Retail Fast Five

Which retailer deserves its long-awaited championship moment? If you could spend one extra hour inside any store, where would you go? And with Instacart pulling the plug on Caper Carts, what's the next most overhyped piece of in-store technology?Chris Walton puts Kelly Carey in the hot seat for this week's Fast Five Lightning Round, covering everything from underrated retailers and dream shopping trips to questionable retail technology investments. Plus, Halloween may be over, but the candy debate is just getting started. Find out which treats Kelly is keeping for herself and which ones are headed straight to the office!Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/mcQ6jr9fLqY

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says Wall Street may be overlooking Amazon's retail progress, pointing to fresh groceries and everyday essentials growing three times faster than the rest of its stores business. However, Amazon's online store sales increased just 2% in Q3.Is Amazon quietly becoming a bigger threat to traditional grocers, or are its retail results less impressive than Jassy suggests? Chris Walton and Kelly Carey examine the difference between full grocery trips and smaller add-on purchases, and why Amazon's grocery strategy could matter even without dramatic top-line growth.Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/mcQ6jr9fLqY

Walmart has officially launched Walmart+ in Mexico for MXN $89 per month, bundling free shipping and delivery with streaming, mobile data, and healthcare benefits. The expansion follows Walmart+'s recent launch in Canada as the retailer looks to grow its membership program internationally.Could Mexico become the blueprint for Walmart+'s next phase of global expansion? Chris Walton and Kelly Carey discuss the potential of a lower-cost membership model, how Walmart can drive customer loyalty and shopping frequency, and which international markets might be next.Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/mcQ6jr9fLqY

Starbucks reported a 7.7% increase in U.S. comparable sales in Q4, driven by a 5.2% increase in average ticket and 2.4% transaction growth. The results signal progress under CEO Brian Niccol's Back to Starbucks turnaround strategy.Is Starbucks' performance proof that its turnaround is working, or should slowing traffic growth be cause for concern? Chris Walton and Kelly Carey offer different perspectives on the results and discuss how mobile ordering, store operations, and the traditional coffeehouse experience could shape Starbucks' next chapter.Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/mcQ6jr9fLqY

Instacart is winding down its Caper Cart smart shopping cart business, five years after acquiring Caper AI for $350 million. The company cited slower-than-expected retailer adoption as the reason for ending its investment.Does Instacart's exit signal the end of the smart cart altogether, or will the technology eventually make a comeback? Chris Walton and Kelly Carey debate whether retailers should be investing in smarter shopping carts or focusing on the mobile technology customers already carry in their pockets.Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/mcQ6jr9fLqY