Today on Total Retail

U.S. private ⁠equity ⁠firm KKR has signed a deal to acquire the bakery chain Nothing Bundt Cakes for over $2 billion, Reuters reported Wednesday. Nothing Bundt Cakes is currently owned by Roark Capital. The fast-growing, Dallas-based chain — made up of mostly franchises — was founded by Dena Tripp and Debbie Schetz in 1997, and…

When most people think about data companies, they think about Big Tech: companies like Meta and Google, which made their billions by acquiring and deploying user information. But the fact is, in 2026, virtually every sufficiently large business is a data company, no matter what its ostensible function is. And some of these data companies,…

In the brick-and-mortar retail landscape, businesses often operate with a significant blind spot: they don't truly know their customers. While digital loyalty programs can yield match rates of up to 30 percent, in-store rates tell a different story. In-person retail identification often lingers in the single digits, leaving the vast majority of in-store shoppers categorized…

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is no longer theoretical. It’s rolling out, starting with textiles. And the message is simple: if you put product into the market, you’re responsible for where it ends up. That’s not a sustainability slogan. That’s an operating shift. EPR means accountability for collection, reuse, recycling, reporting, and proof. Not estimates. Not…

TikTok uninstall rates spiking nearly 150 percent following renewed U.S. uncertainty isn’t just a social media headline. For retail marketers planning back-to-school and holiday campaigns, it raises a more practical question: Where will our customers actually spend their time this season, and which channels will reliably drive traffic and sales? Retailers planning peak season don’t have…

Gap is partnering with Google's Gemini to allow shoppers to check out directly within the AI platform, making it the first major fashion company to work directly with the tech company to fuel agentic commerce, CNBC has learned exclusively. The partnership comes as an increasing number of shoppers move away from traditional search and toward artificial…

Retail media sits at the top of every chief marketing officer's agenda … and for good reason. It promises precision targeting, measurable sales outcomes, and proximity to customers at the point of decision. Meanwhile, affiliate and creator programs have evolved from emerging channels into reliable, cost‑effective, and crucial drivers of revenue, but the majority of…

For decades, retailers have competed on points. Earn enough, get a free bag of chips. Swipe enough, unlock a discount on your next visit. The logic was sound: reward loyalty with loyalty. But something has shifted. Consumers are disengaged. Redemption rates are falling. And retailers are spending billions on programs that aren't meaningfully moving the…

The conversation has moved past whether retailers should adopt artificial intelligence. It's already embedded across the industry, powering proven use cases such as forecasting, inventory management, chatbots, and personalization. Yet many initiatives stall after pilot projects. Everyone knows the issue ultimately comes down to data quality — “garbage in, garbage out” is ubiquitous in AI…

Outdoor retail operates differently than general retail. While many categories are dominated by national chains, outdoor shoppers cast a wider net, with heavier reliance on specialty stores for expertise and community. These shoppers are purchasing gear designed to help them stay comfortable or perform in real-world conditions. They often seek extensive guidance from staff who…