Eternal-owned Blinkit moved quickly and dropped the contentious claim across its apps and marketing, revising its principal tagline from “10,000+ products delivered in 10 minutes” to “30,000+ products delivered at your doorstep.” Other major players, including Swiggy Instamart and Zepto, are expected to follow suit. While the change appears modest on the surface, it carries deeper implications for how quick commerce positions itself, competes and evolves in India.The politics of speed and worker safetyThe ...

Shoppers are increasingly choosing the convenience of ordering groceries online rather than visiting stores in person. This shift is triggering major changes across Kroger's business, leading to significant closures and job cuts. The continued rise in popularity of online shopping is transforming consumer habits and the retail industry. With the ability to fill a digital cart and schedule a convenient pickup or delivery time, many customers see little need to step inside a store. According to Capital One ...

Kroger (KR) said Tuesday it’s closing three automated fulfillment centers as part of an effort to make its delivery operations faster and more profitable. The nation’s largest grocer said it will close facilities in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin; Frederick, Maryland; and Groveland, Florida, in January. The company said it will monitor the performance of its five remaining facilities. “We are taking decisive action to make shopping easier, offer faster delivery times, provide more options to our customers, ...

Group 1 - DoorDash is expanding its grocery delivery partnership with Kroger, making Kroger the largest grocer available on the DoorDash app [1][2] - The original partnership began in 2022, initially offering limited items such as sushi and flowers from select Kroger stores [2][3] - Starting October 1, DoorDash will provide delivery of Kroger's full grocery assortment from all 2,700 US stores [2][3] Group 2 - DoorDash launched grocery delivery in 2020 with several partners, including Fresh Thyme and Meijer, and previously partnered with Walmart until 2022 [3] - Kroger operates stores in 35 states and the District of Columbia under various brands, including Ralphs, Smith's, and Harris Teeter [3][4] - DoorDash serves as a commerce platform connecting merchants, consumers, and independent contractors both in the US and internationally [4]

Core Insights - Kroger has expanded its grocery delivery partnership with DoorDash, enabling delivery from 2,700 Kroger locations across the US starting October 1, 2025 [1] - The collaboration will allow DoorDash customers to access Kroger's full range of grocery items, including fresh produce and private-label goods [1][4] - The companies aim to enhance retail media strategies and explore new delivery models leveraging Kroger's store network and DoorDash's technology [2] Company Strategies - Kroger's chief digital officer emphasized the initiative as a step towards simplifying customer shopping experiences and expanding access to high-quality grocery assortments [2] - DoorDash's president highlighted the convenience of on-demand delivery for millions of customers, providing access to Kroger's full assortment at affordable prices [4] - Kroger has established a dedicated e-commerce division to streamline its digital customer interface [4] Market Performance - DoorDash reported that over 25% of its global monthly active users purchased from new categories, including groceries, in Q2 2025 [3] - Kroger's e-commerce sales reached $13 billion in 2024, indicating a strong digital presence [5] - The partnership is expected to drive more traffic and enhance data utilization for retail media business [3]

Core Insights - DoorDash and Kroger are expanding their grocery delivery partnership, starting October 1, allowing DoorDash to deliver from Kroger's 2,700 U.S. stores [1][2] - The partnership began in 2022, initially offering limited items like flowers and sushi, but will now include Kroger's full assortment [2][3] - This expansion is seen as a significant milestone for DoorDash, making Kroger the largest grocery provider on its platform [3] Company Overview - DoorDash is the largest U.S. delivery provider, having launched grocery delivery in 2020 with various partners [1] - Kroger is the largest U.S. grocery chain, operating in 35 states and the District of Columbia, and includes multiple brands such as Ralphs and Harris Teeter [4] - Kroger also has its own delivery service and collaborates with other delivery competitors like Instacart and Uber Eats [4]

Walmart Earnings - Walmart raised its sales guidance for the rest of the year, contrasting with other retailers facing slumping sales and disappointing guidance [1][4] - The company's second-quarter earnings were slightly lower than analyst expectations, attributed to insurance claim costs and legal costs rather than consumer sentiment or tariffs [3][4] - Walmart reported a 4.6% growth in comparable same-store sales, showcasing resilience in a challenging retail environment [8] Competitive Positioning - Walmart's pricing strategy is more favorable compared to Target, as it sources about one-third of its products internationally, while Target sources more than half from overseas, making Walmart more flexible in pricing [5][6] - The economic climate in 2025 has led consumers to prioritize cost, benefiting Walmart as it has historically performed well during economic downturns [6] Omni-Channel Strategy - Walmart's investment in its omni-channel capabilities, particularly in grocery delivery, has significantly contributed to its sales growth [9][10] - The company has successfully built out its omni-channel strategy, making it a key differentiator in the retail space [9] Meta's AI Strategy - Meta has frozen hiring in its AI divisions as part of a corporate overhaul, indicating a shift in its approach to AI investment [12][14] - The company is reorganizing its AI teams to create a clearer strategy, following a period of erratic spending [13][14] - Despite the hiring freeze, Meta remains profitable and continues to repurchase shares, indicating a strong financial position [14] Market Trends - The podcast discusses various market trends, including Chipotle's exploration of drone delivery and the potential resurgence of SPACs [16][18] - Investors are advised to be cautious with SPACs, focusing on the underlying business merits rather than projections [18][19]

Market Analysis & Investment Strategy - The market has froth, but positive stories overwhelm it, making rational investments viable [2][3] - Insider buying in Eli Lilly (LLY) suggests a positive outlook, leading to a rerating of the stock [5][6] - The market in 2024 is not like the dot-com bubble of 1999-2000, as rational investments still exist [21][24] - Skepticism towards companies buying crypto on margin and consultant companies like Palantir is viewed as irrational; Palantir is considered cheap using the rule of 40 [14][16] Company Performance & Initiatives - Amazon's move to same-day grocery delivery is a disruptive initiative, potentially impacting Instacart, DoorDash, and Uber [3][4] - Charles Schwab experienced a 17% increase in net new assets month over month [7] - Cisco's AI-related orders from webscale customers exceeded $2 billion in fiscal year 2025, more than double the initial target of $1 billion [62] - Universal Technical Institute (UTI) reported weaker than expected new student starts, causing a stock plunge of nearly 19%, but year-to-date starts are up over 14% [27][28][31] Economic Trends & Inflation - Wage deflation, driven by automation and AI, is expected to impact hiring and layoffs in various sectors, including law, accounting, and advertising [109][112] - Companies are hesitant to hire due to the cost of labor and the potential for digitization and automation to replace human workers [103][110] - Amazon's expansion of same-day grocery delivery to 2,300 cities could impact competitors like DoorDash, Instacart, Kroger, and Target [105][106]

Expansion Plans - Amazon plans to expand its same-day grocery delivery service to over 2,000 U.S locations by year-end [1]