Grocers have rebranded and grown their portfolio of private label brands over the past several years to cater to consumers pressed by inflation, and it's paid off as the highest-earning shoppers make up an increasingly large share of the economy. Nowhere is this more true than Walmart, the leading grocer since 2019, which launched a new private label called Bettergoods in 2024 that includes products that are plant-based, organic, or gluten-free.
Did you know that Walmart basically has its own Amazon Prime-esque membership plan? It's called Walmart+, and it's a great option for people who shop at Walmart often. It'll give you free grocery delivery, free shipping with no order minimum, savings on fuel, early access to promotions and events, and, right now, free streaming on your choice of Peacock Premium or Paramount+ Essential.
But Walmart isn't defying shaky consumer confidence because of the breadth of its offerings, which impressively stretches to 120,000 products at most stores. Customers aren't flocking into stores to buy made-in-America T-shirts, as I wrote about in May, thanks to a novel partnership with American Giant. Or because it is adding more high-end products (at lower prices than you'd find anywhere else), as I covered in October in this profile of its chief merchant Latriece Watkins.
These days, I only take long trips that require packing a suitcase about once a year. Because of that, I don't spend much time looking at the luggage in my house, and when the time comes once again to lug them out and pack them up, it dawns on me. Oh, right: My suitcases are all pretty old. And aside from one teal-hued hard-shell roller, they're all plain black.
Driving the news: Walmart said Friday that McMillon, CEO since 2014, would step aside early next year in favor of long-time lieutenant John Furner. The Financial Times reported late Friday night that Apple's board is accelerating plans to replace Cook, CEO since 2011, as early as next year. Disney is working toward replacing Iger as CEO (again) early next year, and he's been more vocal about the coming change in recent days, discussing his impending exit on a British podcast.
When CEO Doug McMillon and other Walmart execs visit stores, they'll collect stray shopping carts from the parking lot or pick up trash. The idea is to model servant leadership and being "willing to do what we want anybody else to do," McMillon told a business school audience at Stanford in May. McMillon, 59, announced on Friday that he plans to retire in January. He will be succeeded by John Furner, president and current CEO of Walmart US.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon will retire effective January 31, 2026, the company announced in a Friday morning surprise, concluding a decade-long tenure that reshaped the retail giant's global strategy and digital presence. John Furner, currently head of Walmart's U.S. operations, will succeed McMillon as president and chief executive officer starting February 1, 2026. Furner was also elected to the company's Board of directors, effective immediately.
The video by TikTok user mromano2003 has accumulated over 12 million views on the original post alone, not counting all the times it's been reposted elsewhere by other accounts on different platforms. It shows a scalper buying an entire display of cards at one of Walmart's Las Vegas stores. About a week later, Walmart stores are receiving word from corporate to enforce a five-package limit on purchases per visit.
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With Thanksgiving five weeks away, retailers are once again stepping in to take some of the guesswork out of hosting. Walmart, Aldi, and Sam's Club have each shared this year's menus of ready-to-order Thanksgiving meal kits. Costco also appears to be in on the trend; one shopper on social media spotted a meal kit available in the fresh food section.
Usually, outrageous price tags are associated with beautiful furniture - but the savviest shoppers know that doesn't need to be the case. Big-box retailers like Walmart continuously turn that narrative on its head (including iconic collaborations with Drew Barrymore) by offering pieces that are just as fabulous and on-trend as those high-end brands that charge clients thousands of dollars for similar looks.
"This rechargeable lamp is perfect for bathrooms, kitchens, and anywhere you want some ambient lighting," one Walmart shopper wrote. "This lamp is light, [has] easy touch control to dim or brighten the light, and looks great with any decor style! And the fact that it's rechargeable means you can set them anywhere in the house and not have to worry about having an outlet to plug into!"
