 22 cities to order ice cream online and have it delivered in under an hour. Through its partnership with DoorDash, Baskin-Robbins shoppers can order a variety of frozen treats — from pre-packed quarts to sundaes — either online or via the DoorDash mobile app. The app is available for Android and iOS devices.     

Amazon wants to get Prime Day deals into shoppers hands even faster.    The online giant has added exclusive deals related to its Prime Now service to its Prime Day shopping extravaganza — a move that will get qualifying purchases to members within two hours. These deals will begin on Saturday, July 8 (two days prior to Prime Day’s launch), and run through July 11.  

Despite plenty of generational differences, there is one thing that shoppers of all ages put a priority on.  

In the wake of Amazon’s Prime Day hype, J.C. Penney is eager to drive momentum among its own online shoppers.    The department store retailer is getting ready to host its own online-only shopping event, “Penney Palooza.” The second annual two-day sale, which is set to run July 11-12, will feature “48 hours of non-stop savings,” according to the retailer.   

Muji, the Tokyo-based global retailer, will open its largest store to date — underneath its very own hotel.      The company will open a hotel in in Tokyo's Ginza district in spring 2019. The hotel will be located in a new, 10-story building that will also house a 35,000-sq.-ft. Muji flagship. The store will occupy one basement floor up to part of the sixth floor above ground, with the rest of the space above devoted to the hotel, according to the Nikkei Asian Review.  

A potential partnership could help Amazon enter the wireless business — a move that could further streamline its digital services.    Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Charlie Ergen, CEO of Dish, reportedly may be considering partnering on a potential wireless project. With Amazon’s financial backing, sources said the team could create an Internet of Things (IoT) network, reported the Wall Street Journal.  

The CEO of Hudson's Bay Company, the managing director of Harrods, and the president of Pinterest will be among the featured speakers at Shoptalk Europe.    The event will take place on October 9-11, 2017, at The Bella Center in Copenhagen. It will feature more than 125 speakers, according to organizers, with 75% of the speakers being C-level executives, including 65 CEOs. More than 2,000 attendees are expected.