Hello Omni Talk Fans! Big headlines in the grocery world today.
In today’s Retail Daily Minute:
- Kroger appoints former Walmart U.S. CEO Greg Foran as its new chief executive.
- Albertsons deploys beacon technology on shopping carts to measure customer dwell time at in-store retail media displays.
- Instacart launches its first nationwide floral partnership with 1-800-Flowers.com, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Plus, a REALLY good podcast on AI implementation best practices, and a quote from a film that shares a name with a flower.
👇 Listen now
Today’s Top Headlines
1. Kroger Appoints Former Walmart Turnaround Expert as CEO
Kroger appointed former Walmart executive Greg Foran as CEO after a year-long search. Foran, previously Air New Zealand CEO, successfully led Walmart’s U.S. turnaround with 20 quarters of sales growth. He replaces Rodney McMullen, ousted last March following a board investigation into personal conduct violations. (Read More)
2. Albertsons Pilots Smart Cart Tracking Technology in Stores
Albertsons is piloting tracking devices on shopping carts in 80 stores to monitor customer movement and dwell time near retail media displays. The grocer plans to expand to 800 stores this year, using anonymous beacon technology to collect in-store shopping data. Separately, Hy-Vee launched medically tailored frozen meals. (Read More)
3. Instacart Partners with 1-800-Flowers.com for Nationwide Floral Delivery
Instacart partnered with 1-800-Flowers.com for its first nationwide pure-play floral delivery service, offering fresh bouquets from over 700 participating florist locations through the Instacart App. Launched ahead of Valentine’s Day, customers can pre-order or request same-day delivery with no markup pricing, expanding gifting options year-round. (Read More)
4. Tractor Supply Expands Final-Mile Delivery Via 150 New Hubs
Tractor Supply plans to add over 150 hub locations in 2026 for its final-mile delivery initiative, bringing total hubs to 375 covering 1,200+ stores. The company aims to deliver 95% of large-item orders in-house by 2030, projecting $10 million in annual freight savings to help offset Q4 margin pressure from transportation costs. (Read More)
5. Costco Reports Strong January Sales Growth As Digital Surges
Costco reported January net sales of $21.33 billion, up 9.3% year-over-year. Total company comparable sales grew 7.1% for the four-week period, while digitally-enabled sales surged 34.4%. First 22 weeks sales totaled $123.16 billion, an increase of 8.5% from last year. The warehouse retailer operates 924 locations globally. (Read More)
Upcoming Live LinkedIn Events
Why Your Retail AI Strategy Is Probably Wrong (And How to Fix It)
Be careful out there,
— Chris, Anne, and the entire Omni Talk team
Omni Talk® is the retail blog for retailers, written by retailers. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga founded Omni Talk® in 2017 and have quickly turned it into one of the fastest growing blogs in retail.