NEW RESEARCHThe U.S. consumer technology industry saw a 17% uptick in sales in 2020 vs. 2019, according to the NPD Group Retail Tracking Service. High consumer demand, supply constraints and cost increases led the industry to downshift the level of consumer electronics promotional activity from April to December 2020, compared to the same time period in 2019. As a result, the number of consumer electronics items sold on promotion declined four points, from 65% of all items sold including a promotional discount in 2019 to 61% of items sold in 2020. While the decline seems small, a recent NPD Price and Discount analysis revealed that high demand categories, such as TVs and PCs, where promotion is often a driver of marketing and demand, not only saw a decline in the number of products sold on promotion, but a significant shift to lower discount levels than in the previous year. Notebooks saw a similar trend.WALMARTWalmart is partnering with a digital media platform to offer a shoppable assortment of home goods in an online home experience dubbed Mashable Home, spanning concept rooms and dynamic activations such as shoppable hotspots, live and on-demand programming and interactive games. Walmart is the official presenting partner of the virtual home environment, which will also include Walmart+ promotions and spotlight its springtime cross-category products through April 8.SUPERMARKETAlbertsons Companies is adding produce from vertical farming company Plenty to 17 more stores across Northern California, bringing the total number of stores carrying Plenty products in the region to 53. The additional rollout, which includes Safeway and Vons stores mostly in smaller communities, are part of a multiyear agreement to expand Plenty produce into more than 430 Albertsons-owned stores across California. In addition, Plenty is employing a first-of-its-kind “Text-a-Farmer” offering on display next to its greens in stores to connect shoppers with Plenty farmers to answer questions and share information via text while shopping.Kroger is expanding its partnership with vertical farm 80 Acres Farms to more than 300 stores. Beginning March 15, 80 Acres will serve 316 Kroger locations across Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, bringing 10 million fresh produce servings to communities across the Midwest. 80 Acres Farms uses technology that allows the company to grow pesticide-free produce all year long. Today, 80 Acres Farms has four locations in Greater Cincinnati. Its latest state-of-the-art farm will support the new Kroger partnership. Kroger has increased its operational capacity to administer COVID-19 vaccine to deliver one million doses per week through in-store pharmacies and clinics, and mass vaccination off-site events. To vaccinate more Americans more quickly, Kroger will use the first hour of pharmacy operations as a "focus hour" assigned to administering the three FDA-authorized vaccines, according to a media release from the retailer. Patients will still be able to schedule appointments for various times, but the morning focus hour will allow for additional COVID-19 vaccines to be administered. Kroger launched the new focus hour last week in Ohio, with additional states to follow next week as soon as vaccine accessibility and supply increases. To learn more, shoppers can visit kroger.com/covidvaccine.Ahold Delhaize's Giant Company has named Glennis Harris (pictured at right) senior vice president of customer experience, effective March 22. Harris will succeed John Ponnett, who is retiring on April 2. In her new role, Harris will oversee all stores and the company’s e-commerce fulfillment centers as well as asset protection and safety, delivery operations and store support. She will report directly to Nicholas Bertram, president of the Giant Company. Harris started her career in 1987 as store director at Supervalu. After multiple roles and years there, she later joined Ross Stores. Most recently, she served as regional vp for Ross in the Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. areas since 2019.The Giant Company has formed a partnership with Rodale Institute, which develops regenerative organic agriculture solutions, in an effort to support ecologically safe farming, sustainable retailing and hunger relief. On March 1, the Giant Company rolled out a “Healing the Planet” campaign backing organizations focused on environmentally friendly initiatives. In addition, shoppers at Giant, Martin’s and Giant Heirloom Market stores also can contribute to San Francisco-based Planet Bee Foundation and Greensburg-based Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful when shopping by rounding up the dollar amount at checkout.Ahold Delhaize USA's Freetown Grocery distribution center in Massachusetts became the first to transition procurement from a third-party vendor to the company’s self-managed network, resulting in direct control of inventory and replenishment at the facility. “This transition is an important one for the Stop & Shop brand, because it gives us more control and ultimately enables us to better serve our stores and our customers at more than 200 Stop & Shop locations across Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island,” said Jim Labrecque, vice president of distribution operations at Stop & Shop.AMAZONAmazon opened its 11th Amazon Fresh store in Bloomingdale, IL, on March 11. The store measures approximately 40,000-square-feet and was designed from the ground up to offer a seamless shopping experience, with extra perks for members of its Amazon Prime paid loyalty program. Amazon also operates seven Amazon Fresh stores in California, as well as three other Amazon Fresh locations in Illinois. In addition, the retailer is hiring for two new Amazon Fresh grocery stores planned to open in Seattle and Bellevue, WA.MASS MERCHANTTarget is launching a new food-and-beverage private label called Favorite Day with a focus on indulgence and celebration. The brand will encompass 700 items across bakery, snacks, candy, premium ice cream, cake decorating supplies, beverage mixers, and mocktails, to name a few. The products will be priced under $15 and available April 5.DRUGSTORESWalgreens said it will participate in the Localization Summit, a virtual showcase for diverse, local and regional businesses and entrepreneurs to share their retail offerings with the merchants of the national drugstore chain. The virtual event, hosted by ECRM on May 13, provides local vendors with the opportunity to connect with Walgreens Merchandising team, share their product and receive feedback with the ultimate goal of being stocked on Walgreens shelves in their local areas. The event will focus on products across grocery and household, apparel, beach, tourism and general merchandise, among others categories.“Walgreens is continuously looking for ways to highlight and connect with the communities we serve in a deeper and bolder way,” said Kirk Hanselman, Walgreens’ interim chief merchandising officer. “This event allows us to create a more meaningful and localized shopping experience by sourcing products from our customers’ neighborhoods that they know and love. We look forward to meeting the diverse group of business leaders and a successful event.”