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retail

Consumer Trends

Can Chipotle get its higher-income diners to stick around?

 By Heather Lalley on Feb. 13, 2026

Retail watch: The fast-casual burrito chain can take some lessons from discount retailers that have also seen an influx of wealthier consumers.

Financing

How convenience stores and supermarkets are gunning for restaurants

 By Jonathan Maze on Feb. 04, 2026

A Deeper Dive: This week’s episode of the restaurant finance podcast looks at the retail sector and its push into prepared food. Also, what restaurants can learn from the closure of some of Amazon’s retail shops.

Technology

Amazon’s grocery retreat is a warning to restaurants chasing full automation

By Heather Lalley on Jan. 29, 2026

Retail Watch: The retail giant is closing all of its Amazon Fresh grocery stores and Amazon Go convenience stores. It’s a lesson that technology can’t replace human interaction.

Beverage

Chicago City Council approves hemp-THC ban. But beverages are saved

By Heather Lalley on Jan. 22, 2026

The city's restaurants, bars and retailers will be able to sell beverages with no more than 10 milligrams of THC per 12 ounces, but edibles, flower and vapes will be prohibited.

Consumer Trends

Why private-label’s grocery glow up should make restaurants nervous

By Heather Lalley on Jan. 22, 2026

Retail Watch: Store brands continue to set records. Their rise should give restaurants some clues about what diners want right now.

Operations

Here’s why you should be paying attention to hemp-THC

By Heather Lalley on Jan. 15, 2026

Retail Watch: Plus, grocery stores are trying to eat your lunch business.

Operations

Here are the restaurant segments most vulnerable to c-store competition

By Heather Lalley on Jan. 08, 2026

Retail Watch: Don’t expect fine dining at convenience stores. But do expect ongoing threats from gas station pizza, breakfast, fried chicken and more.

Leadership

Big changes ahead for 7-Eleven in 2026

By Diane Adam on Jan. 05, 2026

Joe DePinto, longtime CEO of the convenience-store giant, retires as the company plots a sweeping transformation, including a major foodservice reboot.

Consumer Trends

Grubhub: 2025 was the year convenience stores became meal destinations

By Hannah Hammond on Dec. 16, 2025

A survey by the delivery platform found a major consumer shift toward orders of hot, protein-forward, grab-and-go c-store foods like taquitos, chicken rollers and hot dogs.

Technology

'Agentic commerce' holds pros and cons for restaurants

By Joe Guszkowski on Dec. 11, 2025

AI agents that can order and pay on customers’ behalf could help restaurants convert more orders. But they also raise questions about security and bias, a new report says.

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