Dept. Fuel

  1. Trends & External Forces

Confidence hit by gloom at home and abroad

Consumer confidence in the first quarter of 2026 fell to its lowest point since 2023, according to the Deloitte consumer tracker. Fear of rising fuel prices, fewer jobs and wage restraint seem to be behind falls in five of Deloitte’s six confidence measures. Overall, the… This story continues at Confidence hit by gloom at home […]
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  1. Shopper & Customer

One Measure Of Consumer Sentiment Reaches A New Low

From the Wall Street Journal: “Consumer sentiment fell in April to the lowest level recorded in the 70-plus-year history of the University of Michigan’s survey, evidence of Americans’ concerns that the Iran war will hit the domestic economy. “The survey’s initial April reading came in at 47.6, versus 53.3 in March … The April reading […]
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  1. Data & Insights

Live from Shoptalk: Retail Rumble (Part 1) with Neil Saunders, R.J. Hottovy, Rachel Tipograph, Kiri Masters & Anne Mezzenga

This week Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc bring listeners a high-energy live episode from Shoptalk Las Vegas — Part 1 of the inaugural Retail Rumble. The episode opens with the week’s most important retail news. Levi Strauss delivers strong revenue growth driven by its expanding direct-to-consumer business, underscoring how its pivot away from wholesale dependency […]
2 min read
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  1. Department & Category

Spike in first-time fuel crime offenders and ‘No Means of Payment’ linked to Iran conflict

A surge in fuel theft across the UK is being driven by a wave of first-time offenders and financially distressed motorists, with new data showing a clear link between rising incidents and the onset of the Iran conflict. Analysis from Forecourt Eye, based on approximately… This story continues at Spike in first-time fuel crime offenders […]
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  1. Data & Insights

From Points to Precision: Why AI-Powered Loyalty Is Rewiring the Grocerant Economy in 2026

  The loyalty landscape in foodservice and convenience retail is undergoing a structural reset—and the data is no longer subtle. According to the 2026 Paytronix Loyalty Report, operators that once relied on static, points-based systems are now pivoting toward AI-driven personalization fueled by first-party data. The result? A measurable lift in visit frequency, ticket size, […]
5 min read
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  1. Data & Insights

Reoccurring Customer Visits Drive Incremental Revenue Faster

  The growth algorithm across all sectors of food retail—restaurants, convenience stores, and grocery service delis—has converged on one immutable truth according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®:  frequency of visits is the most reliable driver of incremental revenue and long-term profitability. What was once a convenience-store insight is now […]
5 min read
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  1. Trends & External Forces

Two Examples Of Effective Customer Communications

As frequently mentioned here on MNB, I have a weakness for effective customer communications – I love it when retailers go beyond the simple communication of prices and product. Last week there were two great examples of this, from two of my favorite retailers. First up, on social media Jennifer Mayne, e-commerce director at Dorothy […]
2 min read
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  1. Shopper & Customer

Why Foodservice Retailers Must Embrace the Grocerant Era

  The latest NielsenIQ report confirms what  Steven Johnson the Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® has been signaling for years: the convenience channel is losing trips because it is still merchandising for yesterday’s consumer. The data is unambiguous—33% of shoppers say they’re visiting less often, and trips per buyer are down 2.2% […]
4 min read
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  1. Department & Category

Infusion Pumps: The $14.2 Billion Market Getting Smarter, Smaller and More Connected

If you’ve ever been in a hospital, you’ve seen them — those unassuming devices on IV poles, quietly delivering precise doses of medication. Infusion pumps don’t get a lot of attention, but they’re among the most critical devices in healthcare. And the market is growing fast. Valued at $9 billion in 2024, the global infusion […]
2 min read
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  1. Channel: Ecommerce & Digital

Behind Amazon’s Rural Delivery Infrastructure Focus

From Bloomberg: “Small business owners craving extra cash are on the front lines of an ambitious Amazon.com Inc. initiative: bringing the quick delivery popularized in cities and suburbs to America’s remote outposts. Many rural online shoppers are used to waiting half a week or longer for purchases to arrive. Amazon, which disclosed its $4 billion […]
3 min read
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  1. Data & Insights

Grocers Step Up: Solving Parents’ Time Crunch with Better-for-You Meal Solutions

  Back-to-school is no longer just a retail event—it’s a high-stakes meal solutions moment, where grocers have a unique opportunity to solve one of the most persistent pain points for families: time-starved parents seeking nutritious, convenient, and kid-approved food options according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. In 2026, the […]
5 min read
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  1. Department: Food

Co-op opens 11th store with EG on the Move

A Co-op franchise store opened this week at a new EG on the Move roadside service station in Essex. The Co-op and petrol station in Norton Heath, Chelmsford, also includes a Greggs bakery. Co-op’s store will offer meal deals, self-service Starbucks coffee, bakery products, fresh,… This story continues at Co-op opens 11th store with EG […]
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  1. Department & Category

Lane Crawford’s CEO Jennifer Woo on Building a Different Kind of Department Store; Plus Lululemon Struggles, Macy’s Stalls, and Five Below Shines

This week on The Remarkable Retail podcast, Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc begin with a sweeping look at the key retail and macro stories of the week, then dive into a compelling interview with Jennifer Woo, Chairman and CEO of Hong Kong-based luxury retailer Lane Crawford. Woo shares her unusual path into retail leadership, from […]
2 min read
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  1. Department & Category

Fed slams Newspread for fuel surcharge addition

The Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) has strongly condemned the decision by Irish news wholesaler Newspread to add an additional 4.5 per cent fuel surcharge to its existing carriage charge in response to cost pressures caused by current events in the Middle East. The… This story continues at Fed slams Newspread for fuel surcharge […]
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  1. Trends & External Forces

You Heard It Here First: 7 Mintel Predictions Realized at Expo West 2026 

Expo West 2026 offered a clear reflection of several long-running shifts Mintel has been tracking across health, nutrition, and consumer expectations. What stood out most this year was less about flavor innovation and more about a reorientation toward how the body feels—physically, emotionally, and even metabolically. Many of the dominant themes at the show mapped […]
8 min read
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  1. Department & Category

“Tip-Off & Take-Off: The Rise of AM ‘Grocerant’ Game Fuel During NCAA Bracket Season”

  When the first whistle blows in the morning during NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, something fascinating happens—not just on the court, but in kitchens, breakrooms, and increasingly, retail foodservice counters across America. Welcome to the AM Daypart Game Day Revolution, where breakfast meets bracketology, and indulgence becomes a shared social ritual.   The Dunk Heard […]
3 min read
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  1. Trends & External Forces

Spar launches national footfall-drive campaign with Mr Motivator

Spar has launched a new UK-wide activation designed to increase footfall, drive ‘shop little and often’ missions and strengthen community engagement across its estate, partnering with fitness personality Mr Motivator to front the initiative. The ‘Fuel Your Spring’ campaign, launching on 20 March 2026, is… This story continues at Spar launches national footfall-drive campaign with […]
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Editor’s Choice

  1. Trends & External Forces
  2. Shopper & Customer
  3. Technology & Innovation
  4. Trends & External Forces
  5. Associates & Employees
  6. Merchandising
  7. Stores & Formats

Walmart to Expand Digital Shelf Labels Chainwide

Walmart will deploy digital shelf labels (DSLs) chainwide this year, doubling the approximately 2,300 U.S. locations currently using the technology (Walmart U.S. operates more than 4,600 stores). With more than 120,000 items in a typical Walmart store, managing price changes manually requires significant associate hours. Additionally, these DSLs are equipped with LED lights that make […]
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