Apple has taken a 23% nosedive over the past four days, allowing Microsoft to swoop in and reclaim its crown as the world's most valuable public company. Blame it on President Trump's tariff tantrum, which has tech giants like Apple, heavily reliant on China, feeling the heat. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq is having a meltdown, down 13%, and UBS analysts are predicting a $350 price hike for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Despite the chaos, Microsoft seems to be chilling in its corner, with analysts saying it's more insulated from the tariff turmoil.
Kroger's attempt to merge with Albertsons turned into a billion-dollar blunder, leaving the grocery giant with a hefty bill and no merger to show for it. The ambitious $25 billion deal was blocked by regulators who feared it would squash competition and hike up grocery prices. Now, Kroger is dealing with lawsuits, leadership shake-ups, and job cuts, all while trying to fend off competition from the likes of Amazon and Costco. Despite the failed merger, the pressure for consolidation in the grocery world is still very much alive.
Southeastern Grocers, owner of Winn-Dixie and Harveys, has laid off employees as part of a company-wide restructuring. The move follows the recent buyback of the business by its CEO and aims to align operations with a smaller future store footprint. While in-store teams aren’t directly affected, the company is offering support to laid-off workers and focusing on long-term growth and modernization.
A rise in dine-and-dash incidents is hitting small restaurants hard, adding financial pressure and potentially leading to higher prices for paying customers. One California sushi chain caught a serial offender who stole over $1,000 in unpaid meals, highlighting how repeat thefts can directly affect staff morale and operations. Industry leaders warn that small businesses lack the cushion to absorb these losses, calling for community support and greater protections.
Ulta Beauty will pause expanding its Target shop-in-shops in 2025 after opening over 600 since 2021. CEO Kecia Steelman said the focus will shift to improving operations and value in current locations as part of a broader turnaround plan. The move reflects Ulta’s strategy shift toward e-commerce, loyalty, international growth, and standalone stores amid slowing prestige beauty sales.
A column dedicated to thought-provoking conversation for Asset Protection professionals.
In this weekly column, I, along with other AP/LP professionals, will write about provocative thoughts and ideas for all of you to ponder. Readers will also have an opportunity to submit comments to be posted throughout the week. We at TalkLP hope this content will help enrich your experience within our profession.
Although everyone in the Asset Protection/Loss Prevention (AP/LP) profession understands the total retail loss caused by Organized Retail Crime (ORC) is impossible to ascertain, we can all agree it is astronomical. Although estimated losses from ORC continue to be debated, some estimate the number to be greater than $100 billion per year. With numbers this high, it is no wonder AP/LP executives invest so much of their resources toward combatting ORC.
However, there is something plaguing retailers that causes losses 7 times greater than ORC, and it is easier to fix: Inventory overstocks and out-of-stocks. In a study published by The IHL Group, overstocks and out-of-stocks are responsible for an annual loss of $1.1 trillion in sales globally, which is nearly the GDP of Australia!
The two main levers for reducing shrink are Preventing Theft and Increasing Sales, yet far too many AP/LP professionals spend most of their resources on the Theft Prevention lever. Lost sales cause an increase in retail shrink as a percent-to-sales. Consider this hypothetical scenario: imagine a store losing the exact same items, dollar-for-dollar, to ORC for two consecutive years. If their sales also remain identical for both years, then their inventory shrink percent also remains unchanged. However, if their overall sales significantly increase in the second year due to a decrease in out-of-stocks, then their shrink, as a percent-to-sales, will significantly decrease.
So why aren’t more AP/LP leaders putting resources toward identifying and rectifying issues with stock-on-hand?
One of the best ways to get involved is to simply add out-of-stocks and overstocks to your AP/LP Audits and report your findings to Operations. By doing so, you will add tremendous value to your organization.
Feel free to send comments to either support my position or to Change My Mind.
Do you have a different take? Change my mind.
Tell us by sending a named or anonymous note to comments@talklpnews.com. We'll publish your comments throughout the week.
Restaurant stocks fall as investors fear recession, sales slowdown
Restaurant stocks fell in morning trading Monday, fueled by investors’ fears that a recession is coming.
U.S. stocks have tumbled for three consecutive days after President Donald Trump shocked the markets with high tariffs on goods imported from key trading partners. While analysts do not expect the tariffs to hit most restaurant companies directly, the inflation that is expected to follow would put pressure on consumers’ wallets and could lead to an economic downturn.
Levi Strauss CEO says any price hikes related to tariffs will be ‘surgical’
Levi Strauss & Co. CEO Michelle Gass said that any price hikes the company makes due to President Donald Trump's tariffs would be "surgical."
Gass, on an earnings call Monday, told analysts that the situation around tariffs is "very new" and "fluid" and that the company is just "getting our arms around it."
She stopped short of specifying what those price increases would look like, saying "as we look at pricing, we do believe that the brand, especially given the health of the brand, that there is pricing power there.
How Amazon uses AI innovations to stop fraud and counterfeits
Since 2021, Amazon’s annual Brand Protection Report has showcased our efforts to protect customers, brands, and selling partners from counterfeit products. In its fifth year, the report continues to demonstrate how the combination of industry-leading technology and strategic partnerships are successfully stopping bad actors and making an impact beyond Amazon’s store.
Amazon invested more than a billion dollars and employed thousands of people last year—including machine learning scientists, software developers, and expert investigators...
Locking up high-theft items may reduce shrink, but it frustrates shoppers, burdens staff, and hurts sales. The real solution? Gatekeeper Systems’ Purchek® technology. It prevents theft by locking carts at the exit during a pushout attempt—no need for locked cases or employee intervention. The result: better security, improved shopper experience, and increased sales.
The Regional Asset Protection Manager is responsible for driving the Asset Protection and shortage control programs in the assigned region(s). The Regional Asset Protection Manager is accountable for meeting or exceeding the regional shortage goals. This individual manages and conducts investigations, oversees training of store level managers and associates, and leads resolution to shortage related issues. The Regional Asset Protection Manager is the primary communicator between stores and the Director of Asset Protection - Stores on Asset Protection issues and concerns.
Surveillance video shows employee help man steal Lottery scratch-off tickets at Keys gas station
MONROE COUNTY, Fla. – Surveillance video obtained by Local 10 News Monday shows a former Circle K employee handing off rolls of Lottery scratch-offs to another man without charging him — part of a scheme that authorities say led to the theft of more than $15,000 worth of tickets from a Lower Keys gas station.
Jorge Acevedo Perez, 47, of Big Coppitt Key, was arrested and faces one charge of grand theft and conspiracy, according to Adam Linhardt, a spokesman with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Reducing the impact of import tariffs on retailers with growth plans
Many retailers have been preparing for months for the unknown scenarios associated with import tariffs.
For those executing plans for growth, expansion, or redesigns, this uncertainty adds another layer of concern — even before feeling the impact of potential tariffs on products for sale in their stores. To navigate these complexities, retail inventory consolidation is a strategic solution to help retailers mitigate the impact of tariffs and supply chain disruptions, offering both cost savings and long-term stability.
COLUMBIA, Ky. (WBKO) – A Columbia man is facing multiple charges, including domestic violence and wanton endangerment, after police say a woman called 911 from a store dressing room over the weekend.
According to Columbia Police, the woman reported a physical altercation with her husband at their home. She told officers he pointed a firearm at her and fired a shot in the kitchen during the incident.
Officers responded to the store Saturday and observed visible injuries on the woman’s face, neck and head.
An IL Democrat bill to stop restaurant reservation fraud passes unanimously
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A plan in Springfield to stop reservation fraud on restaurants passed unanimously out of the House.
Some restaurants allow third party websites, such as OpenTable and Resy, to help plan their reservations online.
However, other groups have been using bots to take all the reservations, then selling them online.
State Rep. Margaret Croke (D-Chicago) said she's seen reservations being resold at prices as high as $700.
"None of that money goes to the restaurant itself," Croke said. "This is really a lose lose situation if we allow this to persist."
With the plan passing unanimously from the House on a 105-0-1 vote, it will now head to the Senate where lawmakers could talk about it in the coming weeks.
Father, daughter killed in convenience store shooting
ACCOMAC, Va. (WAVY) — A father and daughter were shot at a convenience store in Accomack County early Thursday, and the sheriff’s office confirmed both have died from their injuries.
An Onancock man has been charged with shooting the two employees.
Accomack County Sheriff’s deputies were first called to the convenience store, formally known as Shore Stop, at 23135 Lankford Highway, around 5:30 a.m., according to Sheriff W. Todd Wessells.
When they arrived, deputies discovered an unresponsive man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. While searching the building, deputies found a woman suffering from apparent gunshot wounds as well.