Secret Service, Homeland Security surveills over 100 retailers in SNAP investigation

The USDA is intensifying efforts to crack down on SNAP fraud, launching multi-agency investigations and targeting retailers involved in benefit theft through tactics like card skimming. Despite these enforcement actions and looming congressional proposals to slash benefits by up to 22%, public support for SNAP remains overwhelming—70% of Americans back the program, citing values like food access and economic necessity. As debates heat up in Washington, a new survey warns lawmakers: nearly half of voters would oppose any politician who votes to cut SNAP, reinforcing its status as a politically and socially vital safety net.

Supermarket News

Emergency response reimagined: With threats on the rise, leaders are urged to act now

With rising threats ranging from workplace violence to extreme weather, companies must urgently rethink outdated emergency response strategies. Experts warn that many organizations rely too heavily on checkbox policies or outdated 911 systems that fail to serve today’s hybrid workforce. Innovative tools like cloud-based surveillance and live 911 video feeds offer faster, smarter responses—but they only work when combined with strong policies, frequent training, and transparency around employee privacy.

WorkLife

Key Takeaways Shaping the Future of the Global Supply Chain

Retailers are no longer just sellers—they’re mastering logistics by turning stores into mini-fulfillment hubs and slashing delivery times through innovations like ship-from-store models and predictive inventory analytics. Manhattan Associates' 2025 benchmark shows that retail leaders who integrate fulfillment networks save up to 31% on last-mile costs and offer faster, seamless cross-channel service. Meanwhile, new logistics trends—from real-time supply chain visibility and AI to last-mile delivery innovation—are reshaping the global landscape amid mounting geopolitical pressures, tightening tariffs, and shifting workforce dynamics, including the growing role of women in manufacturing.

Inbound Logistics

Five ways retailers can build reinvention & resilience

Retailers are once again under pressure as new tariffs, rising costs, and ongoing economic uncertainty squeeze margins and test their adaptability. To survive—and thrive—they must invest in enterprise-wide resilience strategies that include AI-powered supply chain agility, hyper-personalized customer engagement, workforce empowerment, and fortified cybersecurity. Rather than waiting for conditions to stabilize, retailers should reimagine their operations now, transforming disruption into long-term competitive advantage.

Chain Store Age

Workplace Theft is About More than Office Supplies - Time is Money

Workplace theft is on the rise in 2025, with 67% of employees admitting to stealing from their jobs—ranging from office supplies to misusing company time and resources. The trend reflects deeper dissatisfaction, as many employees engage in "silent rebellion" against rigid return-to-office mandates, burnout, or lack of support. Rather than resorting to strict surveillance, HR leaders should address root causes by promoting fairness, flexible work conditions, manageable workloads, and a culture of mutual accountability—turning theft prevention into an opportunity for greater employee satisfaction and productivity.

The HR Digest

Join us at NRF PROTECT!

Retailers: Mark your calendars for Boots & Brews at NRF PROTECT, Tuesday, June 24 at 6:30 p.m!

Elimination of De Minimis Exemption Provides ‘Material Benefit’ to US Retailers

The Trump administration’s elimination of the de minimis exemption will be great for American retailers, Simon Property Group Chairman, CEO and President David Simon said.

The de minimis exemption, which was a longstanding rule that allowed packages worth less than $800 to enter the U.S. without paying a tariff, was commonly used by Chinese eCommerce retailers to sell goods at lower prices by shipping them directly to consumers in the U.S.

PYMNTS

Retail sales rise 6.7%, tariff impacts noted

Consumer spending rose in April ahead of expected tariff impacts.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) Retail Monitor had April sales, excluding gasoline and automobiles, up 0.72% from the prior month and 6.7% higher than a year ago.

The Retail Monitor report is compiled by Affinity Solutions and tracks actual debit and credit card transactions among thousands of retailers.

It does not need to be updated as survey data compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau does.

Talk Business & Politics

Nearly 9 in 10 Job Posting Scams Impersonate Trusted Company Brands

 PYMNTS

OpenEye Cloud Cameras: Your All-In-One Camera Solution

OpenEye’s innovative and powerful line of cloud cameras deliver an all-in-one video solution with onboard recording and dedicated analytics processor, providing all the benefits of OpenEye Web Services (OWS) in a flexible, serverless architecture. 

Cloud cameras allow for infinite scalability, with every camera added to a location bringing its own storage and processing power, letting you seamlessly scale over time with no limitations on channel count or system resources. Locations with existing recorders can also add cloud cameras to expand storage or analytics capabilities, making OWS one of the most flexible deployment architectures on the market. Reduce the burden on IT and operations with automatic software updates that ensure your cloud cameras always have the latest features and cybersecurity patches. Powered by the full capabilities of OWS, cloud cameras support health monitoring, real-time alerting, priority event cloud recording, centralized management, and the latest analytics technology.

OpenEye cloud cameras offer the complete package with onboard recording, AI-based analytics processing, and the cloud connection to OWS to help you secure and scale smart environments.

All-In-One Solution 
A camera, recorder, and AI engine, all in one. 

OpenEye’s cloud cameras are an easy and affordable solution for installations of one or two cameras, or scalable to hundreds per location. Available in multiple form factors, these dynamic devices store video directly on the camera for enhanced scalability and easier deployment. OWS AI analytics-capable cloud cameras come with a dedicated analytics processor to support the identification of unique events, such as person and vehicle, line crossing, and loitering detection for improved security monitoring around your business. 

Limitless Scalability 
Expand with confidence knowing every camera added to a location brings its own storage and analytics processing power, allowing you to seamlessly scale over time with no limitations on channel count or system resources. 

OpenEye’s cloud cameras can be deployed in combination with existing security infrastructures or entirely on their own. For preexisting systems, cloud cameras can help add more security coverage across properties without concerns over recording capacity, and for entirely new builds, cloud cameras can be scaled in the hundreds for a complete cloud system.  

Flexible Deployment 
Install cloud cameras as a standalone solution or add to locations with existing recorders to expand camera count or analytics capabilities, making OWS one of the most flexible deployment architectures on the market. 

Designed for both enterprise-level and small businesses, cloud cameras can be leveraged in a plethora of different ways. For kiosks, pop-up shops, or new additions, cloud cameras can be leveraged as a cost-effective, flexible solution that is quickly and easily deployable. However, the power of these cameras makes them just as impactful a solution for large-scale properties and businesses looking to implement cloud cameras across their organization. 

Walgreens Reportedly Upping Use of Robot-Powered Pharmacies

Walgreens is reportedly increasing its use of robots to fill prescriptions for its retail locations.

Company officials told CNBC in a report Sunday (May 11) that the pharmacy hopes to have its 11 micro-fulfillment centers serving more than 5,000 stores before the year’s end.

PYMNTS

Why retail’s e-commerce disruption era is over

Retail is in yet another period of upheaval: A trade war is roiling consumers, enabling inflation and fueling speculation about a recession.

Yet in many ways the industry has also entered a period of stability, according to a report Monday from commercial real estate firm Colliers.

Retail Dive

Teamsters at Albertsons vote overwhelmingly to authorize Strike

Over 90 drivers at Albertsons, represented by Teamsters Local 745, have voted by a more than 97 percent margin to authorize a strike in response to the company's repeated refusal to offer a fair contract.

STAR Media

Director of Risk Management - Culver's

Culver Franchising System, LLC is looking for a Director of Risk Management to own and advance risk management strategies and practices for the organization and across the Culver’s system. This person is accountable to identify, evaluate and mitigate risk-related matters that may impact the business, our team members and/or our guests of the Culver’s brand.

Some good news on workers’ compensation

GNC Uses Drones to Elevate Inventory Management

Global health and wellness leader GNC is always searching for ways to streamline its operations and better serve its customers.

The retailer provides a wide variety of science-based products and solutions through company-owned retail locations, domestic and international franchise locations, digital commerce, and strong wholesale and retail partnerships across the globe.

In 2024, GNC began looking for technology to help it tackle inventory management in two of its distribution centers.

Total Retail