Starbucks is closing about 250 North American coffee houses or roughly 1% of its more than 18,000 stores

Update: It was also reported that Starbucks closed 627 stores in North America and Europe last year.

Is this only the beginning? Is this enough? Way too many stores and the coffee is expensive!

Competition has also become stronger over the years.

Supposedly, "There are approximately 13,882 McDonald's locations in the United States as of mid-2026." (Google Search)

Friday, September 25, 2026 - Join The Flyover

Starbucks to close 250 stores: 'Difficult decision' "COO Mike Grams said the closures represent about 1% of the company's more than 18,000 North American stores"

Amazon offers a 20% Whole Foods in-store grocery discount for all U.S. employees

A long-standing nickname for Whole Foods is whole paycheck!

Thursday, September 17, 2026 - Join The Flyover

Home delivery of groceries in the US is very disappointing

I spent a few hours checking out Instacart, Uber Eats, Aldi, Fry's Food Markets, Doordash here in the Phoenix Metro area!

Compared to how easy it is to get almost anything (including fresh) delivered to your home in China, this is a total failure in the US! The US is far behind!

There at least two issues that make it quite inconvenient to place orders for groceries to be home delivered:

1. Separation of groceries and alcohol (a typical US problem)
2. Separation of grocery stores. Do I as the customer care which store delivers the item that I ordered? At least one of the above mentioned services than has customer stuck with that same store for any following order for other items. This needs fixing! My suggestion have stores deliver ordered goods to a distribution warehouse and then to customer. 

For now, I have settled on Amazon for home delivery of groceries. The ordering process was much more intuitive than those of the competitors. Unfortunately, Amazon only offers Bashas and Whole Foods. Amazon also tries to sneak in their Amazon Prime offerings. What I did not like was the goods were delivered to our entrance door without being boxed nor bagged.

The search function on many of these websites are a disaster! Here is a very typical example, I looked for "box red wine 5 liters". What did Doordash show me: White wines, 3 liter boxes, other bottled wines and so on.

German owned grocery store chain Aldi home delivery charges for bags in Arizona

This reminds me very much of good old Germany where such stupid rules (a fee for shopping bags) have been implemented at least since 2016 if not earlier!

"Q: How much does ALDI grocery delivery service cost?

A:  Delivery fees are determined by a variety of factors, such as delivery window and location. 
ALDI shopping bags will be used to bag customer delivery orders. Similar to an in-store transaction, customers will be charged a small fee for bags used. A service fee may also be included to cover operating costs for the service."

P.S. Plus the Aldi website product search function really sucks. Lot's of wrong articles to straight forward searches! 

A milestone in expanding access to AI (via advertising-supported free tier) | OpenAI

Good news!

Unfortunately, this article does not explain what the advertising-supported free tier is and how to access it?

"In less than 200 days after launch, ChatGPT Ads has reached $1 billion in annualized revenue run rate. The platform is now used by tens of thousands of advertisers and continues to expand globally.

Starting later today [8/31/2026], advertisers can purchase ChatGPT ads directly via Ads Manager across India, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

Advertising is one pillar of OpenAI’s diversified business model, alongside consumer subscriptions, enterprise offerings, and usage-based APIs.

Together, these offerings give people, developers, and businesses choice in how they access OpenAI products, including an advertising-supported free tier that helps keep ChatGPT available to more than 1 billion weekly active users. ...

Ads in ChatGPT are always clearly labeled and separate from ChatGPT’s answers. Advertising does not influence the answers ChatGPT provides. Advertisers do not receive access to people’s private conversations, and users can control how their ad experience is personalized. ...

ChatGPT Ads are now available in over 40 countries⁠ ... through the OpenAI Ads Solutions team and our agency and technology partners. Starting later today, self-service access to ChatGPT Ads is launching across India, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa."

A milestone in expanding access to AI | OpenAI "ChatGPT Ads reaches $1 billion in annualized revenue run rate and global expansion continues."

Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery service is taking off in nearly 500 US cities

Good news! When can I have a fresh fried chicken or fresh baked pizza from Costco fly directly to my mouth? 😊

"Amazon announced Wednesday a major expansion of Amazon Prime Air, its drone delivery service, with plans to reach nearly 500 U.S. cities by the end of 2026. This marks a significant milestone as it expands the service’s footprint by roughly 6x its current reach. 

Prime Air will soon launch in 11 locations: Tolleson, Arizona; Ruskin, Florida; Kansas City, Kansas; Papillion, Nebraska; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Hazel Park and Pontiac, Michigan; and Richmond, San Antonio, Richardson, and Waco, Texas.

The return to Tolleson is particularly notable given a drone accident that occurred there last year. ..."

Amazon’s Prime Air is taking off in nearly 500 US cities | TechCrunch

Russia's Amazon (Wildberries) lost a third of its warehouse capacity and $5.7 billion worth of goods since mid-July due to Ukrainian attacks

Good news! Hit Putin the Terrible where it hurts most, bankrupt the Russian government!

When will the lethargic, apathetic Russian Slav(e)s/Serfs finally get rid of their last tsar, the megalomaniac, warmonger and war criminal Putin the Terrible! He is an ugly remnant of the Cold War and a former KGB agent. He is a wannabe Stalin. Please Russian people make the world a better, more peaceful place again! How many more young Russian men will be killed or maimed before you act!

"... According to The New York Times, Ukraine has targeted at least 23 Wildberries facilities since mid-July, with nine company workers reportedly killed in the attacks. ...

Reuters separately reported that at least 1.18 million square meters (292 acres) of Wildberries warehouse space – more than one-fifth of its total capacity – had been damaged or destroyed. ...

A Kremlin-linked source told Reuters that the Russian budget does not have the hundreds of billions of rubles needed to fully support affected sellers and warned that the disruption could trigger a wave of bankruptcies. ...

Ukraine has increasingly targeted Wildberries as part of a campaign aimed at bringing the economic consequences of the war to ordinary Russians. Kyiv has argued that Wildberries is a legitimate military target because the marketplace sells goods used by the Russian military. ..."

Wildberries Loses Goods Worth a Major Russian Region’s Annual Budget "In brief: Ukrainian strikes have severely disrupted Wildberries, destroying or damaging more than 20 warehouses and goods worth an estimated Hr.480 billion, while Russian sellers and pickup-point operators face mounting losses."

As Ukraine Strikes Wildberries, Russia’s Richest Businesswoman Faces Her Biggest Test Yet

Will this good looking Russian lady take down Putin the Terrible? Hope and pray!

Tatyana Vladimirovna Kim, a Russian entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Wildberries (Source)

Wildberries warehouse in Krasnodar on fire after a Ukrainian strike on July 22, 2026

Ackerbau in 20 m Höhe: Wie ein Einkaufszentrum in Paris zur urbanen Farm wurde

Das ist doch mal eine Idee?

"... 5000 m² Dachfläche werden zur landwirtschaftlichen Nutzfläche

Die urbane Farm „Ma Salade à Toit“ befindet sich auf der Dachplatte des Einkaufszentrums im Stadtteil Mont d’Est. Die veranschlagte Fläche von 5000 m² besteht jedoch keineswegs ausschließlich aus Reinkultur-Gemüsebeeten: Zum Gesamtkonzept gehören eine 800 m² große Gewächshauskonstruktion, ein Betriebsgebäude für die Gebäudetechnik sowie ein Pavillon für Gastronomie, Workshops und Veranstaltungen. ..."

P.S. Leider keine Bilder gefunden!

Ackerbau in 20 m Höhe: Wie ein Einkaufszentrum zur urbanen Farm wurde "Ein Einkaufszentrum bei Paris wird zur Dachfarm. So funktionieren Tragwerk, Umkehrdach, Substrat und Entwässerung auf 5000 m²."

Burger King’s New Whopper Strikes a Blow in Fast-Food Burger Wars and at McDonald's

I stepped into a McDonald's restaurant today (8/6/2026) in the Phoenix, Arizona area, the first time in the last 1-2 years or so to quickly grab some food. I looked at the menu and thought to myself way too expensive and left!

It does not help that the McDonald's restaurants nowadays may look better and more refined or fancier or more upscale, but it is the food and pricing that ultimately counts in the very competitive fast food business in the US!

"The Number 8.5%

 

The increase in Burger King’s domestic U.S. same-store sales for the three months ended June 30. The chain is gathering momentum while archrival McDonald’s is grappling with challenges in its U.S. business, with traffic declining after recent promotional offerings and marketing failed to hit."

The Wall Street Journal What's news

Burger King’s New Whopper Strikes a Blow in Fast-Food Burger Wars - WSJ "Company president says revamped burger is helping capturing market share; McDonald’s recently revamped its Big Mac"

Really! (According to McDonald's India) Source

DoorDash is building its own drone delivery business

Good news! Competition is good, more competition is better! The US needs to catch up with China regarding home delivery!

When can I get my first fresh fried chicken flying directly to my mouth?

"DoorDash is building a drone delivery business, including its own aircraft, as part of an effort developed by its robotics and autonomy team, which will eventually operate within the company’s delivery app.

The company unveiled the new business, called DoorDash Air, after receiving a Part 135 air carrier certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. The certification allows the company to legally operate a commercial drone delivery service in the United States. ..."

DoorDash is building its own drone delivery business | TechCrunch

Customer Loyalty Data Is Now AI’s Favorite Currency in the US retail business

Good news! What does AI know about loyalty? 😊

"Sephora, CVS use AI, loyalty data for personalized shopping

Sephora, Ulta Beauty and other brands are leveraging loyalty data to enhance AI-driven personalization, transforming loyalty programs from rewarding past purchases to influencing future consumer decisions. This shift is facilitated by partnerships with tech giants like Google and the integration of AI platforms such as ChatGPT. Companies like CVS are also using first-party data to drive retail media and personalized offers, highlighting the strategic importance of loyalty data in the AI economy."

PYMNTS | Loyalty Data Is Now AI’s Favorite Currency

EU Commission fines Chinese AliExpress €550 million for breaching the Digital Services Act over sales of illegal, counterfeit products

Good news?

"Today, the European Commission fined AliExpress €550 million for breaching its obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA) to diligently assess and mitigate risks relating to the sale of illegal, unsafe or counterfeit products on its e-commerce platform. The Commission has ordered the platform to take action. ..."

"EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen ... pointed to AliExpress's 193 million users in Europe last ​year versus Shein's 156 million and Temu's 130 million. Temu has also been fined under the DSA and Shein is facing an ongoing investigation. ..."

Commission fines AliExpress €550 million for breaching the Digital Services Act

AliExpress hit with $629 million EU fine over sales of illegal, counterfeit products

Why not learn horse riding on the rooftop of a department store in China

 

Inside the rooftop arena

Why not learn skying inside a department store in China in late Spring

 

President Trump announces Walmart to lower prices for thousands of products at his administration's request

Good, but ambiguous news! The president of the people or a populist?

It is however controversial at a minimum, when a government intervenes at a private business to lower product prices.

"President Donald Trump said Monday that Walmart has confirmed it will be lowering its prices for thousands of products this summer at his administration's request in celebration of the United States' 250th birthday.

Walmart said it will be lowering prices through its signature Rollbacks and Sam's Club programs, and customers can expect savings on groceries, household and everyday essentials, outdoor living, toys and apparel.

Trump noted that one grocery price that the savings include is a reduction in the cost of beef, which he said will be lowered by almost 15% per pound. Walmart said a pound of beef will now cost $5.94 instead of $6.74. ..."

Trump announces Walmart to lower prices for thousands of products at his administration's request | Just The News "Walmart said it will be lowering prices through its signature Rollbacks and Sam's Club programs, and customers can expect savings on groceries, household and everyday essentials, outdoor living, toys and apparel."

A new app, The Mall, is building a universal feed for online shopping

Good news!

"... a startup called “The Mall” is bringing the concept online with an app that lets users create a personalized virtual mall from their favorite brands and track sales in one place. ...

The pair founded The Mall in October 2025, with a focus on bringing together fashion brands under one digital roof.

Instead of partnering with brands or using APIs, The Mall uses technology to scrape retail websites, pulling in entire catalogs, and tracking product and pricing information within its own app. This scraping is frequent enough to keep an eye out for sales, restocks, drops, and other promotions, which it then alerts users to via push notifications.

At launch, users create their own virtual mall by adding their favorite brands upon signing up, which allows them to immediately track any changes. While The Mall’s current database includes more than 10,000 brands, consumers can add any other brand they want, simply by sharing the brand’s Instagram or TikTok account. ..."

A new app, The Mall, is building a universal feed for online shopping | TechCrunch

Fast home deliveries of consumer goods worsen conditions for e-commerce warehouse workers. Really!

When an elite university like Cornell U is concerned with work conditions! What a joke!

One more good reason to deploy more robots!

"... Consumers’ around-the-clock, often impulsive demand for cheap, rapidly delivered products creates harsher working conditions in e-commerce fulfillment centers than in traditional warehouses, according to Cornell-led research that provides the first comprehensive assessment of e-commerce work in the U.S. ..."

Fast deliveries worsen conditions for e-commerce warehouse workers | Cornell Chronicle

Uber will now pick up your returns from your doorstep

More progress of the leisure society! 😊 When will retail stores become superfluous?

"Uber launched a new feature on Friday that lets customers return purchased items without leaving their home.

The new returns feature, which is accessed through the Uber Eats app, is the latest effort by Uber to add “stickiness” to its app by offering services that extend beyond its core ride-hailing and delivery businesses.

There are limitations to the new service, and there is, of course, a courier fee. The return fee is calculated based on the courier’s time and distance, according to Uber.

Customers can only send back eligible retail items purchased on Uber Eats, and they must comply with each store’s return policy. Participating retailers include At Home, Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, GNC, Michael’s Pet Food Express, Pacsun, Petco, and Target. Uber said more retailers will be added in the future.

Uber has also placed price limitations on the service. Customers can only return items with retail prices above $20, according to the company. ..."

Uber will now pick up your returns from your doorstep | TechCrunch

A retail store in San Francisco opened with an AI system named Luna serving as its manager

Wow!

"A retail store in San Francisco opened Friday with an AI system named Luna serving as its manager, responsible for hiring two human employees, ordering inventory, and negotiating with suppliers. Luna also lied about selling tea and tried to hire a painter in Afghanistan."

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 - Join The Flyover

AI is the boss at this retail store. What could go wrong? "Andon Market, designed and managed by an AI system but staffed by two human employees, opened Friday in San Francisco."

FedEx Enters Same-Day Delivery War

Amazing stuff! It is getting crowded! 😊 How many delivery trucks will show up daily in your neighborhood?

Competition is good, more competition is better!

"FedEx Enters Same-Day Delivery War

FedEx is jumping into the same-day delivery war, launching a service to rival Amazon and Walmart as major retailers battle over who can get packages to doorsteps fastest.

The new FedEx SameDay Local, built with last-mile partner OneRail, will offer shoppers two-hour or end-of-day delivery options directly at checkout. OneRail’s platform covers nearly 99% of the country and plugs into retailers’ existing store networks without requiring new infrastructure.

The move comes a week after Amazon rolled out one-hour and three-hour shipping windows in hundreds of U.S. cities, while Walmart already offers three-hour delivery reaching 95% of U.S. households.

FedEx says it’s betting on demand: 80% of customers surveyed want same-day shipping, and nearly half say they’re more likely to complete a purchase if it’s included."

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 - Join The Flyover