Bringoz Industry Weekly 1/19

oliday sales grew an unexpectedly high 4% over 2023 to a record $994.1 billion. Symbotic is helping Walmart accelerate online pickup and delivery options. Albertsons expects 30% of its distribution volume to be automated by the end of 2025. Read about these stories and more in our weekly industry news roundup.

Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that core retail sales during the 2024 holiday season grew an unexpectedly high 4% over 2023 to a record $994.1 billion. The total was ahead of the National Retail Federation’s forecast, which expected holiday spending to grow between 2.5% and 3.5%. The results also top the previous record of $955.6 billion spent during the 2023 holiday season. Retail sales for the full year grew 3.6% over 2023 to a record $5.28 trillion. Read more.

Walmart has made a deal to sell its Advanced Systems and Robotics business to Symbotic, Inc., an AI-enabled robotics technology company. As part of the deal, Symbotic will help Walmart develop, build and deploy an advanced robotics platform solution that will accelerate online pickup and delivery options at stores. The acquisition by Symbotic will help the company address the need for automated fulfillment of customer orders at the local and store level. Read more.

Albertsons expects 30% of its distribution volume to be automated by the end of 2025. The retailer has already finished implementing automation at three of its 22 dedicated distribution centers, with more to come early this year. Albertsons also plans to roll out a new warehouse management system across the company before 2026. Improving productivity is a primary goal of the grocer as it seeks to compete with growing grocery footprints of national retailers. Read more.

The supply chain and logistics landscape is shifting as the need for greater resilience, agility, and efficiency is pushing businesses to adopt technologies that redefine traditional practices. Next year, innovations in technology will continue to reshape how goods are stored, tracked, and delivered. Here’s a look at four trends in supply chain and logistics technology to watch in 2025. Read more.

The retail pharmacy sector has changed over the past few years, driven by changing consumer habits, digital advancements, and the evolving pharmacy industry. New trends are reshaping the way pharmacies operate and serve their customers. Here are three key retail pharmacy trends to watch in 2025 and how drugstores can adapt to meet the changing needs of their customers. Read more.

Automation is a critical tool for modern supply chain management. From order processing to delivery, automation solutions streamline every stage of the supply chain, allowing businesses to minimize human error, reduce order processing time, and lower operational costs. Here’s a look at some technologies that can help companies enhance their supply chain operations. Read more.