Grocery

J.B. Hunt highlights improved intermodal volume but also rate pressure

J.B. Hunt kicks off earnings season

On Thursday’s analyst call (see Todd Maiden’s earnings writeup here), J.B. Hunt highlighted both improved intermodal volume and pressure on intermodal rates. Intermodal volume exceeded most industry participants’ expectations for a lack of peak season in the fourth quarter of last year. The carrier’s intermodal volumes were up 6.5% year over year in the fourth quarter, which implies market share gain when compared to the 5% y/y increase in loaded containerized...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/j-b-hunt-highlights-improved-intermodal-volume-but-also-rate-pressure

What the Smuck?!? Analysts highlight Hostess deal risks

Twinkie-flavored Uncrustables?

(Chart: Barchart.com Inc.)

Just when I thought I had figured out that the health-focused segment was the growth area in food, and thus the most attractive acquisition target, on Monday the J.M. Smucker Co. announced the $5.6 billion acquisition of Hostess Brands, a company solely focused on not just run-of-the-mill junk food but “indulgent” junk food. Smucker is paying a healthy multiple of 17.2x adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/what-the-smuck-analysts-highlight-hostess-deal-risks

Walmart wants to beat Amazon at its own game

Well aware of the storm clouds brewing on the macroeconomic horizon, Walmart is doubling down on its supply chain-led transformation into an omnichannel retailer with an integrated, flexible and intelligent distribution and fulfillment network. For Walmart, leveraging its supply chain to unlock new margin gains is integral to “Everyday Low Cost,” which enables “Everyday Low Prices.” 

Walmart doesn’t expect to grow fast in 2023. For the year ending Dec. 31, 2022, (Walmart’s fiscal year 2023),...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/walmart-wants-to-beat-amazon-at-its-own-game

Potential FTC probe caps whirlwind week for Amazon

Another week, another whirlwind of news surrounding e-commerce’s resident superpower.

Capping a week of news about investigations, cutbacks and worse-than-expected earnings, The Wall Street Journal on Friday reported that Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) faces a potential antitrust lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission in the coming months.

According to sources the Journal reported are familiar with the matter, the timing of the case is unclear and a suit may never be brought at all. The sources said...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/potential-ftc-probe-caps-whirlwind-week-for-amazon

Online grocery firms merge to form Stor.ai, a Relationshop company

You’ve heard of commerce. You’re probably familiar with e-commerce. But allow Galen Walters, CEO of the newly formed Stor.ai, a Relationshop company, to introduce you to i-commerce.

“The ‘i’ represents the tenets of our enterprise solution: intelligent data, individual engagement and integrated shopping,” Walters explained. “We believe that for regional retailers to compete with WIKA (Walmart, Instacart, Kroger, Amazon), they need a technology solutions partner and unified technology platform...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/online-grocery-firms-merge-to-form-storai-a-relationshop-company

Did Kroger and Albertsons just create a grocery delivery powerhouse?

grocery store kroger albertsons

The grocery delivery wars have a new challenger.

Long a two-horse race between Amazon and Walmart, the playing field may have shifted with Kroger’s (NYSE: KR) acquisition of Albertsons (NYSE: ACI), combining the second- and fourth-largest grocers in the country in terms of market share.

The $25 billion purchase is among the largest in the history of the U.S. grocery industry and is currently under scrutiny by regulators with the Federal Trade Commission. But if the deal holds up, Kroger and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/did-kroger-and-albertsons-just-create-a-grocery-delivery-powerhouse

Walmart acquires automated grocery fulfillment firm Alert Innovation

Walmart Alert warehouse grocery fulfillment automation

As the largest retailer in the world, it’s no surprise that Walmart has poured money into innovative fulfillment technologies like drone delivery and advanced robotics.

In particular, the company has been focused on modernizing its warehouses with automation. But while it owns a majority stake in warehouse robotics firm Symbotic, which in May brought robots to all 42 of its regional distribution centers, the retailer until this week didn’t own a warehouse tech company outright.

That changed...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/walmart-acquires-automated-grocery-fulfillment-firm-alert-innovation

The Stockout: No way to mask rising grocery prices

Grocery prices rose 8.6% year-over-year in February. As miserable as the overall 7.9% inflation rate was for most consumers in February, grocery inflation outpaced it, with its highest rate of price growth in 40 years. The February year-over-year increase in grocery inflation exceeded the 7.9% year-over-year growth in January and grocery prices were also up 1.4% in February from January.  

I’ve seen results of consumer surveys that suggest that about 90% of consumers have noticed the rising...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-stockout-no-way-to-mask-rising-grocery-prices

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