Kroger announced Wednesday it will acquire regional supermarket chain Giant Eagle in a $1.65 billion deal, marking the grocery giant's first major acquisition since regulators blocked its proposed $25 billion merger with Albertsons nearly two years ago. The acquisition will strengthen Kroger's presence across several Midwestern and Mid-Atlantic markets as traditional grocery chains compete with Walmart…

As consumers increasingly turn to artificial intelligence agents for routine shopping decisions, many retailers fear AI could spark a ruthless race to the bottom on price. The reality is much more nuanced. According to Accenture’s latest global survey of more than 25,000 consumers, rather than simply and exclusively directing consumers to cheaper private labels, AI…

When people talk about the future of American consumer brands, the conversation usually swings between two poles. On one end are the giants: the multinational companies with scale, shelf dominance, and balance sheets built to absorb almost any shock. On the other are the insurgents: the digital-native startups with fresh branding, niche audiences, and venture-backed…

Generative artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how advertising gets made. What once required days of model shoots, full video crews, and large creative teams can now be produced faster and at lower cost with AI tools. For retailers, that means quicker creation of digital ads, seasonal campaigns, product imagery, social media content, and even updated…

Personalization in retail has scaled a higher altitude in 2026. Consumers expect brands to not only recognize and remember them as unique individuals in the moment, but also to anticipate their needs as they change. A Capgemini Research Institute report shows that 71 percent of consumers want generative artificial intelligence to be integrated into their…