Retail

Whirlpool Corporation (WHR) appointed Mary Ellen Adcock to its board of directors, effective immediately. Adcock, currently an executive at Kroger, brings extensive retail and marketing expertise. She will serve on the corporate governance and audit committees. CEO Marc Bitzer highlighted Adcock’s consumer behavior insights as invaluable for Whirlpool’s innovation and consumer experience enhancement efforts. Adcock’s background includes leadership roles at Kroger and an MBA, which will complement her real-world experience on the board.

Apple closed its Dalian Parkson Centennial Shopping Center store on August 9th, marking its first directly-operated retail closure in China. The store opened in 2015. Online footage showed staff and customers bidding farewell after a decade. Apple cited the shopping center’s declining retail presence as the reason, stating that employees would be offered positions elsewhere. The shopping center has faced financial difficulties and a change in management.

Pang Donglai founder Yu Donglai addressed high employment interest in the company’s new store via livestream. He warned that competition for positions will be fierce, estimating 100 applicants per job. Pang Donglai, known for excellent customer service and innovative retail, has already hired 239 people in 2024, requiring at least a Bachelor’s degree. The company’s employee compensation, averaging RMB 9,000 monthly after-tax, and benefits are considered “best-in-class,” attracting significant attention after Pang Donglai’s nationwide success.

Yonghui Superstores is combating corruption by restricting vendor onboarding to online procedures, banning private recommendations. It has also transformed 128 stores nationwide using the popular “Pang Dong Lai” model, aiming for 200 revamped stores by September. These changes have boosted sales and customer satisfaction.

Yonghui is aggressively transforming its stores to emulate the success of Pang Donglai. By the end of September, the supermarket chain plans to revamp 200 stores in China, aligning 80% of its products with Pang Donglai’s standards. This initiative includes opening remodeled stores at a rate of about one per day in the third quarter, with a focus on expanding proprietary brands and employee training. Pang Donglai’s leadership supports the efforts, highlighting employee engagement, customer service, and product quality.

Volvo CE will acquire Swecon’s operations in Sweden, Germany, and the Baltics for 7 billion SEK, including Entrack. This strategic acquisition, expected to close in H2 2025, aims to strengthen Volvo CE’s retail presence in key European markets. The deal encompasses all Swecon operations, including sales, rentals, and service, with approximately 1,400 employees. This move will allow Volvo CE to control most of its European business, enhancing customer satisfaction.

Fat Donglai refuted rumors of mass store closures, clarifying that founder Yu Donglai’s remarks about past closures were taken out of context. The retailer, which reported $1.56 billion in sales, highlighted strong financial performance and revealed generous employee perks, including an average monthly salary of $1240 and plans for a 36-hour work week with 40 days of annual leave.

Lightspeed Commerce Inc. has reached an agreement in principle to resolve a proposed class action in Quebec, following the dismissal of a parallel U.S. securities class action. The settlement, subject to court approval, will resolve all claims without Lightspeed admitting liability. Founder & CEO Dax Dasilva stated the settlement allows Lightspeed to focus on strategic growth, for approximately $8.09 million.

Murphy USA (MUSA) will present at upcoming investor conferences, sharing preliminary Q2 2025 results. Fuel margins were 31.7 cents, while volumes rose 0.5% overall but decreased 1.1% on a same-store basis. Merchandise sales increased, but both nicotine and non-nicotine sales faced headwinds. Operating expenses rose 2.8% per store. The company operates over 1,750 stores and has new store constructions underway.

JD.com’s second Beijing JD Mall opened in Shuangjing, attracting crowds with government subsidies and promotions. The opening featured a display of founder Richard Liu’s original “three-foot counter,” evoking nostalgia and connecting with younger shoppers. The 50,000-square-meter mall, offering diverse products, is part of JD’s expansion, with new malls opening in other cities. The company plans to open 8-10 stores annually, focusing on high-tier and economically growing cities.