retailers

City of Industry, Calif., and Egg Harbor Township, N.J. — Spencer Spirit Holdings, Inc. has signed a definitive agreement with Sycamore Partners to acquire Hot Topic, Inc. and its portfolio of brands: Hot Topic, BoxLunch and Her Universe. The transaction unites six highly complementary retail concepts under one umbrella, expanding the combined company’s total footprint to more than 3,000 stores across North America. Together, the combined entity creates a bicoastal retail ecosystem rooted in culture and entertainment. By combining deep consumer insights across distinct fan-centric segments, each of the brands …

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Canton, Mass. — Lionel Conacher, chairman of the board of directors of Destination XL Group, Inc., has been named interim chief executive officer, effective Aug. 12, 2026. Conacher will continue in his role as chairman of the DXL board. His appointment follows the previously announced retirement of Harvey Kanter, effective Aug. 11, 2026. Kanter will also step down from the board at that time. “Our board will conduct a thorough search to identify the right leader to execute on our strategic priorities and capture the opportunities ahead in a dynamic …

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Minneapolis — Best Buy Co., Inc. has named Anne Bramman as executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective Aug. 19. She will succeed Matt Bilunas, who stepped down at the end of July. Bramman joins Best Buy with more than 30 years of leadership experience across finance, operations, strategy and transformation. In her new role, she will lead Best Buy’s global finance organization and help drive the company’s strategic priorities in partnership with incoming CEO Jason Bonfig and the rest of the leadership team. “Anne brings an impressive and …

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Toronto — Sleep Country Canada Inc. has completed its acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Sleep Number, bringing together two iconic companies and forming the world’s second-largest sleep retailer. “This is one of the proudest days in our company’s history,” says Stewart Schaefer, president and chief executive officer of Sleep Country. “Today isn’t about the completion of a transaction. It’s about the beginning of a new future.” For more than 30 years, Sleep Country has helped Canadians sleep better through exceptional customer experiences, trusted expertise and a relentless …

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  San Francisco and Bradford, England — Instacart, a leading grocery technology company in North America, and Morrisons, one of the UK’s largest supermarket chains, have launched Caper smart trolleys at Morrisons’ Preston supermarket, marking Instacart’s first retail partnership in the UK for its AI-powered smart trolley. Caper smart trolleys bring the convenience and intelligence of online shopping directly into the store, and the launch comes as consumers increasingly seek technology that helps them shop more efficiently, stay on budget and rediscover the joy of browsing the aisles. Caper smart …

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Snohomish, Wash. — Trinity Energy, a leading provider of integrated operating systems for sustainable energy solutions, has taken Costco Wholesale off grid with the launch of an independent, on-site energy system at Costco’s distribution center in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The fully integrated solar and battery platform was installed significantly faster than installing a traditional energy backup system from local power providers, enabling Costco to accelerate its operational readiness, bypass lengthy grid interconnection queues and permitting delays, and benefit from substantial cost savings. The energy independence solution, which combines solar …

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— By Natalie Clarke — How air curtains deliver proactive, chemical-free pest control for retail and restaurant facilities. For facility managers in retail stores and restaurants, flying insect control is a constant operational challenge. A single open door can invite flies into food prep areas, dining spaces and checkout lines — creating sanitation risks, failed inspections, and negative customer experiences. The challenge is compounded by increasing pressure to reduce chemical use and adopt more environmentally responsible pest management strategies. Traditional tools like insect light traps and sprays still play a …

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Westlake, Ohio — IKEA will open its newest Ohio location at the Crocker Park mixed-use lifestyle center in Westlake in spring 2027. The new store will feature the Swedish retailer’s small-format concept and will occupy about 80,000 square feet in the former Dick’s Sporting Goods space. For more than two decades, Crocker Park has attracted visitors from across the region with its mix of shopping, dining, office, residential and entertainment experiences. Combined with its location along the I-90 corridor, accessibility and strong demographics, Crocker Park was the natural choice for …

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Lebanon, Tenn. — Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. has appointed David Deno to serve as its next chief executive officer and on the board of directors, both effective Aug. 10, 2026. He succeeds Julie Masino, who will step down as CEO and a member of the board on the same date. Masino will remain with the company in an advisory capacity until Oct. 9, 2026 to support a smooth transition. Deno joins the company from Bloomin’ Brands. “Following a robust and thoughtful search process, we are pleased to welcome …

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White Plains, N.Y., and Sunny Isles Beach, Fla. — Mavis Tire Express Services Corp. and Icahn Enterprises LP have entered into a definitive agreement under which a subsidiary of Mavis will acquire Pep Boys from Icahn Automotive Group LLC for approximately $700 million in cash. IEP will retain the owned real estate previously transferred to IEP from Pep Boys, as well as the AAMCO Transmissions and Precision Tune Auto Care businesses. Formally named The Pep Boys-Manny, Moe & Jack Holding Corp., Pep Boys is an automotive service company offering tires, …

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