Author: Kim Souza

Kim Souza

Tyson Foods announces high-level exec moves

Tyson Foods Chief Financial Officer Stewart Glendinning will become the company’s group president over prepared foods, succeeding Noelle O’Mara, who left the job on Sept. 23. A Tyson great-grandson will…

Report shows inflation is changing consumer spending, saving

Consumers are starting to be more cautious with spending thanks to continued high inflation, according to a recent report from TransUnion Commerce Signals. TransUnion reported total consumer credit card spending grew…

The Supply Side: Drone delivery among retailers becomes more prevalent

Once seen as a small possibility, drone delivery for online orders has become a reality for Walmart and some of its competitors. Drone deliveries are increasing with ongoing investments among…

Northwest Arkansas sales tax revenue up almost 13% in September reports

The four largest cities in Northwest Arkansas again saw big gains in sales tax revenue. The September report totaled $8.859 million, up 12.74% from a year ago and the best…

Consumers expected to spend $10.6 billion for Halloween

Consumers are ready to celebrate big this Halloween after two years of reduced participation because of COVID-19. The National Retail Federation, working with Prosper Insights & Analytics, reports that 69%…

Marist Poll indicates growing consumer worry over finances

Consumers are growing more concerned over their finances as inflation persists, interest rates rise and their retirement accounts invested in equities are losing value. A poll conducted by Marist College…

Retail sales rebound in August despite economic pressures

Consumers kept spending in August despite the higher-than-expected core inflation rate. The U.S. Census Bureau said retail sales topped expectations with a 0.3% increase in August from the prior month…

Walmart to offer virtual try-on for apparel

Walmart announced Thursday (Sept. 15) the next phase of its virtual try-on technology that will bring the in-store fitting room experience to online shoppers. The retailer touts that the fitting room…

Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas hires new COO

Mike Mudd has joined Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas in Rogers as chief operations officer (COO). Mudd joins Mercy from his previous role as COO of service lines for Rochester Regional…

The Supply Side: Bentonville-based Dandymen lands on Walmart shelves

Lucas Kemper, Baxter Conley and Melissa Maltarich converged in downtown Bentonville amid the global COVID-19 pandemic to launch a new line of men’s hair care products created out of a…

Higher food prices lifted annual inflation to 8.3% in August

Despite falling gasoline prices in August consumers still faced a 13.5% increase in food and grocery prices from a year ago. This marked the 15th straight month of increases, according…

The Supply Side: Majority of consumers brace for a recession

A recent survey report from First Insight, a predictive analytics firm, looked at how inflation and consumer attitudes showed that nearly all of those surveyed in April and July are…

Enrollment up 8.3% at the University of Arkansas; up almost 11% at NWACC

The number of enrolled students is up at NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville and the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville from a year ago. UA officials reported Thursday (Sept….

The Supply Side: Product shortages, rising prices create push for shopper loyalty

Rising prices and product shortages continue to change consumer shopping behaviors, forcing retailers to focus more on customer loyalty and acquiring and retaining their shopping base, according to a new…

Walmart issues $5 billion in new debt; partners with UnitedHealth Group

Walmart seeks to raise $5 billion in operating capital through four separate bond issues ahead of expected Federal Reserve interest rate hike. Also, the Bentonville-based retailer announced Wednesday (Sept. 7)…

Walmart tries again to improve beef offering in stores

Walmart has over the years made several attempts to improve the beef quality it sells. Last week, the retail giant invested a minority stake in Sustainable Beef, a rancher and…

Inflation, higher interest rates could push retail sales lower in 2023

Many retailers have reported shoppers making fewer trips and smaller basket sizes in recent months as rising prices weigh on household budgets. Grocery prices rose 12.2% this summer from a…

Walmart to acquire outstanding shares of Massmart

Walmart will acquire the outstanding shares of Massmart for an estimated $377.6 million, the company announced Monday (Aug. 29). The Bentonville-based retailer already owned 51% of the large Africa retailer….

Tyson Foods fires international group boss; China halts some U.S. pork imports

Chris Langholz, the international group president for Tyson Foods since November 2019, was fired on Friday, Aug. 26, effective immediately, according to a filing the Springdale-based meat giant made Monday…

The Supply Side: U.S. retail expansion to include 4,432 new stores in 2022

Brick-and-mortar retail is alive in 2022, with more than twice the number of new store openings compared to store closures through the first seven months of this year. Coresight Research…