Walmart Expands Ad Business with Vibe Acquisition -- Walmart.com

Walmart has completed its acquisition of Vibe.co, a self-service streaming TV ad platform, to strengthen Walmart Connect and expand its commerce media capabilities. 

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Walmart Mexico Pushes Private Brands -- Chain Store Age

Walmart de México y Centroamérica is leaning harder into private labels as consumers get more price-sensitive and selective with spending. The company says private brands already account for about 17% of sales and aims to reach 25% in five years.

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Walmart Expands Drone Delivery in Florida -- Chain Store Age

Walmart is expanding drone delivery in Central Florida through its Wing partnership, bringing ultra-fast delivery to more than 50,000 homes and businesses around Orlando. 

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Walmart, Other Retailers, Target GLP-1 Loyalty -- Quartz

Walmart, Costco, and Amazon are expanding into the fast-growing GLP-1 weight loss drug market, using prescriptions as a gateway to build long-term customer relationships. 

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Walmart Canada Deploys AI for Weather-Proof Logistics -- Chain Store Age

Walmart Canada is using an AI-powered “storm rerouting agent” to anticipate and respond to weather-related supply chain disruptions. By combining forecasts, real-time transport data, and digital twin simulations, the retailer can proactively adjust routes, protect inventory flow, and maintain service levels, especially in hard-to-reach regions like Newfoundland.

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Sam’s Club Bets on Premium Local Finds -- Business Insider

Sam’s Club is positioning itself as a launchpad for premium local brands to scale nationally, combining in-club discovery with e-commerce reach. 

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AI Helps Walmart Keep Shelves Stocked During Disasters -- Supply Chain Dive

Walmart is using predictive AI, machine learning, and routing tools to stay ahead of weather-related supply chain disruptions. By anticipating storms, wildfires, and other severe events, the company can reposition inventory, reroute shipments, protect driver safety, and keep stores and delivery networks running more smoothly.

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Walmart Accelerates EV Charging Rollout -- The Autopian

Walmart is rapidly expanding its EV charging network, using its broad store footprint to make charging more accessible while drawing customers into stores. The strategy turns Walmart locations into convenient charging stops, especially in suburban and rural areas, and supports the company’s push to serve drivers who can’t charge at home.
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Walmart Canada Awards 50+ Golden Tickets -- WalmartCanada.ca

The second annual Growth Summit brought together nearly 300 entrepreneurs, suppliers, and Marketplace sellers to explore new in-store and online growth opportunities. More than 50 businesses earned Golden Tickets to potentially expand with Walmart Canada!

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Walmart Releases FY2026 ESG Report -- Walmart.com

Walmart’s FY2026 ESG report highlights progress across its shared value priorities, including associate training and career mobility, customer savings, community support, emissions reductions, responsible sourcing, and AI governance. 

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Parents Lean on BNPL for School Shopping -- Retail Dive 

Back-to-school shoppers are under pressure this year, and more parents are turning to deals, price freezes, and BNPL to cover rising costs. Retailers, including Walmart, are emphasizing lower prices to win over budget-conscious families, while Omnisend’s survey shows many households are financing school spending by cutting back elsewhere or by leaning on credit and savings.
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Peak Shipping Season Peaks Early Again -- The Load Star

Analysts say the 2026 peak season is following the same early pattern seen in the past two years, driven by disruption, earlier loading behavior, and lingering volatility across Asia-Europe and transpacific trades. A Q4 mini-peak still looks likely, but any further disruption from El Niño, including potential pressure on the Panama Canal, could add fresh strain to shipping schedules and rates.

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Sparky Meets Scintilla: Walmart's Ad Machine a Formidable Supplier Tool -- Arkansas Business

Walmart's "Vendorville" has shifted from a physical presence in Bentonville to an AI-driven digital ecosystem.  Retail media offers 70-80% margins, with $6.4B in 2025 ad revenue—reshaping how suppliers compete for visibility. (8th & Walton President Steven Bertram was interviewed for this article.)

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Walmart Pledges $500K as West Virginia Communities Recover from Flooding -- Walmart.com 

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation committed $500,000 to support West Virginia communities devastated by severe flooding. 
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Walmart's Purchase-Data Pitch at Cannes -- Beet.TV

At Cannes Lions, Walmart Connect's Brett Wein touted purchase-based signals from 150 million weekly shoppers as advertising's strongest asset, surpassing legacy targeting. He highlighted the VIZIO "Backyard Escapes" campaign's 2.7-2.9 million viewers and detailed how Walmart's VIZIO/Onn ownership, reaching 25-30% of U.S. households,  brings purchase-backed targeting to connected television advertising.

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Walmart Canada Bets on 90s Nostalgia with Esprit -- WalmartCanada.ca

Walmart Canada has revived the Esprit brand as its exclusive retailer. The collection leans into 90s nostalgia with colorful, easy-to-wear essentials like knitwear, denim, layering pieces and basics.

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AI Negotiators Are Here -- PYMNTS 

AI agents are no longer theoretical. In fact,  they’re already negotiating contracts and closing supplier deals at scale, including with Walmart.
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Panama Canal Pressure Raises Freight Costs -- Supply Chain Dive

Ocean carriers are adding or raising Panama Canal surcharges as low water levels continue to affect transits. MSC and CMA CGM both announced higher fees tied to the canal’s draft limits and water-saving measures, signaling greater cost pressure and potential scheduling disruptions for importers moving Asia-to-U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast cargo.

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Walmart Sees AI Shift Shopping Upstream Before the Cart -- PYMNTS

AI is moving the shopping journey upstream, with one in five shoppers using chatbots or assistants to compare products and hunt deals before they ever reach Amazon or Walmart.

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At Sam’s Club, AI Is Meant to Put People Back on the Floor -- PYMNTS 

Sam’s Club says its AI strategy is about creating more human interaction, not less, by using technology to free associates from repetitive tasks and redirect them toward members on the floor. 

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Retail Satisfaction Stayed High in Q2, but Price Perception Remains a Pain Point -- Chain Store Age

Retail posted strong customer satisfaction in the second quarter, with HappyOrNot’s in-store feedback data showing a global score of 92.4 and North America at 93.4. 

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Walmart’s Spark Network Could Gain a Pittsburgh Hub -- Audacy.com

Walmart is reportedly expanding its Spark last-mile delivery network into the Pittsburgh area by leasing a closed Walgreens in Homestead and eyeing former Rite Aid sites on Noblestown Road and in Bloomfield for depot-style fulfillment use. 

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Overlapping Prime Day and Walmart Deals Drove Traffic but Cut Average Spend -- PYMNTS 

The first overlap of Amazon Prime Day and Walmart Deals drew far more shoppers into the market, but it also shrank average spend per shopper as consumers became more price-sensitive and spread purchases across both events. 

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AI Shopping Has Arrived -- Chain Store Age

Shoppers are using AI mostly to compare brands, find the lowest price, and locate products, and adoption is growing fastest in electronics, personal care, and apparel.

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Five Months of Declines: Grocery Units Drop Nearly 2%-- Grocery Dive

U.S. grocery unit sales fell nearly 2% year over year in June, marking the fifth straight month of volume declines as stretched shoppers buy fewer items and trade down. Bain and NielsenIQ data show consumers responding to higher prices, fuel costs and reduced SNAP benefits by shifting to cheaper brands, using more promotions and shrinking basket sizes.

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Walmart‑Backed OnePay Adds Personal Loans Up to $50,000, Powered by Upgrade -- PYMNTS

Walmart-backed OnePay is expanding its fintech toolkit with a new personal loan offering powered by Upgrade, letting customers apply inside the OnePay app for $1,000 to $50,000 in same‑day funding for eligible users as credit demand rises and lending standards tighten. 

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50% at the Border: New Canada Tariffs Take Effect in August -- Supply Chain Dive

President Donald Trump has moved to impose an additional 50% tariff starting August 19 on a wide range of Canadian imports, covering everything from agricultural and wood products to chemicals, textiles, consumer goods, and machinery, even when they qualify under the USMCA. 

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Walmart and Amazon Make Value the Main Event For Back-To-School -- PYMNTS.com

Inflation and tighter budgets mean shoppers are stretching dollars rather than buying more, pushing value to the center of back‑to‑school season. Walmart is leaning on aggressive rollbacks and curated “haul” baskets, while Amazon counters with deep online discounts and Prime‑driven deals.

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Rapid Delivery Goes Mainstream -- Supply Chain Dive

37.9% of surveyed online grocery shoppers said they completed most or nearly all of their digital grocery purchases through rapid delivery services over the past year, indicating these platforms are becoming a routine option for everyday grocery shopping.

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Trust But Verify: Consumers Adopt, and Question, AI Assistants -- Progressive Grocer

Consumers are rapidly weaving AI into their shopping routines, with about 70% saying they already use AI when they shop and expect to rely on it even more. At the same time, shoppers are taking a “trust but verify” approach: many now view AI as a trusted resource on par with reviews or recommendations, yet more than half still check citations and want transparency into the sources behind AI-driven advice.

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Tariffs Take Aim at Brazil  -- CNBC

The U.S. has finalized a 25% tariff on most Brazilian imports, effective July 22, following a yearlong probe into what Washington calls unfair trade practices. Some key categories, such as beef, orange juice, aircraft, and energy, are exempt, but Brazil has vowed to take WTO action and to impose countermeasures.

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Walmart Boasts Affordable Back-To-School Shopping -- Chain Store Age

Walmart is pushing a strong value message for back-to-school, offering its lowest prices since 2019 on core classroom supplies, with some items starting at $0.25. 

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Walmart, General Mills, ADM Launch 40,000‑Acre Regenerative Wheat Project -- Progressive Grocer

Walmart, General Mills, and ADM are launching a joint regenerative agriculture effort across 40,000 wheat acres in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri, targeting fields that supply General Mills products sold at Walmart and Sam’s Club. 

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Walmart’s World Cup grocery wins  -- Modern Retail

Walmart Data Ventures' World Cup data shows soccer fans significantly boosted game-day grocery spending, especially on salty snacks, deli items and frozen foods, often driven by deals and impulse buys. 

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Back-To-School Shopping Begins -- Chain Store Age

Back-to-school shoppers are putting value first this year, starting earlier than in 2024 but later than in 2025 and leaning heavily on promotions from major retailers to stretch budgets. 

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DTC To Walmart Shelves-- Retail TouchPoints

Caraway’s Walmart rollout marks its biggest retail expansion yet, putting its non-toxic cookware in more than 500 stores and within same‑day reach for roughly half the U.S. 

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Walmart Continues Digital & AI Investment  -- CIO Dive

Walmart’s supply chain is leaning hard into AI to keep products moving efficiently in a tougher, faster logistics environment. 

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Harvey Ma On Sam's Club Connect -- Beet.TV

Sam’s Club has rebranded its retail media business as Sam’s Club Connect to spotlight relationships, not just transactions, using its membership model to deliver richer, longitudinal insights and “breakthrough” experiences for advertisers. 

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Study: Consumers Split Shopping Between Walmart & Amazon-- Chain Store Age

Shoppers are increasingly splitting their baskets, relying on Walmart for routine grocery spending while shifting higher-value purchases to Amazon.

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Walmart Takes Next-Gen Warehouse Nuclear  -- Retail Dive

Walmart is tying its next-generation grocery network directly to clean energy, striking a nuclear power deal in Illinois to support a new perishable distribution center and surrounding operations. 

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Safe‑Passage Fees, New Risks -- Associated Press

The U.S. decision to reinstate a blockade of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and to introduce safe-passage fees creates uncertainty for global energy and shipping markets. 

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Sales Continued To Rise In June -- Chain Store Age

Core retail sales posted a solid gain in June as summer promotions from Amazon and other major retailers pulled shoppers back into the market. 

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Six in Ten Online Grocery Shoppers Choose Walmart  -- Supermarket News

Walmart now sits at the center of U.S. online grocery, with nearly six in 10 digital grocery shoppers buying through the retailer over the past year as home delivery becomes the dominant fulfillment method and rapid services move into the mainstream.

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Doug McMillon appointed to the Fed's Data Task Force -- CNBC

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh has appointed former Walmart CEO Doug McMillon to the Fed’s new data task force, part of a broader effort to reassess how the central bank handles inflation, communications, productivity, and jobs. 

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From Search to Sparky: Walmart’s AI Agent Rewrites Shopping Behavior -- Talk Business & Politics

Walmart executives are betting big on Sparky, the retailer’s AI-powered shopping agent, and early results suggest it’s reshaping how customers shop across channels.  

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Sam’s Club + WeightWatchers: Wellness Goes Membership‑First -- Mass Market Retailers

Sam’s Club is partnering with WeightWatchers to expand access to affordable, membership-based wellness support, combining personalized coaching and nutrition guidance with the retailer’s assortment of healthy foods and pharmacy services. 

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Tariff Fears Bring Peak Season Forward -- Chain Store Age

U.S. import volumes are surging to record levels in July as retailers rush to frontload inventory ahead of potential new tariffs, with container traffic projected to hit 2.47 million TEU, the highest on record, according to NRF and Hackett Associates. 

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Brampton Gets a New Walmart Canada Supercentre -- WalmartCanada.ca

Walmart Canada plans to open a 140,000-square-foot Supercentre at Bramalea City Centre in Brampton in 2027, expanding its presence in one of the country’s fastest-growing markets. 

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Walmart Tops NRF Retailers List -- Retail Customer Experience

Walmart retained its position as the top U.S. retailer on the National Retail Federation’s 2026 Top 100 Retailers list with $579.99 billion in 2025 U.S. retail sales and 4.2% growth. 

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Private Label Pulls Ahead -- Chain Store Age

Private label is pulling ahead in 2026 as inflation-weary shoppers trade down, with unit sales up 0.2% while national brands slip 0.5%, lifting store-brand share to a record 23.8%.

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From Cost to Resilience: Supply Chains Go Decentralized as Disruption Becomes the Norm -- World Economic Forum

Supply chains are rapidly evolving from cost-focused, centralized systems to more flexible, decentralized networks as disruption becomes the norm, a shift with major implications for retailers managing global sourcing and inventory risk. 

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Summer of Rollbacks: Walmart and Sam’s Club Cut Prices -- Progressive Grocer

Walmart and Sam’s Club are expanding summer price cuts through thousands of Rollbacks and member deals across key categories.

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Sam’s Club Connects Physical Trips to Digital Media -- Next in Media

Sam’s Club is deepening its integration with Walmart Connect and rebranding its retail media business, leveraging membership-based, in-store data to offer closed-loop measurement and connect physical shopping behavior with advertising performance.

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From Fancy Food to Bentonville: Why Emerging Brands Should Pitch Walmart Sooner--Food Business News

Walmart merchants are encouraging emerging brands to view the retailer as a strategic partner, emphasizing digital-first launches, flexible testing, and ongoing collaboration, while dispelling concerns that scale and value pricing diminish brand equity.

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Sam’s Club Bakes Food Waste Reduction Into Everyday Operations

Sam’s Club expands sustainability efforts through food donation, waste diversion, and recycling initiatives, including partnerships that convert unsold food into biofuel and compost.

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From Driver to Developer: Walmart’s AI App Cuts Empty Miles

A Walmart regional load manager and former truck driver developed an AI app that helps drivers find return loads, reducing “empty miles” and improving efficiency. 

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Inflation at the aisle: Shoppers trade down, switch stores, and stick with fresh

Rising grocery prices are driving 61% of consumers to adjust purchasing habits, cutting back on discretionary items while prioritizing fresh foods and essentials. 

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Sam’s Club Reveals Regional Meat Preferences

Sam’s Club data shows chicken as the most popular Fourth of July protein across most states, followed by pork ribs and ground beef, reflecting regional preferences, value considerations, and cooking convenience alongside strong demand for complementary private label items. 

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Walmart Driver Wins Arkansas Trucking Championship

A Walmart Transportation driver, Chris Moore, won the 2026 Arkansas Truck Driving Championship, earning both Flatbed Class first place and overall Grand Champion honors, recognizing his 28-year career and 3.5 million safe-driving miles.

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Survey: Walmart Among Brands Americans Say Best Represent the U.S.

Most Americans express national pride, but trust brands more for tangible actions like job creation than patriotic marketing. Walmart ranks among brands seen as representing the U.S., while value and savings remain the top consumer priority.

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Walmart+ Fuel Discounts = More Store Visits

Walmart+ fuel discounts are driving increased member engagement and repeat visits, particularly amid rising gas prices, as everyday savings reinforce program value. 

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Walmart Canada Expands in Ottawa With Place d’Orléans Supercentre

Walmart Canada plans to open a new Supercentre at Ottawa’s Place d’Orléans by 2027, converting a former department store space into a full grocery and general merchandise destination

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Walmart’s VIP Tourist Tours Put Events and Merchandising Center Stage

Walmart is capitalizing on increased international tourism by launching curated in-store “VIP Tourist Tours,” blending retail with entertainment through guided experiences, product sampling, and events tied to major sports partnerships and social media trends.

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Sam’s Club Bets on Relationship‑First Ads

Sam’s Club leaders and brand partners highlighted how retail media, powered by membership data and AI, is shifting from short-term ROAS to long-term relationship building through personalized engagement, predictive insights, and experiential activations.

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Permanent Turbulence: 2026 Supply Chains Won’t Settle Down

Global supply chains in 2026 remain defined by persistent volatility, from Middle East shipping disruptions to uncertain trade policy. Companies are increasingly forced to redesign networks and operate with constant contingency planning as disruptions continue to emerge.

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From Walmart Associate to In‑Demand Pro

Walmart is expanding career pathway programs, including Associate to Optician, Associate to Technician, and Associate to Driver, offering fully funded education, hands-on training, and wage growth opportunities to help associates transition into healthcare, skilled trades, and logistics roles.

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Younger Shoppers Love Walmart+ & Other Loyalty Programs

Walmart and Amazon lead consumer-valued loyalty programs, as 91% of shoppers say membership drives repeat purchases. Frequent engagement and improved perks deepen emotional connections, with younger consumers showing the highest levels of participation and program interaction.

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Families Plan $922 Back‑to‑School Budgets 

Families plan to spend an average of $922 on back-to-school shopping, driven by higher prices, student influence, and increased technology purchases.

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From Tiers to Thrills: The Private Label Treasure Hunt

Retailers are moving beyond the traditional “good, better, best” private label model, emphasizing value-driven discovery and emotional satisfaction. 

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Walmart Signals That Retail Media Is the Real Battlefront

Walmart is using its acquisitions of Vizio and Vibe.co to turn retail media into a core growth engine, aiming to control the ads, screens, and data that link inspiration to purchase. 

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Gas Price Relief Lifts Mood, Not Inflation Fears

Consumer sentiment ticked up in June as gas prices eased, but confidence remains lower than a year ago, with inflation still the dominant concern. 

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Walmart EV Chargers Go Mainstream on Maps

Walmart’s fast chargers now appear on leading navigation and EV platforms, making it easier for drivers to find sites, check speeds and connector types, and route directly to store-based stations.

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Walmart Rises to #3 in Global Supply Chains

Walmart, recently ranked number three in Gartner’s Supply Chain Top 25, is leaning on automation, data, and sustainability to make its network “simpler, faster, and more efficient” for suppliers.  

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How (And Why) Walmart Prepares for Severe Weather

Walmart positions disaster preparedness as a core operational capability, using real-time weather intelligence, predictive modeling, and its national supply chain to keep emergency inventory moving where it is needed most.

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Walmart Business SVP Targets “Invisible Work”

In a recent interview, Ashley Hubka, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Walmart Business, positioned procurement as an underrecognized strategic lever for small and mid-sized business customers.

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Walmart Expands Retail Media Reach with Vibe Deal

Walmart agreed to acquire CTV ad platform Vibe.co, expanding its retail media ambitions and targeting small and mid-sized advertiser budgets. 

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Survey: Consumers Verify AI Recommendations Before Spending

A new survey finds growing use of AI tools for product research, but limited trust in their recommendations.

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Companies Navigate Complex Path to Recover IEEPA Duties

U.S. importers are weighing whether to pursue refunds for IEEPA tariffs following a Supreme Court decision, as an administrative system begins issuing repayments. 

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Walmart Experiments with Shoppable TV

Walmart is expanding its retail media strategy through Vizio by launching shoppable entertainment content designed to drive product discovery before customers shop.

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Walmart Signs First Nuclear Power Deal

Walmart and Constellation signed a long-term nuclear power purchase agreement to supply emissions-free energy from Illinois’ Dresden Clean Energy Center.

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Walmart, Sam’s Club Launch Medicare Support Initiative Nationwide

Walmart and Sam’s Club launched a nationwide initiative to help Medicare beneficiaries navigate evolving prescription drug coverage, particularly for weight management and chronic conditions.

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Walmart’s New Supplier Shipping Programs Explained – 3-Minute Insights

Walmart is rolling out three new shipping programs for suppliers, and they could significantly change how products move through the supply chain. 8th & Walton’s Terry Clear breaks down what suppliers need to know!

>> Watch the Video

>> Audio Only

Walmart Canada Debuts Ontario Fulfillment Center

Walmart Canada opened a 750,000-square-foot fulfillment center in Milton, Ontario, advancing its $6.5 billion supply chain modernization plan.

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Walmart Unveils Global Commerce Media Strategy at Cannes

Walmart outlined a unified global vision for its advertising business, aligning Walmart Connect U.S., international operations and Sam’s Club under a commerce media strategy focused on scale, full-funnel solutions and first-party data.

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Study: Digital Tools Drive Gen Alpha Back to Stores — Chain Store Age

Gen Alpha beauty shoppers blend digital discovery with in-store validation, according to a NielsenIQ survey commissioned by Ulta Beauty, highlighting the continued importance of physical retail in a digitally influenced purchase journey.

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Walmart Vs. Amazon Is About Control, Not Just Commerce — PYMNTS.com

Amazon and Walmart’s rivalry is shifting from traditional retail metrics to control over commerce ecosystems, including data, infrastructure, and advertising.

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150 Stores In: Walmart-Dunkin’ Alliance Builds Momentum — Walmart.com

Walmart and Dunkin’ marked the opening of their 150th in-store restaurant in Oakwood, Georgia, highlighting a growing retail partnership focused on convenience and value.

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Consumers Get Choosier Amid Inflation — Marketing Dive

Consumers are growing more cautious and price-sensitive as inflation and rising energy costs strain household budgets, forcing brands and retailers to compete harder on value and loyalty rather than relying on price increases.

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Walmart Advances Texas DC Remodel — Supply Chain Dive

Walmart is moving ahead with another phase of a multi-year remodel of its New Braunfels, Texas, distribution center, part of a broader push to automate regional facilities, cut costs, and improve shipping efficiency across its U.S. network.

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Walmart-MLS Creator Network Push — Marketing Dive

Major League Soccer and the NWSL are using the World Cup spotlight to fuel long-term fandom, leaning heavily on creators, social platforms and brand partnerships, including a growing alliance between MLS and Walmart, to stay in front of consumers after the tournament ends.

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