North America news & analysis

Walmart is partnering with Ribbit Capital to create a new fintech startup organisation with a focus on developing innovative and affordable financial solutions. Optimising Walmart’s scale This new partnership brings together Walmart’s retail knowledge and scale with Ribbit’s fintech expertise to deliver tech-driven financial experiences. The global investment firm is focused on investing in...

As one of the first major suppliers to report results in 2021, we review Conagra Brands’ second quarter performance and why it’s so confident that demand for its products will remain elevated. Sales and profits ahead of expectations The second quarter performance, with net sales up 8.1% and adjusted operating profit up 21.7%, exceeded the company’s expectations. The pandemic continues to dr...

Albertsons’ Jewel-Osco division is testing an automated pickup kiosk for online grocery orders in the Chicago market. Partnership with Cleveron The retailer has partnered with Estonia-based Cleveron to pilot the automated and contactless grocery pickup kiosk. Located at a Jewel-Osco store in Chicago, customers can select the “Kiosk PickUp” option when placing their order. Cleveron is one of...

Walgreens Boots Alliance (Walgreens) is divesting the majority of its Alliance Healthcare business to AmerisourceBergen Corporation in a $6.5bn deal. Expanding AmerisourceBergen’s distribution presence Alliance Healthcare provides logistics and supply chain services to Walgreens Boots Alliance and other retail pharmacies, mainly in Europe. For AmerisourceBergen’s, the deal will expand its d...

Undoubtedly 2020 was a year of unprecedented change for the North American food retail sector. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been broad and long-lasting, accelerating change in several areas. We look at how the market is expected to evolve over the next 12 months against the backdrop of a prolonged pandemic and the resetting of many business models. Source: IGD Research 1. Cr...

Having announced the partnership last March, Hospitality group, OTG, has opened its first CIBO Express Gourmet Market convenience stores featuring Amazon’s ‘Just Walk Out’ technology. Two stores launched at Newark airport The CIBO Express stores at Newark Airport, New York, are the first two stores to be developed as part of the partnership between OTG and Amazon . Located at Terminal ...

We look at how several of the leading US retailers are supporting the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine. Walmart supporting healthcare workers in rural areas This month, Walmart has started to administer the Moderna vaccine to healthcare workers (Priority 1A) in New Mexico. Store locations have been selected to support its administration in more rural areas. Given the vital role its stores, ...

The US Congress has agreed a new $900bn stimulus package as further lockdown mandates are implemented. $900bn package The US Congress has agreed a $900bn coronavirus relief package following nine months of negotiations. This builds on the two trillion dollar CARES Act which was passed in March. The agreement includes direct payments of $600 to most adults and $600 per child. Almost $300bn w...

Having risen to prominence at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in 2018, we look at Robomart’s latest beta test, as companies tap into the demand for contactless grocery ecommerce solutions.  Autonomous grocery store concept Robomart is an autonomous grocery store which consumers can summon to their home in less than ten minutes using a dedicated app. Described by the company as a ‘store-hail...

Walmart is partnering with some of TikTok’s most popular creators to offer a livestream shopping experience. Shopping directly from the TikTok platform Through this partnership the TikTok community will be able to purchase fashion items featured in content from the creators. They will be able to do this without leaving the TikTok platform. This will be the first shoppable livestream event o...