American retailer and S&P 500 member based in Minneapolis
Retailers are increasing store investments to refresh layouts and services as online sales rise. Target is remodeling more stores; Walmart is upgrading aisles and driver efficiency; Burlington is opening 110 stores nationwide, including in California; IKEA opened a Culver City location with a city-focused layout; Walmart is adding beauty experts in hundreds of stores.
Doris Fisher, co-founder of Gap, has died at 94. The company has grown from a San Francisco jeans-and-record shop to a global retailer with brands including Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy, generating about $15 billion in annual sales. Fisher shaped Gap’s culture with simple design, fair pay and philanthropy.
The Melrose Triangle site in West Hollywood has a new development plan replacing hundreds of thousands of square feet of offices with 282 apartments, including 66 affordable units for seniors, plus nearly 100,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, three underground parking levels, and a central open-air courtyard. The plan envisions a pedestrian-friendly, multi-building campus with a mix of one- and two-bedroom units and a substantial open space program. The project previously emphasized office space but has stalled amid legal and market headwinds.
The FDA has recalled all Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula after three babies aged 2–5 months in California, Pennsylvania and Washington hospitalised with infant botulism. The formula, sold nationwide online and in Target stores, accounts for less than 1% of US infant formula; the FDA says there are no shortage concerns. Parents are urged to stop using the product and contact refunds. BabyBIG is the approved treatment.
Seattle has scheduled a World Cup match between Iran and Egypt to coincide with the city's Pride weekend and Juneteenth events. Both federations have objected and asked for Pride celebrations to be limited; FIFA has said rainbow flags are allowed inside stadiums and has stressed that Seattle’s Pride events are organised locally, not by FIFA.
Sony has announced it will stop producing physical PlayStation game discs from January 2028. New titles will be sold via the PlayStation Store or as retailer-issued download codes; games releasing before 2028 remain unaffected. The move follows years of rising digital sales and has provoked consumer backlash over ownership, preservation and the second‑hand market.
A spate of unrelated incidents have drawn attention this week: a Taco Bell confrontation in Maryland with a loaded handgun, a brutal attack on a Los Angeles street vendor, a Starbucks robbery aftermath in Detroit, a Simi Valley store disturbance, and a Target confrontation in Simi Valley. Police are investigating each case; victims report ongoing safety concerns.
Prime Day deals are reshaping the portable power market as retailers slash prices on power stations from Jackery, Anker and EcoFlow. Dealers highlight models with high capacity and solar compatibility, focusing on practical home backup and off-grid use.
The Guardian and other outlets have reported on ongoing regulatory and industry moves to tighten safety standards for AI deployment, with governments and platforms increasingly requiring transparency and accountability in how AI systems are trained and used.
Retailers are expanding digital price tags across stores to speed up pricing and reduce labor. But lawmakers and unions warn about surge pricing, job losses, and price manipulation, prompting proposed bans in several states and at federal level. Initial pilots show mixed reactions from workers and shoppers.
A Long Island Expressway coach bus carrying Royal Jordanian Airlines crew has crashed near Exit 16 in Queens. One crew member has died; the driver and a passenger are dead at the scene. Several others are hospitalized with varying injuries as investigators probe the cause.
The FDA has classified Utz’s recall of Zapp’s and Dirty chips as Class 1, indicating a serious health risk. The recall covers several product lines with best-by dates July 27–August 31, 2026. Utz first issued the recall in April after a third-party dry milk powder seasoning ingredient was flagged as a possible Salmonella source; thus far, no illnesses have been reported. Consumers should discard affected chips or seek refunds.
The AI-driven shift is forcing brands to rethink online presence, with marketers stressing structured data and authentic content as AI search and recommendation engines gain influence. Firms are investing in content factories and cross-platform strategies as competition for visibility intensifies.
Primark is expanding in the United States, opening stores in Willowbrook Mall (Houston area) and Castleton Square Mall (Indianapolis). Both locations will be about 30,000 square feet in size, joining a growing U.S. footprint that now reaches 44 stores. The openings follow a New York City flagship and reflect Primark’s strategy to prioritize brick-and-mortar growth in established malls.
WeWard has launched Walking Mode, a feature that locks social apps until users meet a walking goal. The feature aims to promote activity and reduce screen time. Venus Williams funds the project, with the app reporting 30 million users in 29 countries and a 25% increase in walking time on average.
Independent coverage shows Costco will close on July 4, with other retailers and services adapting hours. Walmart, Target and Kroger are expected to operate with regular or varied hours, while Trader Joe’s and Aldi implement shorter hours. Stock exchanges and postal services follow holiday schedules in early July 2026.
A federal class-action suit in Washington state accuses Costco of selling Orgain Organic Protein Powder with undisclosed levels of lead, cadmium and arsenic. Plaintiffs say testing by third parties and Consumer Reports shows contamination, while Orgain asserts products are safe and compliant. The case builds on similar claims and ongoing scrutiny of protein powders.
A roundup of current Amazon Haul deals highlights bargain-priced items across Lego, Adidas, Salter and other brands. The feature notes low prices due to direct-from-manufacturer sourcing, with delivery times of up to two weeks.
A U.S. appeals court has revived private lawsuits alleging a link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and autism/ADHD, reversing a district court that had excluded expert testimony. The panel says the doctors’ methodologies reflect scientific disagreement and are admissible, returning the case to ongoing proceedings.
New York lawmakers propose a 10% self-checkout discount for shoppers at stores that also sell food. The bill, introduced in May, would require supermarkets to offer the discount, funded by saved labor costs. The measure is in early stages and would need committee votes before becoming law.
The CDC and FDA have tied a cyclosporiasis outbreak to iceberg lettuce from a Mexican supplier. Taco Bell and other chains have removed affected lettuce as the investigation continues; about 7,000 cases have been reported across 34 states.
Over the past weeks, U.S. and Canadian grocers have pulled iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico after a Cyclospora outbreak linked to Taylor Farms products. FDA and CDC warn consumers to discard recalled items and seek refunds. The recall now covers 27 states and multiple brands, with thousands of illnesses reported.
Taylor Farms has voluntarily recalled iceberg lettuce distributed to 27 states after U.S. health officials linked shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell to Cyclospora contamination. The recall covers products from central Mexico with best-by dates through Aug. 3, and Sysco has halted distribution of affected lettuce.
The Independent reports SharkNinja has banned AI-generated content featuring its products in TikTok’s AI Video Maker under its affiliate No AI-Generated Content policy. Rare Beauty and others participate in TikTok Shop’s affiliate program, with disclosures required for AI-generated posts. The move appears as TikTok Shop expands, driven by affiliates who earn commissions and the growth of AI-enabled promotional tools.
The FDA has tied a Cyclospora outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms in central Mexico, prompting a voluntary recall across 27 states. A later test labeled as a false positive does not alter the ongoing investigation or the recall. Officials warn consumers to avoid recalled products while the health response continues.
Cracker Barrel has named David Deno as its new CEO, effective Aug. 10, with Julie Masino remaining through October to aid the transition. The announcement follows a highly public backlash over a 2025 logo change that sparked political controversy and led to a stock decline. The company has faced ongoing scrutiny as it works to balance heritage with modernization.
Amazon has disclosed a $600 million tariff refund in Q2 after a Supreme Court ruling found Trump-era tariffs illegal. The refunds, largely benefiting customers, will be issued automatically where specific charges can be traced. Most refunds will go to affected buyers, with third-party sellers absorbing the bulk of the levies.
Kellogg has identified fruit- and vegetable-based juices to color cereals like Froot Loops and Apple Jacks and is investing in equipment to switch to natural colorings, a year earlier than planned. The company is also phasing out BHT from cereals that still contain it, following years of pressure from consumers and policymakers. Retailers are pushing for change as well, with Target and Walmart aligning store policies with the shift.