Here are the recent happenings in the Retail and Consumer Tech world as of May 6, 2025…
🛍️ Retail Innovation & Expansion
Walmart has unveiled its first “Store of the Future” in Missouri, signaling a major shift in retail design and operations. This new concept store features advanced technologies and sustainable practices, aiming to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency. The company plans to build or convert 150 more stores to this model in the coming years.
DoorDash is making significant moves in the global market by acquiring UK-based Deliveroo for $3.9 billion. This acquisition will expand DoorDash’s presence across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, adding Deliveroo’s operations in nine countries to its portfolio. Additionally, DoorDash has acquired hospitality software firm SevenRooms for $1.2 billion, aiming to enhance its services for restaurants and hospitality businesses.
7-Eleven has revamped its 7NOW Gold Pass subscription, offering customers perks like seven free drinks per month, exclusive in-store deals, and an extra five cents off per gallon at participating fuel stations.
📉 Retail Challenges & Closures
Rite Aid is undergoing significant restructuring, with plans to close or sell all its drugstores following another bankruptcy filing. Customers can expect their local stores to close or change ownership in the coming months. The company will stop issuing rewards points and will no longer honor gift cards or accept returns starting next month.
In the UK, fashion retailer Select is closing another store in Grantham after already shutting 35 sites. The broader retail landscape is facing challenges, with closures from brands such as Smiggle, B.D Price, and WHSmith, highlighting a growing trend. The British Retail Consortium forecasts a £2.3 billion impact due to upcoming tax changes, with the Centre for Retail Research predicting up to 17,350 closures and 202,000 job losses in 2025.
📱 Tech & Consumer Trends
Apple is currently absorbing increased costs due to U.S. tariffs on imported goods, totaling about $900 million in its fiscal third quarter. Analysts believe this approach is unsustainable, and future cost impacts are likely to grow, particularly with potential sectoral tariffs affecting components like semiconductors. Apple’s stock has dropped over 7% since reporting earnings, partly due to concerns about margins and reports of compromises in upcoming models.
Microsoft has increased U.S. prices for its Xbox consoles, raising the Xbox Series X from $500 to $600 and the Series S from $300 to $380. These hikes are a response to recent 145% tariffs imposed on Chinese-made goods by the Trump administration. The gaming industry has historically warned U.S. tariffs would disrupt supply chains and harm consumers.
🤖 Digital Transformation & AI
DEEL Media and Pointsmith have launched a solution integrating print and digital retail signage. This collaboration provides an end-to-end, print-to-digital media content management solution, establishing a new standard for unified in-store marketing solutions.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is bringing AI and data into stores, aiming to revolutionize physical retail. AWS hosted the Retail and Consumer Goods Executive Forum in March 2025, bringing together retail innovators and technology experts to share case studies across every segment in the market. The forum highlighted AWS’s long-standing pedigree in AI and the transformative potential of AI in inventory management, robotics, and drone deliveries.
This article was initiated using AI technology provided by Apple and OpenAI.
