Welcome to another edition of Retail Roundup, your weekly brief helping retail leaders decode the biggest shifts in retail, AI, and commerce.
This week, Jeremy Goldman is joined by Kimberly Morgan (The Fashion Tech Exec), Zak Stambor (EMARKETER), and Doug Stephens (Retail Prophet) to discuss what’s squeezing traditional grocers, how connected store technology is becoming a security risk, and whether tariffs will dampen the holiday season.
Inside the episode:
A $9.3 billion breakup bill
Albertsons is seeking up to $9.3 billion from Kroger over their failed $24.6 billion merger. The demand comes as Albertsons reports flat quarterly revenue and a 0.8% drop in same-store sales. Both grocers are squeezed between discounters and giants like Walmart and Amazon that can treat groceries as a loss leader, and neither gives shoppers a clear reason to choose them.
Hackers hit the cold aisle
A coordinated cyberattack on French supermarkets, including Intermarché and Carrefour, remotely pushed refrigeration temperatures as high as 122°F, forcing stores to throw out chilled and frozen goods. As stores connect more equipment and add AI agents, every connected system gives hackers another way into a retailer’s operations.
A holiday season pulled forward
The New York Fed estimates tariffs added nearly three percentage points to consumer goods inflation, and Circana projects average holiday spending will dip to $779. Shoppers say they’ll buy fewer gifts and hunt for deals, so earlier promotions may just shift purchases from later in the season.
Also in the episode: a $15,000 mechanical bird that sparked a Kelly Clarkson feud, a marathoner who trained on Planet Fitness treadmills, and a recall of Oribe’s luxury hair care.
After the break: Doug Stephens joins Jeremy to discuss his new book, The Future of Competitive Advantage. His argument is that every retailer can buy the same technology, so the lasting edge comes from how well its people use it. Costco shows the payoff, paying well above the industry average and keeping employee turnover around 8%.
Listen above to hear why a retailer’s most lasting advantage may be the people using its tools.
