Circana: U.S. toy sales rebounded in 2025
The U.S. performance mirrored global momentum, with all markets returning to growth in 2025 for the first time in Circana’s history.
Thorvardur de Shong
7-Eleven names 26 emerging brands for 2026 Brands with Heart showcase
The 2026 cohort was chosen from more than 700 applicants following a competitive review led by the retailer’s 7-Ventures & Emerging Brands team.
2026 sees slight decrease in convenience store count
Texas continues to lead the nation with 16,504 convenience stores, accounting for more than one in 10 U.S. locations.
Consumer spending drives U.S. economy to fastest growth in two years
The labor market, meanwhile, has slowed considerably.
Southeastern Grocers rebrands as The Winn-Dixie Company
“This is a defining moment, more than a name change. It proudly declares who we are and where we’re headed,” said Anthony Hucker, chairman and CEO of The Winn-Dixie Company.
Joel Rampoldt steps down as Lidl CEO
The leadership change comes as Lidl continues to struggle to gain consistent traction in the highly competitive U.S. grocery market.
Pops Mart sells c-store business in multi-buyer deal
As part of the deal, Sunoco acquired 36 of Pops Mart’s 54 convenience stores
Inmar Intelligence debuts digital coupons program for c-store retailers
The initiative introduces digital coupons to retail segments lacking them, helping convenience stores boost loyalty, increase basket size, and offer extra value to shoppers.
Weigel’s rolls out MyWeigel’s Pay
The new payment option reduces pump friction by enabling faster pay-at-the-pump and easier account management.
Sheetz named Convenience Retailer of the Year
What makes Sheetz unique isn’t just its size, but its deliberate approach to retail execution
Circana: December retail sales reinforce the 2025 spending plateau
Overall, retail closed 2025 with 2% dollar growth and flat unit demand across all three segments.
Circle K makes Texas c-store first with THC beverages
The launch signifies a significant expansion of functional and alcohol-alternative beverages in the c-store channel.
Walmart announces leadership changes
“These internal promotions reflect our culture of opportunity and the depth of our leadership bench.“
Vibes: Brand text messages are driving purchases at scale
New consumer data from Vibes shows text messaging has evolved from a marketing touchpoint into a direct path to purchase for millions of shoppers.
BrakeTime makes Burger King franchise deal to speed QSR expansion
The rollout will start in Illinois and Texas, two of BrakeTime’s largest markets.
Amazon takes aim at Walmart with supersized Chicago big-box store
Amazon plans a nearly 229,000-square-foot superstore in suburban Chicago, surpassing typical Walmart Supercenters and signaling a new phase in its retail strategy.