In today’s podcast episode, we discuss UK supermarket giant Tesco: its true superpower, its next big bet, and what it should cut—and keep—to maintain its position as the UK’s #1 retailer. Listen to the discussion featuring Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian, Principal Analyst Bill Fisher, and Senior Analyst Carina Lamb.
Local curation slashes publisher returns to 8% and fuels a 120-store expansion.
As AI-powered search tools become integral to product discovery, retailers face a measurement challenge. Consumers are still researching products, but increasingly bypassing the clicks marketers traditionally relied on. That shift is making it harder for brands to determine which content, publishers, and partners are actually influencing sales.
Walmart turns store data into AI fuel: In-store behavior and searches could train Sparky, helping Walmart avoid becoming a back-end for AI platforms.
New duties of 10% to 12.5% on key US trade partners revive cost pressures at a difficult time for retailers.
Consumers’ value focus hasn’t diminished spending, Ulta says.
Better assortments and store upgrades win over the retailer’s higher-income customer base.
Generational differences in credit behaviors point to need for increased credit flexibility at the POS.
Half (50%) of US adults said they didn't notice any offers during their most recent restaurant purchase, compared with 46% in retail and 32% in groceries, according to a March 2026 PYMNTS Intelligence study conducted by FIS.
Amazon spotlights low-cost groceries and Alexa+ to drive sales and deepen engagement.
Itemized receipt splitting put Venmo, Cash App on notice for seamless P2P.
Amazon’s ad machine isn’t seamless: Twitch gets outside sales help, denting the Big Tech giant’s pitch as a unified media buy.
Six-figure households lift comps 2% as value hunting widens.
Celebrity star power may boost Paze’s visibility but limited acceptance will hold it back.
Low-key rollouts aim to dodge backlash without abandoning inclusivity.
Core intimates drive share gains and renewed cross-category demand.
Some 80% of US adults are concerned about AI and just 35% are excited about it, a 2.3-to-1 ratio that runs counter to industry enthusiasm, according to a March 2026 Quinnipiac University survey conducted by Dynata.
Retail media ad spend in Japan is growing fast. But it remains less mature due to a fragmented retail sector, strong traditional players, legacy systems, and a culture favoring offline relationships. Convenience stores and mobile payments will drive growth.
From sensory-focused Gen Alpha initiatives to unexpected brand collaborations, the month showcased how retailers are adapting to evolving consumer behaviors and cultural trends.