Portland, Ore. — Snow Peak, the renowned Japanese outdoor lifestyle brand with a 68-year legacy, has opened its fourth North American retail location, in Seattle’s vibrant Fremont neighborhood. The store is the brand’s first new retail store since the opening of its SoHo location (now relocated to Brooklyn) in 2014. Snow Peak Seattle offers guests an immersive environment to explore Snow Peak’s carefully curated collection of camping equipment, outdoor living essentials and lifestyle apparel. In addition to product displays, the space will host gear demonstrations, community gatherings and outdoor education …
retailers
Seattle — In 2025, REI Co-op saw a 15% reduction in emissions compared to the 2019 baseline year and achieved its waste diversion goal for the second consecutive year. To help achieve this, REI continued investing in circular textile innovation by entering a 3-year offtake agreement with Ambercycle to help scale performance materials made from existing textiles rather than virgin polyester. The co‑op is among the first outdoor retailers to invest in this approach and plans to share learnings to help accelerate industry adoption. “We want to make our mark …
North Reading, Mass. — BRUNT Workwear, the boot and apparel brand for modern trade workers, has opened its first flagship retail store, marking a major milestone in the company’s rapid expansion from a direct-to-consumer powerhouse to an omnichannel retailer. Situated at 70 Main St. in North Reading, Mass., the new 3,000-square-foot storefront introduces a new kind of retail experience all under one roof. Since launching at wholesale stores across the country with a selection of its core product assortment in 2024, BRUNT has grown its physical retail presence in partnership …
Lakeland, Fla. — Publix Super Markets’ executive chairman, Todd Jones, intends to retire, effective May 31, 2026. He will remain actively involved in the company as chairman of the Publix board of directors. “We celebrate Todd’s 46-year career and are thankful for his exemplary service to our company, our associates and customers, and the communities we serve,” says Kevin Murphy, CEO of Publix. “In addition to being an outstanding operator and mentor, Todd has led with integrity and a deep commitment to our mission that will have lasting impact. We …
Boston — RNR Tire Express (RNR), the nation’s leading franchise retailer for tires and custom wheels and part of the multi-brand franchisor company DX3 Brands, has signed a franchise agreement that will bring the brand to Massachusetts for the first time. The new location is expected to open in summer 2026 at 995 N Montello St., in Brockton, Mass. “This marks a significant step forward in our New England development strategy,” says Adam Sutton, CEO of DX3 Brands and RNR Tire Express. “Matt’s leadership, operational expertise and commitment to community …
Naples, Fla. — Zoom Tan has acquired all 23 South Beach Tanning Company corporate locations, bringing the company-wide total to 167 salons, signaling an accelerated expansion strategy and a deeper push into the tanning and wellness market. The transaction highlights ongoing consolidation across the indoor tanning space, as growth-oriented operators look to expand market share. The acquisition strengthens Zoom Tan’s position as a scaled, growth-oriented operator at a time when the retail sector continues to reward brands with strong fundamentals, disciplined execution and loyal customer bases. South Beach Tanning Company …
San Francisco — Williams-Sonoma, Inc., the world’s largest digital-first, design-led and sustainable home retailer, has launched its 10th brand, Dormify. Designed to meet the evolving needs of students and young consumers navigating dormitories and compact living environments, Dormify offers a curated, modern assortment of stylish and highly functional home furnishings. Through the newly launched Dormify website, customers can engage with the brand’s inspirational content, design their dream bed, build a personalized wish list, access curated checklists and receive complimentary design and shopping guidance. “Dormify represents a powerful opportunity to meet …
Santa Clara, Calif. — SoundHound AI, Inc., a global leader in voice and conversational AI, has renewed and expanded its long-standing partnership with Casey’s, the third-largest convenience retailer in the United States. The expanded deal highlights the strength of the collaboration, as SoundHound’s AI-powered ordering agents have already supported Casey’s in handling more than 21 million guest interactions, successfully processing millions of food orders. Casey’s has deployed the technology across more than 2,600 locations, helping ensure guests can place orders quickly and easily. Casey’s is focused on delivering convenient, high-quality …
Charlotte, N.C. — Sonic Automotive, Inc., one of the nation’s largest automotive and powersports retailers, has significantly expanded its Sonic Powersports division through the acquisition of five new Harley-Davidson dealerships across California, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. “This acquisition represents a pivotal step in our long term growth plan for Sonic Automotive, extending our reach within the high-growth powersports business and further diversifying our business portfolio,” says David B. Smith, chairman and chief executive officer of Sonic Automotive. “Our proven ability to integrate and scale operations, coupled with our relentless …
Minneapolis — The board of directors of Best Buy Co., Inc. has selected Jason Bonfig, the company’s chief customer, product and fulfillment officer, to succeed Corie Barry as the next chief executive officer at Best Buy. Barry will step down from her roles as CEO and member of the board at the end of third quarter on Oct. 31 of this year. Bonfig will also join the board at that time. Bonfig’s appointment as the sixth CEO in the company’s 60-year history is the result of an extensive process conducted …