Author: Kim Souza

Kim Souza

The Supply Side: Technology keeps changing the supply chain

The complexity of global supply chains often results in areas of inefficiency, but technology is changing that, according to people with shipping and logistics experience who took part in the…

Walmart’s top six execs earned a combined $99.95 million last year, up 3.3%

Walmart’s top six executives received recent fiscal year total pay of $99.952 million, up 3.3% from the prior year. The annual salary info was part of a 164-page proxy filing…

Sales tax revenue growth almost flat in Northwest Arkansas

Consumer spending in Benton and Washington counties was lighter in February among the region’s four largest cities, with combined tax revenue totaling $8.417 million in the April report, up 0.46%….

Easter spending expected to total $23.6 billion, up 5%

The National Retail Federation (NRF) expects a 5% rise in Easter holiday spending compared with 2024. Total spending is forecast at $23.6 billion despite economic uncertainty evidenced by weaker consumer…

The Supply Side: Walmart continues to revamp convenience stores, fuel stations

Walmart has in recent years quietly invested in smaller convenience stores with fuel that are linked to supercenters and grocery formats. The retailer has tweaked the format size based on…

Northwest Arkansas Council focused on health and housing, marks 35 years

The Northwest Arkansas Council held its spring meeting in Fayetteville on Wednesday (April 16) to discuss two of the region’s biggest concerns — affordable housing and more access to specialty…

NRF reports that March retail sales rose 4.75%

Consumers spent 4.75% more on retail purchases in March compared to a year ago. Total sales excluded autos and fuel and were compiled by Affinity Solutions for the National Retail…

The Supply Side: Consumers reduce spending on spring fashion

Despite initial optimism, consumers polled by McKinsey & Company indicate they plan to spend less on discretionary categories like clothes and shoes over the next three months. Only 14% said…

Walmart still upbeat on income forecast, will ‘manage through’ tariff turmoil

Walmart on Wednesday (April 9) said during its investor conference in Dallas it is holding steady with its sales growth forecast, with execs saying the retail giant will play offense…

Online grocery sales rise 21% in March; Walmart tops in market share

U.S. consumers continue to purchase more groceries and consumables online, with online grocery sales rising 21% in March from a year ago. The $9.7 billion in total sales is not…

The Supply Side: Crisp acquires Shelf Engine, plans to further reduce food waste

Retail data solutions provider Crisp has acquired Seattle-based Shelf Engine, an artificial intelligence (AI) provider for retailers and the fresh food supply chain. Terms of the deal were not disclosed….

NRF expects 2025 retail sales growth between 2.7% and 3.7%

The National Retail Federation reported Wednesday (April 2) it expects 2025 retail sales to top $5.42 trillion, growing between 2.7% and 3.7% above the $5.29 trillion in 2024. Online sales…

The Supply Side: Cargo theft to rise 25% in 2025; $35 billion lost in supply chain

Cargo theft is a costly problem for the retail and supply chain industries. In 2024, incident rates hit an all-time high. Industry leaders estimate cargo theft will rise 25% from…

Northwest Arkansas sales tax revenue higher overall in March report

Sales tax revenue reported in March by the four largest Northwest Arkansas cities indicated that Benton and Washington county consumers continued to spend despite weaker retail sales reported nationwide. Bentonville,…

The Supply Side: Pozza’s Pasta owner focused on family tradition, legacy

Lucius Mhoon, owner of Pozza’s Pasta brand made in Springdale, bought the brand 20 years ago from Felix Pozza, who launched the pasta brand as a Tontitown grocer in 1971….

Walmart receives top spot in national grocery shopper survey

Bentonville-based Walmart held the top spot with 63% of U.S. shoppers in a survey using the retailer to shop for groceries, according to YouGov’s grocery store ranking survey for 2025….

The Supply Side: Rogers tech startup seeks to better connect online sales to consumers

Eric Howerton and JS Bull have teamed up to launch a new tech startup to help Walmart and its suppliers more easily increase advertising clicks within their retail media networks…

February online grocery sales top $10.3 billion, up 31% from year ago

U.S. consumers spent 31% more in February for online groceries compared to a year ago. More than 80 million households placed at least one online grocery order in February for…

Walmart Museum to open Friday, features Sam Walton hologram

After more than two years of work, the Walmart Museum, Spark Cafe, and gift shop on the Bentonville square will reopen at 1 p.m, Friday (March 14). The extensive overhaul…

NRF: Retail sales rose 3.38% in February from a year ago

Retail spending declined in February, but retail sales were up compared with the same period in 2024 as the economy remained strong, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF) Retail…