5 things: Why Amazon should worry about Walmart

What, Amazon worry? Does Walmart’s new website remind you of anybody? Oh say, Amazon.com maybe? Walmart unveiled its redesigned website and app, which is drawing comparisons to Amazon’s website. The new homepage, for instance, features bigger photos, live video, and a “social-inspired scroll. So, should Amazon worry? Yeah, it probably should, Forbes writes. The Walmart redesign is coming at a time when Amazon is making significant changes — like increases in Prime subscription fees and grocery delivery charges — which have been getting pushback from Prime members. It may just be ‘prime’ time for Walmart to capture some of Amazon’s customer base. —Chloe Riley

Free freezer frenzy: A freezer malfunction at a Trader Joe’s in Baton Rouge, La., gave many shoppers the feeling they just won the lottery. Faced with the decision of just letting the food spoil or assembling the largest grocer giveaway of the year, the retailer let the consumers eat. As per usual, several videos surfaced on TikTok. One showing the chaos that always ensues when someone yells “free,” and another depicting a cash register flashing $2,800 and counting. The machine was tracking every piece of frozen food leaving the store. What would you do if this happened in your store? Would you give the food to a local food pantry instead? “I would’ve been bawling my eyes out while I filled my cart,” said one TikTok comment. I’m sure there wasn’t one dry eye on the Trader Joe’s side, either. —Bill Wilson

Should grocery be everything to everyone? As we finally start to recover from the retail disruption caused by the pandemic, shoppers have picked up habits that cause more work for grocers — most notably, pickup and delivery. According to a recent survey from PYMNTS.com, only 44% of shoppers bought their “common grocery items” in brick-and-mortar stores last year — a 29% decline from early 2020. Shoppers want variety in terms of how they shop for groceries, but how sustainable is it for grocers? According to reporting from the Atlantic, when it comes to same day delivery, “the unit economics are bad, the margins are bad, and the logistics infrastructure necessary to make the actual service function, even unprofitably, is extraordinarily complicated.” But what’s the solution? —CR

Make me a shopping list: The chat technology ChatGPT is hot right now, and grocery isn’t immune. While many store managers might be playing with the technology to help solve a conundrum or two, a consumer decided to give it a try as he planned meals using a budget and dietary restrictions. Ammaar Reshi documented his effort on Twitter using an Instacart ChatGPT plugin feature. Reshi was impressed by how the AI software stuck to the guidelines. Will more consumers follow the tweet? Will grocers use ChatGPT to put together online recipes defined by income, time restraints, diets, etc.? We have the rest of time to find out. —BW

Have groceries, will travel: Who needs a car? This enterprising New Zealander prefers the clip and zip method. That is, clipping a bunch of grocery bags to his vest, and zipping off on a motorized scooter. He even manages to add a watermelon to the mix. The clip has been viewed more than 2 million times on Twitter, with many users praising his “ingenuity.” Hats off to you sir. And whatever you do: don’t spill the milk! —CR 

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According to a recent survey from PYMNTS.com, only 44% of shoppers bought their “common grocery items” in brick-and-mortar stores last year — a 29% decline from early 2020. Shoppers want variety in terms of how they shop for groceries, but how sustainable is it for grocers? Let us know in the comments or email SN Executive Editor Chloe Riley at [email protected].