Retail Fast Five

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  Walmart+ Fuels Up, Costco Goes On-Demand & Toys R Is Back (Again) | Fast Five 23.09.2026 43นาที

  In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Quorso, Veloq, and R&S Logistics, Chris Walton is joined by Omni Talk contributor and GrocerTalk host Ben Miller for another round of Fast Five fun, recorded live from the Vusion podcast studio at Groceryshop 2026 in Las Vegas. This week, Walmart fills up, Costco delivers, Harps gets AI, Toys R Us gets bigger, and Meta gets its glasses on.Chris and Ben dig into five of the biggest stories in retail this week, including:• Walmart+ adding CITGO to its Gas Savings benefit, expanding the program from 13,000 to more than 17,000 participating stations nationwide and giving members 10 cents off per gallon. (Source)• Costco expanding its delivery reach by joining both DoorDash and Uber Eats nationwide, giving members another way to get same-day and scheduled orders from nearly all of its U.S. warehouses. (Source)• Harps Food Stores naming longtime employee and former meat and seafood category manager Will McDoniel as its first director of AI strategy and innovation. (Source)• Toys R Us opening 120 new stand-alone stores this holiday season, bringing its stand-alone footprint to 160 locations and adding features like Creator Studios, cafes and candy shops. (Source)• Meta Lab, the store concept behind Meta’s AI glasses, nearly doubling its retail footprint with six new locations while expanding its Best Buy shop-in-shop presence. (Source)The episode wraps with a lightning round covering which retailer deserves its own prestige TV drama, what words should be added or removed from the dictionary, and plenty more retail and pop culture fun.Plus, everyone’s favorite A&Mer, Chad Lusk, joins Chris for 5 Insightful Minutes.P.S. Be sure to check out all our other podcasts from the past week here, too: https://omnitalk.blog/category/podcast/P.P.S. Also be sure to check out our podcast rankings on Feedspot.Music by hooksounds.
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  Lightning Round: Sports Authority, AI Coffee & Airport Etiquette | Fast Five Shorts 21.09.2026 5นาที

  It’s lightning round time, and Chris Walton and guest host Josh Hahn tackle some of life's most pressing questions, from choosing whether Sports Authority or Meijer prepared Josh better for recruiting, to the exact AI superpower Chris wishes he had for his morning routine. Plus, they debate the best QSR to add to Walmart's restaurant tab and establish a non-negotiable rule for airport etiquette. ▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/089y7s8PKCE
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  Kroger Trims Its Sales Outlook | Fast Five Shorts 21.09.2026 8นาที

  Kroger has trimmed its full-year same-store sales outlook even as digital e-commerce and retail media continue to see strong double-digit growth. Chris Walton and Josh Hahn discuss the state of traditional grocery and what shrinking sales forecasts mean when digital layers are the primary bright spots. ▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/089y7s8PKCE
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  SKIMS Taps DoorDash for On-Demand Delivery | Fast Five Shorts 21.09.2026 8นาที

  SKIMS has teamed up with DoorDash for its first-ever on-demand delivery partnership, making thousands of styles available from select U.S. stores in under an hour.Chris Walton and Josh Hahn discuss whether instant delivery helps or hurts a brand whose entire appeal has been built around exclusivity and hype.▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/089y7s8PKCE
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  Amazon Turns Prime Video Into a Storefront | Fast Five Shorts 21.09.2026 5นาที

  Amazon has significantly expanded its Prime Video shopping features, growing its "Shop the Show" tool from 1,300 titles to more than 8,000 while adding new visual search capabilities. Chris Walton and Josh Hahn discuss whether shoppable TV is finally reaching scale or if it risks ruining the core entertainment experience. ▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/089y7s8PKCE
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  Is Macy's Turnaround for Real? | Fast Five Shorts 21.09.2026 5นาที

  Macy’s has posted its fifth consecutive quarter of comparable-sales growth, beating Wall Street estimates and raising its full-year guidance as CEO Tony Spring's turnaround strategy takes hold. Chris Walton and Josh Hahn discuss whether it's finally time to plant the victory flag at Macy's, or if there is still too much heavy lifting left to do on the core brand. ▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/089y7s8PKCE
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  Walmart Adds Papa Johns to Express Delivery | Fast Five Shorts 21.09.2026 9นาที

  Walmart has added Papa Johns to Walmart Express Delivery, making it the first national restaurant brand fulfilled entirely from locations outside of Walmart stores. Chris Walton and guest host Josh Hahn discuss whether Walmart’s latest move is a clever way to bring customers into the app more often, or if they are solving a need that consumers never actually asked for. ▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/089y7s8PKCE
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  A Macy's Comeback, A Kroger Reset & Better Pizza, Better Delivery At Walmart | Fast Five 16.09.2026 51นาที

  In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Quorso, Veloq, and R&S Logistics, Chris Walton is joined by J Recruiting’s Josh Hahn for another round of Fast Five fun, recorded from Chris’s very tiny Paris hotel room across the street from NRF Europe. This week’s episode can best be summed up as . . . better ingredients, better pizza, better delivery via Walmart.Chris and Josh dig into five of the biggest stories in retail this week, including:• Walmart adding Papa Johns to Walmart Express Delivery and whether Walmart is quietly building a challenger to DoorDash and Uber Eats. (Source)• Macy’s posting its fifth straight quarter of comparable-sales growth and raising guidance as CEO Tony Spring’s turnaround begins to take hold. (Source)• Amazon expanding “Shop the Show” from 1,300 titles to more than 8,000 and whether shoppable TV is finally reaching scale. (Source)• SKIMS partnering with DoorDash for on-demand delivery and whether instant delivery fits a brand built around exclusivity and hype. (Source)• Kroger cutting its full-year sales outlook even as ecommerce and retail media continue to grow, raising questions about the future of traditional grocery. (Source)The episode wraps with a lightning round covering Josh’s 20 years between Sports Authority and Meijer, the daily chore Chris wishes AI would handle for him, which QSR Josh would like to see added to Walmart’s restaurant tab, and Chris’s two non-negotiable rules for airport etiquette.Plus, this month’s OmniStar is Meredith Klausner, SVP of Retail & Services at Best Buy, recognized for the impact she continues to make across the retail industry.P.S. Be sure to check out all our other podcasts from the past week here, too: https://omnitalk.blog/category/podcast/P.P.S. Also be sure to check out our podcast rankings on Feedspot.Music by hooksounds.
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  Lightning Round: Super Bowl Picks, Genie vs. Samantha & Adam Sandler | Fast Five Shorts 14.09.2026 3นาที

  It’s lightning round time, and Chris Walton and Shelley Huff are making some very important decisions, from their Super Bowl picks to choosing between Genie and Samantha and naming the Adam Sandler movie they’d keep forever.Plus, one very specific wish involving a dog that may or may not be possible.▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/x4hGqvRTilY
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  What Should Be on Sprouts’ New CEO Nick Konat’s Agenda? | Fast Five Shorts 14.09.2026 5นาที

  Sprouts has named Nick Konat as its next CEO, with the leadership transition set to take effect in January 2027.Chris Walton and Shelley Huff discuss what Konat should focus on as he takes the reins, from staying disciplined on the retailer’s existing strategy to executing the roadmap already in motion.The big question: Does Sprouts need a new strategy, or simply a new leader to execute the one it already has?▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/x4hGqvRTilY
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  Sephora’s Making Monthly Drops on TikTok Shop | Fast Five Shorts 14.09.2026 5นาที

  Sephora is testing monthly exclusive product drops on TikTok Shop, giving the beauty retailer another way to create demand and build community around new products.Chris Walton and Shelley Huff discuss how TikTok Shop differs from Amazon, and why the platform may be more valuable for creating demand than simply capturing it.The big question: Can TikTok Shop turn product drops into a repeatable retail habit?▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/x4hGqvRTilY
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  Costco Quietly Kills Costco Next Marketplace | Fast Five Shorts 14.09.2026 5นาที

  Costco has quietly shut down Costco Next, its member-only online marketplace that connected shoppers with products from outside brands.Chris Walton and Shelley Huff discuss why Costco’s club model may not translate neatly to a marketplace business, and what the move says about where Costco wants to focus its digital strategy.The big question: Does Costco really need a marketplace when its core model is already working?▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/x4hGqvRTilY
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  Does Ulta Need to Get the Flock Out of Here? | Fast Five Shorts 14.09.2026 7นาที

  Ulta is facing backlash over its use of Flock Safety’s automated license plate reader technology, raising bigger questions about transparency, communication, and how retailers handle technology that can impact their customers.Chris Walton and Shelley Huff discuss whether the bigger problem is the technology itself or the way Ulta communicated its use of it.The big question: When retailers use controversial technology, how much transparency do customers deserve?▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/x4hGqvRTilY
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  Amazon’s Grocery Pop-Ups Keep Coming, But Should They? | Fast Five Shorts 14.09.2026 4นาที

  Amazon is bringing back its digital grocery pop-up for Labor Day, but the bigger question is what these short-term grocery pushes actually accomplish for the retailer.Chris Walton and Shelley Huff discuss whether Amazon’s grocery pop-ups are a smart way to build share and stay top of mind, or just another temporary promotion in an increasingly crowded grocery market.The big question: Is Amazon building a grocery business, or just building grocery moments?▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here:https://youtu.be/x4hGqvRTilY
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  Sprouts’ New CEO, Costco Exits Its Marketplace & Ulta Is Told To Get The Flock Out | Fast Five 09.09.2026 40นาที

  In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Quorso, Veloq, and R&S Logistics, Shelley Huff is back again, joining Chris Walton for another round of Fast Five fun. The former Serta Simmons CEO and Walmart executive, now CEO and Co-Founder of the Interval, joins Chris to discuss:• Amazon’s latest limited-time grocery storefront for Labor Day and whether these smaller, occasion-based sales events are smart incremental share-building moves or just a gimmick that doesn’t move the needle. (Source)• Ulta Beauty’s social media backlash over its use of Flock Safety’s automated license-plate reader technology at a small number of stores, and whether retailers can justify surveillance technology as a tool against organized retail crime while managing the inevitable public backlash. (Source)• Costco quietly shutting down Costco Next, its member-only online marketplace, and what the move says about the role marketplaces should play in club retail. (Source)• Sephora piloting a new “Drop Shop” storefront on TikTok Shop, featuring exclusive monthly product drops and livestream shopping events, and why brands may see more opportunity in social commerce than traditional marketplaces. (Source)• Sprouts Farmers Market naming President and COO Nick Konat as its next CEO as comparable-store sales turn negative, and what his priorities should be as he takes the reins in January. (Source)The episode isn’t all retail, with Chris and Shelley also talking about Labor Day weekends, Zach Bryan, the movie Obsession, NFL predictions, and why Producer Ella says she’s a marketer’s dream when it comes to finding great products.Find all of Ella’s Product Picks of the Week here.P.S. Be sure to check out all our other podcasts from the past week here, too: https://omnitalk.blog/category/podcast/P.P.S. Also be sure to check out our podcast rankings on Feedspot.Music by hooksounds
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  Lightning Round: Super Bowl Picks, Pie & Days of Thunder | Fast Five Shorts 07.09.2026 3นาที

  Chris Walton and Ben Miller put Michael Prendergast and Ken Davidson on the Fast Five lightning round hot seat, covering everything from Super Bowl predictions and favorite types of pie to the return of Cole Trickle in a Days of Thunder sequel.Plus, Ken reveals the one and only tattoo he would ever get.▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/NXUUmuwrX2Q
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  Amazon Eyes Fully Automated Delivery Stations | Fast Five Shorts 07.09.2026 4นาที

  Amazon is reportedly exploring Project Tetromino, an internal initiative aimed at building fully automated delivery stations and bringing even more robotics into the last mile.The Fast Five crew discusses whether full automation is inevitable, how quickly Amazon could make it happen, and why the company appears hesitant to publicly own its automation ambitions.Because when Amazon already has more than a million robots deployed, the question may not be if automation is coming, but just how fast.▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/NXUUmuwrX2Q
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  Stripe Says the Checkout Page Is Dead. Is Retail Ready? | Fast Five Shorts 07.09.2026 7นาที

  Stripe believes the traditional online checkout page is on its way out as AI agents and agentic commerce begin to reshape how consumers shop.Michael Prendergast, Ken Davidson, Ben Miller, and Chris Walton discuss what happens when the purchasing process becomes increasingly machine-led, from eliminating friction and clicks to completely rethinking promotions, pricing, and how retailers compete for transactions.The big question: Are retailers ready for a world where machines may increasingly shop for consumers?▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/NXUUmuwrX2Q
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  Sur La Table Launches Peer-to-Peer Resale Marketplace | Fast Five Shorts 07.09.2026 6นาที

  Sur La Table has entered the resale game with Second Servings, a new peer-to-peer marketplace for kitchenware, home goods, and dining products.The Fast Five crew debates whether the marketplace is a smart, low-lift opportunity or simply a distraction that won't generate enough traffic to move the needle. And after taking a closer look at the platform, Ben Miller raises another interesting question: is this really a peer-to-peer marketplace, or a new way for Sur La Table to sell discounted and returned merchandise?▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/NXUUmuwrX2Q
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  Target Launches Its Post-Ulta Beauty Destination | Fast Five Shorts 07.09.2026 10นาที

  Target is launching Target Beauty Studio with more than 1,600 products from 90 brands, including more than two-thirds that are brand new to Target.But can this new beauty destination successfully fill the space left behind by Ulta? Chris Walton, Ben Miller, Michael Prendergast, and Ken Davidson debate whether Target's future in beauty depends on finding the next big brands, creating the right assortment, or proving that its merchandising team can still deliver.▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/NXUUmuwrX2Q